Tex Antoine

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Tex Antoine was a popular American meteorologist. He started out on WNBC-TV, working with a wooden sidekick known as "Uncle Weatherbee." His theme music was "Fine And Dandy." According to Bob Tilden, who wrote a column reminiscing, "His nightly weather report was a wonderful mix of weather, cartoon art, and storytelling. He would start his weather segment standing next to an easel covered by blank papers, and he would proceed to draw the weather systems that were pertinent to the nation and the area. As his hands drew in the lows, highs, and fronts, his voice would narrate their past and expected movements, and what their effects would be. As he filled page after page of the easel, building the map as he described each feature, he engaged his audience. He instructed the viewers about their weather, rather than just informing them of a forecast."

Antoine also entertained viewers young and old alike during each report by writing the temperature in large numerals on his big blank pad of paper and then adding further strokes of his marker as he proceeded with a narrative about the weather until the numeral was finally all but concealed in a simple cartoon representing some aspect of the day's weather or forecast. It was a unique and fascinating talent and it was a draw to many viewers regardless of their interest, or lack thereof, of weather information.

In 1966, Tex Antoine moved from WNBC Channel 4 to WABC Channel 7. He was not allowed to plug his new home on his last Channel 4 broadcast. So, with Uncle Wethbee's Magic Marker in hand, he said and wrote something to the effect of: "Remember that 4 plus 3 equals 7, and that's as easy as ABC."

On November 24, 1976, his weather spot came up just after a report of a violent rape of a five year old girl. Tex thereupon quipped: "With rape so predominant in the news lately, it is well to remember the words of Confucius: 'If rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it.'" Roger Grimsby led the 11 p.m. newscast that night with the official apology from WABC. His joke got Tex Antoine suspended, then fired. Antoine closed out his career with a brief stint as weatherman for WNEW-TV in 1977. He died in 1983.