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| Harry at work. Photo courtesy Michael Clarke |
Harry’s passing has touched me and many of my colleagues who worked with him and learned from him at what used to be the first and only television station in country, ttt, Trinidad & Tobago Televison.
Harry introduced me to the technical side of the business when I joined the station on February 16, 1972 as a young man eager to learn and grow in an industry that had always fascinated me.
He was a dedicated professional, a competent teacher and mentor and a friend. Last month he called me from Florida when he learned that I was ill. That was the kind of person Harry was – caring, compassionate and considerate.
He sounded as healthy and strong and invited me to visit with him and his spouse, Maria, in Florida. I accepted. But, sadly, I won’t see him anymore.
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| Happier times. Harry and Maria at their home in Florida. Photo courtesy Farouk Muhammad |
I have received emails from many of our colleagues, including Barry Gordon, the man who hired Harry and appointed him as the first technical director at ttt. Over the next couple of decades Harry created history, working to produce some of the more memorable programs on local television, working with icons such as Hazel Ward, Holly Betudier and the late Allyson Hennesy.
He trained me as a television operator and lamented my loss when I became a journalist. However he was proud of my achievements in the newsroom. If I had one fan in the world, it was Harry, who always made it a point to tell me how pleased he was with my work. He once told me, “You were created for television.”
In his account of his own career, Harry stated that it was Hazel who encouraged him along with another of our colleagues, Hugh Pierre, to apply for a job at ttt. Barry hired him and the rest is history.
Barry sent me this email about Harry:
“My original impression of him when we first sat down to have a talk was that of a very quiet, withdrawn and personal person. He exhibited qualities that I would best describe as being that of a sponge. He soaked up every bit of information that he could get from myself and the technical personnel who were putting the station together.
“Harry was devoted to the new technology of television and he could often be found at the station putting in hours over and above his scheduled sessions.
“He had a creative flair that was not readily noticeable on the surface. This was due to his reticence in standing out from his fellow employees. But his ability overrode this apparent shyness and the cream rose to the top. He was selected to be ttt's first local tv Director and his star began its ever increasing rise.
“As a person I found him to be very loyal and protective of those around him. His sense of humour always amazed me considering that I originally thought of him as a shy person. I shall miss Harry. My heart goes out to Maria.”
Barry was the first Program Director of ttt. His successor was Farouk Muhammed, now retired and living in Canada. It was Farouk who relayed the tragic news.
I asked him to share his thoughts on Harry for this publication. Farouk told me when he joined ttt in November 1963 Barry and Charlie Moore, one of the middle managers at ttt, told him that Harry had shown a real aptitude for television.
Harry was promoted as a Supervisor of Operations but still had responsibilities as a studio director and was the person who had the responsibility to train the second crew when the program schedule expanded with an increase of local programs. He also continued to be the operations trainer for subsequent hires in that area.
Farouk worked with Harry until 1978, before migrating to Canada “I found Harry to be very perceptive and, he understood the operations thoroughly,” Farouk wrote. “He was also very creative and as a studio director produced and directed shows with excellent results.”
He added, “With the influence of Barry Gordon, Harry was a true pioneer of television in Trinidad and Tobago and today most of the senior people in the industry who started their career in television within the operations area of ttt carry with them the embryo of tv as passed on by Harry. This is possibly his greatest legacy.
“On a personal level, I always found Harry to be diligent and he showed the greatest loyalty to ttt and very capably discharged the responsibilities handed to him. He was an outstanding asset to the development of television in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Holly, whose Scouting For Talent opened doors for many of our local artistes, also sent a note. He said he had spoken with Harry recently. “He sounded so vibrant and we recounted all the pleasant and unpleasant days on Scouting at ttt," Holly wrote.
“It seemed as though we couldn't stop talking - though at one time we ran out of words. It was a surprise to hear from Harry. Harry could not have been more vibrant and positive as he usually was. This news is a shocker to me. Maria keep the faith. You are in my prayers.”
Angela Barsotti, widow of John Barsotti, who held several managerial posts at ttt, including General Manager, heard about Harry’s passing and sent a note to all of us extending condolences to Maria and the boys and “to everyone that were a part of Harry's life.”
She said, “My daughter and I were just talking about Harry a few months ago when reflecting on John and those in his life. We were shocked and saddened by the news and I extend my prayers to Harry and Family.”
My friend and colleague Neil Giuseppi remembered Harry as “one of the true professionals who graced the halls of ttt in those early days.”
He trained me as a television operator and lamented my loss when I became a journalist. However he was proud of my achievements in the newsroom. If I had one fan in the world, it was Harry, who always made it a point to tell me how pleased he was with my work. He once told me, “You were created for television.”
In his account of his own career, Harry stated that it was Hazel who encouraged him along with another of our colleagues, Hugh Pierre, to apply for a job at ttt. Barry hired him and the rest is history.
