Feature Story & Photos by Larry H. Oskin
The Clermont Performing Arts Center’s Black Box Theater hosted its final performance of the popular matinee series, ‘You Are Still There’ created by Clermont’s own Emmy and Peabody Award winner, Charlie Grinker.
Grinker, armed with awesome old films, stories and memories, quickly helped the audience travel back in time to remember many celebrities, famous movie stars, presidents, significant news broadcasts, TV Shows and movies. Grinker noted, “I started to professionally work in television in 1952 after college.” After 30 years he earned his first Emmy Award for creatively producing a 17-part cable series with legendary American journalist and political commentator, Bill Moyer.
Grinker told stories about all of the celebrities who taught him how to share creativity and elebrate imagination. One of his favorite celebrities to work with was Bob Hope, who he would often join along with Sophia Loren and others as regular TV guests on the popular Mike Douglas Show in the ‘70s. He shared clips of Bob Hope performing on various TV shows as well as for our GIs fighting overseas alongside his friends Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Lana Turner to name a few. He noted, “Bob Hope was amazing! Hope started as a boxer, before he went into radio, vaudeville and television.” Hope was also the host of the annual Oscars for 19 years and taught us all the gifts of laughter while sharing his songs, dancing and comedy.
Grinker also shared an entertaining Michael Douglas clip of Tiger Woods and his father Earl from 44 years ago, when Woods was already playing golf as a mere child. He presented terrific insights from his work with Norman Lear, the TV producer who really changed TV by introducing All in The Family with Archie Bunker and a tight-knit cast. Some of the most memorable performances included an appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr. and when Bunker gave mouth to mouth resuscitation to save the life of a female impersonator. Working with Lear, he showed how they crossed all of the sensitive racial, ethnic and sexual barriers of the late ‘60s. Grinker added, “Norman Lear really taught me how to very carefully listen and to learn from what I see and hear.” He closed the show with more famous video clips and hilarious stories from Sid Caesar, Mickey Rooney, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Jonathan Winters, Jackie Gleason, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Jack Benny.
Born in 1933, Grinker grew up in Passaic, New Jersey. He has multiple degrees in Communication Arts and Psychology from New York University and a very rich history to share. He has worked with NBC, CBS, Disney, A&E Network, Hollywood stars and plenty of historically famous celebrities. As a self-described “film nut,”, Grinker started his career as a movie usher in 1961. He jumped at the chance to work for NBC Radio in New York City in film research, knowing it would quickly lead to much bigger and better career opportunities. He thereafter became an Associate Producer where he got to work with Richard Dreyfuss, Norman Lear, Billy Graham, Bob Hope, Arthur Godfrey, Bill Moyers, Charles Osgood and many more.
After many years of hard work, he became the President of the Corporation for Entertainment & Learning from 1963 to 1991. His successful career led him to become President and Creative Director of his own Charles Grinker Productions Company for many years. This is where he conceptualized, produced and wrote his Emmy and Peabody award-winning programs and series since the 1980’s. As a nationally respected producer, writer and director of more than 200 award-winning television programs over 60 years in New York City, Grinker is very happy to live here in Clermont while offering his access to endless important old film clips while sharing his own memories, interviews, anecdotes and interesting stories.
The final show began with the audience singing Happy Birthday to Charlie, who was joined on stage by his wife and daughter. His daughter Lori Grinker is now working on a documentary to chronicle her father’s life, stories, memories and videos. She shared, “I am very proud of my father’s repertoire sharing his life experiences since the 1980s with intelligence, entertainment and great memories. He absolutely loves to tell stories!” This entertaining Charlie Grinker series is now available for private groups and organizations.
The Clermont Performing Arts Center has a most entertaining season planned with classics from the world of theater, music and pop culture presented on their Mainstage as well as in the Black Box Theater. Upcoming 2022-23 Season Shows: Some of the upcoming performances include The Sounds of Soul on October 22, Top of the World – A Carpenters Tribute show on April 1, 2023 and Kashmir – The Live Led Zeppelin Tribute planned for May 6, 2023. Tickets for all shows are now on sale and can be purchased at https://clermontperformingarts.com/ or by calling 352-394-4800. CPAC is located at 3700 South U.S. Highway 27.
