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WRAL Tower Shines as Holiday Beacon for 50th Season

  • Andrea Osborne
  • December 4, 2009
  • News
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WRAL-TV logo
WRAL Tower
The WRAL transmission tower becomes a holiday beacon for the 50th time.
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WRAL-TV brought an annual holiday tradition to light on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, with the lighting of the 300-foot tower that tops the station. For the 50th time WRAL-TV flipped the switch to turn the tower into a tree ablaze with multi-colored lights.

WRAL-TV Morning News Anchors Bill Leslie & Kelcey Carlson did the honors at 6:15pm, live from Studio A. During the evening newscasts Leslie & Carlson tossed the broadcast back and forth with the anchors on the regular news desk.

The duo was joined in Studio A by the North Carolina Central Marching Sound Machine, who provided a musical backdrop for the evening’s events.

WRAL-TV Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel did the weather forecast at the foot of the unlit tower on the station’s plaza. Then he dashed by the fountain, lit with red bulbs for the holidays, and joined the band inside for a number on his tuba.

“I think everybody here looks forward to it,” said CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon, grandson of Fletcher. “It’s part of our tradition, and tradition is important.”

The newscast included a look back at the past 50 years of the holiday décor for the tower. Each year every bulb is handchecked before the lighting. In 1998, when WRAL got a new tower, engineers were stringing up to the last minute to prepare for the lighting ceremony.

1st Place
The North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine play in Studio A to help celebrate the tower lighting.

WRAL engineering retiree P.B. Jernigan comes back to supervise the lighting each year. When asked what he thinks about when the countdown gets to 3-2-1, Jernigan said, “I’m thinking I hope the thing comes on.”

Thanks to the dedication of Jernigan & his team, the lights have always come on as planned. In 50 years they have never had to use the back-up switch.

Sky 5 captured the event from the sky, as a new wave of technology brought the event to viewers in a new way. WRAL.com not only live-streamed the newscasts as usual, but WRAL.com’s Kathy Hanrahan carried around a laptop & video camera bringing live-streaming of the behind-the-scenes for the first time every.

“It is just a little piece of glory at Christmastime to me,” said retired WRAL-TV Anchor Charlie Gaddy. “I mean it. I love it!”

It takes from one to three days each year to get the 2,800 lights ready to sparkle, much like a family working together to put up their tree and decorations. WRAL sees ourselves as part of the Triangle family, and lights the tower each year for the enjoyment of everyone in our community.

It’s a way of saying “thanks everybody,” said Goodmon, “and let’s celebrate together.”

  • The 2009 Tower Lighting on WRAL.com

WRAL-TV 50th Annual Tower Lighting

WRAL-TV hosts the 50th annual Tower Lighting on December 1, 2009, during the evening newscasts.
WRAL-TV’s Jay Yovanovich gets set to run the boom camera.
WRAL-TV’s Shelly Leslie gives surfers some behind-the-scenes shots via Twitter.
WRAL-TV’s Greg Clark gets ready for some close-up camera work.
WRAL-TV’s Leesa Moore, producer of the tower lighting, makes sure all cameras are in place.
Celebrate the season with WRAL.
WRAL.com’s Kathy Hanrahan captures the behind-the-scenes action to stream it live on WRAL.com.
WRAL-TV Morning News Anchors Bill Leslie (left) & Kelcey Carlson give their notes a last check before the broadcast begins.
WRAL-TV’s Leesa Moore (right) gives the go signal to the anchors as Greg Clark gets set.
WRAL-TV’s Al Robinson is ready to go.
Conductor Jorim Reid waits for the go signal to start up North Carolina Cental University’s Marching Sound Machine.
The North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine provide the musical backdrop for WRAL-TV’s 50th Annual Tower Lighting.
The teleprompter keeps the anchors on schedule.
NC Central’s Marching Sound Machine has been selected to partipate in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasedena, CA.
NC Central’s Marching Sound Machine brings Christmas carols to WRAL viewers.
WRAL-TV’s Greg Fishel heads to Studio A with his tuba to join the band.
WRAL-TV’s Rodney Martin makes sure the outdoor audio is running properly.
WRAL-TV’s Ed Wilson runs the outside camera.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Maze forecasts the weather outside while his co-hort Greg Fishel plays the tuba with the band inside.
Families dot the WRAL lawn, stopping by to see the lighting firsthand.
WRAL-TV’s Diane Richardson sets out refreshments for the band to enjoy after the lighting.
WRAL-TV’s Greg Clark works hard to get the perfect angle.
WRAL-TV’s Tim King takes over a camera in Studio A.
The moment is almost here! WRAL-TV’s Bill Leslie (left) & Kelcey Carlson lead the final countdown.
The band joins in the countdown.
The tower lights up!
The band strikes up a few more holiday tunes while Sky5 captures shots of the tower aglow.
WRAL-TV’s Greg Fishel (right) finishes up the forecast outside, as Leesa Moore wraps up the tower lighting coverage.
WRAL-TV’s holiday decorating is now complete.
WRAL-TV’s Debra Morgan visits with the crowd outside.
Happy Holidays from WRAL-TV & Capitol Broadcasting!
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