Barry sent me this email about Harry:
“My original impression of him when we first sat down to have a talk was that of a very quiet, withdrawn and personal person. He exhibited qualities that I would best describe as being that of a sponge. He soaked up every bit of information that he could get from myself and the technical personnel who were putting the station together.
“Harry was devoted to the new technology of television and he could often be found at the station putting in hours over and above his scheduled sessions.
“He had a creative flair that was not readily noticeable on the surface. This was due to his reticence in standing out from his fellow employees. But his ability overrode this apparent shyness and the cream rose to the top. He was selected to be ttt's first local tv Director and his star began its ever increasing rise.
“As a person I found him to be very loyal and protective of those around him. His sense of humour always amazed me considering that I originally thought of him as a shy person. I shall miss Harry. My heart goes out to Maria.”
Barry was the first Program Director of ttt. His successor was Farouk Muhammed, now retired and living in Canada. It was Farouk who relayed the tragic news.
I asked him to share his thoughts on Harry for this publication. Farouk told me when he joined ttt in November 1963 Barry and Charlie Moore, one of the middle managers at ttt, told him that Harry had shown a real aptitude for television.
Harry was promoted as a Supervisor of Operations but still had responsibilities as a studio director and was the person who had the responsibility to train the second crew when the program schedule expanded with an increase of local programs. He also continued to be the operations trainer for subsequent hires in that area.
Farouk worked with Harry until 1978, before migrating to Canada “I found Harry to be very perceptive and, he understood the operations thoroughly,” Farouk wrote. “He was also very creative and as a studio director produced and directed shows with excellent results.”
He added, “With the influence of Barry Gordon, Harry was a true pioneer of television in Trinidad and Tobago and today most of the senior people in the industry who started their career in television within the operations area of ttt carry with them the embryo of tv as passed on by Harry. This is possibly his greatest legacy.
“On a personal level, I always found Harry to be diligent and he showed the greatest loyalty to ttt and very capably discharged the responsibilities handed to him. He was an outstanding asset to the development of television in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Holly, whose Scouting For Talent opened doors for many of our local artistes, also sent a note. He said he had spoken with Harry recently. “He sounded so vibrant and we recounted all the pleasant and unpleasant days on Scouting at ttt," Holly wrote.
“It seemed as though we couldn't stop talking - though at one time we ran out of words. It was a surprise to hear from Harry. Harry could not have been more vibrant and positive as he usually was. This news is a shocker to me. Maria keep the faith. You are in my prayers.”
Angela Barsotti, widow of John Barsotti, who held several managerial posts at ttt, including General Manager, heard about Harry’s passing and sent a note to all of us extending condolences to Maria and the boys and “to everyone that were a part of Harry's life.”
She said, “My daughter and I were just talking about Harry a few months ago when reflecting on John and those in his life. We were shocked and saddened by the news and I extend my prayers to Harry and Family.”
My friend and colleague Neil Giuseppi remembered Harry as “one of the true professionals who graced the halls of ttt in those early days.”
He said, “The personnel in television in Trinidad and Tobago would do well to emulate the high standards that Harry and those other pioneers set in the 1960s and 1970s.
“He will be sorely missed by all. His contribution to the development of Trinidad and Tobago, however, will never be forgotten.”
I recall reading Harry’s own accounts of some of the more memorable anecdotes of his career. One of them had to do with an assignment with Dr Eric Williams, the first Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago.
A light blew out while he was recoding the interview with Dr. Williams. Harry’s task was to tell the Prime Minister he had to interrupt the recording to correct the problem. He explained to Dr. Williams that without the key light the PM’s face would be dark. “He turned to me,” Harry wrote in 2005 in his contribution to ttt Pioneers blog. “Fearing the worst, I said ‘I am sorry’. He said, “It’s alright, that’s my natural colour’.”
Harry commanded respect through his professionalism. Another time, he told, he had to tell Dr Williams to put out his cigarette while in the studio. The Prime Minister obliged.
Harry taught many of us the basics of television and trained us in the more complex operations. And he had the deepest respect for Barry, who introduced him to the medium and taught him the language and practice of television production.
Harry also remembered Farouk, whom he described as his “boss and friend”. He wrote, “Farouk taught me about living with the job we love and enjoying it.”
And that’s what Harry did all through his life.
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| The original building at 11a Maraval Road where Harry worked. The structure has been refurbished and now houses the offices and studios of CNMG, the newest incarnation of the original ttt. Photo courtesy Michael Clarke |
If you had the privilege of watching ttt in the 1970s and 1980s you would have seen Harry’s work in which he was the guiding hand in the glove. And his influence in television in Trinidad & Tobago remains today with the scores of professionals trained by him who still work in the industry. Harry’s legacy will remain with us forever.
There is an old Chinese Proverb that says you don’t die so long as your name is remembered. If that is so, then Harry remains immortal.
Jai Parasram | 27 May 2012
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