Aircraft accidents--New York (State)--Clarence
Four days after a plane crashed in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, New York, claiming the lives of all forty-nine people on board and a man on the ground, WIVB-TV- Channel 4 presented a one hour special honoring the memory of those who perished. “4 The Families” included eulogies from relatives and friends and the latest details on the crash investigation. Colgan Air Flight 3407 was on its way from Newark, New Jersey to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Colgan Air was a regional company servicing Continental Airlines. Shortly before the crash, the crew had reported a buildup of ice on the aircraft's wings and windshield. The Bombardier Q400 two-engine turbo-prop failed to recover from a stall and crashed into a house on Long Street in Clarence Center. Three people were in the house. A mother and her daughter were able to escape. The father did not survive. The accident occurred at 10:17 pm, about five miles from the Buffalo airport. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board would later attribute the crash to pilot error. Instead of pointing the nose of the plane downward and applying full power, the proper reaction to an aerodynamic stall, Captain Marvin Renslow pulled back on the control column pointing the nose upward causing the plane to pitch and roll. It quickly lost altitude and crashed. Among those killed in the crash were Allison Des Forges, a human rights investigator and an expert on the Rwandan genocide, Beverly Eckert, named co-chair of the 9/11 Family Steering Committee after her husband was killed in the September 11 attacks, Susan Wehle, the first American female Jewish Renewal cantor, and jazz musicians Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett, who were en route to a concert with Chuck Mangione and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
WIVB-TV
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.)
Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)
Jacquie Walker, Jacquie (Anchor)
Postles, Don (Anchor)
Holmes, Melissa (Reporter)
Richert, George (Reporter)
Newberg, Rich (Reporter)
Vaughters, Al (Reporter)
Schultz, Lorey (Reporter)
Arena, Joe (Reporter)
McClintick, Michele
Hairston, Mylous (Reporter)
Cruze, Tricia (Reporter)
Moretti, Luke (Reporter)
Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
eng
A Change of Course : Applied Lessons of the Amistad Slave Ship Rebellion
African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History
African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Social conditions
African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Economic conditions
African American churches
This television special documents the Buffalo visit of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, a replica of the infamous slave ship. Thousands of school children were among Western New York visitors who viewed the cramped quarters from which African captives liberated themselves and killed their oppressors. Their bravery changed the course of the ship and history. The documentary also shows how African American Churches in Buffalo have developed projects to address economic, social, and health needs of the community. This is the fourth in a series of News 4 specials about black history in Western New York.
Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)
Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)
Hairston, Mylous (Producer, Co-host)
Ersing, Rich (Producer, Photographer, Editor)
Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)
Dawkins, Don (Photographer)
Schrodt, Roy (Post-production Editor)
Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)
Battilana, Tony (Director)
Clemons, Michael (Technical Director)
Brown, Dave (Technical Crew)
Ayers, Don (Technical Crew)
Lawrence, John (Technical Crew)
Sanders, Greg (Technical Crew)
Newberg, Rich (Researcher)
Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)
Vetter, Tom (Researcher)
Ersing Rich (Researcher)
Musial, Chris (Researcher)
Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
A Life in the Balance : Struggles of the Mentally Ill
Mentally ill--New York (State)
Mental health services--New York (State)
In the wake of some tragic incidents involving psychiatric outpatients, WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg and photographer Tom Vetter examine the struggles of the mentally ill in a flawed mental health system. "A Life In the Balance" weighs the right of society to protect itself, against the right of individuals to live independent lives free of institutions and government restrictions. The documentary also shows how patients who have gotten their lives together are reaching out to help others avoid falling through the cracks in the system.
Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)
Vanhorn, Mike (Graphic Artist)
Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Creative Consultant, Contributing Photographer)
Schrodt, Roy (Non-linear Editor)
Kaufman, Ken (Composer of original score)
Mombrea, John (Contributing Photographer)
Csortan, Peter (Contributing Photographer)
Hutchinson, Dave (Contributing Photographer)
McIntyre, Don (Contributing Photographer)
A Palace for Buffalo : the History of the Shea's Buffalo Theater
Shea's Buffalo Theatre
Shea, Michael.
