WXYZ: TV engineering, videographer, photographer.
Died: September, 2025.
Social Media:
- Reconnecting with Ol’ Pals from WXYZ
Gary Westbrook Pete Anderson Nate Penn Gary Westbrook Geoff Pekarek - More Videographers at Reunion by Chris Ruzzin
Photo from the 2013 WXYZ Reunion.
Harry Greener Ron Little Geoff Pekarek Earl Wilson John Gildersleeve Pete Anderson Herman McKalpain Photo contributed by Chris Ruzzin - John Gross with Bruce Kimball
Terry Pochert John Gross interviewing swimmer Bruce Kimball at the 1984 Olympics Geoff Pekarek on camera - Olympic Crew in Los Angeles 1984
John Gross Gary Westbrook Geoff Pekarek Los Angeles 1984 - 1984 Olympics – On Assignment
Terry Pocherts Retirement Collection Geoff Pekarek Gary Westbook John Gross reporter off to the side Photo by Terry Pochert - 1984 Olympics – The Party Is Over, Heading Back Home
Waiting at the airport in Los Angeles heading back to work at WXYZ-TV, Detroit.
Wally Rodammer Ken Sznyr Patty Hensley MacLeod Waving Ray Thurber Karen Nicholson Jerry Zuckerman Gary Westbrook Geoff Pekarek Photo by Terry Pochert - Gary Westbook and Geoff Pekarek – WXYZ Crew on Assignment in Los Angeles
WXYZ-TV crews were on assignment throughout the entire world. Here’s one crew shooting features stories during 1984 while on assignment for the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Gary Westbook and Geoff Pekarek Photo by Terry Pochert - Just a Few of the Legendary Videographers from WXYZ
The strength of a television news department always relies on the field crews and their videographers. Here are just a few of the legends of WXYZ-TV, Detroit, Michigan.
Geoffrey Pekarek Chuck Bowman John Gildersleeve Gary Westbrook Eddie Dorfman
Recommended Reading
An in-depth and personal look at the most popular and best-remembered local shows from the golden years of Detroit TV
Long before cable, prepackaged syndication, infomercials, do-it-yourselfers, and reality shows cluttered the television dial, there was a brand of entertainment that has today nearly vanished from the airwaves: local TV. And with its colorful and quirky cast of characters, Detroit TV arguably offered some of the best of the best of local programming anywhere in the nation-a smorgasbord of exuberant, one-of-a-kind television shows.
Based on actual interviews with the people who made Detroit TV, Gordon Castelnero’s TV Land-Detroit awakens the emotional attachment and nostalgia our community has for these shows, bringing the beloved characters and memorable programs back to life.
From the glamorous Rita Bell to the insanity of the Ghoul, the zany Jingles in Boofland to the opinionated and often confrontational Lou Gordon and the gruff-voiced and somnolent George Pierrot, Castelnero reacquaints us with the talent and behind-the-scenes people, of the creative spirit in Detroit, and the intimacy they shared with the community both on and off the air.
Gordon Castelnero was a producer at WNIC radio for four years. He produced the acclaimed documentaries for WDIV and WTVS, Michigan, It Started Here! Michigan and the American Dream, and Titanic: The Final Chapter. He currently lives in Livonia, Michigan, and works at Technicolor in DVD and game media distribution.
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