STLMHF

Todd Newton – 2015

Daytime Emmy Award winner Todd Newton’s broadcasting career began on WKBQ radio and KPLR-TV in St. Louis, where he used the nom-de-air of Rikk Idol. Newton grew up in Oakville in St. Louis County. He left his hometown and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams, landing gigs as a host on several national programs. Newton also authored books about the business: The Host with the Most: Tales of a Tattooed Television Personality, and Life in the Bonus Round: A Game Show Host’s Road to Success and Fulfillment-which was named Best Autobiography at the prestigious Beverly Hills Book Awards. He returned for a short stint on KIHT/KNOU in 2015, and at that time, he and his family created Newton Fund 4 Kids to support St. Louis’ Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.

Sam Muchnick – 2014

A phenomenal showman, promoter and broadcaster, Sam Muchnick was a staple in the sports scene here spanning seven decades. A native Ukrainian, he moved with his family to St. Louis in 1911. In 1926, he joined the St. Louis Times, where he covered the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team while developing many influential acquaintances, including Babe Ruth and Al Capone. Muchnick also covered professional wrestling, and in 1932, when the Times merged with the St. Louis Star, he began his career as a long-time sports promoter. His TV series, “Wrestling at the Chase,” aired on KPLR-TV from May 1959 through September 1983.

Rzeppa, Zip – 2001

Zip Rzeppa came to KTVI in St. Louis in 1984, filling his sportscasts with humor, energy, fast-paced highlights and commentary, bringing about a major change in the way television sports was presented in St. Louis.  He moved to KMOV in 1988.  Zip performed his trademark Zippo Awards for “the best, the worst, and the weirdest performances in the wild and wacky, wonderful world of sports” weekly from 1984-2001.

Max Roby – 2014

A news anchor on KMOX (now KMOV) and KSD (now KSDK) in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Max Roby was a TV pioneer and among the most trusted newsmen in St. Louis. The deep-voiced Roby delivered news in the style of Walter Cronkite, and seldom lightened up until he delivered his signature line, “That would be all of the news if it weren’t for …” followed by a “kicker” or a lighter story at the end of the newscast. Over the years, Roby interviewed half-a-dozen U.S. presidents and others who shaped the times.

Bruce Hayward – 2013

In June of 1953, local radio newsman Bruce Hayward was named director of news and special events at WTVI, the market’s first UHF TV operation and the second television station in St. Louis. Hayward was news anchor on all their newscasts. One of his additional duties was to go door-to-door to help viewers install and adjust their UHF antennas. When the station switched dial positions, Hayward remained with the newly named KTVI (Channel 2) as a news announcer and public affairs director.

In the 1960s, Bruce Hayward was the producer of KSD-TV’s noon show featuring Marty Bronson and Stan Kann, and in retirement he appeared as host of “Seniorville” on the local Higher Education Channel.

Russ Carter – 2013

Though he started out as a singer with the Ted Weems Orchestra, Russ Carter is best-known in St. Louis as the host of the wildly popular “St. Louis Hop,” a local, weekly  “American Bandstand” program on KSD-TV. He held that position for 15 years beginning in 1958 and played host to national and local teen music stars of the era.

His teen audience was loyal, following the show through four location changes over its life span. One of those changes came when a venue refused to allow black teens inside, and the next week, Carter found a place where everyone was welcome, thus making the program St. Louis’ first racially integrated show. Carter’s salesmanship made Bonnee Buttered Beef Steaks and Pepsi-Cola staples in the diets of St. Louis area teenagers. TV was still relatively primitive in the St. Louis Hop days, so Carter was even responsible for writing out his own cue cards.