Tina Venable Gabaig
1965
For me, it all began on a little island just off the coast of SoCal. Some of you might be familiar with it – Santa Catalina Island. My family lived there twice in the ‘40s and I was born in Avalon (now the name of my 10 year old granddaughter) on a bright August morning in 1947. We relocated to Van Nuys four months later and there I attended Gault Street Elementary. I spent 7th grade at Birmingham, which, at that time, was a combination junior/senior high school and which I found quite intimidating! In the summer between 7th and 8th grades, my family moved to Northridge where I began Northridge Junior High in the fall, not knowing a soul. That was very frightening to me, but I made friends there that I still love dearly and still see and talk to fairly regularly.
From there, my three years at good ole’ Cleveland High! No details needed.
Six months after graduation, my plans for attending Pierce College were nixed when I found out I was pregnant. Yes, I was caught early in the game of life and floundered for awhile, trying to make adult decisions without the knowledge to do so! I tried marriage to my child’s father, which was tumultuous to say the least, and, by the grace of God, got divorced after only 14 very difficult and traumatizing months with him. My only child, Shana, was born in September 1966. It was a long, rough haul, raising her alone and she and I are best friends now. She and my two grandchildren-Dylan, my 17 year old grandson and Avalon, whom I mentioned earlier, all live less than 2 miles from me in Winnetka, where we spend lots of time together, laughing and doing fun, crazy things. I never did remarry but have been in the most real love relationship with Jimmy for almost 18 years and we still laugh all the time!
It was important to me to be the person to raise Shana, so I lived on welfare for her first 6 years and took classes in accounting at the West Valley Occupational Center, while living in an apartment in Canoga Park. I had a few “starter” jobs in accounting and moved to Van Nuys in 1973 or so. Life in the ‘70s (rock and) rolled on until October 1976, just after Shana turned 10. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that was found in her head (rhabdomyosarcoma). It changed the course of our lives in a good way after much heartache and fear. We had to gain the most positive things out of such a tragic experience and we did but it took quite awhile.
In 1978 I began what would end up a 35 year career in television, starting with Merv Griffin Enterprises and ending with Jeopardy!. In between, there was Wheel of Fortune. I was Production Accountant for both shows and also did payroll for various other shows along the way. I started in Hollywood during the age of sex, drugs, and rock’ n’ roll (not necessarily in that order!) and partied my way through the ‘80s, working all the while and raising Shana. I had fun but it took its toll on both of us. In 1990, Shana and I both got clean and we are each celebrating 25 years drug and alcohol free this year!
My career with Jeopardy! was mostly a blast. Many years were really rough with the crazy workload but I knew how lucky I was to have such a position with such a much-loved television show. If I did something as boring as accounting (but I did it well and loved it!), I might as well do it for shows as well-known as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!. One of the best parts was all the traveling I got to do when the show went on remote in so many different cities. I have been all over the US for free and got paid for it. How cool is that!? The show eventually came under the Sony umbrella and we were relocated to The Sony Studios in Culver City. After too many years of the awful 101/405 drive from the west end of the Valley, I just had to retire. My time was up and it really was perfect timing. I retired in January 2014 and never looked back! No regrets, no second thoughts and no more 101/405 interchange!
Life is pretty darn pleasant now. I read, garden, putter amongst my antiques and just enjoy watching the play of the sunlight through the lace curtains during the day. My life is good. I am happy. I love a good man, we live in a beautiful home and we are both healthy. My beautiful daughter, Shana, is relatively healthy (there has been no reoccurrence of the cancer) and she is a strong, creative woman and mother.
I am grateful every day for the life I have been given and am now looking forward to reuniting again with my old high school buddies! I can’t believe it’s been 50 years! Seems like only yesterday. . . . . . .
From there, my three years at good ole’ Cleveland High! No details needed.
Six months after graduation, my plans for attending Pierce College were nixed when I found out I was pregnant. Yes, I was caught early in the game of life and floundered for awhile, trying to make adult decisions without the knowledge to do so! I tried marriage to my child’s father, which was tumultuous to say the least, and, by the grace of God, got divorced after only 14 very difficult and traumatizing months with him. My only child, Shana, was born in September 1966. It was a long, rough haul, raising her alone and she and I are best friends now. She and my two grandchildren-Dylan, my 17 year old grandson and Avalon, whom I mentioned earlier, all live less than 2 miles from me in Winnetka, where we spend lots of time together, laughing and doing fun, crazy things. I never did remarry but have been in the most real love relationship with Jimmy for almost 18 years and we still laugh all the time!
