RIP Russell Morash

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GoingMyWay

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I just found out today that Russell Morash passed away yesterday:https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-06-20/this-old-house-creator-russell-morash-has-died. 

Russell brought many of my favorite shows to television on PBS like: This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop, The Victory Garden, Ask This Old House, and The French Chef.

The This Old House YouTube channel posted this tribute today:

This Redwood Arbor project update from The New Yankee Workshop with Russell was uploaded 7 days ago:
 
Thank you for sharing this, I saw the This Old House tribute pop up in my feed as well.

Russ Morash was potrayed well in the HBO series "Julia", touching on his early years at WGBH. I am thankful to him for helping to launch some of our favorite programming.
 
The highlight of my career was being directed by Russ Morash in my appearance on New Yankee Workshop. I learned more about video production in one day than I had in years of reading and doing it on my own "by the book".

Quick story. I arrived in Boston late the evening before we were supposed to meet and decide if I was up to the job of appearing on the show (another story for another day). Long before the days of "Maps" on your phone, I had directions to the studio that Russ had emailed me. Fearing Boston traffic and their collection of goat trail roads, I decided to find the place that night and have more confidence the next day. I had no ideal that the New Yankee Workshop was in the backyard of Russ's home, until I took the last turn on the directions...about 11:00 at night. Route confirmed. Hasty exit executed.
 
Thanks for sharing that story.  I had always thought/assumed The New Yankee Workshop was Norm's shop, but I guess that was impression the show was trying to give.

Was this the episode of The New Yankee Workshop you were in:
 
That's it. My 15 minutes of fame was only 7:30.

As Russ told the story, he hired Norm to build a shop in his backyard. They got along well, Russ was impressed with Norm's skills and he judged him capable of working in front of a camera. His "shop" morphed into a studio and the rest is history.

And just for another little twist, the Victory Garden is right outside the New Yankee Workshop.
 
That's very cool that you were on The New Yankee Workshop!

I had thought The Victory Garden was also there, but I wasn't sure.  Was his property huge?

The New Yankee Workshop YouTube channel posted this video about an hour ago:

 
GoingMyWay said:
  Was his property huge?
Click to expand...

Not by my Midwestern standards, but sizeable for Boston, I imagine. It's been 24 years, but I would guess it at 2 or 3 acres.
 
The show always gave the impression that the shop was in Norm's back yard. It was obvious that is as a free-standing structure, but not "where" it was.
I seem to recall some clue (or just a feeling) that it maybe wasn't his house, when he did the mailbox/post project. Whatever year that was?
Seems like there was another outdoor project, building a greehouse? maybe a utility shed too?
Was that on the same property [member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member] ?
I did learn, years later, that the Victory Garden was Russel's too. Though you have to assume that Norm lived close, it wouldn't have occurred any other way.
That "Return to the New Yankee Workshop" episode was very nostalgic for many of us.
My router addiction might be Norm's fault......yeah, that's it.  [big grin]
That shop wasn't much more than that Delta table saw and an assembly bench in the early episodes.
It grew into a display of all kinds of the newest and greatest stuff, without looking like advertising or product placement.

I remember Norm building a workshop in a garage one time, to show how it could be done. I wonder whose house that was? His own maybe? Friend of Russ or Norm? I don't remember the details, just that it happened.....who knows how many years ago? 30?
 
This could be the one you had in mind. I re-watched it not too too long ago while tread-milling (that was when we still had snow).
 
Yup, you guys nailed it. It's amazing how I can remember the silliest little things, then other times I can't name a song or something that I absolutely should know.....until 10 minutes later. When I quit thinking about it
 
Crazyraceguy said:
Was that on the same property [member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member] ?
I did learn, years later, that the Victory Garden was Russel's too. Though you have to assume that Norm lived close, it wouldn't have occurred any other way.
That "Return to the New Yankee Workshop" episode was very nostalgic for many of us.
My router addiction might be Norm's fault......yeah, that's it.  [big grin]
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's Russ's backyard, not Norm's.
 
jeffinsgf said:
That's it. My 15 minutes of fame was only 7:30.

As Russ told the story, he hired Norm to build a shop in his backyard. They got along well, Russ was impressed with Norm's skills and he judged him capable of working in front of a camera. His "shop" morphed into a studio and the rest is history.

And just for another little twist, the Victory Garden is right outside the New Yankee Workshop.
Click to expand...

Thank you for sharing that - one of my favourite episodes. I love the line "when do I tell him I have 50 more?". It must have been amazing to experience a taping of the NYW, surely only a select few will have seen that. Even visiting the shop would be awesome.

On the Garage Workshop episode, I believe that was also filmed in Russell Morash's garage on the same property. There's a massive amount of information on this site.
 
Thanks as well for sharing [member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member] . One of my favorite NYW episodes (as are all your current Woodpeckers deep dives!).

Way back when I knew it was Russell's backyard as my frequently visited cousin lived nearby in Lexington. But of course NYW wanted you to think it was Norm's shop. Interesting to note that when Russ did the recent YouTube tour of the workshop the makeshift overhead TV lighting reflection panel was still in place.
 
jeffinsgf said:
That's it. My 15 minutes of fame was only 7:30.

As Russ told the story, he hired Norm to build a shop in his backyard. They got along well, Russ was impressed with Norm's skills and he judged him capable of working in front of a camera. His "shop" morphed into a studio and the rest is history.

And just for another little twist, the Victory Garden is right outside the New Yankee Workshop.
Click to expand...

[member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member] - your cameo appearance with your Tormek was absolutely the professional equal to Norm in the short sequence. You could not hide the many, many TORMEK demo's you must have given at regional shows beforehand.

Really well done and fun to watch!

Hans
 
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