A palace for Buffalo: the colorful history of the Shea's Buffalo Theater and its dynamic founder Michael Shea. This television special revisits the magic of the silent movie era, the desperate fight to save the theater from the wrecker's ball, and the Shea's magnificent rebirth as a venue for Broadway shows.
Mombrea Jr., Mike (Producer, Photographer, Editor)
Ersing, Rich (Contributing Photographer)
Dee, Joe (Contributing Photographer)
Swan, Ray (Contributing Photographer)
Beauchamp, Steve (Contributing Photographer)
Vinciguerra, Jerry (Graphic Artist)
Bray, John (Announcer)
Diavastes, Jim (Post-production Editor)
Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Researcher)
Kocher, Michael (Researcher)
A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1]
Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
Chemical plants -- Waste disposal -- Environmental aspects -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls
More than forty years after covering the Love Canal disaster in Niagara Falls, former WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg returns to the site where 20,000 thousand tons of buried industrial chemicals took a terrible toll on families living on top of the toxic dumpsite. Hooker Chemical had once sold the property to the Niagara Falls School District for a dollar. The cries of families ravaged by chemical exposure in their own homes had initially been ignored by lawmakers who were in a position to offer meaningful support. The grassroots struggle of these homeowners and their ultimate victory in winning federal support offers powerful lessons to a nation still troubled by environmental injustice. Mr. Newberg tracked down the former Niagara Gazette rookie reporter who broke the story in 1978. In a rare interview, Michael Brown recalls his "journalistic obsession" after going door-to-door in the Love Canal neighborhood and establishing a pattern of still births and cancer. Lois Gibbs, the stay-at-home mom who rose to national prominence in her fight to be heard, tells Mr. Newberg that local broadcast journalists played a major role in getting the word out. “When people are right and people peacefully demonstrate and speak truth to power,” she said, “that’s how democracy works, and then we got what we needed.” The story ends with President Joe Biden bemoaning the fact that the right of every American to breathe clean air and drink clean water has yet to be fulfilled. “A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening” received a New York Emmy Award in the category of Science/Environment. It also won a national Telly Award. In addition, Rich Newberg and co-producer Tom Vetter took first place “Enterprise Reporting” honors from the Journalists Association of New York. The piece appeared as a featured segment of the Buffalo primetime special, “The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here,” which won a New York Emmy Award for “Public Service.” Originally aired on WIVB-TV and WNLO-TV / Buffalo, New York.
Vetter, Tom (Producer, Editor)
Walker, Jacquie (Co-producer)
Murphy, Kurt (Co-producer)
Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2]
Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3]
What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4]
An Interview with Michael Brown
An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her battle and victory on behalf of Love Canal homeowners]
Agent Orange
Herbicides--War use
Agent Orange--Health aspects--Vietnam
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Veterans
During the Vietnam War, the United States used a chemical herbicide to defoliate jungle terrain and expose enemy hideouts. Agent Orange contained dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals ever created. American military personnel were exposed to the defoliant which is known to cause many types of cancer and other serious health conditions. WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg reports on progress made by Agent Orange victims who have sought medical help and disability compensation from the Veterans Administration. He features the stories of two Vietnam Veterans from Western New York who suffered the consequences of Agent Orange exposure.
Newberg, Rich
Hill, Ahmir
Lois Gibbs, a stay-at-home mom who whose family moved into the Love Canal neighborhood when her son was one year old, was never told she would be living on top of a dumpsite where 20 thousand tons of toxic chemicals had been buried. She says that her son, who had been “perfectly healthy,” suddenly got “sicker and sicker and sicker.” He developed epilepsy. Lois began reading articles by Michael Brown in the Niagara Gazette, questioning whether a disproportionate number of health issues in the community could be attributed to toxic chemical exposure. Mrs. Gibbs, who said it was “terrifying,” began her search for answers by going to the Niagara Falls school board, City Hall, and the offices of state senators and other representatives. She says no one offered to help. She says Mayor Michael O’Laughlin told her Michael Brown was a “troublemaker,” and that she should “go home and take care of my child.” In her interview with Rich Newberg, Lois Gibbs reflects on the strategies employed to finally get the president of the United States to come to Niagara Falls and sign legislation benefitting Love Canal families wishing to move out of the neighborhood. It also created a Superfund to assist other communities across the country dealing with the hazards of toxic chemical exposure. Portions of the Lois Gibbs interview appear in the 2021 documentary, “The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here.” It is part of the Rich Newberg Reports Collection. The Love Canal segment entitled “A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening,” won a New York Emmy award in 2022 in the category of Science/Environment.
