Friday, December 20, 2019

Countdown to Christmas: The Melodies of Christmas returns, but should WRGB move the show, just for one year?

WRGB's annual holiday special, Melodies of Christmas, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and the 2019 edition is being taped at Proctor's in Schenectady through the weekend.

Melodies has been housed at Proctor's for almost, if not all, of its run. No offense toward Proctor's, but wouldn't it be nice if, just for one year, WRGB and corporate sponsors Price Chopper & Freihofer's could be persuaded to move Melodies across the river to either Albany or Troy. Can you picture Melodies in the cavernous Times-Union Center or the acoustically perfect Troy Music Hall? Why not Albany's spanking new Capital Center? Why should Proctor's monopolize Melodies? For commuters like ye scribe, getting a bus from downtown Schenectady back to Troy or Albany at night would be most difficult, depending on scheduling.

I've seen portions of some Melodies shows through the years, but never a complete show. This year's edition, as always, is a showcase for the Empire State Youth Orchestra & Youth Chorale, with the Irish folk band, the McKrells, among the guests on the card.

WRGB shares broadcasting with sister station WCWN. The CW affiliate gets first crack on Christmas Eve, as WRGB will air Melodies at 12:37 am (ET) on Christmas Day in place of The Late, Late Show With James Corden, and encore at 7 am & 5 pm.

Let's take you back to 2004, and the 25th anniversary show:



Not sure if WGNA-FM is still doing simulcasting.

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