CBS 6 inducted into Capital Region Entertainment Hall of Fame

The fields of entertainment and broadcasting would be very different today if it weren't for key players past and present from here in the Capital Region.  

CBS 6 -- along with WGY and six individuals -- were honored Saturday night during a gala event at Proctor's Theatre marking the first inductees into the Capital Region Entertainment Hall of Fame.  

 "It reminds me how this station and Schenectady lead the world in development of major parts of our current society and what a special place this is," said CBS 6 General Manager Robert Furlong of the honor. "I run the station always looking forward but I never forget its heritage."  

"The idea of creating such an honor had been floating around for years," said Proctors CEO Phillip Morris.

Morris has spearheaded many projects since he took over in 2002 including an expansion and facelift for the historic theater. He follows in the footsteps of inductee Francis Frederick Proctor, who envisioned the theater more than 80 years ago and saw through its completion.  

 "We were hoping that the renovation of this place would ignite energy for downtown in a way that other things hadn't done and it looks like it's working," Morris said. "Tonight's just a great way to celebrate."  

 Don Weeks of WGY and Jack Aernecke of WRGB were masters of ceremony and told colorful stories of their stations' histories.  

WGY was honored for 86 years of programming. WRGB is the oldest continuously operating TV station in the world.  

 "For all you Internet techs out there, WRGB was the first YouTube," said Furlong while accepting on behalf of station employees past and present.  

General Electric engineer and hall of fame inductee Ernst Alexanderson brought "radio with pictures" to the public during a demonstration on Proctors' stage in 1928. Schenectady was where television was born and where broadcast engineers perfected their trade in the early days on the air.  

Actor Kirk Douglas, who stared in The Bad and the Beautiful and Spartacus and played an important role in ending the Hollywood blacklist, was also inducted.  

 Douglas lives in California and was unable to attend but addressed the audience in a recorded video message played during the ceremony. In it, he recalled growing up in Amsterdam and wanting to visit "the city" - which back then was Schenectady. Now, he said, his career has taken him to cities all over the world but he continues to visit Schenectady.  

 "I think it's a wonderful campaign and I would like to see it continue," Douglas said of his inclusion in the hall of fame.  

His niece Marilyn Gordon, who accepted the award on his behalf, said Douglas hasn't lost sight of his Amsterdam roots.

"He's remembered that and he knows how hard the struggle was."  

 Also in the audience were Douglas' sisters who still live in the area. Both said they were proud to have their brother inducted.  

"He does a lot with theater in California," said Ida Sahr. "He's proud to be honored here as well."  

 A committee was named to pare down the hundreds of potential candidates for the honor. A difficult task to say the least, according to Morris.  

Oscar winner and Troy native Maureen Stapleton, who appeared in the films Airport and Reds, was also honored Saturday.  

"If you saw Maureen perform, you would know why she was picked," said Stapleton's brother Jack Stapleton. "She was that good. She was a marvelous actress. I think one of the greatest in the world."  

Her cousin Bill Stanton, of Cohoes, said the event was top class.

"Maureen would have enjoyed a party like this," he said. "She never missed a party and she was the apple of everybody's eye when she was at a party. Its' a great honor."  

Don Sayles accepted the honor on behalf of his son, the famed independent filmmaker John Sayles, calling him a storyteller.  

"He has to get those stories out that are within him," Sayles said. "They have to get out in some palpable way."  

Saratoga Springs native Monty Woolley, who was a star of the stage and screen, completed the list of first-year inductees.  

The event also marked the opening of the 2008-09 Proctors season which includes Broadway smash hits MAMMA MIA!, Legally Blonde - The Musical and Avenue Q. 

To see more photos of the event visit the CBS 6 Photo Gallery.