Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • Page 41

ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Fine arts, books travel i OT1 MUMP 1 i- fc -A, -IV "iWJt 1 1 IV Amy Jones ON THE SCENE A For years Bill Norwood juggled a career in the air and the air -both as fcl I f. I 1 1: i I Nf 'i rtfP; s. 1 a hot air balloonist and as a children's entertainer on Asheville's WLOSTV station. Now he's back to doing both, stepping back in front of the TVcamera again. JOHN COUTLAKISCmZEN TIMES Local TV legend 'Mr.

Bill" Norwood spends his mornings flying a hot air balloon for Sky Tours of Asheville. A few Saturdays ago, his passengers included David and Jessica Bailey and Lyn Stimpson of Chapel Hill, who scrambled into the balloon's wicker basket for a soaring adventure over the Asheville Regional Airport 71 i full-time. Today, he's vice president and pilot of Sky Tours, working with president and chief pilot Ladonna Payne, who ironically as a child, was a guest on Norwood's show. Last year, when Channel 13 "needed skilled part-time weatherman help, they turned to Norwood. "We are delighted to have him back in a limited role," station manager Will Davis said.

"He is living history. Hardly a day goes by that we don't get a call from someone who remembers having been on his show, or seeing his show." Deborah Austin, managing director at Asheville Community Theater, was a guest of Mr. Bill's with her Brownie troop in the 1960s. "We went away with a loaf of Bunny Bread." And she was stunned to see sweat dripping from Norwood's goofy sidekick, Bozo the Gown (actually Bob Caldwell, who later became Bumbo the Clown). By Tony Kiss ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SHEV1LLE Bill Norwood has spent i half century on the air.

And in more ways than one. He's Asheville's beloved "Mr. Bill," who spent 29 years hosting a popular -children's TV show on WLOSChannel 13, a job that made him nothing short of a local living legend. For 20 years, he's been flying hot air balloons, gently carrying paying passengers on spectacular soaring adventures. He's also a licensed airplane pilot, who originally planned a career in aviation, And now he's back on the tube, occa- sionally subbing for Channel 13's vaca- tioning weathermen and on-air person- alities.

Returning to television after a 10-year-break was a cinch. 4 Music makes people feel connected ometimes people can be truly surprising. If you keep your "eyes peeled, they can often be downright inspiring, this revelation comes to me from two unsuspecting folks named Margo and Andy. Standing only 3 feet high, Margo Roberts approached our sitting circle where volunteers and employees were hanging out during public radio station WNCWs spring fund drive. Most of the regulars that work every WNCW fund drive knew her at sight but introductions were made nonetheless, as she, too, was an able body at this phone-a-thon." When questioned, Margo said she was 9 years old and a fan of WNCW.

She admitted that she was at the drive with her dad and together she thought they'd worked about three of the station's last fund-raisers. Not lone into the conversation, Margo's dad appeared, a nice looking man with a gentle demeanor. He confirmed he and Margo's connection to the radio station and offered his favorite programs and the kinds of music that he liked. Andy said that he enjoyed listening to the music in the car and that he and Margo liked listening to the station together. I was instantly curious about this parent-child relationship built on a mutual hobby.

They listen to music together, huh? Not to mention that this meeting was happening on a CitniYliv ftarnnnn maAanf nnlv frJHkW.UW.J the finest ingredients -sunshine, springtime and free time. Remember, this grade-schooler was hanging out in a warehouse for the afternoon, just to support her music habit. Later in the evening, Andy said that he regularly traded music with some of his co-workers. The shared music is mostly artists that he's heard on WNCW, and he felt that giving his time was the least he could do. But people volunteer all the time.

So what's the big deal? The beauty of Andy and Margo is not about their service, albeit admirable, but about their connection. Their music connection. The last time I surveyed the paltry music collection belonging to my aunt, and mother of two young boys, I was stumped. The woman who had once been a great lover of Motown and would have been hard pressed to pull a Diana Ross in any incarnation from her entertainment center. 1 would have accepted the Al Green on vinyl, but she doesn't even have a record player anymore.

"Music is usually just more added noise in an already crazy day," my aunt has said. The hell you say. I remembered that the last time I had those two boys in the car we were all over the classic rock station. It was pure joy to hear my cousin Rcmy, then 7 years old wailing: "I saw her today at the reception." Mick Jagger never sounded so good. Big-name artists have tried to apcal to the sensil tflitit of children.