Newberg, Rich (Interviewer)
Gibbs, Lois (Interviewee)
Vetter, Tom (Producer)
Terranova, Michael (Editor)
Copyright held by Moments In Time Video, Inc. & TVRE Productions, Inc. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1] Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2] Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3] What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4] An Interview with Michael Brown
As a young journalist at the Niagara Gazette in 1977, Michael Brown took a special interest in stories by two fellow reporters at the paper involving sump pump issues in the Love Canal neighborhood. Reported problems included odors and chemicals surfacing in homes. Those articles, published in 1976, did not get much traction at the time. Mr. Brown had begun covering toxic waste dumpsites in Niagara County. That became his journalistic focus. He managed to stir up a lot of controversy in the process. While covering a public hearing, a woman in her early 20s from the Love Canal neighborhood broke down in tears when describing her concerns about potential health issues associated with chemicals believed to be leaking into her and her neighbors’ homes. The city of Niagara Falls had initiated an assessment of the issue and considered covering the old dumpsite with clay. In 1977, Mr. Brown talked with a city engineer who felt the situation was very serious and could effect future generations if not properly addressed. A period of silence by the city followed. Brown decided to follow up but said he got no answers from the County Health Department. He had become the Niagara Falls City Hall reporter for the Gazette. His journalistic intuition prompted him to go door-to-door, talking with Love Canal families. His goal was to determine whether the presence of toxic chemicals may have been having an effect on their health. Rich Newberg’s interview with Michael Brown takes us back to that initial period of discovery and what followed next. At the time of the interview, more than four decades had passed since the Love Canal disaster became a “journalistic obsession” for Mr. Brown. Viewers will learn of the obstacles he faced and how his reporting for the Niagara Gazette led to the rise of Lois Gibbs, leader of the Love Canal Homeowners Association, whose tireless efforts not only ended in victory for her neighbors, but served as the beginning of the environmental justice movement for people exposed to toxic chemicals in their communities. Portions of the Brown and Gibbs interviews appear in the 2021 documentary, “The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here.” The segment entitled “A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening,” won a New York Emmy award in 2022 in the category of Science/Environment.
Brown, Michael (Interviewee)
A Toxic Nightmare: The Awakening [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 1] Love Canal: Neighborhood of Fear [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 2] Turning Anger Into Action [The Story of Love Canal Pt.3] What Have We Learned? [The Story of Love Canal Pt. 4] An Interview with Lois Gibbs [Her Battle and Victory on Behalf of Love Canal Homeowners]
Tutu, Desmond
Eve, Arthur O.
