Kalush, Mike

WXYZ: TV engineering and videographer.  Born September 25, 1934, Died January 16, 2019.

WJRT: Film photographer

From Mike’s daughter, Kathy Kalush, “Thank you greatly for all of the thoughts and prayers. We have scheduled a 10 AM visitation, 11 AM celebration of life mass followed by a celebration of life luncheon at Holy Redeemer on Bristol Road in Burton, MI on Friday, February 1, 2019.”

References:

1. Obituary (directobits.tv)

• 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

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• Cracker Jack WXYZ News Team

  

• A News Team Leader – Mike Kalush

  

• Governor Bill Milliken Interview by Kelly Burke

  

• 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.

• Ashley Heimbough with Mike Kalush Heading Out Over the Detroit River

  Aerial shots are a main stay of local television. Ashley Heimbough was one of our best helicopter pilots and safely managed many incredible shots.

  The following picture shows Ashley with Mike Kalush in the passenger seat just taking off to capture video over the Detroit River during the Detroit Grand Prix in the mid 1980s.

  

• The Smiling Jet Setters – Jim, Vince and Mike

  

• WXYZ Trio – Bill, Vince and Mike

  

• Waiting for Customs Heathrow

  

• Mike, Jerry and Jim – The “Gar” Award

  

  Recognition by the city of Detroit for bringing an alligator gar fish to the Belle Isle Aquarium to replace one that had been killed by vandals I around 1983. The previous gar was there for something like 30 + years. Known as “The Great Motown Gar Hunt”.

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