Pictured left in one of his earliest promotional photos, Marcus Bartlett has the look of a young college student. Good reason - he was. Marcus was attending Emory University full time and working at WSB Radio in 1930 at the age of 19! Recalling those days, Bartlett says "I was hired because I could play piano and read bedtime stories over the air...and by doing both, I provided two talents for the price of one!" He was also president of the student council at Emory University. This was one busy lad! His great talent at piano earned him the title of music director of WSB Radio. Never shy, he would interview famous celebrities, politicians and newsmakers. Marcus once took recording equipment with him to interview the famous Fred Waring and his band members as the train carrying the band pulled into Atlanta. It would be one of broadcasting's earliest "remotes".
Marcus would also go down in broadcast history for one of radio's earliest "bloopers." He had been trying to reach his mother by phone when he had to interrupt his efforts to give a station break. Instead of "The voice of the south, WSB Atlanta", Marcus calmly said "Hemlock 8863W, please" - his mother's phone number!
Photo to left - Marcus in May 2005 at the WSB Old Timers Reunion. He played piano for all of those on hand and sounded just fantastic!
Live music was a staple of the early WSB. In the photo below, a picture of a band that played on WSB quite a bit in the 30's, providing entertainment to a growing audience. Another smaller group known as the WSB "staff band" would play primarily on WSB and would provide the music for many musical stars who came to Atlanta for appearances. Marcus played piano for both bands!
Also in the 30's, WSB began broadcasting play-by-play of the University of Georgia football games. The man chosen to provide "color" for the broadcasts - Marcus Bartlett.
Like many working at WSB Radio, he left the station at the outbreak of World War Two in December 1941 to enlist in the military service. He enlisted at the same time with fellow WSB veteran Elmo Ellis. The funny story with this is, according to Marcus, is that he asked for the Army and got the Navy. Elmo asked for the Navy and got the Army! Marcus was stationed with the Navy in Jacksonville, FL where he handled communications. He never saw a boat during the war. However, one major event would occur. While in Jacksonville, he would meet a woman, who would later become his wife. They would have five children.
Marcus returned from the Navy to WSB Radio at the end of the war. In 1948, WSB-TV would sign on the air and Marcus would become the first station manager for the new "radio with pictures." After helping to launch WSB-TV, Marcus would be called on to guide the growing television operations for Cox Broadcasting, including new areas such as cable television. Cox knew that if there was a new challenge, they could count on Marcus Bartlett.
Marcus, along with his long time friend Elmo Ellis would be honored in later years as "Georgia Pioneer Broadcasters" by DiGamma Kappa, the professional honorary society at the University of Georgia. Both have been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.
Marcus retired from work with Cox Radio and TV in 1975. In this picture he is surrounded by his family. Mrs. Bartlett has passed on. In 2005, Marcus can boast of five happily married children, 25 grandchildren and at last count - 17 great-grandchildren!
After retiring from Cox, Marcus went to the University of Georgia and taught for five years while also running the prestigious Peabody awards. He would teach alongside Dr. Worth McDougald, brother of WSB veteran Mike McDougald. Marcus would have a student in his classes - the son of Worth McDougald! Hundreds of students studying under Marcus Bartlett would go on to careers in broadcasting. Many of their voices can be heard all over the United States.
After retiring from UGA, Marcus went to work for a travel agency and then got the world travel bug. In 1981 he would receive the 1981 Board of Governors' Emmy Award presented for only the third time in its first 27 years. Mrs. Bartlett had to accept for her husband because he was traveling with three grandchildren in Africa at the time!
In June 2001, the 107th Congress House of Representatives recognized Marcus Bartlett for "his invaluable contribution to the arts and music culture in the South." Marcus may have become a busy broadcast executive and professor, but music was always his first love.
He played the organ for 50 years for Peter Marshall's church before Marshall moved on to become the chaplain of the U.S. Congress. He ended his organ career at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta, but plays the piano every Sunday for his Sunday School department at Johnson Ferry Road Baptist Church. He also plays monthly concerts for a senior living facility in Atlanta.
Photos from the collection of Marcus Bartlett and Mrs. Ann B. Cannon, Marcus Bartlett's daughter. The two are pictured below.
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