Daily Independent Journal from San Rafael, California • Page 39

M2 Saturday, October 30, 1971 Ma er Non Electric Impression Basically A Newsman He's In Show Business RON MAGERS Small-town Boy The boy makes good" label certainly applies in the case of Hon Magers, now a resident of the Peacock Gap area of San Rafael, KPIX Eyewitness News anchorman and star of the nationally syndicated Electric never been east of Cour d'AIane, Idaho, before by recent trip to New York concerning the syndication of reports 27-year- old Magers. The syndication came about with this Federal Communications ruling that networks must turn over a half- hour each night to the local stations for non-network programming. think the new prime-time access rule is a terrific idea if the local stations can respond with interesting said Magers. a for the first year. The stations can use network re-runs.

But next year programming must come from some other source which means local or syndica- -R -CDD 0DDr tion. This is a great opportunity for independent producers as well as the local stations to come up with something. Our program, for example, is syndicated to the four other Westinghouse television outlets in Boston, Philadelphia. Pittsburgh and BASICALLY a newsman, and hosting an entertainment program has been quite an experience. One of the shows I enjoyed doing the most was devoted to magic.

Slight-of- hand has always fascinated me, and I though if I sat next to the magician I could figure out how the tricks work. I the people that interviewed, several have been memorable. Cliff Robertson was the warmest, most genuine actor met. He came to the station alone without the usual entourage. And somehow I feel sorry for Zsa Zsa Cosby is a really funny man, but glad I don't have to cope with the pressures of his life.

Mike Douglas was sincere enough to remember something about me even though we met only once or twice each Magers does not collect memorabilia from the people he meets, but one thing that still remains in his desk drawer is a Kennedy for President button. got that after I interviewed Bobby in he said. FLUBS ON the air? had a few of those. soon forget the night that the last segment of an show was devoted to award-winning commercials. I teased into the segment by saying, a moment a look at national award-winning commercials.

But first, a couple that didn't win The station sales manager spent the next few days explaining to a large national advertiser that I really been belittling his Ron spent his early years, through the fourth grade, in Alaska, and then the Magers family moved to Ellensburg (pop. Washington, for two years. His junior and senior high school years were spent in Toppenish (po. where he began his career in broadcasting as a disc-jockey for KENE radio when he was 16 years old. AFTER graduation from high school, Ron attended Portland Community College and Central Washington State College.

He worked in the news department of television stations in Eugene and Portland, Oregon, between 1966-68. In early 1968. he was offered a position with KPIX Eyewitness News. went back to Portland to talk over the KPIX offer with my Magers said. the beginning, she opposed moving to' the in California.

Her impression of the state was one of white stucco houses with red, spanish-tilod roofs. I assured her that wasn't the case, and in one week we packed our Continued on Page A MONTAGE of entertainment, art, humor and music is the publicity department's description of Ron Magers' syndicated show. AT HOME, Ron is surrounded by his three daughters, from the left, Tracy, 6, Kendall, eight months, and Tia, 3..