Denny		Denny Pre-BOC Article Beyond the Call ...on a Saturday

by Joe Dundon Denny Laughlin was the Art Director at WNDU-TV when he became a volunteer advisor to "Beyond Our Control" in 1972.  His talent was much welcomed by Dave Williams and myself.  I know that Dave was relieved to have him 'on our side'.  Denny joined us because, as I remember him telling me, "BOC was the most creative program that airs on WNDU-TV." Born and raised in South Bend, Denny attended Central Catholic High School and majored in art at Notre Dame.  After graduation, he joined WNDU-TV as it was going on the air in 1955.   Denny Laughlin, art director for WNDU, insisted kids in BOC color outside the lines, circa 1976. I believe he was Art Director from the beginning.  He soon left for a few years to fulfill a military obligation, then returned to his previous position which he held until his retirement in May, 1999.  He had great abilities in traditional art, portraits to landscapes.  But he was also a master of design, print, photography, even carpentry.  Denny could take a concept from discussion to the last nail or brush stroke. And his Irish heritage, of which he was immensely proud, flowed out of him in charm, wit, laughter and loyal friendship.  Two stories: He and Bill Siminski, a director at WNDU-TV and former BOC advisor, were dangerous together.  One lunch hour I remember, they kept staring out the WNDU front doors toward the massive 14-story Notre Dame Hesburgh Library.   Ad-libbing, they convinced our receptionist that the University was being forced to move the entire building 3 feet to the north because of FAA regulations of flight pattern disruption to planes landing at the South Bend Airport.  On another occasion, I wandered into the studio during my first year there, and encountered Denny and Bill in a serious discussion.  They were solving how to support the long ramp that needed to be built from the second-floor prop room, down above the stairs, smooth left turn through the large doors, and SWOOSH -- into the studio.  This was, of course, for the new ski show we were doing.  Artificial snow and all.  I was 22.  Green as a cucumber.  I believed them.

Denny's commitment to BOC in 1972 was good timing for us.  Prior to that, in addition to being the sales advisor, I spent our Saturday taping sessions teaching and supervising our student camera operators in the studio.  A WNDU-TV director handled the sets, lighting, the direction and technical direction.  That was to be our first year without a professional director, as BOC members became more involved in the total control of the production.  So Denny taught and supervised the studio operations, which included set design and construction, lighting and camera work.  Dave supervised audio, but mainly worked with the the directors and actors.  Freed from the studio, I learned the nuts and bolts of the master control room switcher, and taught the technical directors.  We all pitched in with projection room and videotape machine duties as needed.

Denny Laughlin teaches David Simkins how to run a camera in 1974.

When Dave Williams died in 1977, and the decision was made to continue the program on a year-to-year basis, "depending". It was Denny who provided the creative direction and became the lead advisor.  With the critical help of Dan Lakin and Bob Medich, BOC grads, we got through that first year without Dave, and it was OK.  But different. In 1982, when WNDU opened its new building on campus, it was announced that there would be no more studio availability for BOC production.  The station furnished some basic camera, lighting and recording equipment, and the show began taping 'on location', mainly at the Junior Achievement Center.  I am less familiar with the program's production from this point on, since I had amicably parted after the '81 season and 13 years.  Denny kept the project going, and BOC stayed relevant, funny and well-produced.

Joe Dundon and Denny Laughlin helped plan the 2001 BOC Reunion just a few months prior to Denny's death.

In 1986, however, Denny was told that the station would no longer sponsor a Junior Achievement company, since J.A. itself was re-organizing into a different educational entity.  It was not spoken, but Denny and I believed that this was a financial decision by management, and had very little to do with Junior Achievement's changes.  I think that BOC was looked upon more as a liability, an irritant, than an asset.  If only they could have seen in 1986 the larger vista of what BOC was really producing year-in and year-out in men and women, in creative entertainment, and in present and future goodwill and national publicity for WNDU-TV and South Bend.   I know that many can see it now.  Too late. Thanks Denny.  Thanks Dave.  From all of us.

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