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman hit the miniature human market before Garcia passed on. But kkls don't have to be kit to venture down that Barney trail of songs too stupid to even say out loud Adults should share their music with their kkls. All music isn't age appropriate, granted. But great deal of music out there is rijie with energy, great lyrics and certainly culture that would appeal to big and small listeners. In fact our area is rich with ft.

It can be as simple as being in the car with a little "American Tie" coming out of the speakers. The conncctkm to music, or lack of it, will probably not stop the world for most of us. Chances are, our children will still grow up loved and Interesting even if we don't rock out with them on the highway. But after seeing Andy and Margo, I'd rather be sharing the music. I A my Jonen unlet about enter-inmentfitr the CitkenTime.

surprising. If you keep your kJeyes peeled, they can often be HUE PHOTO The "Mr. Bill" show was an institution on Channel 13 from 1959 through 1 988, when it was "squeezed out" by an early newscast Through its long run, the show aired mornings and afternoons and also included a studio audience with local children. "Being on television was a big deal" she said. Norwood actually created "Mr.

Bill" in 1954 while working at WNCT In Greenville, N.C "They said they needed a children's show," Norwood remembered. "I said I'd do ft, only if 1 could be a fee Hr.lii on page ti v-; ult like riding a bike he said. "The studio is the same, but 90 percent of the people are new. It was funny. I'd be in the studio and people would come up and say 'I understand you used to work here.

And I would say Tfes, I was here a while." FonhousanasiDrflevotea tiaby boomers, Norwood, now 71, will forever be "Mr. Bill," a surrogate father who taught, entertained and enchanted his young viewers with a mix of features, cartoons and studio guests from 1959 throu'gh June 10, 1988. Once, Carolina television was filled with local children's personalities: Monty and Doohickey in Greenville, S.C., singing cowboy Fred and Joey the Clown in Charlotte, The Old Rebel in Greensboro and Uncle Paul in Raleigh. But they've all disap peared, replaced Dy eariy morning news, computer-created cartoons or wild afternoon talk shows. "Mr.

Bill" was among the last to go. When the show ended, he stayed a few, weeks with Channel 13 as morning news and weather personality. But the thrill was gone: "I went from being my own boss, doing my own thing, ad-libbing," he said. "And then it was scripted, all that chatting back and forth. And you were at the mercy of who writes that" He was already a veteran balloon pilot and instructor and so he slipped Into that world Hurmjio book there 100 Hill Bessie's Their a slave.

a They known the mild They the people long Their lnr A much younger "Mr. Bill" poses with two puppet friends from his kids' show days. Story of the famous Delany sisters comes to TV Portions of movie shot on location in North Carolina plays the younger Sadie. Ruby Dee, who plays the older Bessie, agrees. "I hesitate to say where African Americans would be without the dedication and sacrifices of these peo By Mike Hughes GANNETT NEWS SERVICf Nestled into a quiet, suburban home, was a treasure chest of American history.

Dr. Bessie Delany was ple," she says. "We haven said Thank you enougn." "Having Our Say," the story of the Delany Now "Having Our Say" says years old when writer Amy Hearth met her in 1991. sister, Sadie, was 102. father had been born They were born Into Southern world as segregation laws were passed.

'i i 4 1 i 1 Vv i -J! 1 L. it eloquently. The movie also has Diahann Carroll as Sadie and Dee as Bessie, telling their story to Hearth (Amy Madigan). That flashes to memories when they were younger with Anderson as Sadie and Audra McDonald as Bessie. There are parts of this story that Dee, 75, can easily relate to.

sisters, airs at 9 p.m. Sunday on CBS (WSPAChannel 7). Originally written as their autobiography, "Having Our Say" has also been done as a stage play both by Asheville Community Theater and mostly recent at the professional Southern Appalachian Repertory had personally the greats, from Booker T. Washington to the militant W.E,B.DuBoi. had also known Infamous.

"Most of the I'm still mad at are dead," Bessie has said. story became "Hav- Our Sav" hrat-ftcllinff Like the Delany she knew Harlem during its golden age. "I lived just two blocks from where Bessie had her office." In 1993. then the Broad- Theater in Mars Hill. way play and now a richly crafted movie, at 9 p.m.

Sunday on CBS For other parts of the story, this is an Immense leap. Three of the stars (WSPAChannel 7). TIAW-MTWmiM Actresss Diaharw Carrofl, right, talks with actress Ruby Dee during a break In filming In Gastonia in February. The film, based on the book by sisters Sadie and Bessie Delany, sta Carroll as Sadie and Dee as Bessie, i "The Delany sisters, to me, are part of who I am," says Lisa Arrindell Anderson, who 4See Delany tpage D3.