Streaming video:

Luciano Pavarotti on WMAQ-TV

(September, 1977)



Luciano Pavarotti at O'Hare Airport in September, 1977
Above: Luciano Pavarotti arrives at Chicago's O'Hare airport in September, 1977.

Curator's note: This video documents the September, 1977 encounter of the Curator and WMAQ-TV producer Marjorie Fox with Luciano Pavarotti who had come to Chicago for the Lyric Opera's season opener, L'elisir d'amore. This piece is notable (among other reasons) because it portrays Pavarotti as a devoted family man who has finally brought his weight under control.

This piece was originally shot on film (WMAQ-TV had still not fully adopted videotape technology in 1977). Opera-lover Amatore Mazzacano was behind the camera. Sound is by Jake Collins. Lighting is by Dominic Contursi.

Anchor Don Craig introduces reporter Rich Samuels. Does anybody know what became of him.

Thanks to Marjorie Fox (now of the University of Cincinnati) for providing this video.


Scenes from the video:

Right: Luciano Pavarotti with wife #1 Adua and their three daughters, Lorenza, Cristina and Giuliana.

Luciano Pavarotti cooks Left: Luciano Pavarotti cooks lunch in the kitchen of his Chicago apartment.

Right: A Pavarotti culinary creation, allegedly containing little or no fat. A Pavarotti no-fat dish

QUICK ACCESS LINKS:
Introduction and main index to this site
WMAQ radio history | "Amos 'n' Andy" | "Fibber McGee and Mollie" | "The Breakfast Club"
Dick Kay | Television at the Merchandise Mart | 1970 television facilities tour | Channel 5 turns 20
The "Chicago School" of television | "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" | Dave Garroway | Mary Hartline
"Lights Out" | Sound effects | 1930 studio tour | WLS | "Empire Builders" | Barry Bernson
Floyd Kalber | The Queen of Love and Beauty | "Today's Children" | Staff announcers | Carol Marin
Ron Magers | Studs Terkel l "Chicago Tonight" | Channel 5 News scrapbooks |Roger Miller recalls
Zoo Parade | Clifton and Frayne Utley | Val Press | Len O'Connor | Johnny Erp | Bill Ray | Daddy-O
Experimental Television: 1930-1933 | Bob Deservi | Kermit Slobb | Ding Dong School | Quiz Kids
Bob Lemon | The Korshak Chronicles | KYW: The Chicago Years | WENR | O.B. Hanson | Renzo
Jack Eigen | Ed Grennan | The World's Best Cup of Coffee | Glenn Webster | Mr. Piano | Hawkins Falls
Chicago Television for Kids |
Radio Hall of Fame |The NBC News Night Report: 23 February, 1967
Audio and video downloads
About the Curator

Comments or suggestions? click here to send them to Rich Samuels

Created by Rich Samuels (e-mail to rich@richsamuels.com)