Posts Tagged ‘Ted Koplar’

All the county executive’s men and women will help Charlie Dooley blow out 63 candles on his natal celebration on Dec. 15 at Sugo’s. . .Where’s Charlie?  He’s been to attorney Bob Blitz‘s Christmas party at Cafe Napoli.  Others there were Gaming Comish general counsel Chris Hinkley, Mayor Francis Slay, Lt. Guv Peter Kinder, Judge John Ross, Judge Larry Mooney, Sarah Steelman and Ann and Ray Wagner.  FYI: Clients of Blitz’s Jeff City branch include firms that manufacture games for casinos. . . . .Guests at the St. Louis Hills holiday party saw Cong. Russ Carnahan show up and shake hands with his former opponent Ed Martin and his wife, Carol.  Carny got some ogling over his full leather jacket from Australia.  And, wife Debra was a no-show. . .The hoity-toity Plaza in Clayton condos is now home to some prominent bachelors and almost-bachelors.  Among them are Joe Buck, Sam Bradford, Steve Shankman and Stifel Financial’s ceo, chairman and prez Ron Kruszewski, whom friends say is calling off his marriage. . .Pioneer Bank’s Tom Brewster, Jr., is heading for some housecleaning at Reliance Bank. . .Soldier of Fortune and owner of the yesteryear American Athletic Club on Manchester, Joe Adams, 60, is celebrating his fourth year of marriage to Deanna Daughhetee, owner of American Equity Mortgage at their snazzy Hampton Park manse. But, that’s not the item. Adams is now heading Project Bluelight, an anti-terrorist intelligence operation in support of Homeland Security personnel in the field.  “We primarily report to Border Patrol Intelligence, but do assist agents in the field when called upon,” said Adams.  “Our mission SOP is to make no contact or be detected by anyone entering the United States illegally or involved in illegal activities.  The only time Project Bluelight wavers from the mission is for medical emergencies or the presence of children.  We report all movement and/or activity to federal authorities.”  Recalling the days, when he ran his physical fitness empire where he helped clients attain their physical fitness goals, he poo-poo’ed today’s personal trainers.  “Some charge up to $75 an hour and I charged $125 a-year to help members,” he said. . .Look for Erker Optical Co. to import the chic Mainbach glasses from the Bayern region of Germany.  Jack Erker was toasted on the family-owned business on its 130th anniversary at Herbie’s Vintage ’72 and the soon-to-debut Erker’s in the CWE on Maryland Avenue, which will replace McGinty’s in Ted Koplar‘s edifice, bringing to three stores in the Erker chain. . .Aloyse Heiss McShane is now enjoying the good life in Florida these days, according to her heiress Barbara Heiss, who was with her best friend, Steve Kay, at Protzel’s.  Aloyse, 83, was once married to the late Gordon Heiss, bossman of the Lenox and Mayfair Hotels and then to Edwin R. “Bill” Culver, III.  Meanwhile, deli lama Max Protzel and his wife, Rachel, became parents of Eli Alexander, who popped out at more than eight pounds. . .Susan Gray‘s MAC Meetings & Events is becoming a rising force when it comes to producing street festivals and public events.  The meeting and event planner has scored with some major festivals here:  “Tour De Grove” and the “Grovefest” as well as the “Soulard Oktober-fest.”  Expanded responsibilities will follow for the 2011 Oktober-fest event along with some other major happenings.

