• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Local Broadcast Legend Barry ZeVan Dies

4:24 PM | Thursday, January 2, 2020

Twin Cities broadcasting legend Barry ZeVan has died. The long-time weatherman and entertainer passed away on New Year’s Day at the age of 82. He leaves behind a bevy of broadcasters who worked with him, including a stint right here at CCX Media.

“It was great seeing Barry around the studios here,” says CCX Media Executive Director Mike Johnson, who remembers watching ZeVan forecast the weather on local stations when he was a kid.

ZeVan’s unusual on-camera style earned him a reputation as “the peek-a-boo weatherman” stemming from his habit of glancing around at the camera while writing on his map.

In a 2019 interview with Johnson, ZeVan, who lived in Golden Valley, explained the origins of the name.

“I had my face not facing the camera, I’m facing the board writing. I thought, ‘this is rude! You’re supposed to look at your audience.”

Creating “Retro Weather”

After leaving a long career in weather and other programming at KSTP and KARE, among others, ZeVan still had the TV bug. So he asked Johnson if he could produce a show in CCX Media’s Create studios. That was the start of “Retro Weather.”

Beginning in April of last year ZeVan, introduced by comedy legend Louie Anderson, would give weather forecasts in the old style, writing information on a weather map from memory. More than just a unique national forecast, Retro Weather was ZeVan’s chance to reminisce about a long life in broadcasting including a final show featuring a decades-old clip of ZeVan forecasting the weather with a special guest: musical theater star Robert Goulet.

Weather forecasting was never his goal. He fell into it almost by accident. Born into a show-biz family, his grandfather was an agent for George Burns, Gracie Allen and Milton Berle. His first career goal was acting and singing. As early as age 5, he was singing on the Pittsburgh’s KDKA radio, later appearing in movies and stage performances.

But in 1954 he lost a film role because he looked too much like the lead actor. His mother, worried that would keep happening, told him to try something else. So he joined the Air Force where he was given a choice: work in the motor pool, or become a weather forecaster.

Writing His Own Story

But weather wasn’t ZeVan’s only vocation. An accomplished filmmaker, he produced a number of documentaries including American Indian Homelands:
Matters of Truth, Honor and Dignity – Immemorial, a critical look at the U.S. Government’s practice of taking land from Native Americans for which he won a Telly award. And ZeVan turned to writing, authoring his memoir, My Life Among the Giants.

ZeVan’s long career ended shortly before his death, on Dec. 26 when the final episode of Retro Weather was released.

Golden Valley

Related Stories

Nong’s Thai Restaurant Reopens After Three-Month Closure:  Nong’s Thai Restaurant Reopens More… Read More
Golden Valley Firefighter Prepares to Climb Allianz Field Stairs:  A Golden Valley firefighter will be… Read More
Lawmakers Still at Odds Over Public Safety Solutions:  With the legislative session winding down at… Read More
Power Outages from Storms Push Some Schools into E-Learning Days:  Park Center High School and… Read More
Newsmakers: Superintendent Engstrom Talks Need for New Strategic Plan:  Robbinsdale Area Schools is in… Read More
Northwest Suburbs Fine-Tune Food Truck Ordinances:  Suburbs in the northwest Twin Cities metro are… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in