Jackie Bradford – President and General Manager NBC4/WRC

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Jackie Bradford on Jim Vance NBC4/WRC ~

“He told me the story the other day…He said he was out at Betty Ford and one of the nurses came into him and said, ‘Come here.’ She took him into this room where there were stacks and stacks of letters and she said, ‘Who are you?’ ‘Who are you?’ Because he has lived his life so out loud and he’s been nothing but honest with himself and with his viewers that is why he is so beloved.”

A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and I am so delighted and happy and everything to welcome our next guest here. She’s not really a guest. I would describe her as a general manager’s general manager.
Jackie Bradford: Okay.
A Ockershausen: She’s actually a president and a general manager. I’ve known this young lady for so many years and I’ve seen her in action and what she’s done for her company and the greater Washington area is unbelievable. She has a unbelievable relationship with her staff. It kind of reminds me of me. You’ve got to get close to the people and you’ve done that Jackie. It makes a big difference. She’s actively involved with the community with the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Urban League, and it goes on and on and on because she believes in involvement and it has paid off so much for Channel 4. She’s the president of Channel 4, but her team has produced one of the largest health expos in the country for Our Town, or any town. She’s opened 2 regional news bureaus, one’s an investigative team among many other community endeavors to lead Channel 4 to continue to be the top TV station in the market. She plays a heck of a game of tennis and I’m so glad she’s back in Our Town. Welcome, Jackie Bradford.

Quit While We’re Ahead!

Jackie Bradford: Thank you Andy. Wow, we should just end there.
A Ockershausen: Quit while you’re ahead.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, quit while you’re ahead.
A Ockershausen: We’re not ahead yet. I was telling Jackie, and she knew this already but there may be a lot of people in our audience that don’t, WRC and WMAL were joined at the hip at one time. We were both stations of the NBC network, red and the blue. I recall growing up with them in a building with a young, smart aleck from Alexandria named Willard Scott. He was the messenger in our building for both sides.
Jackie Bradford: Do you think he’s going to do okay?
A Ockershausen: I said he’s a nutcase but he’s going to do fine. But that’s a relationship WMAL and WRC have. And we would use each other’s talent but that was in the old days. It doesn’t happen anymore. But Jackie, you were here in the financial world at one time. But you grew up … you’re a Baltimore girl.

From Baltimore to Virginia and UVA

Jackie Bradford: Baltimore. I left before I got that accent so I always like to say I left in the 5th grade …
A Ockershausen: Before Balmer.
Jackie Bradford: Before Balmer, before it went downhill. But I graduated from Woodbridge High School, here in Virginia.
A Ockershausen: Wow, I know Woodbridge very well.
Jackie Bradford: Yup. And went to the University of Virginia. I’d consider that local. Wahoo-wa.
A Ockershausen: Well, the high school, was it called … did it have another name?
Jackie Bradford: Nope, we were Woodbridge. . .the mighty, mighty Vikings.
A Ockershausen: There’s only Woodbridge High?
Jackie Bradford: Yup.
A Ockershausen: They had some great athletic teams, I remember reading about that. But to go to UVA is quite a feat.
Jackie Bradford: Yup.
A Ockershausen: Well at one time you may remember, there was a boys school and the females went to Mary Washington.
Jackie Bradford: Yup.
A Ockershausen: And I grew up in Northern Virginia for a while and it was a great tribute … anybody got in school at UVA was very fortunate. Is that correct?
Jackie Bradford: Very fortunate. Yeah I don’t think women were let into UVA until 1969, so later.
A Ockershausen: I think it was later. I think it was the early 70’s, I know that.
Jackie Bradford: But then when we were let in … okay, we’ll have to check on that.
A Ockershausen: I had a son that didn’t make the grade because he ran into the fact that they were letting females in and they changed the whole statistic. Then I had the governor of Virginia, Linwood Holton, working for me but it didn’t any good, he couldn’t get him in.
Jackie Bradford: Really?
A Ockershausen: Not because he wasn’t smart because of the quotas.
Jackie Bradford: So where did he go?
A Ockershausen: He went to the University of California.
Jackie Bradford: Really?
A Ockershausen: Oh, yeah.
Jackie Bradford: Okay.
A Ockershausen: Montecito? It’s not a bad choice, right?
Jackie Bradford: Not bad.
A Ockershausen: He went to UCal and . . .Santa Barbara. You know about that. So you were in the financial world on your first visit here, I mean your first experience at Channel 4, is that correct?

