Bob Venturini is the producer and host of two award-winning cable TV shows: “An Hour With Bob’s Variety Show” is the longest running variety show in New England and “Bob’s Big Adventures.” Both are in their 31st year. Bob has been called by the Providence Journal “the Johnny Carson of public access cable television.”
Bob was born on September 24, 1948 in Cumberland. His parents, Victor and Shirley, moved to the Woodlawn section of Pawtucket two months later. Bob still lives in Pawtucket where he has become a well-known civic leader. He graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School (1964) and Pawtucket West High School (1967), both times with honors. He then earned a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University majoring in political science.
As a young man Bob had a varied career as an insurance salesman and a restauranteur but by 1990 he found his niche in cable TV. His “An Hour with Bob” has been geared to promoting Rhode Island and its talented people. He notes that artists, authors, singers, dancers, comedians, pageant queens, chefs and musicians of all kinds get to display their talent on his show which also promotes civic projects, and, especially charitable organizations to publicize their fundraising activities.
In contrast, “Bob’s Big Adventure” has traveled to more than two dozen countries to promote Rhode Island or visit Rhode Islanders abroad, such as members of our National Guard. He is a major “Rooster Booster.”
Bob’s signature charitable venture is his Christmas Toys for Tots Program via telethon at the Warwick Mall that has collected more than 150,000 toys for Rhode Island children over the span of twenty-four years. For seven years he worked with the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce as Santa Clause bringing joy to Pawtucket’s shoppers during the Christmas season. Bob’s fixation with this charitable endeavor stems from his own childhood accident which hospitalized him for six months with severe burns – an injury that caused him to miss the holiday season. He then saw first-hand how such painful confinement affected his fellow child patients and he vowed “that someday I was going to be in a position to make every kid happy, at least on Christmas.”
I have appeared several times on Bob’s program to present pubic issues of concern, to promote the books of the Rhode Island Publications Society, to publicize our Hall of Fame inductions, and gain support for our Allens Avenue waterfront development project. The last-mentioned show was filmed on our boat the Sea Nile as my wife and business partner Gail and I circled the Providence harbor. Assistance and publicity for this and other worthwhile civic projects are a staple of Bob’s programming. His audience is large and appreciative. After each of my appearances people noted to me that they had watched the show with great interest.
The Hall of Fame does not induct a person merely for his or her success or notoriety in a particular line of endeavor unless such achievement is broad in impact and scope. Induction often requires charitable, philanthropic, or humanitarian endeavors. Those qualities Bob exhibits in abundance. His Hall of Fame recognition is well-deserved.
Patrick T. Conley
(1995 Inductee)