 In
1939 during the "Jim Crow" years of segregation a young man in Washington, D.C.
approached the management of WINX radio, owned by the Washington Post and proposed
a radio show. He was told by management, "no n***** will ever broadcast on this
station". For Hal Jackson it was the beginning of the first in a series of racial
breakthroughs in America that would impact growth and development of minorities in
communications in the 20th century. He met the challenge and engaged his
associates at "Kal Erlich and Merrick", a wholesale buyer of radio, and
purchased a segment on WINX.He organized the
"Negro" business community to sponsor a talk and music program formatted to
introduce, showcase and validate "Negro" achievements that was impacting
America. Hal Jackson’s interviews included pioneers from every discipline in an era
of legal segregation. His guest ranged Dr. Charles Drew (discovered blood plasma); Mary
McLeod Bethune, an adviser and friend of Eleanor Roosevelt who was the Founder of the
National Council of Negro Women; to Joe Louis; and Duke Ellington.
 The
initiative was such a business success that within six months, Hal Jackson had purchased
airtime, written and sold advertisement; and was broadcasting for three additional
stations daily from three different cities. Jackson was not only heard on WINX but also
WANN in Annapolis, MD, for three hours of rhythm and blues; then off to Baltimore, MD,
WSID for three hours of sports; finishing the day in D.C. 11:00 pm to 1:00 am on WOOK.
During the years of strict segregation, Mr. Jackson was the
owner and manager of the famed Washington Bears (the African American team to win the
World’s Professional Basketball Championship – equivalent to the NBA in the
1943-44 season).
The 50’s and 60’s were ground breaking years in
the number one market – New York. Jackson broadcast daily from 3 PM to 7 PM on WLIB;
8 PM to 10 PM on WMCA; 12 midnight to 6 AM "Live From Birdland" on the ABC
network. Sunday host of "NBC-TV’s Frontiers of Faith" in 1954 (another
racial barrier breaking achievement); and Hal’s great "Reign" at Palisades
Amusement Park proved highly successful with him broadcasting concerts live weekly.
 Hal Assisted Parks
Sausage, the nations first African American consumer product company to become successful
in the national marketplace. HBJ was at it again, he spent a great deal of his time
developing sponsors working with the WMCA sales department. He identified potential new
sponsors and then when out and sold advertising time to them. This situation helped to
create a "real" Black BusinessMan.
HBJ came up with the idea for Parks to go directly to the
people and Jackson once again used the power of electronic communication to expose the
quality produced by a black entrepreneur.
After Jackson got the Parks contract he arranged for Parks
to hire attractive women to stand in front of the A&P and Safeway with platters of
Parks sausage on toothpicks and offered free samples. Jackson with his live remotes would
interview the consumer. Parks sausage was delicious and the rest is history. It was an
overwhelmingly lucrative campaign and by 1971 Park sausage had contracts with every major
East Coast supermarket chain, most of them in the suburbs and annual sales of more than 20
million dollars. Americans knew the product through the memorable slogan "more Park
Sausages, Mom…pleeease?" Very few knew that the company was black owned.
It was Hal Jackson’s persona and access to the
airwaves in the nation’s number one market, New York; coupled with his relentless and
persistent voice during the 60’s, that was the catalyst and galvanizing force that
organized a group of community leaders. This historic effort led to the gathering of over
6 million signatures to establish the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday.
By 1962, Hal was juggling two dozen projects at a time. In
addition to his regular radio show and his program managers duties on WWRL, and his work
for various charities, he was co-hosting concerts in Central Park with Ron Delsner,
sponsored by Schaeffer Beer. HBJ started doing live remotes from Freedomland, an Amusement
Park in the Bronx. The park had a theater-in-the-round, and Jackson did his remotes from
there, attracting a new audience and bigger receipts at the gate. Word of his success
reached Mrs. Rosenthal. She and her husband owned Palisades Amusement Park on the Jersey
side of the Hudson River. They made Jackson and offer he couldn’t refuse – to
become the official host of the Palisades Park. HBJ had a significant following. HBJ
remained the official host with his saying, "Come on over to the
Palisades"…
HBJ brought in white and black acts. HBJ’s slogan
became synonymous with the park. He hosted the produced the big star-studded shows with
The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Paul Anka, and Bobby Vinton. By this time Berry Gordy had
changed the name of Hitsville USA to Motown. HBJ featured all the great Motown acts during
his live remote concerts including the Supremes, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the
Pips, the Four Tops and Stevie Wonder.
HBJ was broadcasting all over the dial in NYC. Hal had the
morning and evening shows on WMCA and the afternoon show on WNJR six days a week, and the
Birdland show seven nights a week. The only free time he had was on Sundays. And when he
was offered the chance to do a local television show on Sunday morning, he jumped at it.
Television was off-limits to Blacks, except for Eddie "Rochester" Anderson on
"The Jack Benny Show" and a few occasions when a great star, such as Paul
Robeson or Marian Anderson, appeared on a special. When WPIX owner of the NY Daily News
approached Hal to host a Sunday morning children’s program he immediately accepted
the challenge. "Uncle Hal’s Kiddy Show" was a showcase for talented
youngsters of all races, presented before a live studio audience that was fully
integrated.
There was no script. The producer selected kids who were to
appear on the show, and HBJ would interview them and then introduce their performances.
The eight year old Leslie Uggams brimming with talent got her first break on Hal’s
show. The next step on television was HBJ’s weekly religious program on WNBC’s
"Frontiers of Faith". HBJ had hoped that this foray into television would set
the stage for the bigger break. He dreamed of being on national television as a sports
caster. That was not to happen, not that Jackson didn’t give it one heck of a try.
Around 1954-55 he came very close to becoming the play by play announcer for the New York
Yankees. He had the sponsors lined up (Ballantine Beer) and the backing of the William
Morris Agency. HBJ had done several successful demo tapes. At the last minute,
Yankee’s front office backed down. Management just wasn’t ready for a Black
announcer.
Hal Jackson’s civic work is legendary. In the
1970’s he established programs to support and encourage young Black women through his
Youth Development Foundation, Inc. It was created to "Inspire Leadership for the
Future". Mr. Jackson is Executive Producer of the Hal Jackson’s talented teens
International Scholarship Competition (HJTTI). Some former HJTTI participants are Jada
Pinkett, Ce Ce Peniston, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Sheryl Lee Ralph and the late
Michelle Thomas. This opportunity for young women of color with its local, regional and
international programs has touched over 30,000 young ladies; awarded over $250,000 in
scholarships and prizes; and has developed socially conscience young women leaders,
professionals and entertainers.
Ownership was the mission and a critical next step in the
evolution and expansion of African American ownership in telecommunications. Thanks to one
of their shareholders – Clarence Avants’, unique relationship with the late
Steve Ross, (Chair and CEO of TimeWarner) they were positioned to make history again.
Hal, with his steadfast focused pursuit, energy (which
belied his age), depth of knowledge of the industry and people was once again a vital
source providing ownership opportunities.
Hal is still hosting an 8 hour radio program on Sundays
from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on WBLS in New York and Webcast on the Internet. Hal is the
original, listen to the other radio personalities and you will see where all of the other
oldie radio programs came from. Hal’s show is still top rated. |