First Experience at Channel 4 – Money Honey

Jackie Bradford: That is correct. I was the finance director for Channel 4 from 2000 to 2008.
A Ockershausen: Wow. They were in the growth years for the industry in Washington.
Jackie Bradford: Growth years, growth year … No, look, it’s the number one station. It has been for many years.
A Ockershausen: Many years.
Jackie Bradford: It’s a great place. I always say WRC makes you better if you let it.
A Ockershausen: Hey, good for you! It does the fitness expo.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, exactly.
A Ockershausen: You also worked with the units, correct?
Jackie Bradford: Uh ah.
A Ockershausen: As a finance, somebody watch the money with these units … running them from time to time.
Jackie Bradford: As one of our news directors used to call me the “money honey” so I was called the “money honey” so trying to convince Jim Vance and Wendy Rieger and figuring out how much money they should make and how we should spend money and all that good stuff. You get to … when you start talking money, it’s good.
A Ockershausen: That’s a wonderful, that’s a wonderful training for general managers I would say … and presidents.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, so I went from there to San Diego so I was in…
A Ockershausen: I knew that.

General Manager’s Training in San Diego

Jackie Bradford: So in Southern California so they asked me to be general manager. So generally how it works in our business, market size matters. This is actually market size 7 in Washington D.C. San Diego is market 28 so they figure go make your mistakes someplace else in smaller markets and then when you come back to Washington, you’ve hopefully made a lot of those mistakes and then when you come back here, it’s perfect.
A Ockershausen: It’s not purgatory. San Diego’s not a bad place.
Jackie Bradford: No, it’s not a bad place. I think somebody told me it takes three years to figure out you never want to live anywhere else if you’re out in Southern California. I was there about two and a half so I still came back here.
A Ockershausen: So you never made it. But, then you transferred back to Washington?
Jackie Bradford: I did.
A Ockershausen: You never worked up in Northern California?
Jackie Bradford: Nope, I was only Southern California for two and a half years and I came back here in 2010 so I’ve been back for 7 years almost from the summer of 2010.
A Ockershausen: Is that right?
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: That’s the year we started our business.
Jackie Bradford: Well, there you go.
A Ockershausen: Janice started her business. That is her business, you understand …
Jackie Bradford: I know it well …
A Ockershausen: I’m an adjunct to it.
Jackie Bradford: …and we are appreciative of that.
A Ockershausen: Jackie, the great experience you’ve had from the money side was invaluable I think because you went through a lot of trauma because GE at one time was the villain, correct?

The GE Years

Jackie Bradford: GE was the villain although I’m a GE person so I think GE is all right.
A Ockershausen: I know that. I think they are wonderful, but there was a time when they were very aware of the finances …
Jackie Bradford: Sure.
A Ockershausen: … look I went through, I mean I went though it with ABC and we had our good days and bad days and when they were good they were very, very good and when they were bad, look out you had a cut. You try to explain that, it was very difficult. It wasn’t because they were bad people. They were wonderful people, but they had to make a profit. That’s why we were in business.
Jackie Bradford: Exactly. Andy, I tell people all the time we are a for profit business.
A Ockershausen: Absolutely.
Jackie Bradford: So we do this. We want to do the right thing by our community. We want to do the right thing for our viewers. Ultimately, under GE and then in 2011, Comcast acquired NBC.
A Ockershausen: Oh, I remember Comcast.

New Owner of NBC UNI – Comcast

Jackie Bradford: Comcast, I don’t know if you’ve heard of that company.
A Ockershausen: (Laughing)
Jackie Bradford: But ah …
A Ockershausen: I still have my NBC UNI pass.
Jackie Bradford: Well, there you go. Well, there you go. I like it. I like it. You got away with it so we have to remind people of that. We are a business and we are expected to make money.
A Ockershausen: It’s always been a fountain of money at one time because it goes up and down with the market and times but I don’t know the NBC UNI and getting that infusion … not only did you get an infusion of money, but you got an infusion of talent.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: When …
Jackie Bradford: Comcast …
A Ockershausen: … they took over. You’ve got an ABC guy running the company now, right?

