Did Sid Collins select Paul Page to be his successor?

[jp]

Listening to the 1977 radio broadcast this morning and I had a few rambling thoughts. I always wondered about relative newcomer Paul Page's ascension to the "Voice of the 500" position. Was Sid truly grooming Page to take over before he fell ill? It seems like the natural choice would have been someone like Chuck Marlowe. Marlowe had a similar conversational style to Sid's. Perhaps it was the fact that Paul Page was younger and it was time to look to the future. Play by play was evolving in the late-70s and Page's crew reflected it in '77. They certainly did a lot more following the action from position to position. So much that they seemed out of breath at times! It must have been quite an experience for announces that previously used a more after-the-fact reporting style. The entire '77 broadcast is fascinating to listen to. There were so many stories throughout the month and Page did an amazing job considering the stress that he must have been under.

[Doctorindy]

Page has said numerous times that Sid was training/grooming him to become his successor. I think that was known to many, at least behind the scenes. They worked together more than just during the month of May, they worked together pretty much year round. But generally, Page (or anybody else, for that matter) didn't expect the transition to come that soon. Not aware of his condition, I'm sure most people would have figured Sid would be around for at least another 4-5 years.

When Page took over the reigns, he swiftly changed the face of the network. I don't know if Sid had encouraged him to do something of that nature (knowing the times were evolving), or if Page simply took the bold step of reshaping the network of his own volition. Probably the latter.

It's worth noting that through 1977, the equipment was a limiting factor as to their ability to do a true play-by-play. Page had them build a new switchboard for 1978, which allowed the announcers to communicate with each other, and allowed him to throw the call to whoever at a moment's notice. Prior to that, the turn announcers would call the tower to notify them they had something to report. Producers would hold up cue cards to inform Sid, and Sid would toss it to him, and the turn reporter would recount what happened (as Page noted...everything back then was told in the 'past tense'). Pit reporters had it even tougher.

[jp]

Page has said numerous times that Sid was training/grooming him to become his successor. I think that was known to many, at least behind the scenes. They worked together more than just during the month of May, they worked together pretty much year round. But generally, Page (or anybody else, for that matter) didn't expect the transition to come that soon. Not aware of his condition, I'm sure most people would have figured Sid would be around for at least another 4-5 years.

When Page took over the reigns, he swiftly changed the face of the network. I don't know if Sid had encouraged him to do something of that nature (knowing the times were evolving), or if Page simply took the bold step of reshaping the network of his own volition. Probably the latter.

It's worth noting that through 1977, the equipment was a limiting factor as to their ability to do a true play-by-play. Page had them build a new switchboard for 1978, which allowed the announcers to communicate with each other, and allowed him to throw the call to whoever at a moment's notice. Prior to that, the turn announcers would call the tower to notify them they had something to report. Producers would hold up cue cards to inform Sid, and Sid would toss it to him, and the turn reporter would recount what happened (as Page noted...everything back then was told in the 'past tense'). Pit reporters had it even tougher.

Good stuff.

[MS]

In Page's book it stated that in 1977 Tony Hulman told him he was the Voice of the 500 for "that year." It wasn't guaranteed that it was his for the long term. Page saw Hulman at a Fall USAC race/function (right before Hulman passed) and that is when Hulman told him that he was the permanent voice.

In looking for the younger more modern race caller, Page was the most logical choice. in 1977. Other "younger" candidates at the time would have been Jerry Baker, Howdy Bell, and maybe Lou Palmer. Others like Bob Jenkins and Larry Henry weren't hired yet when that 1977-78 transition was happening.