Apartheid -- South Africa
Racism -- United States
African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo
African Americans -- Civil rights
On January 29, 1989, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa visited Buffalo to seek help in ending apartheid in his country. Apartheid, which means “apartness” in the language of Afrikaans, was the name given to the official separation of the race. The practice was enforced by a government dedicated to principals of white supremacy. The National Party came to power in 1948. The National Party, through legislation in 1950, classified South Africans according to race. Based on racial classification, the government decided where people could live and work, what type of schooling they could receive, what facilities would be open to them, who they could associate with, and whether or not they could vote. Archbishop Tutu called the practice “evil.” His 1989 visit to Buffalo came at a time when an anti-apartheid faction within the National Party was beginning to make significant changes. Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, told Buffalo audiences they could help in the fight against apartheid, even if it was just by saying a prayer. He compared the policy of apartheid to Nazism. He preached non-violence in the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. WIVB-TV anchor Jacquie Walker interviewed Archbishop Tutu for a special program that documented his appearances in Western New York and his thoughts on civil rights. He said he believed he would see an end to apartheid in his lifetime. In a report by WIVB’s Rich Newberg, African American inner-city residents living on Buffalo’s East Side shared thoughts about their own struggles for equality and the consequences of systemic racism. Violent crime was affecting their quality of life. There were also demonstrations against police brutality. Deputy Assembly Speaker Arthur O. Eve told Mr. Newberg that conditions had worsened since the urban race riots of the late 1960s. He said there were more homeless people of color, that the Buffalo infant mortality rate among Blacks and Latinos was the highest in the nation, and drugs and Aids were wreaking havoc in the inner-city. The campaign to end apartheid achieved success in 1994 with the formation of a democratic government in South Africa. The white minority’s rule through fear and intimidation had finally ended.
Walker, Jacquie (Anchor, Reporter)
Sawabini, Wadi (Reporter)
WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.) Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
Behind the Desert Shield : With the 914th Tactical Airlift Group in the Persian Gulf
Operation Desert Shield, 1990-1991
Iraq-Kuwait Crisis, 1990-1991
United States--Armed Forces
In December 1990 a group of journalists from Buffalo were escorted to a remote desert base in the Persian Gulf as Air Force Reservists from Niagara Falls prepared for war. WIVB-TV reporter Rich Newberg and videographer Mike Mombrea Jr. documented the work of the 914th Tactical Airlift Group, which operated the C-130 transport planes. Their series of reports from the desolate air base called Mirage showed how reservists were attempting to keep up their spirits after being told they would not be rotated back to the States. Their performance record was near perfect and the First Gulf War was only weeks away from being launched. The personal vignettes include a father and son who share their concerns for each other's safety, as Operation Desert Shield was about to turn into Desert Storm.
Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Photographer, Editor)
Nolf, Neil (Public Affairs Officer -- Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station)
Beyond the Road to Freedom : New Lessons as Freedom's Message is Brought to Life
Pan-American Exposition (1901 : Buffalo, N.Y.)
Abolitionists--New York (State)--Buffalo--History
Underground Railroad--New York (State)--Buffalo--History
Fugitive slaves--New York (State)--Buffalo--History
African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History
New York (State), Western--African Americans--History
Western New York is a leader in presenting re-enactments at authentic sites dating back to the days of abolitionism. Learn why these Underground Railroad sites are now gaining national attention. See how efforts have begun to document and preserve these treasures for future generations. Untouched original hiding places for escaping slaves are revealed. You will understand why the civil rights movement had its earliest origins in the Buffalo/Niagara region. See how the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo offered both hope and despair for an aspiring African American community in the country's eighth largest city at the time.
Dawkins, Don (Producer, Photographer, Editor)
Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Contributing Photographer)
Root, Kim (Contributing Photographer)
Greene, Terry (Contributing Photographer)
Mombrea, John (Post production Non-linear Editor)
Benzel, Gary (Audio Engineer)
Griswold, Jason (Tape Operator)
Brown, Dave (Font Operator)
Serio, Sam (Master Control Operator)
Sanders, Greg (Master Control Operator)
Dawkins, Don (Researcher)
Buscaglia, Jennifer (Researcher)
Matt, Richard
Sweat, David
Clinton Prison (Dannemora, N.Y.)
