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Submitted by: Frank Clynes, Mar 15, 2008 In the early 70's Vance Eckersley decided he was ready for a major advertising blitz to promote the news department. He had finally assembled his Dream Team, and it was time to tell the world. He secretly contracted to have huge billboards erected all over RI, Ma. and Eastern Conn. proclaiming "We're Watching You, New England." This message would be next to two giant portraits of his anchor people - Truman Taylor and Penny Rabe. There was just one hitch. Vance Eckersley, a former corporate lawyer, did not believe in personal service contracts. Actually there were two hitches. He hadn't let Penny in on the secret. Penny told Vance she was flattered with all this PR, but her husband had just been awarded a full professorship at the Sorbonne University in Paris. The first semester began in two weeks and she was handing in her notice. AGGGGH! Ever have one of those days? Penny radiated her intense personality and sexual energy over the airwaves, like no other anchor in New England. And she was now quitting to become a housewife. This was beyond Vance's comprehension. In a few weeks, all of SE New England would tune into WTEV-6, to see Truman Taylor sitting alone at the anchor desk. But that's the way it was. Jump ahead some three years. I was now working at WPRI-12 and news director Walter Cryan had just fired his female reporter because of personality problems. He confided to me that he'd love to get that Penny Rabe on his newscast, but he knew it was near impossible. I replied, "If you want her, you got her. " I called her father-in-law, who was a noted physician at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He gave me her telephone number in Paris. Walter made the call and Penny said, "When can I start?" Soon after she was hired at WPRI-12, her husband accepted a new position as a professor at Yale University. And about a year later, she got pregnant. In those days, it was the practice of many large corporations to lay off women who got themselves in this condition, and it was for sure that Penny was headed there too. Then two pregnant employees of Narragansett Electric filed suit against their employer for firing them, and Penny covered the story. In one of her closing film stand-ups, Penny suddenly turned sideways, extended her belly out as far as she could and said, "Walter Cryan had better not try to fire me because I'm pregnant. The is Penny Rabe, WPRI News." That was exactly what Walter was planning to do, as per company policy. But I was the film editor that night, and that's the closing standup I chose to end the story. After that package aired and was it thrown back to Walter, his jaw was agape. He was struck speechless. He never saw it coming. His co-anchor Doug White was chuckling like an Irish Leprechaun and said, "Well, you heard it here first." Television history was made that night and a long standing company policy came to a glorious end. The news department followed her pregnancy during the 6 PM news at least once a week, until delivery. Penny continued with us for many years after. When I was questioned about my choice of closing stand-ups. I said "Walter, you told me to use my best judgment." And I did. Frank Clynes Note: Penelope Bellamy (Rabe) is CEO at Penelope Bellamy Attorney, Branford, Connecticut, United States |
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