I work with some very talented people, and Greg Glover is at the top of the list. In addition to being an excellent news anchor and reporter, Greg is also a first-rate actor and singer. He’s been in several plays since coming to WRCB, ranging from “Beauty and the Beast” to “The Sound Of Music” to “The Music Man” and others. He also sings for area bands, including Sweet Georgia Sound.
Greg Glover in “The Sound of Music” (Chattanooga Times Free Press photo)
You won’t see him quite as often on the news for the next couple of weeks, as he performs in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production of “Les Miserables.” He plays the demanding role of Inspector Javert, and he does it exceedingly well. Here’s a quick promo clip:
Greg is the latest in a long line of Channel 3 news anchors who have graced the stage. Roy Morris was on Channel 3 from 1957 until 1973, and he could do it all.
Roy Morris singing at 1973 March of Dimes Telerama
When he wasn’t hosting talk shows, variety shows, or delivering the news, he was acting in plays, and even singing on the annual March of Dimes telethon. He could emcee just about anything, and was a master of live TV and ad-libbing.
Jed Mescon in “Guys and Dolls,” 2009
My friend Jed Mescon was once very active in local theater too. He was in “Guys and Dolls,” among others. His infectious energy lights up a stage, and he too can dance and sing.
Naturally, all this anchor acting activity has put some pressure on me. People have asked me, “Hey, don’t you ever do any acting?” (Okay, it may have happened once. Maybe.) Other than my daily stint on the long-running hit “Eyewitness News at 6,” now in its 59th season, I have indeed dabbled in the scripted arts.
For your viewing pleasure, I have added this buried-treasure video to my ever-growing YouTube channel collection of local broadcasting snippets. In 1986, the state of Tennessee held a series of events under the umbrella of “Homecoming ’86.” The festivities were many and varied, as local residents invited the rest of the nation to experience Tennessee’s natural wonders. My employer at the time, WDEF Channel 12, enlisted my Morning Show co-host Helen Hardin and me to appear in a promotional spot. Helen played an uptight tourist seeking directions, while I faced an incredible challenge: I had to play a country-boy, gas-station attendant, wearing overalls and holding a dog. Certainly, this role was a huge stretch for me, but I gave it my best. Sit back and watch 30 seconds of TV excellence, and then ask yourself why I was never asked to act again.
You’re a natural, David!