Erskine, Dean

WXYZ: TV film and video tape editor.

1988 Archive Photo

Dean was a friend to every co-worker and made everyone feel comfortable at station functions.

• The Detroit Riots: 1967 Peabody Digest

  Video recording located at the University of Georgia main library [OCLC 40400091]

  “WXYZ-TV‘s coverage of the week-long Detroit riots of July, 1967 represented the most comprehensive single job of news reporting in the station’s history.”–1967 Peabody Digest. Captions identify footage from July 23 and 24. Sunset, night and sunrise segments indicate the passage of subsequent days. Includes footage of rioters, looters, burning storefronts and homes, firemen fighting the fires, policemen patrolling the streets, several interviews with onlookers, a brief interview with the governor and excerpts of his press conference.

  Also includes footage of the arrival of federal troops and their patrols in the streets of Detroit, injured rioters and guards being loaded into ambulances, a woman driving through town holding a revolver, aerial views of the devastated downtown area, and prisoners at police headquarters. Reporter Ken Thomas discusses the emotions experienced by the WXYZ-TV staff who covered the riots. Concludes with footage of a police funeral. The majority of the footage is shown without narration.

  Credits: Camera crew led by Ken Thomas; cameraman, John Braddock; soundman, Thomas O’Toole; additional cameramen, Michael Kalush, Ron Little; sound engineers, Bill Hevron, Edwin Scarth; assignment editor, Frank Benesh; film processor, Joe Doneth; film editors, Dean Erskine, Jim Powers; news messenger, Mike Sublett.

• More of the WXYZ Team

  

• Retirement for Dean Erskin and Jim Powers

  Retirement is both happy and sad. Sad to say goodbye to the pillars of WXYZ. When film was king at WXYZ, both Dean and Jim were czars of editing. When the station changed from film to video tape they remained the czars everyone looked up to.

  

• Retirement at Greektown

  Celebrating retirement for Jim Powers and Dean Erskin at Greektown.

  

• Retirement Is Fun

  Retirement party at Greektown for Jim Powers and Dean Erskin.

  

• WXYZ Newsroom circa 1980s

  WXYZ: An amazing group of people making WXYZ News number one in the market during the 1980s.

  Nelson Burg, Fran Victor, Marv Rockford, Audio: Greg Karrer, Val Clark, Cheryl Chodun, Bill Miller, Jeff Rundell, Bill Becker,  Garrett Glaser,  Terry Frisco, Mark Zahnow,  Denny Shleifer, Andrea Parquet-Taylor, Garry Kelly,  Dean Erskin,  Al Volker, Jim Powers,  Pat Elnicky, Phyllis Eliasberg, John Gross, Charles Munro,  Judy Miller, Tom Cleeves

• Here’s how WXYZ-TV uses film to keep on top of the news and the rating.

  WXYZ: Here’s how WXYZ-TV uses film to keep on top of the news and the rating.  In the Detroit market WXYZ-TV’s early and late news shows are number one.  A lot of credit goes to film teams headed by Joe Doneth of the News Film Department. – Broadcast Management/Engineer – June, 1976, Page 53 (PDF)

  Joe Doneth, Mike Kalush, Vince Wade, Bill Hevron and Dean Erskin

• Milestone in D minor

  WXYZ: ‘Milestone in D Minor‘ (September 9, 1968) is a half-hour documentary, in color, about James Frazier, the first Negro to conduct an entire concert with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the program, Frazier, in his own words, traces the disappointments and achievements of his musical career.”–1968 Peabody Digest. Includes footage of Frazier at the University of Michigan; at the Interlochen Arts Academy, where Eugene Ormandy saw him conduct; playing the piano; and conducting the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal and performance. Includes interviews with Doris Lenz, his high school music teacher; and Mischa Mischakoff, concert master of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. On camera and in voiceover, Frazier discusses his academic career, the meaning of ‘soul,’ and his reasons for wanting to conduct Beethoven’s 9th symphony. Also includes footage of Eugene Ormandy, who encouraged Frazier to pursue a career in conducting, with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

  Credits: Film editor, Dean Erskine; cameramen, Michael Kalush, Ron Little, John Fuller; technical director, Don Farmer; sound, Tom O’Toole, Earl Wilson, Jerry Cell; lighting director, Jim O’Dea; art director, Jack Flechsig; Executive Producer, Arno Marcaccio; In charge of production, Lawrence Einhorn; written by Dave Diles

  Reference:

  • WordCat