It was important to me to be the person to raise Shana, so I lived on welfare for her first 6 years and took classes in accounting at the West Valley Occupational Center, while living in an apartment in Canoga Park. I had a few “starter” jobs in accounting and moved to Van Nuys in 1973 or so. Life in the ‘70s (rock and) rolled on until October 1976, just after Shana turned 10. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that was found in her head (rhabdomyosarcoma). It changed the course of our lives in a good way after much heartache and fear. We had to gain the most positive things out of such a tragic experience and we did but it took quite awhile.
In 1978 I began what would end up a 35 year career in television, starting with Merv Griffin Enterprises and ending with Jeopardy!. In between, there was Wheel of Fortune. I was Production Accountant for both shows and also did payroll for various other shows along the way. I started in Hollywood during the age of sex, drugs, and rock’ n’ roll (not necessarily in that order!) and partied my way through the ‘80s, working all the while and raising Shana. I had fun but it took its toll on both of us. In 1990, Shana and I both got clean and we are each celebrating 25 years drug and alcohol free this year!
My career with Jeopardy! was mostly a blast. Many years were really rough with the crazy workload but I knew how lucky I was to have such a position with such a much-loved television show. If I did something as boring as accounting (but I did it well and loved it!), I might as well do it for shows as well-known as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!. One of the best parts was all the traveling I got to do when the show went on remote in so many different cities. I have been all over the US for free and got paid for it. How cool is that!? The show eventually came under the Sony umbrella and we were relocated to The Sony Studios in Culver City. After too many years of the awful 101/405 drive from the west end of the Valley, I just had to retire. My time was up and it really was perfect timing. I retired in January 2014 and never looked back! No regrets, no second thoughts and no more 101/405 interchange!
Life is pretty darn pleasant now. I read, garden, putter amongst my antiques and just enjoy watching the play of the sunlight through the lace curtains during the day. My life is good. I am happy. I love a good man, we live in a beautiful home and we are both healthy. My beautiful daughter, Shana, is relatively healthy (there has been no reoccurrence of the cancer) and she is a strong, creative woman and mother.
I am grateful every day for the life I have been given and am now looking forward to reuniting again with my old high school buddies! I can’t believe it’s been 50 years! Seems like only yesterday. . . . . . .
Most Recent Photos
(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them)
Tina on vacation in Bridgeport, CA (Oct 2012)
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My 2013 retirement party from Jeopardy! From left, grandson-Dylan, granddaughter- Avalon, daughter-Shana, me and Jimmy.
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Tina and GCHS65 Friends-School Years, Reunions, etc.
20-Year Reunion Picnic (1985), taken at the Senior Quad area of GCHS
20-Year Reunion (1985). Tina and Bob Wade in center of photo
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Melissa Stone, Tina...taken in a photo booth in 1965
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Tina and Gayle Poole, taken in Tina's living room in Canoga Park (1974)
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Tina, Shana, Melissa...With Tina's daughter Shana and Melissa Stone in front of Melissa's Berkeley, CA home in 1970
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Tina and Melissa Stone, taken at Tina's workplace in Burbank (1987)
Gayle Poole, Tina, Susy Strobl...at Susy's house before the 1985 20-Year Reunion
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Vice Versa Dance (1965). Tina with Brian Wood
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Tina and Jane Williams at the 1995 30-Year Reunion
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Gayle Poole, Tina, Susy Strobl...enjoying their time together at the 30-Year Reunion (1995)
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Gayle Poole, Susy Strobl and Tina on the stairwell at Susy's Northridge home (1982)
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Melissa Stone (1965). Melissa was the subject of many of my photography class projects.
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John Daly and Susy Strobl at the 30-Year Reunion (1995)
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Comments
Hi Tina The late 60's & 70's were years of change & challenges for so many of us!I am proud of all that you accomplished as a single mother & person! How smart to land a long career in television! I think those of us that landed in something we loved have actually never "worked" Did you know Merv well?
I love that your granddaughter is named for your family roots, what a beautiful name. I am living in the West Valley also , I am also so happy that you have such a special & long time love. Thank you for sharing all!
Gloria Dorcy
I love that your granddaughter is named for your family roots, what a beautiful name. I am living in the West Valley also , I am also so happy that you have such a special & long time love. Thank you for sharing all!
Gloria Dorcy