Celebrating Sandy Kenyon: Eyewitness Information reporter displays on his half-century journalism profession

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — For 47 years, Sandy Kenyon has interviewed the well-known, highly effective and influential, however after Sunday's Oscars telecast, Sandy will tackle a brand new off-camera function for ABC-owned tv stations.

We take this historic second to look again on his outstanding profession in a wide-ranging dialog, above, between Eyewitness Information host David Novarro and Sandy.

Sandy shared the second as a toddler when he realized he needed to be within the enterprise, when he noticed the filming of a scene from Peter Sellers' 1964 movie “The World of Henry Orient,” proper throughout the road from his residence on the Higher East Aspect.

He was immediately hooked.

Fortunately for Sandy, the Kenyon household moved to California, and by the point he was 16, he was operating espresso on the Paramount lot, an excellent job at a time when the studios have been almost impenetrable to outsiders.

Not lengthy after, Sandy entered the world of journalism whereas nonetheless at Princeton College and landed an interview with legendary actor Henry Fonda for the nationwide radio present “Deal with Youth,” produced by media wunderkind Garth Ancier. .

In 1980, Sandy Kenyon discovered herself in Atlanta to attend one of many largest moments within the historical past of tv information: the launch of CNN. She was given the enviable function of manufacturing and writing for the nice presenter Bernard Shaw, who turned Sandy's mentor. Ella Sandy later served as CNN's chief leisure correspondent in Los Angeles, delivering her signature “Hollywood Minute” segments.

As Sandy's profession developed, her voice would grow to be an iconic a part of America's most listened to radio station, 1010 WINS, with its leisure information segments.

In February 2005, Sandy was a part of the Eyewitness Information staff on WABC-TV Channel 7. It was whereas she was on the station that she started overlaying the Oscars on the behest of the station's information director. Luckily, by way of her years in Hollywood, Sandy had struck up a friendship with veteran Academy Awards producer Gil Cates. Sandy received a enjoyable interview with then-first-time host Chris Rock and unprecedented journalistic entry to the Oscars stage earlier than the telecast.

Watch the memorable interview right here:

He was the primary Eyewitness Information reporter on the scene in 2008 when Heath Ledger's dying in SoHo shocked the world, and maybe higher than another journalist he was capable of put his dying within the broader context of his affect on Hollywood and widespread tradition.

It was considered one of numerous moments of memorable protection from Sandy, whose deft contact added substance to so many tales, from high-octane theater premieres, Broadway reveals, and superstar obituaries, a few of whom he knew effectively.

In February 2015, Sandy made a shock cameo on ABC's “Basic Hospital,” enjoying a jail guard.

You possibly can watch her cleaning soap opera debut beneath.

He was launched to hundreds of thousands of individuals every year by way of his leisure stories that appeared on video screens behind New York Metropolis taxicabs.

The most recent was printed this week, by which he mentioned goodbye to his loyal viewers of locals and vacationers alike. You possibly can see his remaining taxi report, beneath:

Sandy's final formal interview was, appropriately sufficient, with Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel.

Watch the emotional remaining moments of the interview within the video beneath.

Jimmy Kimmel took to his Instagram account to take a second to salute Sandy's unimaginable profession.

Earlier than her final day with Eyewitness Information, Sandy appeared on the Tamron Corridor Present, talking about her profession and her thrilling new function inside ABC.

He’ll function a tactical useful resource to Debra OConnell, president of tv and community enterprise operations for Disney Leisure Tv, and report back to Chad Matthews, president of ABC owned tv stations. You’ll work intently with OTV's leisure reporting groups to develop and implement methods to enhance protection and attain.

RELATED: Sandy Kenyon Welcomes Joelle Garguilo to the Eyewitness Information Household

“It’s a true privilege to be offered with this distinctive alternative by Debra and Chad, who proceed to remodel our enterprise by way of relentless innovation,” mentioned Sandy. “I've had a front-row seat – actually! – to the most important occasions and abilities which have formed the leisure business since my early days at CNN, and there's no firm higher geared up to inform the tales behind the storytellers. than Disney.”

And we're glad Sandy is staying within the household.