Mel Leavitt (né Mahlon Tirre Leavitt) was a local historian and broadcast journalist that served the New Orleans, Louisiana, market from 1949 until near the time of his death in 1997 at age 70. His 35-year broadcast career was primarily at WDSU-TV, a New Orleans television station.[1][2] He was the first broadcaster of U.S. Senate Hearings, specifically the Kefauver Hearings, for which he earned the Raytheon Award.[1][3]
Leavitt was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and began his journalism career as a teenager at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. After majoring in journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia, he entered the US Army where he wrote for The Stars and Stripes. He subsequently began broadcasting for a AAA baseball farm team called the Newark Bears. These broadcasts led to a weekend radio show called The Inside of Sports for the Mutual Radio Network. From there, he was hired in 1949 by New Orleans businessman Edgar Stearn to work for WDSU-TV, which had recently started broadcast operations.[1]
Leavitt's productions earned two Peabody Awards and a Freedoms Foundation Award in 1981, as part of his Byline Mel Leavitt series.[4] Leavitt's production The Ku Klux Klan was received an Emmy Award in 1965.[5] His production The Huey Long Story earned a first prize from the American Association for State and Local History.[6] Leavitt authored three books documenting significant people and events in the history of New Orleans. Additionally, he wrote forewords to cookbooks on New Orleans cuisine, most significantly one featuring the Creole cuisine of noted New Orleans restaurant The Court of Two Sisters.
Leavitt broadcast on other venues in New Orleans, including public broadcasting station WYES-TV, then ABC affiliate WVUE-TV, public broadcasting station WLAE-TV, and then independent station WGNO-TV, in addition to NBC affiliate WDSU-TV.[7] His television series included 30 years as host of The Prep Quiz Bowl.[7] At WGNO-TV, he produced and starred in a 30-minute television magazine show called Mel Leavitt's Magazine, which was subsequently known as Real New Orleans.[7] He co-hosted a series of historical features at WLAE-TV focused on the history of the New Orleans area.[7] Other Leavitt productions include a history-related quiz show called Do You Know Louisiana?, a late-night talk show Tonight with Mel, The Wonderful World of Cajuns, and The Battle that Missed the War.
Leavitt married fellow New Orleans broadcast journalist Naomi Bryant.[8]
Booksedit
Mel Leavitt, A Short History of New Orleans, Lexikos Publishing, 1982, ISBN0-938530-03-8.
Mel Leavitt, Great Characters of New Orleans, Lexikos Publishing, 1984, ISBN0-938530-31-3.
Mel Leavitt, New Orleans, America's International City: A Contemporary Portrait, Windsor Publications, 1990, ISBN0-89781-425-8.
^Author biography in Mel Leavitt, A Short History of New Orleans, Lexikos Publishing, 1982, ISBN0-938530-03-8.
^Four-page citation by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, stated by Google Books, accessed November 28, 2011.
^Author biography in Mel Leavitt, Great Characters of New Orleans, Lexikos Publishing, 1984, ISBN0-938530-31-3.
^ abcdNew Orleans Times-Picayune, article "Who Will Carry the Torch", August 13, 1997.
^Naomi Bryant in New Orleans broadcast journalism, retrieved November 23, 2011. June 5, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
A photograph of Mel Leavitt can be viewed on-line.
January 01, 1970
leavitt, mahlon, tirre, leavitt, local, historian, broadcast, journalist, that, served, orleans, louisiana, market, from, 1949, until, near, time, death, 1997, year, broadcast, career, primarily, wdsu, orleans, television, station, first, broadcaster, senate, . Mel Leavitt ne Mahlon Tirre Leavitt was a local historian and broadcast journalist that served the New Orleans Louisiana market from 1949 until near the time of his death in 1997 at age 70 His 35 year broadcast career was primarily at WDSU TV a New Orleans television station 1 2 He was the first broadcaster of U S Senate Hearings specifically the Kefauver Hearings for which he earned the Raytheon Award 1 3 Mel LeavittBroadcast journalistBornMahlon Tirre Leavitt 1927 06 13 June 13 1927St Louis Missouri U S A DiedAugust 8 1997 1997 08 08 aged 70 New Orleans Louisiana U S A Occupation s Television journalist historianYears active1949 1997 Leavitt was born in St Louis Missouri and began his journalism career as a teenager at the St Louis Globe Democrat After majoring in journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia he entered the US Army where he wrote for The Stars and Stripes He subsequently began broadcasting for a AAA baseball farm team called the Newark Bears These broadcasts led to a weekend radio show called The Inside of Sports for the Mutual Radio Network From there he was hired in 1949 by New Orleans businessman Edgar Stearn to work for WDSU TV which had recently started broadcast operations 1 Leavitt s productions earned two Peabody Awards and a Freedoms Foundation Award in 1981 as part of his Byline Mel Leavitt series 4 Leavitt s production The Ku Klux Klan was received an Emmy Award in 1965 5 His production The Huey Long Story earned a first prize from the American Association for State and Local History 6 Leavitt authored three books documenting significant people and events in the history of New Orleans Additionally he wrote forewords to cookbooks on New Orleans cuisine most significantly one featuring the Creole cuisine of noted New Orleans restaurant The Court of Two Sisters Leavitt broadcast on other venues in New Orleans including public broadcasting station WYES TV then ABC affiliate WVUE TV public broadcasting station WLAE TV and then independent station WGNO TV in addition to NBC affiliate WDSU TV 7 His television series included 30 years as host of The Prep Quiz Bowl 7 At WGNO TV he produced and starred in a 30 minute television magazine show called Mel Leavitt s Magazine which was subsequently known as Real New Orleans 7 He co hosted a series of historical features at WLAE TV focused on the history of the New Orleans area 7 Other Leavitt productions include a history related quiz show called Do You Know Louisiana a late night talk show Tonight with Mel The Wonderful World of Cajuns and The Battle that Missed the War Leavitt married fellow New Orleans broadcast journalist Naomi Bryant 8 Books editMel Leavitt A Short History of New Orleans Lexikos Publishing 1982 ISBN 0 938530 03 8 Mel Leavitt Great Characters of New Orleans Lexikos Publishing 1984 ISBN 0 938530 31 3 Mel Leavitt New Orleans America s International City A Contemporary Portrait Windsor Publications 1990 ISBN 0 89781 425 8 References edit a b c New Orleans Times Picayune obituary by Mark Lorando August 9 1997 Baltimore Sun obituary August 12 1997 Seale Paterson article http www myneworleans com St Charles Avenue April 2010 Mel Leavitt accessed November 29 2011 Author biography in Mel Leavitt A Short History of New Orleans Lexikos Publishing 1982 ISBN 0 938530 03 8 Four page citation by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences stated by Google Books accessed November 28 2011 Author biography in Mel Leavitt Great Characters of New Orleans Lexikos Publishing 1984 ISBN 0 938530 31 3 a b c d New Orleans Times Picayune article Who Will Carry the Torch August 13 1997 Naomi Bryant in New Orleans broadcast journalism retrieved November 23 2011 Archived June 5 2004 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editNew Orleans Radio Theatre A photograph of Mel Leavitt can be viewed on line Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mel Leavitt amp oldid 1199684765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
