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Bob Finkle Story

Posted by ken On April - 16 - 2009

Bob Finkle: TVW 1967 – 1979

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Bob Finkle started in the WA Television Industry at STW 9 on April 5 1965 at the early age of (not quite) 16 years. Originally employed as a trainee technician, mainly in audio, he chose every opportunity to play with a studio camera until management couldn’t help but notice and offered him the chance to transfer from Engineering to Production Department as junior cameraman. Bob remained as cameraman and Floor Manager at STW 9 until May 1967 when he moved up the road to TVW 7.

As a relative newcomer and still younger than the other cameramen Bob spent most of his time in the second crew working on commercials, News, “Romper Room”, “Children’s Channel 7”, “TV Bingo” that were mainly recorded from Studio 2. Other members of the “B” crew were Jack Keily (Floor Manager), John Owenel, and sometimes Murray Kelso. Studio Supervisor John Easton also filled crew rostering gaps on occasions.

At this stage Senior Cameraman Russell Sage was promoted to Director, John Slater up to Senior Cameraman and with Murray Kelso moving up a notch gave Bob the opportunity to move into the “A” crew with Floor Manager Barry Daniel to work on other programs and commercials mainly from Studio 1 and into Outside Broadcasts. Over the next few years John Slater left for Canada and a couple of years later Murray Kelso went to Channel 10 in Sydney. Cameramen John Owenel, David Brown and Ernie Oxwell had already left. Other cameramen to come into the crew over the next few years included Roy Chivers, Rod Garnaut, Bryn Watkins, Steve Lowe, Peter Allan, Tim Thunder, Geoff Waldock, Chris Murray, Eddie Alfirevich. Jeff Thomas as Floor Manager.

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Some of the Studio Productions Bob was a Cameraman on from 1967 to 1972 included “Club Seventeen”, “In Perth Tonight”, Telethon, “World of Football”, “It’s Academic”, “Reach for the Stars”, “Stars of the Future”, “Children’s Channel 7”, “Caltex Sports Star of the Year”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Anything Goes”, “Perth’s New Faces”, “Letter Box”, “Spellbound”.

Outside Broadcasts included, “Miss Western Australia”, “Miss West Coast”, Claremont Speedway, WAFL, Cricket, “Disney on Parade” (Perry Lakes), Golf, Royal Show, Military Tattoo, “Sandover Medal Count”, Wanneroo Motor Racing, Motor Cross, Tennis, opening of the Perth Concert Hall, “Rock Mass”, Christmas Pageants, “Backstage with Fiddler (on the Roof)”, Election Tally Room.

End 1972 Bob was promoted from Senior Cameraman to Director.

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Jan and Bob

1973 saw Bob and Jan Finkle transferred to Adelaide sister station SAS10 as the third of the staff transfers. Mike Humphry and John Lyons were previous transfers to SAS 10, Danny MacKay and Mike Mortimer from SAS 10 to TVW 7.

During this year at SAS 10 Bob directed programs including (some of) “A Touch of Elegance”, “Adelaide’s New Faces”, “Romper Room”.

Following their return to Perth, from 1974 to 1979 Bob directed Studio programs including, “Jest For Laughs”, “Watts and Martin Star Makers”, “Chard”, Telethon, (some of) “Children’s Channel 7”, “World of Football”, “Hey Jude”, “Every Day Saturday – a Rock Ballet”.

Outside Broadcasts included, “Miss West Coast”, “Miss Australasian Beach Girl”, “Miss Western Australia”, “Miss Personality”, “1979 Pearce Air Display”, WAFL, Tennis, Show Jumping, Christmas Pageant, Summer Racing Carnival.

▪ 1980 – Bob Finkle was appointed the position of Production Manager of Hobart’s TVT 6.

▪ 1982 – 1985 Bob joined GTW 11 Geraldton as Production Manager.

▪ 1985 – 1990 Bob was employed as Program Production / Operations Manager Taimac Video Corporation.

▪ 1990 – formed his own business initially based in Perth. During this time Bob was contracted to the Western Australia Police Service as Production Officer for an 18 month period.

Bob Finkle now runs his own Video Production / Duplication business in Mandurah.

Bob Finkle Photo Gallery

6 Responses to “Bob Finkle Story”

  1. alfirevich says:

    Dear Bob, a very nice blog about a historic period that needs preserving… Eddy

  2. Trisha Bartoll (Hancox) says:

    I hope you read this Bob. Have wondered where you had got to. Loved seeing the “pics” at TVW. I still keep in touch with Peter Dean. Hope you find time to respond.

    Trisha.

  3. There is a a lot more about the tiny film industry of WA that I believe should be told so who is doing it and where is Eddy Alfirvich?

  4. karen lambourne says:

    Hi, just trying to locate Roy Chivers camerman many years ago at A.T.V.O
    in Melb, he was my first friend made at the station I was a junior now senior make up lady. Any hints to find him to say hi would be great.
    many thanks
    Karen Lambourne.

  5. Steve Lowe says:

    Hey Bob

    Where the hell are you? Ive been trying to track you down…. please send me an email?

    Steve

  6. Bob Finkle says:

    Steve

    I’ve been running my business in Mandurah for nearly 18 years. Drop me a line or ring 0418 944 650. Like to catch up with you.

    Bob

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