update
Chalk Hill Telecruiser needs lift to Blytheville While organizing the upcoming “Ghosts of Highway 61-Dixie Tour 2013” National Antique bus show April 4-6 in Blytheville, AR, Tom McNally has come across an amazing and truly rare 1949 Flxible DuMont Television Telecruiser (Model B, Number 101). Chuck Conrad, founder and president of Chalk Hill Educational Media, Inc., Kilgore, TX, has restored this vintage vehicle. He says this coach was sold new to KBTV Dallas channel 8 TV and was one of the very first mobile TV production vehicles ever built. When new, it came outfitted with state-of-
the-art broadcasting equipment of the time. This Telecruiser is believed to have been used during part of ABC TV/WFAA coverage of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas. This is believed to be the last survivor of 12 ever produced. McNally believes this Telecruiser should be on exhibit when the show opens in the restored former Greyhound terminal in Blytheville. Conrad also has a large collection of vintage TV broadcasting equipment to accompany the Telecruiser display.
Here’s the rub
Conrad says due to the questionable reliability of the original Buick straight-8 engine, he must treat the Telecruiser as a static display. He will have to transport this vehicle by truck rather than drive it on its own. Due to the limited resources of the not-for-profit museum, McNally and Conrad are asking for financial assistance from all bus enthusiasts throughout the industry. Visit www.telecruiser.com/donate The goal is $5,000 to make the roundtrip. Chalk Hill accepts cash donations and credit card payments of any amount through Paypal. Email dumonttelecruiser@yahoo.com or send donations payable to: Chalk Hill Educational Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1008 Kilgore, TX 75663 NOTE: Please select “gift” within the Paypal menu, so the museum receives the full donation without any fees from Paypal. If the Paypal link from the Telecruiser site does not cooperate, log into https://www. paypal.com/ to send a donation. Each donor will receive a thank you letter for tax deduction purposes. Send your email or mailing address to tbonemcnally@hotmail.com.
10
January 2013
BUSRide