Mar 14, 2019
CALLING ALPHA CONTROL: GARY FRANCIS & THE LOST JONATHAN HARRIS INTERVIEW
EPISODE SYNOPSIS: We welcome a special guest to Alpha Control; Gary Francis. A 50+ year Broadcast Radio Professional (on both sides of the microphone) in the New England area. Gary is here today to share with us a rare LOST Audio Artifact from Lost in Space; an in-depth extended one-on-one interview with the great Jonathan Harris, which he recorded on the occasion of the 1995 Lost in Space 30th Anniversary Cast Reunion in Boston, MA.
What makes this interview rare & the reason that I’m dubbing it ‘The Lost J. Harris Interview’ is that it was never broadcast! We’ll discuss how Gary managed to snag this audience with Harris & what it was like to meet ‘His Self’, as well as why the recording remained ‘unaired’ for NEARLY 30 years! WARNING: The 1995 J. Harris Interview is unedited & contains some Adult Language. May Not be suitable for younger listeners.
GARY’S BIO: Gary Francis was born & raised in Lowell, Mass & resides in Northern Massachusetts to this day. While attending High School at Keith Academy, he got an early start in one of his later vocations, while working part-time at local WCAP Radio as a producer and announcer. Another after-school job, working for Glennie's Ice Cream, the originator of the road-side ice cream stand concept in the 1930's; would eventually lead to another ‘passion-turned-career’ as owner & operator of Gary’s Home-Made Ice Cream, now celebrating its 47th season.
After graduating from High School, Gary went on to attend St. Thomas College in Bloomfield, CT & later Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg, NY. After college, he went full-time into radio, working at numerous iconic stations in Boston & the surrounding areas. With his velvet smooth voice & engaging demeanor, Gary also became the voice-over talent behind numerous commercials & audio presentations up & down the east coast. But it was during his tenure at WLLH in Lowell as host of the Morning Magazine show that Gary recorded the Lost J. Harris Interview; an opportunity that he relished as a life-long passionate fan of Lost in Space.
Gary is still active in broadcast radio today, as well as running his successful Home-Made Ice Cream business. When not engaged at those careers, he’s busy with yet another passion; Oil Painting.
We’re grateful that this “Lost Interview” with the actor who embodied Dr. Zachary Smith is finally being broadcast & honored that Gary decided share it for the first time with our audience. We’ll be playing the interview in its entirety, but before & after, we’ll also visit with the man who made this all possible & get the story behind the story. So, sit back & enjoy this Special “double feature” edition of Calling Alpha Control with Gary Francis & the Lost J. Harris Interview.
PODCAST INFO: This interview was conducted on 7 MAR 2019.
GARY’S LINKS:
http://www.garyfrascarelli.com/
GARY'S EMAIL: gary@garysicecream.com
STANDARD LINKS:
http://www.jacobsbrownmediagroup.com/lost-in-space-collector-set.html
https://www.hulu.com/lost-in-space
http://www.marccushman.com/books.html
https://www.facebook.com/alphacontrolpodcast/
EMAIL: alphacontrolpodcast@gmail.com
