Spears Charles Mallis' Obituary
Broadcast television pioneer Spears Charles Mallis, age 98 of Miami Florida, passed away November 2, 2021 at after a brief illness.
Spears was born in 1923 in Kingsport TN, where he grew up. The family moved to Miami in 1937 and he lived in Miami for most of his adult life. Spears served his country in the armed forces during WWII. After the war, Spears earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949.
Spears began his career in television on December 15, 1949, when WTVJ in Miami hired him to work in the Engineering Department. In 1953 he was promoted to Supervisor of Remote Operations. Spears helped WTVJ build the industry’s first mobile truck. In the 1950’s, Spears and the mobile truck helped WTVJ originate shows from South Florida that included the Dave Garroway Today Show, Steve Allen Tonight Show, Arthur Godfrey Show, and Ed Sullivan Show. In the 1960’s Spears was in charge of technical facilities for the Jackie Gleason Show. In the 1970’s he took the mobile unit to the Bahamas to videotape the ABC Superstar Shows. In the summer of 1982 he took the truck to Los Angeles for the Olympic Games.
In January 1986 Spears retired from WTVJ to start his own production business, Mallis Enterprises. In 1988, NBC hired Mallis Enterprises, to televise the Olympic Games Diving Competitions from Korea. He won a national Emmy Award for his work during the 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning in the 1990’s, he served as Technical and Production Coordinator for the Florida Marlins baseball telecasts, Miami Dolphins preseason football games, Miss Florida Pageants, Muscular Dystrophy Telethons, and University of Miami Closed-Circuit Medical Symposiums. In 1999 Spears was elected to the Board of Governors for the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He co-chaired Emmy Awards Committees. In 2007, The Academy awarded Spears its prestigious Golden Circle Emmy Award for 50 Years of Service to Suncoast Television.
Spears is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Chrysanthe, firstborn son Charles, his first wife Jean and his second wife Joy. Spears and Jean had two sons, Charles (Laurie) and Sam (Valerie). Spears and Jean subsequently divorced. Spears then married Joy and had two children, Juliet and David. Spears is survived by his brother Paul (MaryAnn) of Pasadena CA, sons Sam (Valerie) of Lakewood Ranch FL and David of Miami FL, daughter Juliet of Miami FL, Charles’ wife Laurie of Mamaroneck NY, grandchildren Spears, Jillian and Ian, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Spears was a long-time member and supporter of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Miami. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation c/o St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral marked “For the Benefit of Juliet and David Mallis”.
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