Tom Jolls
Encyclopedia
Tom Jolls is a retired television weatherman at WKBW-TV
in Buffalo, New York
, where he worked for 34 years. He was also the star of the Commander Tom Show
which had a 26-year run on WKBW.
Born in Newfane, New York
, Jolls grew up in Lockport, New York
, where he worked at WUSJ (AM) from 1951 to 1962. He moved to Buffalo, working for WBEN (AM), and in 1965 was hired by WKBW-TV to become the station's evening news weatherman. Before the end of the year, he was also hosting The Superman Show—interstitial segments featuring Jolls as Captain Tom, later Commander Tom, which aired around broadcasts of Adventures of Superman
. The program evolved into The Commander Tom Show
and would be on the air in various formats for 26 years.
Jolls, along with news anchor Irv Weinstein
and sports anchor Rick Azar
, were a nighttime fixture on WKBW. As host of "The Weather Outside," Jolls would stand out in the elements to report on weather conditions, and seeing him shivering or struggling to keep balance in gusty winds became common. Another one of Jolls's trademarks was his "Weather Word," a summation of the weather forecast in one word (a particular favorite of Jolls was salubrious, for beautiful weather). He also maintained a weather stick
as a forecasting aid; it was eventually broken apart by vandals.
However, Jolls was not an actual meteorologist. Instead, he obtained his forecasts from Accuweather
.
In 1992, Jolls reprised his Commander Tom character in a recurring role on the weekend morning kids' show Rocketship 7
. It was cancelled after one year.
Azar retired in 1989, ending the 24-year run of the anchor team of Weinstein-Jolls-Azar. Weinstein retired in 1998, and Jolls left the air six months later, retiring on June 30, 1999. Mike Randall
was named as his successor.
He currently splits his time with his wife Janice between two homes in Western New York
and a home in Cape Coral, Florida
.
WKBW-TV
WKBW-TV, channel 7, is the ABC affiliate for the Buffalo, New York television market, and is one of many local Buffalo TV stations seen over-the-air and on cable in Canada. Its transmitter is located at 8909 Center Street in Colden. The station is owned by the Granite Broadcasting Corporation, who...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where he worked for 34 years. He was also the star of the Commander Tom Show
Commander Tom Show
The Commander Tom Show was a children's television series that aired weekday afternoons on Channel 7 WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, premiering on December 20, 1965.The host of the show was Tom Jolls, who had joined WKBW as a weatherman earlier in 1965...
which had a 26-year run on WKBW.
Born in Newfane, New York
Newfane, New York
Newfane is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockport.- History :...
, Jolls grew up in Lockport, New York
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
, where he worked at WUSJ (AM) from 1951 to 1962. He moved to Buffalo, working for WBEN (AM), and in 1965 was hired by WKBW-TV to become the station's evening news weatherman. Before the end of the year, he was also hosting The Superman Show—interstitial segments featuring Jolls as Captain Tom, later Commander Tom, which aired around broadcasts of Adventures of Superman
Adventures of Superman (TV series)
Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
. The program evolved into The Commander Tom Show
Commander Tom Show
The Commander Tom Show was a children's television series that aired weekday afternoons on Channel 7 WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, premiering on December 20, 1965.The host of the show was Tom Jolls, who had joined WKBW as a weatherman earlier in 1965...
and would be on the air in various formats for 26 years.
Jolls, along with news anchor Irv Weinstein
Irv Weinstein
Irwin "Irv" Weinstein is a retired local television news anchor. He hosted WKBW-TV's Eyewitness News in Buffalo, New York, for 34 years, from 1964 to 1998, becoming an iconic broadcaster well known in both the Buffalo area and in Southern Ontario, which was within WKBW's broadcast area. Weinstein...
and sports anchor Rick Azar
Rick Azar
Rick Azar is an American broadcaster who spent 31 years at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York.- WKBW-TV career :Rick Azar was the first voice heard on WKBW-TV on November 30, 1958...
, were a nighttime fixture on WKBW. As host of "The Weather Outside," Jolls would stand out in the elements to report on weather conditions, and seeing him shivering or struggling to keep balance in gusty winds became common. Another one of Jolls's trademarks was his "Weather Word," a summation of the weather forecast in one word (a particular favorite of Jolls was salubrious, for beautiful weather). He also maintained a weather stick
Weather stick
A weather stick is a traditional means of weather prediction used by some Native Americans. It consists of a balsam fir or birch rod mounted outdoors which twists upwards in low humidity and downwards in high-humidity environments...
as a forecasting aid; it was eventually broken apart by vandals.
However, Jolls was not an actual meteorologist. Instead, he obtained his forecasts from Accuweather
AccuWeather
AccuWeather is an American media company that provides for-profit weather forecasting services worldwide.AccuWeather was founded in 1962 by Joel N. Myers, then a Penn State graduate student working on degrees in meteorology. His first customer was a gas company in Pennsylvania. While running the...
.
In 1992, Jolls reprised his Commander Tom character in a recurring role on the weekend morning kids' show Rocketship 7
Rocketship 7
Rocketship 7 was a children's television series that aired weekday mornings on WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York from 1962 to 1978 and from 1992 to 1993....
. It was cancelled after one year.
Azar retired in 1989, ending the 24-year run of the anchor team of Weinstein-Jolls-Azar. Weinstein retired in 1998, and Jolls left the air six months later, retiring on June 30, 1999. Mike Randall
Mike Randall (entertainer)
Michael E. "Mike" Randall is an American actor, meteorologist and reporter from Buffalo, New York. He is best known for his long run on WKBW-TV, where he has been since 1983 and has been the chief meteorologist since 1999.-Television career:...
was named as his successor.
He currently splits his time with his wife Janice between two homes in Western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
and a home in Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is a municipality located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, pre-platted community, the city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. With an area of , Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and...
.
External links and sources
Tribute site includes pictures, history and more- The Irv, Rick, and Tom Page Fan site by Buffalonian Steve Cichon
- Where are they now? Rick Azar and Tom Jolls. Pete Gallivan, WGRZ-TV.