Steve Burke

Jackie Bradford: Steve Burke. I would say obviously when you go through a transition you are always concerned. When Comcast came in obviously there was the SNL, the Alec Baldwin, and all of that good stuff, cable town … just like Our Town.
A Ockershausen: Oh, yeah.
Jackie Bradford: So I would say they’ve been wonderful. If you look at Comcast stock and talking about stock in GE. When they bought NBC, Comcast stock was at $20. It actually recently split, but pre-split numbers, it’s like 70, 75.
A Ockershausen: I hope you are in it heavily?
Jackie Bradford: I’m in it heavily. I believe in it. I tell our staff all the time to buy the stock, buy the stock.
A Ockershausen: We went through the same thing here with ABC. We told all of our employees, whatever you do, this company is going places … we don’t know where they are going to end up … that was before Disney … to buy the company stock because you are investing in yourself. The ones that listened made a lot of money. Particularly since the merger with Disney, then the Disney stock now is going crazy.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: But just like Comcast stock.
Jackie Bradford: Comcast.
A Ockershausen: It’s a wonderful thing for the company.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, it’s total mini mutual fund. When they bought the company, they didn’t believe that these parks like the Orlando Universal Parks, they attributed zero dollar value to that. If you ask Steve Burke probably what is one of his best success stories is, it’s the parks. They invested … I just went down there … they have Harry Potter. They’re smart. They invest and I think ….
A Ockershausen: And they’re out of the country too. They are offshore with several properties.
Jackie Bradford: Japan.
A Ockershausen: Steve grew up in a broadcast business, of course. I knew his dad quite well. I know Steve. They are visionaries and are so great. Then to get in the right time with Comcast because they were growing too before NBC, but what a buy that was.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: What a great thing for them.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, now it’s fantastic. I think the broadband business is … they are smart … they think ahead so the broadband business is helping with the video business and then NBC has been … they’ve doubled their operating cash flow since they bought us.
A Ockershausen: And your employers are happy about their free television, aren’t they?
Jackie Bradford: Employees … well, right. We get a … right, right.
A Ockershausen: That was a little asset.
Jackie Bradford: Don’t you get that with your ID that you still have?
A Ockershausen: No, goodbye.
Jackie Bradford: (laughing)
A Ockershausen: They gave me … the Rebecca gave me don’t come back Monday degree and no cable.
Jackie Bradford: (laughing) I think I still saw …
A Ockershausen: I miss the cable. That’s like 200 bucks a month.
Jackie Bradford: It is. I think I still saw an office with your name on it. I don’t know. I think I did. (laughing)
A Ockershausen: (laughing) They’re not going to leave it go. Now I went through that as you’re talking about with Disney with a new company coming in and bringing in all the magic that Disney has to town and you were the benefit of that now with Steve Burke …
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: … and what’s happened and so much so the future of Our Town depends on Channel 4 and your people and you being happy. I know that.

Comcast Investing in NBC

Jackie Bradford: Absolutely, absolutely. I think what you mention, the investigation team, we now have our own helicopter. We used to share. We now have our own…
A Ockershausen: Who had it before?
Jackie Bradford: We shared it. During the tough times that we talked about, stations got together and split the cost of the helicopter.
A Ockershausen: Smart move.
Jackie Bradford: Smart move. Comcast gave us a little bit more cash and now we have our own helicopter to get us to things faster.
A Ockershausen: Chopper 4, is that what call it?
Jackie Bradford: Chopper 4. Do you know a guy Charlie Bragale?
A Ockershausen: (laughing)
Jackie Bradford: He’s like you. He knows everyone. Everyone knows Charlie.
A Ockershausen: Yeah. We are just having a great time with Jackie Bradford. We are going to take a short break here Jack. This is Andy O and this is Our Town.
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Announcer: You’re listening to Our Town.
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockerhausen talking with a very dear friend, Jackie Bradford, the President of Channel 4, our favorite TV station for a lot of reasons.
Jackie Bradford: Absolutely.

