Bill Welsh

A memorial service for Bill Welsh, a pioneering television broadcaster and longtime civic leader, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Welsh, 88, died Feb. 27 of an aortic aneurysm at his Thousand Oaks home. He launched his television career in 1946. As president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce from 1980 to 1990, he was considered a founding father of the $922-million Hollywood redevelopment.

A memorial service for Bill Welsh, a pioneering television broadcaster and longtime civic leader, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Welsh, 88, died Feb. 27 of an aortic aneurysm at his Thousand Oaks home. He launched his television career in 1946. As president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce from 1980 to 1990, he was considered a founding father of the $922-million Hollywood redevelopment.

He's never made it to the networks, and now he concedes he probably never will. But that's just fine with Bill Welsh. In a business where faces change as often as some producers change their socks, Welsh can point with pride to his 50-year career in broadcasting. "The records will show that nobody has been active in television as long as I have," Welsh claimed the other day in an interview at KTTV Channel 11, his employer since 1951.

Bill Welsh, a pioneering KTTV broadcaster and a longtime president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who was often introduced simply as "Mr. Hollywood," has died. Although Welsh was reluctant to discuss his age, he was believed to be 88. Welsh died Sunday of an aortic aneurysm in his Thousand Oaks home, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Ana Martinez-Holler confirmed Monday.

Bill Welsh, a pioneering KTTV broadcaster and a longtime president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who was often introduced simply as "Mr. Hollywood," has died. Although Welsh was reluctant to discuss his age, he was believed to be 88. Welsh died Sunday of an aortic aneurysm in his Thousand Oaks home, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Ana Martinez-Holler confirmed Monday.

The prefix "veteran KTTV commentator" is used so consistently to describe Bill Welsh that it could be an unofficial part of his name. But it's the license plates on Welsh's white Oldsmobile sedan that more accurately describe his status-about-town. The plates, which were given to Welsh by his wife after hearing him introduced the same way at countless local dinners, identify him simply as "MR HLLWD."

As Hollywood's $922-million redevelopment project gets under way, two camps are battling over the historic community. Big-business interests, led by Bill Welsh and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, have been pushing for tall new buildings and extensive commercial development. But many merchants and homeowners, represented by cafe owner Doreet Rotman, are fighting for smaller-scale development to preserve more of the community's small shops, comfortable neighborhoods and historic landmarks.

I believe if Howard Rosenberg checks the videotape of KTTV's coverage of the Rose Parade, he will find I said, "This is no place for a political statement" ("1992 Floats In on Hot Air of Parade Talk, Talk, Talk," Jan. 3). Seems to me if he had quoted me correctly it would have degutted his ensuing comments. BILL WELSH KTTV-TV Los Angeles

Every person in radio and television sports broadcasting is able to do a better job because of Tom Harmon. In 1958, he gathered together a group of sports announcers to end the second-class citizenship under which we worked. We had to wait outside press conference rooms after major sports events until the print media representatives had concluded their questioning of players and coaches. Then we were allowed to conduct a second press conference with fatigued athletes. Getting locations at many sports events found us pushed away from the center of action in favor of the print media.

Paul Clarke did a marvelous job at recounting various events brought into his Washington home via television ("Gathering at the TV for a Communal Experience," July 17). However, it is important to remember that Southern Californians were the first to experience the medium's ability to bring people together. On April 9 and 10, 1949, Southlanders were transfixed by the effort to rescue 3 1/2-year-old Kathy Fiscus, who had fallen into a San Marino well. The legendary late television pioneer Klaus Landsberg dispatched a mobile unit and reporters Stan Chambers and Bill Welsh for what was destined to become 27 hours of continuous live coverage of an unscheduled news event.

Paul Clarke did a marvelous job at recounting various events brought into his Washington home via television ("Gathering at the TV for a Communal Experience," July 17). However, it is important to remember that Southern Californians were the first to experience the medium's ability to bring people together. On April 9 and 10, 1949, Southlanders were transfixed by the effort to rescue 3 1/2-year-old Kathy Fiscus, who had fallen into a San Marino well. The legendary late television pioneer Klaus Landsberg dispatched a mobile unit and reporters Stan Chambers and Bill Welsh for what was destined to become 27 hours of continuous live coverage of an unscheduled news event.

With all respect to Glenn Ackerman of the Los Angeles Police Department, who is quoted in your Dec. 18 story regarding Heidi Fleiss, he created an impression that is not consistent with the facts. The LAPD does arrest persons who wish to be customers of prostitutes. Through the years the Hollywood Division of LAPD has had female officers walk on Sunset Boulevard. When a person approaches them and solicits an act of prostitution nearby officers are alerted and the person is arrested.

I believe if Howard Rosenberg checks the videotape of KTTV's coverage of the Rose Parade, he will find I said, "This is no place for a political statement" ("1992 Floats In on Hot Air of Parade Talk, Talk, Talk," Jan. 3). Seems to me if he had quoted me correctly it would have degutted his ensuing comments. BILL WELSH KTTV-TV Los Angeles

The prefix "veteran KTTV commentator" is used so consistently to describe Bill Welsh that it could be an unofficial part of his name. But it's the license plates on Welsh's white Oldsmobile sedan that more accurately describe his status-about-town. The plates, which were given to Welsh by his wife after hearing him introduced the same way at countless local dinners, identify him simply as "MR HLLWD."

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has ousted its president, Larry Kaplan, throwing the beleaguered organization into disarray at a critical point in the movie capital's history. As Los Angeles city officials try to revive their stalled $922-million Hollywood redevelopment effort, they have relied on the politically savvy Kaplan and the chamber as key organizers of film industry and business support. But the chamber, the third-largest in Los Angeles County, has been beset by its own problems.

Every person in radio and television sports broadcasting is able to do a better job because of Tom Harmon. In 1958, he gathered together a group of sports announcers to end the second-class citizenship under which we worked. We had to wait outside press conference rooms after major sports events until the print media representatives had concluded their questioning of players and coaches. Then we were allowed to conduct a second press conference with fatigued athletes. Getting locations at many sports events found us pushed away from the center of action in favor of the print media.

With all respect to Glenn Ackerman of the Los Angeles Police Department, who is quoted in your Dec. 18 story regarding Heidi Fleiss, he created an impression that is not consistent with the facts. The LAPD does arrest persons who wish to be customers of prostitutes. Through the years the Hollywood Division of LAPD has had female officers walk on Sunset Boulevard. When a person approaches them and solicits an act of prostitution nearby officers are alerted and the person is arrested.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has ousted its president, Larry Kaplan, throwing the beleaguered organization into disarray at a critical point in the movie capital's history. As Los Angeles city officials try to revive their stalled $922-million Hollywood redevelopment effort, they have relied on the politically savvy Kaplan and the chamber as key organizers of film industry and business support. But the chamber, the third-largest in Los Angeles County, has been beset by its own problems.

If you saw him walking down Hollywood Boulevard you'd say, "Who is that man? I've seen his face a thousand times." He would be Bill Welsh, the veteran KTTV all-purpose reporter-announcer who is president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. I had lunch the other day with Welsh in the Musso & Frank Grill. Musso's opened in 1919 at 6669 Hollywood Blvd. It expanded in 1936 to 6667, where it has been ever since. It still has its original wood booths.

As Hollywood's $922-million redevelopment project gets under way, two camps are battling over the historic community. Big-business interests, led by Bill Welsh and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, have been pushing for tall new buildings and extensive commercial development. But many merchants and homeowners, represented by cafe owner Doreet Rotman, are fighting for smaller-scale development to preserve more of the community's small shops, comfortable neighborhoods and historic landmarks.