Looking Back on Gene Hackman’s Time in Danville; and at WDAN Building

ABOVE: Pictures of former WDAN-TV and WDAN Radio (respectively) workers Gene Hackman (right) and Dick Van Dyke (left); located on the front wall of the CIMG radio building at 1501 N. Washington in Danville.

The passing of Oscar winning actor and Danville native Gene Hackman has brought about loads of memories about Hackman’s time not just in Danville, but also in the very building that still holds 1490 WDAN Radio at 1501 North Washington.  At one time, that building also held WDAN-TV.  And as former 1490 WDAN General Manager Mike Hulvey reminds us, Hackman was not a star, but just a crewman at WDAN-TV in the 50s.  And his high school picture is on the front wall of the building today.

AUDIO: He worked behind the scenes.  He was a cameraman, he was an artist; at WDAN Television.  And that was after his time in the Marine Corps, but  before he ventured out to New York and Los Angeles to begin his career.

As Hulvey recalls, the old television studio area is in the back of the building.  And it’s easy to imagine a young Gene Hackman walking in to work.

AUDIO: You go down the main hallway at the radio station in Danville on North Washington Avenue, and then zig-zag your way down to the old television studio; because every day that Gene Hackman worked in that building, that was exactly the path that he took.  And so I always would affectionately refer to that as “The Hackman Hallway.”

Local broadcast historian, as well as former D102 DJ Doug Quick remembers learning about Hackman from someone who had once worked with him, former Sales Manager John Eckert.

AUDIO: As John told me, he (Gene Hackman) was a member of the studio crew.  Basically, he was a camera operator and whatever else that was needed for a set up.  And in those times, commercials were done live.  So they would have to reset the studio each time a local commercial would play, and they would show products on a table.  And that’s what he probably did.

Quick also remembered one time years ago when he just missed Hackman, at Danville’s old Ryan’s Restaurant.

AUDIO: I went with my family to eat there one time; and the server, the hostess, she told me, she says “You’re the second celebrity that’s been in here today.”  And I said, “Okay, who was the first?”  And she said, “Gene Hackman.”  And I said, “Listen, I’m not even in the same ballpark of Gene Hackman!”

Danville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Jeanie Cooke says it’s wonderful how Hackman kept Danville close to his heart.

AUDIO: Danville was always his hometown.  If he was going to visit with somebody, he was going to talk about how much he loved Danville, Illinois.  And that means a lot to the residents, I think, and the people that live here.  We all have, I think, a real soft spot for Gene Hackman.  I know he kept in very close touch with his high school friends here.  It gives you a warm feeling to know that someone remembers where they’re from.

Hackman, and his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog, were found deceased this week in their Santa Fe home.  Hackman was 95.