After UVA – Capitol Hill and Senator Bob Packwood

A Ockershausen: Then I read about you in your bio, you worked up on The Hill for awhile.
Jackie Bradford: I did that was after graduating from the University of Virginia. I worked for a Senator from Nevada. It’s funny, he shared the ethics committee at the time and that was when Bob Packwood was being investigated …
A Ockershausen: Oh from Oregon.
Jackie Bradford: … and I have thought about that, that was the biggest scandal at the time with Bob Packwood and I just think about the many scandals that have happened on Capitol Hill since then and that was nothing, right?
A Ockershausen: (laughing) Oh hey it was tempest in a teapot.
Jackie Bradford: But it was a great time. I tell people what a wonderful first job to have and I think I’ve been …
A Ockershausen: Oh my God the exposure for you was unbelievable for Our Town.
Jackie Bradford: I just told my Uber driver this yesterday. My job was the executive assistant to the Senator so in addition to being with him all the time, I drove him around so I was his driver because from Nevada you don’t have a personal driver. I like to count myself among the Washingtonians that really know how to get around.
A Ockershausen: You know about Our Town then, right?
Jackie Bradford: So I was talking to the Uber driver and shockingly I gave him some feedback as to which way he was taking us through the City so …
A Ockershausen: My first job out of high school was working for this company called GE Supply Company.
Jackie Bradford: I’ve heard of it.
A Ockershausen: They had small parts and so forth and they gave me a truck, I mean literally a flatbed truck and a list of places to go everyday to deliver stuff like irons and toasters. I learned the City. I learned Northern Virginia. I learned a lot about PG County. We didn’t have much in Montgomery County, but I learned so much by being a driver. Just keep your eyes open.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: Found out how great Our Town was. Well, what a start in the business. Right out of UVA. That’s a … Wow, Jackie.
Jackie Bradford: I was.

After UVA – Living in Northern Virginia – Group House

A Ockershausen: Were you living in Northern Virginia then?
Jackie Bradford: I was living in a group house in Arlington so talking about real estate. I had thought about in 1991 if I would have bought that house on North Taylor Street off of Washington Boulevard … millionaire, but five women living together. I was actually thinking about that. Do kids do group houses as much anymore in D.C.?
A Ockershausen: Do they do it anymore?
Janet: I don’t know.
Jackie Bradford: Because it seems like everybody just has more money and they don’t have to shove five people into a room …
Janet: Or their parents do.
Jackie Bradford: … or their parents do.
A Ockershausen: A lot of guys at WMAL radio and Channel 7, there were guys that lived together. They had guys group houses. They didn’t have the big bucks, but there were four or five men in a different house around the City. I know several of the women were in groups, but I don’t know if they still do that but I think it’s a lot to the fact that “I want to be alone.” That’s probably out there now.
Jackie Bradford: Uh huh.
A Ockershausen: So Jackie but then you came in and worked in the city and you left NBC, I mean, the . . .
Jackie Bradford: Left The Hill and I went to GE.
A Ockershausen: Not a bad. Love GE.

Jackie Bradford on her Start with GE

Jackie Bradford: The evil empire. Yeah. I went to Stanford, Connecticut. I went through one of their training programs, financial management program. When I was there, I lived out in Seattle for a bit. You did six month rotations. I lived in Seattle, came back here. I worked for GE government relations. I worked for commercial real estate up in Stanford. Actually came back … then I went from there to the Today show and to Nightly New York, finance.
A Ockershausen: Watching the money.
Jackie Bradford: Watching “money honey”. So I went there. I worked with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric. My first …
A Ockershausen: Katie was an intern here, did you know that?
Jackie Bradford: Really? I didn’t. Wow.
A Ockershausen: Her father was a dear friend of mine. John Couric worked for a national association of broadcasting. He said, I’ve got a daughter graduating from UVA. She needs a summer job. She was an intern. I’ve known Katie … how long ago was that … many, many years ago. Delightful, isn’t she?
Jackie Bradford: Wow. She is and also a WRC grad, as well.
A Ockershausen: Absolutely. She worked for CNN, too, but I forgive her for that. (laughing)
Jackie Bradford: Then I came back down here. My mother actually had early onset Alzheimer’s and was living down here in Woodbridge so I needed to come back and …
A Ockershausen: Take care of your mom.
Jackie Bradford: … take care of my mom …
A Ockershausen: Absolutely.