On June 6, 2015, two convicted murderers, Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. The carefully orchestrated jailbreak led to massive manhunt, with billboards put up in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania and along the Canada-U.S. border. On June 16, during the search, prison employee Joyce Mitchell confessed to providing Matt and Sweat with hacksaw blades, chisels, and other tools used for the escape. WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg presents a video profile of Matt and Sweat, followed by a WIVB-TV television special, "Breakout." (Background) Richard Matt, from Tonawanda, New York, had been serving a sentence of 25 years to life for beating, torturing, and ultimately killing his former boss, William Rickerson. After breaking his neck, Matt dismembered Rickerson's body, discarding the remains in the Niagara River. Matt and an accomplice had kidnapped Rickerson from his North Tonawanda home with the intent to rob him. Matt then fled to Mexico, where he stabbed a man to death after trying to rob him. Matt was arrested and convicted of the stabbing death in Mexico. He was then extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for the murder of William Dickerson. David Sweat, raised in Binghamton area of New York, shot a Broome County sheriff's deputy multiple times before running him over with a car. He and an accomplice had been spotted by Deputy Kevin Tarsia in a parking lot while in possession of stolen firearms. After Sweat ran over Deputy Tarsia, the accomplice, Jeffrey Nabinger Jr., shot the severely wounded deputy in the face, killing him. Sweat was serving a sentence of life without parole. Matt was hunted down in Malone, New York on June 26, 2015 and killed during a confrontation with a U.S border patrol agent and a former Army Ranger. Two days later, Sweat was spotted near Constable, New York by a New York State Trooper who wanted to question him. After Sweat took off running across a hay field, Trooper Jay Cook shot him in the shoulder and arm. Sweat survived.
Buffalo Broadcasting Pioneers: Behind the Scenes
Television journalists
Television broadcasting of news
Buffalo Broadcasting Pioneers: Behind the Scenes While the first Buffalo viewers of television in 1948 may have thought the images miraculously appeared on their small screens at home, it took a coordinated effort of technicians, directors, set designers, audio and film engineers, station support personnel, and many others who worked behind the scenes, to put programs on the air. While their expertise, for the most part, was technical in nature, some possessed incredible artistic talents worthy of the public spotlight. In this series of reports by WIVB-TV'ss Rich Newberg and Jacquie Walker, these broadcasting pioneers are recognized for their contributions to the Buffalo television industry. Order of Presentation: WIVB-TV Behind the Scenes John Novelli / Technical Director, Artist Ted Patton / TV and Stage Set Designer Frank Wald / Technician Hal Case / Technician Ann Deckop / Executive Assistant Alfred Kirchhofer / First President & General Manager Bill McKibben / Station Manager under Kirchhofer
Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Photographer, editor)
Hill, Ahmir (Title Graphic Artist)
Walker, Jacquie (Reporter)
Buffalo Broadcasters Association
Cuomo, Mario M., 1932-2015.
Governors--New York (State)
The late three term New York governor Mario Cuomo (June 15, 1932 - January 1, 2015) had a soft spot in his heart for Buffalo, according to former Queen City Mayor Anthony Masiello. In 2015, following Cuomo’s death at age 82, WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg talked with Masiello and the governor’s former spokesman in Buffalo, Tim Clark, about Cuomo’s unique ability to connect with people, even if they did not agree with him politically.
Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter)
Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Editor)
WIVB (Television Station: Buffalo, N.Y.)
Colored Musicians Club (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Jazz--New York (State)--Buffalo--History and criticism
African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo
Tinney, Al.
Aging African American musicians reflect on Buffalo's glory days as a great jazz city, highlighting the jam sessions at the Colored Musicians Club. Includes a tribute to the late Al Tinney, one of the founding fathers of modern jazz. The challenges faced by African Americans drawn to Buffalo for job opportunities are examined by Buffalonian Eva Noles, known for breaking the color barrier in the nursing profession.
Hairston, Mylous (Producer, Reporter)
Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Photographer, Editor)
Baxter, Tim (Post-production Editor)
Dady, Kelly (Director)
Clemons, Michael (Tape Operator)
Benzel, Gary (Tape Operator)
Young, Matt (Audio Engineer)
Buffalo TV News Archives: Our Portal to History
Television broadcasting of news--New York (State)
Television broadcasting of news--United States--History.
