August Luncheon
Marcia Kling
Long-time Television Personality
AUGUST 27
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
We are serving a delicious buffet
Location: The Walden Club, 633 Chestnut St # 2100, Chattanooga, TN 37450 (Inside Republic Centre)
Tickets: $30
Bio:
Marcia Kling is a beloved Chattanooga broadcasting legend, civic leader, and pioneer in local television whose career spanned more than five decades on WTVC NewsChannel 9. Affectionately known as "Miss Marcia" to generations of local viewers, her television persona and community involvement made her a household name across the Scenic City.
After relocating to Chattanooga, she began her television career in 1962 as the host of WTVC's Romper Room School. A year later, her show was reformatted into Funtime, an iconic children's program that ran for 15 years. The program combined entertainment with early education, and Kling became famous for her signature, custom-written "Happy Birthday" song.
During her 51-year tenure at WTVC, Kling also served as Station Director of Children's Programs and Director of Community Affairs. She spearheaded youth-led reporting through Nifty Nine and later created content focused on older adults, such as the Life Watch segment on This N That.
In the early 1970s, Kling faced a diagnosis of oral cancer. Showing incredible determination, she underwent treatment and retaught herself how to speak before returning to the airwaves.
In 2013, following her retirement from full-time television broadcasting, Marcia Kling was selected as the first-ever recipient of the Lydia Impact Award by the Scenic City Women's Network (SCWN).
Beyond her broadcasting career, Marcia Kling and her husband, David, have spent decades advocating for local charities and non-profit organizations throughout Hamilton County. Her retirement in May 2013 capped off 51 years at WTVC, solidifying her status as a trailblazer for women in regional media and a cherished figure in Chattanooga history.
Sources: WTVC NewsChannel 9 Broadcast Archives, David Carroll’s Chattanooga Radio & TV ("Finally, it's Fun Time for Miss Marcia," May 2013,