Commercial Real Estate and Herbie Haft

Jackie Bradford: So I came back and actually worked in Commercial Real Estate for two years down here. I was just telling somebody, Catherine Jones from Cushman & Wakefield. I’m sure you know her.
A Ockershausen: I’ve heard that name.
Jackie Bradford: That we did a deal with Herbie Haft.
A Ockershausen: Wow! With his hair.
Jackie Bradford: I remember going to his house and it was interesting. I will say being the only … I was very young woman … Commercial Real Estate still could be more diverse I would say in the gender arena …
A Ockershausen: (Laughing)
Jackie Bradford: … then it is today. I was just telling this to Catherine last week I saw her at an economic class.
A Ockershausen: What great training for you to have to do business with Herbie Haft.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, Yep. So then actually the job came available … so it was all kind of GE finance related … then the job came available over at NBC in 2000, but I would …
A Ockershausen: They recruited you, I would hope?
Jackie Bradford: They recruited me. We talked. Look, it’s been … once you go broadcast, it’s hard to go back, right? So I think once you … if you are GE person working at NBC, you’re probably not going to go to GE Supply again.
A Ockershausen: (laughing)
Jackie Bradford: For example, right, so look …
A Ockershausen: It’s been a wonderful career I mean to have this training then to go back into business.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: Because you knew the outside as well as the inside.
Jackie Bradford: Yep. It’s been helpful.
A Ockershausen: A lot of people position don’t have that. They only have one side of it.
Jackie Bradford: So can’t see ever leaving this side of the business. It’s …
A Ockershausen: And the rest is history.
Jackie Bradford: The rest is history.
A Ockershausen: Watching the funds have been a lot of fun but at one time, you used to have to really squeeze them. At one time as I said ABC squeezed everything and then Disney had to do the same, but once they get rolling, there is no better job in the world then in broadcasting.
Jackie Bradford: Sure. No, and they’re smart people. They continue to invest Comcast so, I’m a believer. I didn’t think I would be.
A Ockershausen: (laughing) Thank the world for Comcast.
I’m going to take a break, Jackie, and come back and talk to you about your public involvement and how you see it and what it means to you.
Jackie Bradford: Sounds good.
A Ockershausen: This is Andy O and this is Our Town.
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Announcer: You’re listening to Our Town with Andy Ockershausen brought to you by Best Bark Communications.
A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockerhausen. This is Our Town. Talking to Jackie Bradford. One of the things that impresses me so much about Jackie and her career is her involvement in the community.

Community Involvement

Jackie Bradford: Absolutely.
A Ockershausen: It is a secret of success in so many ways because the more you give, the more you get back.
Jackie Bradford: Love it! I, I …
A Ockershausen: You are living proof of that.
Jackie Bradford: And that’s how we met, right? You name insert board right Board of Trade or D.C. Chamber, Urban League. Look I think that
A Ockershausen: Whatever. Goodwill, Police Boys and Girls Club …
Jackie Bradford: Yep. I think that …
A Ockershausen: Media’s Kids. I had ten of them at one time. I don’t know how I stayed alive.
Jackie Bradford: I think that WRC has a great tradition of being involved in the community.
A Ockershausen: Absolutely.

Health and Fitness Expo

Jackie Bradford: I think you mentioned the Health and Fitness Expo, but you name it. Coat Drive, Shred, Food For Families. All that …
A Ockershausen: Everything you do is first class.

