Sidney Pike papers, 1943-2011

Summary

Creator:
Pike, Sid, 1927-
Date:
1943-2011
Extent:
13.5 Linear Feet 14 boxes, 1 oversized box, 1 oversize folder
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Item, box, folder], Sidney Pike papers, ms3767. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The Sidney Pike papers document the television broadcasting career of Pike at WBZ-TV, WHDH-TV, ABC, WQXI-TV, Channel 17, WTBS, and CNN. The collection includes scripts, correspondence, photographs, film public domain research files, clippings, and marketing material.

The WBZ-TV files include scripts from the Bosco Roundup program, B. A. Rolfe's Storytime, 2000 A.D., and the Mental Health and Let Freedom Ring campaigns. The WDHD-TV series primarily documents "The American Way of Life" Brazil exchange project. The Brazil Project was a series of five programs about an average American family, which were shown on Channel 9, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The series was also translated and shown in Japan by the United States Information Agency. The majority of the collection documents Pike's career working with Ted Turner, first at Channel 17 (WTCG), then WTBS international sales, and finally retiring as President of CNN Special Projects.

The personal papers primarily document Pike's activities as chairman of the board for NETO (National Education Telecommunications Organization) and the International Foundation for Global Studies.

Biographical / historical:

Sidney Pike's (1927-2022) career in television began with producing and directing baseball programming for Boston's WBZ-TV (1950-1957) and WHDH-TV (1957-1967). During his tenure at WHDH, Pike also produced a documentary, "American Way of Life," using his own family for an exchange of television programming between Brazil and the U.S. (1961-1963). In 1968, he became the station manager for Atlanta's WQXI-TV, Channel 11. Three years later, Pike joined Ted Turner to develop his newly purchased UHF channel, a relationship that lasted for twenty-five years. He served as station manager of WTBS until 1980, when Turner created CNN. In 1984, Pike began travelling the globe selling CNN International programming and he retired as President of CNN International Special Projects in 1996.

Arrangement:

This collection is organized into six series: WBZ-TV (Boston); WHDH-TV (Boston); ABC researcher/WQXI-TV (Atlanta); WTCG-TV (Channel 17) and WTBS; CNN (Cable News Network); and Personal Papers.

Access and use restrictions

Preferred citation:

[Item, box, folder], Sidney Pike papers, ms3767. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.