Smeloff Teleproductions (STV) in 1974 was incorporated in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was the first television productioncompany in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri to offer broadcast quality "on-location" video recording services.The company produced commercials, corporate sales and training programs, short and program length TV programming.
Don was talent and spokesperson for various commercials, training programs, and all the syndicated series the company produced.
In 1975 Don Jacks became a partner in the production company.
Eric Anderson – On-location Production Manager / Audio/video Technician
With production schedules of 6 to 8 locations per week when on the road and a different town for each one . . . keeping the equipment working and together was an amazing task.
Dirk Olson - Director / Shooter / Editor
Dirk directed, shot, and edited many of the American Trail series 1980 -1981. Mr. Olson also directed various commercials and award winning training programs for the company.
Jim Smeloff and Richard Smeloff
Shooting a sales video for Chief Industries in Nebraska
Richard was an intern for the summer . . . today he is an attorney in Boston, MA. Can’t understand why Rich didn’t go into our glamorous line of work.
I think we all needed the stylish hats to keep the hair under control in the Nebraska wind.
In 1976 Jim Smeloff Vice President and General Manager of Smeloff Teleproductions became a partner in the production company.
Jace Anderson – Director / Shooter / Editor
Jace shot most of The American Trail programs and is credited with improving the efficient style of the on-location production that made the series work.In addition to the syndicated series Jace produced and directed commercials, sales and corporate training programs for the company.
The American Trail is a series of grass-roots vignettes that celebrates the United States through its people.Over 800 episodes were produced in the late 1970s and early 80s.They aired on over 90 network stations every weekday and had a five year run.Nick Smeloff was the Executive Producer of the series.The on camera talent was Don Jacks.This show was produced in a different town or city and a different State each day on-location!At this time there is nothing on the web as the program was off the air before the web was invented and no active promotion has taken place with this property since.The primary sponsors were in the northeast Agway Inc. Syracuse, NY and in the midwest Farmland Industries, Kansas City.The series was presented to the Smithsonian Institution for preservation. Some of the stations that aired The American Trail: WCSH, KVII, KEYC, KCMO, KLOE, WGAL, WDAZ, KELO, KCMT, KOMU, WDAY, WPTZ, WAGM, KGNS, WWLP, WWNY, KGIN,, KETV, KCEN, WSEE, WLBZ, WMUR, WCIA, KPLO, WPGH, KREZ, KFYR, WBOC, WHAG, WJAR, KDLO, KOLN, KCKT, KTVO, KRDO, KCMO, KRIS, KSNB, WENY, KCAU, WGLD, KSWS, KHGI, KARD, KWNB, WGR, KAYS, WRGB, KTUL, WICZ, KUMV, KCBD, KREY, WFMZ, WKTV, KREX, KFCX, WIBW, KIMT, KOMC, WHO, KFSM, WNEP, WIXT, KOAM, KYCU, WJAC, KMOT