IN THE BEGINNING When WIVB-TV (formerly WBEN-TV) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a TV special on May 14, 1998, the use of archival news film and videotape gave viewers a window into Buffalo'ss storied history. Rich Newberg, who co-produced and co-hosted the program, wrote an article for the National Television Academy, documenting the significance of the station's successful efforts to broadcast footage dating back to the birth of television in Buffalo in 1948. Buffalo is a unique television market in that the news film and videotape archives from all three major stations have been saved. WIVB-TV (Channel 4-CBS), as well as WKBW-TV (Channel 7-ABC) and WGRZ-TV (Channel 2 - NBC), have given the Buffalo Broadcasters Association (BBA) permission to digitize their archival TV news collections and bring Western New York's moving image history back to life. Mr. Newberg, a founding member of the BBA and Hall of Fame inductee, has put together a comprehensive visual history of this extraordinary effort in Buffalo to preserve and utilize a most valuable educational resource. He served as chair of the BBA's Archive Task Force that began the process of digitizing Buffalo's TV news archives in 2011. The historical retrospective begins with excerpts from the Channel 4 documentary, "First In Western New York: 50 Golden Years on Channel 4." The featured segments are narrated by WIVB-TV former anchors Don Postles and Rich Newberg. (Runs: 8:30) LAUNCHING OF THE ARCHIVE PROJECT On March 29, 2019 the Buffalo Broadcasters Association (BBA) officially launched The Archive Project. The BBA had established written agreements with WIVB-TV (Nexstar/CBS) and WKBW-TV (Scripps/ABC) to digitize their news film and early videotape archives. WGRZ-TV (Tegna/NBC) came onboard in 2024. The moving image archive is to be used for educational use only. Through BBA fundraisers, donations, and grants from the Western New York Library Resources Council, digitized news reports and clips dating back as early as the mid-1960s began being posted on the New York Heritage website. Postings will also appear on the BBA's own website, which is currently being revamped to provide space for the archival material. These reports that aired on WIVB-TV and WKBW-TV show viewers the scope of the project and why the initiative is a valued resource for Western New York and the nation. (Runs: 5:30) ACTOR ED ASNER ENDORSES THE BBA'S ARCHIVE PROJECT On September 29, 2019, Actor Ed Asner, who played television news director Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, endorsed the BBA's Archive Project in a public service announcement. The endorsement was recorded during the time Mr. Asner was in Western New York for his performance of a one man show. Asner endorsement: "Hello. I'm Ed Asner. You may remember me as television's no-nonsense news director, Lou Grant. If you think about it, journalists provide us with our first draft of history. Right here in Buffalo, more than 50 years of TV news coverage is being brought back to life! Local stations are working with the Buffalo Broadcasters Association to bring back the stories that helped define the Niagara Frontier. It's called The Archive Project, and I support it with all my heart! So should you." (Runs: 60 seconds) THE MEMORY KEEPERS Rescuing Buffalo's Moving Image History This update on The Archive Project was presented at the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 4, 2021. The piece was modified in 2024 to include WGRZ-TV, which also entered into contract with the BBA for the digitization of its film and videotape archive. The progress report is written and hosted by Rich Newberg and edited by Tom Vetter. The feature lays out the challenges in preserving and utilizing Buffalo's archival TV news film and videotape. (Runs: 7:20) THE ARCHIVE PROJECT Buffalo Broadcasters Association How It All Began (5 PARTS: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) The cornerstone project of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association (BBA) is to digitize Buffalo television archival news film and videotape from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s. The news film had been rescued on many occasions by Buffalo broadcasting pioneers whose vision was to someday create a moving image archive of Buffalo's rich and colorful history as told through the lens of broadcast journalists. The storage of news film from all three Buffalo network affiliates began in the 1960s. Boxes were initially kept at Buffalo Historical Society. Channel 7 eventually took back its film, while Channels 4 and 2 chose not to physically reclaim their footage. This series of features, written and produced by Rich Newberg, documents the progress and objectives of The Archive Project. The five video reports were presented during most of the BBA's Hall of Fame ceremonies between 2006 and 2011. (Runs: 22:36)
Mombrea Jr., Mike
Vetter, Tom
Terrenova, Michael
Buffalo's Immigrants : the American Dream
Buffalo (N.Y.)--Emigration and immigration
Immigrants--New York (State)--Buffalo--History
Ellis Island Immigration Station (N.Y. and N.J.) -- History.
