Alan's Italy: the Birth of a Television Show

By Alan J. Greenhalgh

In the spring of 2011 it was suggested to me that with the thousands of photos which had been taken by my artist wife, Laura Gurton, during our many trips to Italy, that I produce a program in my hometown on Woodstock Public Access Television. Having been to Italy twenty times in an equal number of years, with many stories of my experiences, and friends I have made over the years, it seemed logical that a large number of people would be interested in seeing our images and hearing about my recollections. I agreed to begin to put together a show for weekly broadcast on the local television station. After months of preparation interrupted by some serious physical illnesses, I began to host Alans Italy weekly at 5 PM on Friday evenings.

That was the beginning of many adventures with broadcasting live on a station that was strictly maintained by volunteers, many of whom had a very substantial technical understanding of the workings of the studio. It was at first suggested to me that it would be impossible to produce a weekly show for very long, since there were a finite number of photos available to me. As it turned out the show became a multifaceted presentation of all things Italian with several guests to interview. The audience grew, and with my involvement with Youtube, blogs, and local continuing education programs, my reputation grew.

Alans Italy: The Birth of a Television Show is the story of my quest to create, produce, write, perform, and maintain a weekly show. It is a very personal account of all the trials and tribulations that I experienced during the year and a half since the project began. Having had a career of forty one years in Mathematics Education, with no experience with television production the many challenges I have faced make for a fascinating true life story of how an idea suggested to me, out of the blue, on a spring day became a local sensation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477156179

Alan J. Greenhalgh

Alan J. Greenhalgh For the forty one years of my professional life I served as a high school mathematics teacher, assistant principal, and adjunct lecturer in mathematics at a college. It was an extraordinarily rewarding career which ended in 2010 with my retirement. I have since endeavored to pursue other avenues of intellectual stimulation and challenge by immersing myself in my hobbies and passions, one of which is traveling in Italy. I first journeyed there in 1992 and have continued spending vacations there ever since. I have always found Italy to be a marvelous place to visit filled with art, history, fine food, gorgeous scenery, and wonderful people. During my twenty visits there I have had great experiences and have wonderful memories of spectacular events. About a year and a half ago, I began producing and performing a weekly show on Woodstock Public Access Television, which is called Alan's Italy. The show focusses on my photos, memories, and knowledge of Italy and its extraordinary culture. The show, my two blogs, my lectures, and now my books have given me the opportunity to share my love for Italy with hundreds of people in my hometown of Woodstock, New York, and all over the world. In my spare time I enjoy swimming, guitar playing, and reading. I live in upstate New York with my wife, Laura, who is an accomplished artist, and the photographer and videographer of most of the images that are broadcast on my television show. I have a daughter, Jennifer, who is an attorney along with her husband, Robert. My granddaughter, Sofia is adorable and lovable. Laura two wonderful daughters, Lily, and Anna who are very special to me.

Book preview

Alan’s Italy:

The Birth of a Television Show

Alan J. Greenhalgh

Copyright © 2012 by Alan J. Greenhalgh.

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4771-5616-2

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4771-5615-5

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4771-5617-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

119125

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1      Getting on the Air

Chapter 2      How Do I Use This Computer?

Chapter 3      Alan, Why Do You Like Italy So Much?

Chapter 4      So What Will This Show Look Like?

Chapter 5      Finally the Day Arrives. Gulp!

Chapter 6      Production Problems and Successes

Chapter 7      Gosh, How Many of These Things Can I Do?

Chapter 8      The Community Center and Other Perceived Horrors

Chapter 9      The Photographic Eye of the Artist

Chapter 10      Ric Hirst Agrees to Be My Sidekick

Chapter 11      The Art of Franc Palaia Adds a New Dimension

Chapter 12      Italy in Its Many Forms

Chapter 13      Alan’s Italy Takes to the Road

Chapter 14      Minor Disasters, a Few Surprises, Balloons, and a Miracle on the Village Green

Chapter 15      Where Do I Go From Here?

For Laura

Acknowledgments

There are many people I have to thank not only for assisting me in writing this book through their recollections, education, and guidance but also for helping to produce my TV show. Also I would like to thank many people in my life, so please bear with me.

I will start with the person most responsible for Alan’s Italy, the TV show, my wonderful wife and extraordinary artist, Laura Gurton. Without Laura, there would be no Alan’s Italy. Thank you for your love and devotion and, most of all, for putting up with me.

The people connected to Woodstock Public Access Television have been invaluable, and I treasure their contributions—Richard Spool, Ellen Povill, and Angela Sweet. Ellen has been a great friend and guiding light through all this, and there are really no words that adequately express my feelings of appreciation. Along those same lines, I would like to thank my town of Woodstock, New York, for being an amazing place that inspires and encourages creativity. I would also like to thank the residents of the Woodstock viewing area who watch the show regularly (or irregularly) and for their words of encouragement.

My three wonderful Italian friends and their families have been incredibly kind, generous, and hospitable to me over the years. Also, without Lidia, Luca, and Franco, there would be no Alan’s Italy. In that vein, I would like to also thank everyone in Italy who has been so generous of their time and have embraced Laura and me with their warmth and kindness—hotel and restaurant owners and everyone else who has been helpful in some way.

I would to thank Ric Hirst and Franc Palaia for their valued support and participation in my show.

I would like to thank Dan Jurow, without whose computer expertise, nothing would have occurred.

Without my therapist, Dr. Michael Schwalberg, I don’t think I could have made it as far as I have come. I appreciate all you have done for me. I would also like to thank Dr. Teresa Foster for being such a wonderful and caring doctor. And finally nurse practitioner Marisa Flanagan, who works for Dr. Hal Buch, my gastroenterologist. Without you I would be lost. Thank you one and all!

I would like to thank my first wife, Wendy, for her friendship and for sharing those first few trips with me when I was in the earliest stages of falling in love with Italy.

My daughter, Jennifer, inspires me with her love, intelligence, and devotion to her family. Also, I thank her for sharing that first trip to Italy with me. Also, my son-in-law, Robert, for being such a wonderful husband, father, and son-in-law. And last but not least, my granddaughter, Sofia, for being so cute and lovable.

My parents, Ida and Murray, would have been very proud of this accomplishment, as they always were of other special moments in my life. Without their love, I would never have achieved anything in my life.

Introduction

The idea for my cable-access television show probably had its roots in a conversation I had with my first wife on a plane when we were returning from a trip to Amsterdam and Paris in February 1992. After a nineteen-year hiatus, we took this trip to Europe as a first step back to taking that type of vacation. We decided to take another European excursion that summer to Italy, this time taking our daughter for whom this would serve as a present honoring her high school graduation. Wendy and I decided to go to Venice and Rome probably for two weeks in August, but when she returned to work and told some very savvy travelers about our idea, they suggested we also add Florence to the list. At the time, except for brief mention of