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TheBuzz

BY ERIKA ENGLE

Airwaves of old at
collectors show

The T-shirt for the upcoming Hawaii All-Collectors Show 2002 incorporates something in the design that the younger among us won't recognize -- a TV test pattern.

The reason is, the big non-vending exhibitor this year is KGMB-TV, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

"We try to have some special theme every year," said event co-producer Ilene Wong. Every year she and Ilene & Wayne Productions Inc. partner Wayne Maeda set aside space for a display that sets the theme. Maeda is a bit of a buff when it comes to early Hawaii TV, she said.

KGMB's display will appear in a timeline of images dating back to 1952 and will include "pictures from the very first broadcast with Kini Popo," said Lawrence Pacheco, producer and director for KGMB promotions and marketing.

Kini Popo is better known these days known as Carl Hebenstreit, president of Trade Publishing Co. but he was "the first voice and face of Hawaii television," Pacheco said.

Still photos will be the focus, Pacheco said. "There's not that much footage available from the old days, but if anyone has an old kinescope," he said, "I'd love for them to come forward."

Pictures will include KGMB's local celebrities, such as Sheriff Tookie Evans and Sheriff Ken Alford, the various hosts of Checkers and Pogo, and some of the wrestlers who appeared in "50th State Wrestling" when the ring was built in the KGMB studio. That show preceded "Wrestling Hawaii" in the 1970s when "The Missing Link's" signature "Ohhh yeah," was part of the show's intro.

National celebrities' visits to Hawaii will also be displayed, including Vincent Price, James Arness, Mouseketeer Jimmy Dodd and Capt. Kangaroo.

KGMB is in the throes of producing special programming for its anniversary; it's also rebuilding its long-absent Web presence.

A Web site is now under construction, said Bernie Armstrong, director of marketing and business development.

The KGMB memorabilia won't be for sale, but vendors at the July 26 to 28 show at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall will sell all things collectible from old Hawaiian currency to new and "vintage" items of all sorts.

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com