A 5-part series hosted by Rich Newberg that traces the lives of European immigrants who passed through Ellis Island in the early 1900s, settling in Buffalo. Common themes of sacrifice and love of country are reflected by local family members of Polish, German, Irish, Italian, and Jewish descent.
Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)
Mombrea, Mike Sr. (Photographer, Editor)
Capozzi, Anthony
Sanchez, Altemio C.
Judicial error--United States--Cases
In one of the great miscarriages of justice a Buffalo man was wrongly convicted in 1995 of two rapes and served more than twenty years in prison before he was exonerated. Capozzi, who suffered from schizophrenia, always had the support of his family, who never gave up on the hope that his name might someday be cleared. In this special investigative report, Capozzi's story is told, along with the capture of the true rapist and killer, Altemio Sanchez. A Buffalo cold case detective, Dennis Delano, played a key role in Capozzi's release and exoneration. Reported by WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg and Investigative Reporter Luke Moretti.
Moretti, Luke (Producer, Writer, Host)
Schlaerth, Joseph (Executive Producer)
Hutchinson, David (Contributing Photographer)
Carroll, John (Contributing Photographer)
Paszkowsky Danylo (Contributing Photographer)
Summerville, Dan (Contributing Photographer)
McCray, Riccardo.
Murderer--New York (State)--Buffalo.
Murder investigation--New York (State)--Buffalo
One of the most horrific crimes in Buffalo history unfolded in the early morning hours of August 14, 2010. A gunman shot four people to death, execution style, and wounded four others. It happened at the City Grill restaurant on Buffalo’s Main Street. The shootings followed an argument inside the restaurant. One of the victims who were shot to death had been celebrating his first wedding anniversary. The gunman escaped, and during the days that followed, many Buffalo inner city residents lived in fear that there would be more bloodshed. Although there were more than a hundred patrons in the restaurant at the time of the shootings, authorities said they were having a hard time locating people willing to cooperate. Buffalo police had arrested a suspect less than 12 hours after the shootings, but he turned out to be the wrong man. Eleven days later, as authorities were closing in on another man who had emerged as the main “person of interest,” 23-year-old Riccardo McCray decided he would rather surrender peacefully than risk a showdown with Buffalo Police. On August 25, 2010, community activists Darnell Jackson and Bishop Perry Davis brought McCray to WIVB-TV studios in North Buffalo. Jackson had contacted the station’s senior correspondent, Rich Newberg, the night before, indicating McCray was seeking a safe haven to surrender. Newberg had a long history of reporting on the struggles of inner city residents, and had provided nightly updates following the City Grill shootings. While McCray waited for his attorney to arrive, Newberg interviewed the suspect, who volunteered the fact that he had been at the City Grill at the time of the shootings, but denied being the shooter. McCray was then peacefully taken into Buffalo Police custody and charged with first and second-degree murder and possession of a weapon. At McCray’s trial, Newberg was called as a witness for the prosecution. His entire interview of McCray was played for the jury in a packed courtroom. McCray was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
FEATURED REPORTS CITY GRILL MASSACRE RETROSPECTIVE 1. WIVB-TV Anchor/Reporter Dave Greber’s retrospective dating back almost ten years includes footage from the City Grill massacre that had never been made public before. Greber interviews former WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg who reflects on the day Riccardo McCray was brought to him to surrender. McCray was later convicted of murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon. February 17, 2020 (Runs: 6:18) SURRENDER OF RICCARDO MCCRAY 2. Shortly after handling the surrender of Riccardo McCray, the primary suspect in the City Grill shootings, WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg gave a first hand account of how it all unfolded. It was posted on the WIVB-TV website. Newberg