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Legendary TV Producer Who Had Bowling Green Ties Passes Away

Creative Commons

A long-time television producer who made Bowling Green his second home has passed away.

Chuck Barris died Tuesday at his home outside New York City. The creator of “The Gong Show”, “The Dating Game”, and “The Newlywed Game” was 87.

Barris visited southern Kentucky often after marrying Bowling Green native Mary Clagett in 2000. He was also a supporter of the Bowling Green-based Orchestra Kentucky.

Music director Jeffrey Reed said Barris was always generous with his time and talent.

“We invited him to emcee one of our retro shows, and he ended up doing several, and performed the Jim Croce song, ‘Bad Bad Leroy Brown’, which will always be a fond memory of mine.”

According to Reed, Barris enjoyed his time in southern Kentucky.

“He told me that the people in Bowling Green were friendly, and treated him very warmly,” Reed remembered. “And so he always enjoyed getting away from the city and coming to our smaller community where he could enjoy the hospitality.”

Barris also wrote the Top Ten pop song, “Palisades Park” in 1962, which was recorded by Freddy Cannon.

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