Washington Tennis and Education Foundation

Jackie Bradford: … I think that from a professional perspective, it makes sense. We get that it’s good business and I think that over time, I think companies have actually agree with that. What you give, you get back. And professionally or personally I also agree with that as well. Beyond the things that you talked about, I love the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation. I’m on their Board. I just got on their Executive Committee.
A Ockershausen: Wow!
Jackie Bradford: And working on development. What they do is what I believe in and they are kind of using tennis in order to get the kids in some of the tougher parts of town into … bring them in, bring them in and …
A Ockershausen: Absolutely. Make them part of the life.
Jackie Bradford: … make it part so use the athletics and they have tutoring and all sorts of things. We have our Gala coming up so I don’t get in trouble, we have our Gala coming up May 19 so it’s a fantastic organization. Love it!
A Ockershausen: What you talk about is not only do you get back for the company, but you get back personally you get a reward for that … you love what you are doing. It’s so obvious.
Jackie Bradford: Yep. And it’s great …
A Ockershausen: And your people think that too.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, it’s great when it doesn’t seem likes that’s work when it all kind of comes together as one.
A Ockershausen: It does. It really does.
Jackie Bradford: You can’t break the personal or the professional.
A Ockershausen: Well, Janice and I always wondered the fact that we know so many of your people and they’re so happy and it’s a happy station and it’s all because of you, Jackie.
Jackie Bradford: (laughing)
A Ockershausen: You’re the boss. If it was happy, it would be you to take a walk.

On Jim Vance

Jackie Bradford: I always say to everyone … you said earlier you had Jim Vance on … and literally I say Jim Vance is not a jerk and if there is one person that could be a jerk, it’s him and he’s not so if he’s not, you can’t be. I always say we sniff the bad people out. We might sometimes make a bad hire, but over time those people don’t last because we …
A Ockershausen: You’ve got so many new talent we see and they are already well chosen.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: And Jim when through some bad times in his life and I was involved in the periphery of it and I sent him a note and he never forgot that when he went to California for his … I call it his training.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: And we have been friends every since …
Jackie Bradford: Did he tell you the story when he was out in California?
A Ockershausen: No
Jackie Bradford: And it’s funny you said that you sent him a letter. He told me the story the other day that …
A Ockershausen: I hand wrote it too.
Jackie Bradford: Handwritten. He said he was out at Betty Ford and one of the nurses came into him and said, “Come here.” She took him into this room where there were stacks and stacks of letters and she said, “Who are you?” “Who are you?”
A Ockershausen: (laughing) Right.
Jackie Bradford: Because he has lived his life so out loud and he’s been nothing but honest with himself and with his viewers that is why he is so beloved, right?
A Ockershausen: He’s a great impact for Channel 4, too, because of what he’s been through and what the community stood up behind him. I mean he’s such a wonderful man. We were also neighbors and you know our dog, and the motorcycles and all that.
Jackie Bradford: There’s no one he can’t talk to. There’s no one he cannot relate to.
A Ockershausen: Everybody puts their arms around Vance.
Jackie Bradford: Yes, absolutely.
A Ockershausen: A Ockershausen: Anyway my relationship with Channel 4 goes so far. It’s been enhanced greatly by your presence here.
Jackie Bradford: Oh, Andy, you’re the man.
A Ockershausen: You have done such a great job, Jackie. I’m watching you on the outside and I see it on the air. I feel it and I know you do.
Jackie Bradford: Absolutely. Well, Andy, you’re a legend.
A Ockershausen: In my own mind (laughing).
Jackie Bradford: No, you are one of those people that you are always happy to see because you always have a smile on your face and you always have something positive to say. That doesn’t happen all the time so a long way of saying “thank you” to you.
A Ockershausen: Well, thank you!
Jackie Bradford: You have welcomed me from day one and to whatever board meeting. I’m getting choked up so I just want to say “thank you”.
A Ockershausen: Well, I’m so fortunate to be in this position now and to have Janice who runs the whole show and thank the Lord for her. We love broadcasting and we always will. We stay close to you for that reason. We are here to help in any way shape or form.
Jackie Bradford: I know that. We love you guys.
A Ockershausen: You’re great!
Janice Ockershausen: Thank you Jackie.
Jackie Bradford: We’re all crying.
A Ockershausen: It wasn’t that bad. We’re waiting for the dividend. Now what are you doing? Are you Redskins again this year.
Jackie Bradford: Redskins and I’m a huge tennis fan.
A Ockershausen: Oh, tennis, wait a minute.
Jackie Bradford: Vance and I share that passion. You ask that man. He wears the Redskins on his sleeve, but his real passion is tennis. I’m telling you. He knows. He doesn’t play anymore but …
A Ockershausen: Do you know that tennis is so important to me in my life. There used to be something called The Evening Star Tennis Tournament. WMAL gave them the money because The Star didn’t have it. We started the tournament in Washington. The one that’s now going on to world class in the stadium and so forth. It was a WMAL pay because the newspaper was in trouble. That’s in the last sixties. They finally folded as you know, but tennis is a great part of my life. I know it’s a big part of yours. I started Janice playing 25 years ago, 30 years ago.
Jackie Bradford: All right. Who’s better?
Janice Ockershausen: He doesn’t move.
A Ockershausen: She couldn’t hit two balls. I cannot beat her now. That’s how much she’s improved. I’m serious. Is that the truth?
Janice Ockershausen: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: And you take pride in beating me, don’t you?
Janice Ockershausen: Yeah.