would later testify at McCray’s trial. He was a witness for the prosecution. His entire interview of McCray was played for the jury. August 2010 (Runs: 4:05) FIRST TELEVISED REPORTS OF MCCRAY’S SURRENDER WIVB-TV / News 4 Buffalo August 25, 2010 (Runs: 13:44) 3. Reports begin with “Breaking News” cut-in to programming followed by Rich Newberg’s first reports on McCray’s surrender, McCray being charged with the City Grill shootings, community reaction, and potential use of Newberg’s interview with McCray as evidence by prosecutors. MCCRAY ARRAIGNMENT WIVB-TV / News 4 Buffalo August 26, 2010 (Runs: 2:05) 4. Riccardo McCray is arraigned on charges including murder attempted murder, and weapons possession. EXPERTS REVIEW MCCRAY SURRENDER AND INTERVIEW September 3, 2010 (Runs: 3:00) 5. WIVB-TV Legal Analyst Terry Connors and former New York State Attorney General Dennis Vacco review the video showing the McCray surrender and interview. They believe the interview by Rich Newberg could be used in court. RICH NEWBERG TESTIFIES AT MCCRAY TRIAL (March 25, 2011) (Runs: 2:32) 6. WIVB-TV Investigative Reporter Luke Moretti reports on Rich Newberg’s testimony in court as a witness for the prosecution. Newberg said his role was to obtain information from McCray who chose to answer all the questions that were raised and denied being the shooter. REPORT ON JURY DELIBERATIONS (March 31, 2011) (Runs: 3:22) 7. WIVB-TV reporter Laurie Schultz says jurors wanted to review the testimony of the getaway car driver. She then shows excerpts of closing arguments by the prosecution and defense. Her report includes surveillance video of the shootings used as evidence in McCray’s trial. MCCRAY FOUND GUILTY (3/31/2011) (Report Aired: April 1, 2011) (Runs: 2:23) 8. After seven hours of deliberations, the jury finds Riccardo McCray guilty of three counts of first degree murder and several counts of attempted murder in the first degree. Prosecutors believe the surveillance video was powerful evidence in the trial. McCray never took the stand and there were no witnesses who testified in his behalf. MCCRAY SENTENCING (June 2, 2011) (Runs: 2:59) 9. Riccardo McCray receives the maximum sentence of life without parole. WIVB-TV reporter George Richert shows courtroom video of victims’ family members emotionally telling the judge the impact of McCray’s actions on their lives and the lives of their loved ones. McCray killed and wounded his victims by firing 10 shots within 17 seconds. McCray stood up during sentencing and once again declared that he wasn’t the shooter. Upon passing sentence, Erie County Judge Sheila Di’Tullio told McCray, “You’re a thug and you’re a murderer and you’re a person with no remorse and no conscience. Quite simply, Riccardo McCray, you take a life and you get life.” [42:05 —Total running time for segments 1 though 9] COVERAGE OF CITY GRILL MASSACRE RICH NEWBERG REPORTS (August - September 2010) (Runs: 1:09:16) 10. Comprehensive series of reports beginning with the morning of the shootings at the City Grill in downtown Buffalo and ending with the surrender of Riccardo McCray to Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg at WIVB-TV studios. [1:09:16 — Total running time for these reports] [1:51:34 — Total running time for 1 through 10]
Woodson, Paul (Photographer)
Ersing, Rich (Photographer)
2010-08-14 (Shootings take place) 2010-08-25 (McCray surrenders) 2011-03-31 (Found Guilty) 2011-06-02 (Sentenced to life without parole)
Carpenter's Hand
Developmentally disabled--New York (State)--Buffalo
Cradle of hope features the progress of twelve developmentally disabled men who belong to Carpenter's Hand. They help build baby cradles and then personally deliver them to needy mothers in the greater Buffalo area. This television special touches on the history of institutionalization in New York State and the changes that took place after the scandal of Willowbrook was exposed by TV muckraking journalist Geraldo Rivera.
Baxter, Tim (On-line Editor)
Mombrea, John (On-line Editor)
Newberg, Rich (Lyricist and Composer of lullaby _Let Me Cradle Your Dreams_)
Sunday, Bonnie (Lyricist)
Moriarty, Kathy (Musical Performer)
Giovenco, Joseph (Field Assistant -- Ukraine)
Buscaglia, Jennifer (Research Assistant)
Dadey, Kelly (Director)
Foster, Joseph D. (Tape Operator)