Kelly Lange Reaches Crescendo in Talk

Kelly Lange, anchorwoman of KNBC’s “Channel 4 News,” spoke to 200 people about her career in television at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana last week.

Lange’s appearance was part of a series of “Women of Achievement” lectures presented by the Crescendo Chapter of the Guilds for the Performing Arts Center. The lecture cost $20 per person, and the entire series is expected to raise more than $10,000 for the Costa Mesa center.

California Dream

Although she has become synonymous with Southern California, Lange was born in New York and moved to Los Angeles in 1966.

“I came out to California after college, lured by the Beach Boys. You people were having all the fun,” said Lange, who wore a black turtleneck sweater and pink jacket (“half price at Escada,” she quipped).

Lange began her career in 1967 as a helicopter traffic and spot news reporter for KABC Radio--a job she won in a contest held at Southern California malls. After flubbing her first audition, where she had to read a phony traffic report, she broke a contest rule and tried out at another locale. She also read her own copy, describing a fictitious traffic jam that had people stuck in traffic reading newspapers and sunning themselves on top of their RVs.

“I did something different, something funny, and I got the job. The moral of the story is you have to cheat,” she joked.

Actually, the real lesson Lange shared was: “Work a little harder, do something somebody else isn’t going to do and be flexible. My career in broadcasting just fell out of the sky.”

Balancing Act

Lange began anchoring the KNBC newscasts in 1975 and now co-anchors the 6 p.m. news program.

She shared tips for women who are balancing jobs, homes, children, volunteer work and other duties.

“Body maintenance alone is a full-time job,” she said. “We’re pooped.”

Her tips ranged from the practical--”exercise 40 minutes a day”--to the philosophical--”Be cheerful, be positive. Never sell yourself short.”

“Women have to support each other. They do now. They didn’t used to,” she said. “I’ve seen it from the beginning when there were no women, at least in my business. I know how hard you work.”

Lange’s long-lasting popularity was evident at the Bowers auditorium, which was filled to capacity for her appearance.

“Where a lot of broadcasters have come and gone, Kelly’s stayed and a lot of people have come to know her,” said Nola Schneer, program chairwoman. “Bowers is also a draw. It’s new and fresh.”

Lange’s talk was the third in the Crescendo Chapter’s 1992-’93 Celebrity Series.

“This year we chose the theme ‘Women of Achievement’ because it goes with the ‘Year of the Woman’ theme,” said Nancy Smith, Crescendo chairwoman. Beth Burns, founder and artistic director of the St. Joseph Ballet Company, will speak March 18.

Others attending included Zee Allred, Cindy Boragno, Debbie Bremner, Loylee Brown, Mary Bryant, Claire Burt, Marilyn Cummings, Maria Fiore, Gloria Gellman, Pat Valentine and Bea Webb.