On Playing Tennis with Katherine Hepburn

Jackie Bradford: I nannied for two summers up in Fenwick, Connecticut, which is where Katherine Hepburn lived. I managed the tennis team with all the really, really rich … talk about non Woodbridge space… really, really rich kids in Fenwick and I coached the kids. She asked if I would play with her so I played tennis with Katherine Hepburn.
A Ockershausen: Wow! Did you hit with her?
Jackie Bradford: I hit with her. She was allowed to get two bounces, but she … she swam every day out in the Long Island Sound. She had like a little barrier.
A Ockershausen: That’s cold water.
Jackie Bradford: Cold water. Every 365. Tough lady.
A Ockershausen: Oh, I’ll bet. What a great career.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, yeah, unbelievable.
A Ockershausen: She’s a native of Connecticut or New England, right? She had a beautiful New England accent.
Jackie Bradford: Yeah.
A Ockershausen: Well, anyway, you have no accent. You have no Washington accent.
Jackie Bradford: I love Baltimore.
A Ockershausen: You don’t sound like Balmer.
Jackie Bradford: Especially the women in Baltimore like sometimes … like my cousin who never left and she stayed through high school … some times that’s a little tough.
A Ockershausen: Oh, you’re right.
Jackie Bradford: Right. I mean it’s not …
Janice Ockershausen: Hon…
Jackie Bradford: Yeah, Warshington, you know, but all good, all good.

Ed Walker

A Ockershausen: We had a young performer that grew up blind in Baltimore, Ed Walker. Ed Walker you know, of course, with Willard, they had their own show on WRC.
Jackie Bradford: Baltimore Benny.
Janet: Joy Boys
A Ockershausen: He had the best accent you’ve ever heard on Balmer.
Jackie Bradford: Baltimore Benny.
Janet: Yeah, Yeah.
A Ockershausen: He even wrote music about it. Eddie. What a great talent. We lost Eddie last year, but he was a big part of Our Town.
Janet: Still come in every day … not every day … he came in a lot still in 2001 and he and Mac McGarry would come in and just listen to music so they had a room that we kept for them where they would just come in and listen to whatever old style music. They just wanted a place to go.
A Ockershausen: What a great thing. There are no more record stores. You can’t go in and spin anything anymore.
Jackie Bradford: Yep.
A Ockershausen: Well, Jackie, this has been so delightful.
Jackie Bradford: Thank you guys. Thank you for all the nice things you’ve said. Now where is your daughter now?
Ken Hunter: She’s in Norfolk now going to Old Dominion.
Jackie Bradford: Oh, okay.
A Ockershausen: That’s a very good school.
Jackie Bradford: Of course. All Virginia schools.
Ken Hunter: It’s through the Navy.
Jackie Bradford: Are they paying for it?
Ken Hunter: Oh, yeah.
A Ockershausen: Thank you Navy. Jackie Bradford, you’re wonderful.
Jackie Bradford: Love you guys.
A Ockershausen: This is Our Town, Andy Ockershausen. We’ve had a wonderful conversation with Jackie Bradford about Channel 4 and how wonderful it is.
Jackie Bradford: Thanks, Andy. Love you!
Announcer: You’ve been listening to Our Town, Season Two, presented by GEICO, our hometown favorite, with your host, Andy Ockershausen. New Our Town episodes are released each Tuesday and Thursday. Drop us a line with your comments or suggestions. See us on Facebook or visit our website, at OurTownDC.com. Our special thanks to Ken Hunter, our technical director and WMAL Radio in Washington D.C., for hosting our podcast, and thanks to GEICO. Fifteen minutes can save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.