Ted Weber In Old Town

Ted Weber in Old Town was a celebrity talk, entertainment program which aired on WCIU-TV Chicago beginning in 1968. The set and format were similar to The Tonight Show. Even though the show operated on a low budget it still had high production values and some innovative ideas. Perhaps the first music videos started here. There were a number of segments where the guest artists were filmed on location: The Cowsills singing their hit “We Can Fly’ on ice skates, the cast of ‘Subways Are For Sleeping’ performing down in Chicago’s subway system. One of the most talked about bits was Ted and his friend Geraldine Court (Guiding Light, As the World Turns, All My Children) staging a “Bonnie and Clyde” hold up of an Old Town shop. Vintage getaway car, clothing, and all. Wells Street was shut down for the shoot! Oh yes, he even danced once with Ruby Keeler!
Then there was Donald Renner painting Weber’s portrait live on air. He had just done Virginia Graham’s picture for her show Girl Talk.
Each week a crew would scour the city borrowing all sorts of ‘props’ from Chicago stores to be used for in studio entertainment sets.
Guests ranged from Hugh O’Brien, filmed at the Playboy Mansion, to Carol Channing and John Belushi. Some of the shows staff included Jerry Dhesse, who did all the location filming, Kirby O’Connor, who directed, and Aaron Gold, who handled the press. He later took over The Tower Ticker Inc column in the Tribume, and the Larry Taylor Trio

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