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TV Studio Receives Gift From Industry Pioneer
Posted 5/12/2005
Hollywood producer Kent McCray has donated and pledged a total of $100,000 to the University of Hartford television studio, which will be named in his honor.
“Our students will leave here better equipped to begin careers in television because of Kent McCray,” said Television Studio Manager Dan McNamara. “It is especially meaningful to be receiving this support from someone with such impressive television credentials who is in many ways a pioneer in the television industry, and who understands the importance of keeping up with the latest advances in technology.”
The $25,000 that McCray has already donated will be used to upgrade the studio’s field equipment, such as cameras and tripods, McNamara said. Much of the remaining $75,000 that McCray has pledged will be used to begin converting the TV studio to high definition standards, he said.
In the fall, the facility will be officially renamed the Kent McCray Television Studio.
McCray was born in Hartford, where his father was a member of the management team at WTIC radio for many years. A graduate of The Hartt School, McCray was an alumni regent of the university for 10 years and is now an honorary regent.
Soon after leaving Hartt in 1951, McCray joined NBC, working on such legendary programs as the “Colgate Comedy Hour,” “The Red Skelton Show,” “The Ralph Edwards Show,” and “This is Your Life." In the later 1950s, he was an associate producer with Bob Hope, accompanying the comedian on many of his overseas USO trips to entertain the troops.
In the early 1960s, McCray teamed up with Michael Landon to produce “Bonanza” and later, “Little House on the Prairie” and “Highway to Heaven.”
McCray’s wife and partner, Susan, a noted casting director, recently was named a university regent. Together, the McCrays have been generous and enthusiastic supporters of the university. Just last month, the university dedicated The Harry Sukman Foyer at The Hartt School. The foyer features memorabilia from the career of Oscar-winning composer Harry Sukman, who was Susan McCray’s father, and it was made possible by a generous gift from Susan McCray.
Kent and Susan McCray also have been active supporters of the University of Hartford Magnet School and the University of Hartford Performing Arts Center. In addition, Kent McCray recently established three endowed scholarships at The Hartt School, to support students studying opera, theatre, and musical theatre.
“Our students will leave here better equipped to begin careers in television because of Kent McCray,” said Television Studio Manager Dan McNamara. “It is especially meaningful to be receiving this support from someone with such impressive television credentials who is in many ways a pioneer in the television industry, and who understands the importance of keeping up with the latest advances in technology.”
The $25,000 that McCray has already donated will be used to upgrade the studio’s field equipment, such as cameras and tripods, McNamara said. Much of the remaining $75,000 that McCray has pledged will be used to begin converting the TV studio to high definition standards, he said.
In the fall, the facility will be officially renamed the Kent McCray Television Studio.
McCray was born in Hartford, where his father was a member of the management team at WTIC radio for many years. A graduate of The Hartt School, McCray was an alumni regent of the university for 10 years and is now an honorary regent.
Soon after leaving Hartt in 1951, McCray joined NBC, working on such legendary programs as the “Colgate Comedy Hour,” “The Red Skelton Show,” “The Ralph Edwards Show,” and “This is Your Life." In the later 1950s, he was an associate producer with Bob Hope, accompanying the comedian on many of his overseas USO trips to entertain the troops.
In the early 1960s, McCray teamed up with Michael Landon to produce “Bonanza” and later, “Little House on the Prairie” and “Highway to Heaven.”
McCray’s wife and partner, Susan, a noted casting director, recently was named a university regent. Together, the McCrays have been generous and enthusiastic supporters of the university. Just last month, the university dedicated The Harry Sukman Foyer at The Hartt School. The foyer features memorabilia from the career of Oscar-winning composer Harry Sukman, who was Susan McCray’s father, and it was made possible by a generous gift from Susan McCray.
Kent and Susan McCray also have been active supporters of the University of Hartford Magnet School and the University of Hartford Performing Arts Center. In addition, Kent McCray recently established three endowed scholarships at The Hartt School, to support students studying opera, theatre, and musical theatre.