With a drastic vacancy in office buildings and emptiness in the hallways of hotels, the Renaissance Grand Hotel has been no exception other than Saturday night when the local Emmys took place.  As for the hotel, let’s be reminded of Ogden Nash‘s line, “Progress was a good thing once but it went on too long.” There was no end of fascination during the presentations, although big names of news anchors, reporters, sports and weather on-air talent seem to be a thing of the past.  Cable penetration, pubic TV, production houses, universities and online video websites have forced the competition and its out-of-town judges to use the same measuring stick against free commercial network affiliates, due in part to the recession or just the need for a full house. Conspicuously on hand for the event were KSDK’s Mike Bush and Fox2′s Mandy Murphey, but MIA were Larry Conners, Vickie Newton, Dave Murray, Russell Kinsaul, Leisa Zigman, Cindy Preszler and a few news reporters. But there were teams of talent from Springfield, Mo.,, Kansas City and Little Rock.  Strange that the entire Channel 4 management and on-air team weren’t on hand, while the station’s promos tout, “We’re 4 St. Louis.”  Presenter Patrick Clark, trimmed and slim, came in from L.A., carrying his guitar to the stage. WIL Radio’s deejay Cornbread grabbed an Emmy for Best Commentary/Editorial on KSDK and quipped, “I thank KSDK  for giving a fat man a chance to express himself.” Shocker of the night: Channel 4′s David Souza, Jr., nabbed an Emmy, while he said of his missing female colleague, “I told her to keep her ass at home – there was no need to come.” Ted Koplar revealed that his World Events Productions will be back in 2011 with a global release of 26 new animated episodes of “Voltron” in partnership with Mattel Toys and a full-length theatrical movie of robotic action. Yesteryear chief of KPLR, Hal Protter, confided that he and CW Network in Burbank have parted ways.  Protter joined Koplar to back-pat Spencer Koch’s marketing exec Suzi Schrappen, who was inducted to the 2010 Emmy Silver Circle. Not to be outdone by Oprah’s gifting audiences with exotic trips and cars, Schrappen got guffaws for having servers pass out hundreds of Fox2/KPLR 11 branded cookies during her presentation.

Broadcast and everything else in his dossier, yesteryear KPLR, Channel 11 salesmanager and KDNL, Channel 30 co-owner, Barry Baker, and his wife, Amy, graced a table with friends at Giovanni’s on the Hill, where Baker passed out his business cards on which read CEO of  both Petty Auto Racing; Boston Financial.  Now that his boisterous voice has returned (following procedures to restore his Brooklynese), Baker chowed down on the award-winning grouper and pappardelle.  Years ago, Baker and colleague Larry Marcus were fired by station owner Ted Koplar for forming a coup and offering to buy the station. Baker was overheard to say, that he and his wife are moving away from Baltimore, where they’ve lived since leaving our town.

Marcus

At the annual Mid-America Emmy Gala at the Renaissance Grand Hotel, KETC (Channel 9) stalwart Patrick Murphy said the station has produced a number of documentaries that “we’re gearing up for national release.” Among them are: “Missouri Life 360″; “Circus Flora”; “St. Louis Marathon” and “Mardi Gras.”. May and Martin Duggan were accompanied by Mary and attorney Tim Leahy. The ever ebulient Tom O’Neal , who’s marking his 35th year on TV here, now at KTVI (Channel 2), but once at KSDK (Channel 5). O’Neal was inducted into the group’s “silver circle.” . . . Yesteryore KPLR (Channel 11) GM and currently

Wolff

senior veep of the CW Television Network (in Los Angeles) Hal Protter was presented “the President’s Award.” At the pre-awards reception, Protter talked about the economic downturn’s effect on television. “The networks are trying to do so much with so few people and they are each down about $100 million in revenue.” A technology expert, Protter noted that he had come up with a $9,000 camera “better than the $80,000 camera.” . Television magnate Ted Koplar, an old Protter boss, got kudos from his pals for his recent media acquisition in Osage Beach., dubbed KRBK-TV (the calls of a former Koplar station in

Trelstad

Sacramento), which will hit the airwaves next month. The station will be an affiliate of Fox’s My Network. Koplar also said that “Voltron,” the successful series he created (and the last iconic brand of the 1980s still standing) is heading toward a future release as a full-length feature film. It will be under the helm of Chuck Roven, whose “The Dark Knight” garnered considerable critical and commercial success . Nancy and Ted’s heir, Robert Koplar, is now with the family’s World Events operation . Honoree Sharon Stevens was a no show, but  her bosses Lynn Beall and Lynn’s hub Paul Trelstad were there in full force.

The Beall-Trelstads were marking 20 years of wedded bliss. The two are both group chiefs of Gannett. With them was Channel 5′s affable news director Mike Shipley . Heidi and Don Wolff enthused that the city’s most prominent litigator still has plenty of irons in the fire, including hosting chores at HEC-TV and “I Love Jazz” on KFUO-FM, and as an expert on the Internet’s “Legally Speaking” . Three-time Emmy winner Laurna Godwin‘s Vector Communications has been tapped (again) to produce the video for the St. Louis Development Corp. City Business Celebration Awards Luncheon on Friday at America’s Center.