Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 28

ipje Hartford jfourant SECTION CIO TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18. 1984 CONNECTICUT LIVING Billy Squier Shuns Aura Of Stardom By GARY GRAFF. Kniyht-Ridder A'cii'spaperj. I Kathy Hanley I he Hartford Among those who gathered in downtown Hartford Monday for ceremonies celebrating Channel 61's beginning are, from left, David Chase, a real estate developer and Ella Grasso's husband; U.S. Rep.

Barbara Kennelly; Gov. William A. O'Neill; Sandra Chase; Nikki O'Neill and the station's new owner, Arnold Chase. owner of WTIC Radio; Rosalynn Carter; Eleanor Grasso. Tom Grasso 's second wife; Jimmy Carter; James Kennel-ly; Rhoda Chase, David's wife; Tom Grasso, the late Gov.

Station Opens With Steele Rerun Meet Billy Squier's audience an almost all-white, mostly male and moneyed group of T-shirted rockers who. ike loud music and a good time. "Now meet Squier a. star who sidesteps stardom in the best "I yam what I yam" tradition, contends he's not all that different from his fans. "I guess perhaps I'm selfish, but I expect them to be a lot like me," says Squier, who will perform tonight at the New Haven Coliseum.

"I'm the middle-class kid; it doesn't sound-exciting, but a lot of my audience is middle-class kids. "I never try to create into a different personality or anything like that," the 34-year-old singer-guitarist added. "I'm not like David Bowie or somebody like that, who changes personas each year. I don't feel any great need to dress in funny-looking clothes and be recognized as a star, nor do I get that much satisfaction out of hanging around all the main clubs so people can see who I am." Don't get the feeling that after two million-selling albums and a third probably on the way with his new "Signs of Life" Squier simply squirrels himself away in his flew York apartment. He's able, as he put it, to "enjoy a lot of things that come through my success without being flamboyant about them; I can travel a lot, go around the world, eat in good restaurants." But in the time most stars use to be flashy and recognized, Squier stays low-key and works.

Believe it or not, he is serious and proud of it. "That's a dangerous combination serious and rock 'n' roll," Squier said. "But, yeah, I'm pretty serious. I've been at this a long time, and it takes a certain amount of seriousness. Things don't happen by accident; certain groups happen accidentally, but they disappear quickly.

I don't want to be in that category." It's an understandable attitude since much of Squier's early work has been forgotten. Bom in Need-ham, to an athletie-equip- Continued on next page one of the more awkward transitions of the broadcast. It was followed immediately by clips from two television series. "Switch" and "Green Acres," used to introduce the host of the event, Eddie Albert. Albert was picked to host the event because Channel 61 will show "Green Acres." Big chunks of the broadcast were set aside to promote the station and its programming.

One emphasis was the station's signal at 5 million watts is powerful. Because WTIC broadcasts over such a high UHF frequency, however, it needs more power than stations with lower channel numbers. As for programming, Channel 61 will begin with a mix of network reruns, children's shows, sports and movies. But Arnold Chase and Bruce C. Mayer, the station's vice president and general manager, say local shows will be introduced during the next year.

The Hilton audience was given a preview of a live children's show, featuring magician Mark Mazzarella, and told that the station will soon begin a talk show called "Sound Off." And Mayer made his strongest commitment yet to launch a local news show, saying, "As soon as we're ready, and that won't be too long, we're going to present the facts with a first-class news operation in the WTIC tradition." Now WTIC Radio is owned by David T. Chase, the wealthy real estate developer, and WTIC-TV is owned by his 33-year-old son, Arnold. The local roots of the new station were a theme of the gala. "Your wait is over," Arnold Chase told the crowd and the viewers. "Locally owned and operated television is back to stay." The Chase family's clout attracted an impressive crowd to the opening.

Among the guests were former President Jimmy Carter. Gov. William A. O'Neill, Mayor Thirman Milner and leaders from politics, business, education and the media. Carter came because of his friendship with David Chase and his desire to pay tribute to the late Gov.

Ella T. Grasso, to whom the station was dedicated. A Channel 61 spokesman said Carter wasn't paid for his appearance. Flashing his familiar smile, Carter spoke only briefly. He recalled a campaign trip to Hartford on Oct.

1, 1976, when Ella Grasso presented him with a cake on his birthday, and praised the late governor. The Grasso family husband Thomas, daughter Susane and son James, who holds a 2 percent ownership interest in the station also attended. They watched a filmed presentation of images of Gov. Grasso, set to the national anthem, that the station will use to sign on and sign off each day. The showing of the Grasso film produced WTIC TV By MARC GUNTHER Con runl TV Eil it w- "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm Bob Steele. Tonight we are making history, together. You're watching the live inaugural telecast of America's most powerful television station WTIC Television. Channel 61, Hartford, USA." With those words, delivered at precisely 7 p.m. Monday, WTIC-TV became Hartford's first new television station in 27 years.

Before beginning its regular programming, the station broadcast an hourlong program live from The Parkview Hilton Hotel. About 500 people attended the opening, a black-tie event. Steele's words set the tone for the inaugural show. Channel 61 got rolling with an evening that mixed nostalgia, celebration, politics, braggadocio and pure schmaltz. The nostalgic tone was set by Steele, host of the morning show on WTIC Radio and probably the most popular radio or TV personality in Connecticut.

"It was 27 years ago that I had the honor of saying the first words over WTIC-TV, Channel 3," he told the crowd. "I have the same honor tonight." Steele used to work at the old WTIC-TV, which with WTIC Radio was founded and owned by The Travelers Insurance Cos. Battery operated picture light at Metzger's. Order now for 6-8 wk. delivery.

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