Carla Page brings heart and humanity to local TV

“The Carla Page Show” proves that authentic conversation still has the power to unite a community

SCHENECTADY — For nearly 50 years, Carla Page’s inquisitive spirit has been her guiding light for hosting and producing her public access show “The Carla Page Show.” Page brings something special to the community, a unique local view that highlights conversation, stories, and topics that reflect the heart of the city.

“In 1978, I started a program called “Carla Page Presents” and I presented other people. I would always go into the community and I’d interview them, and I got people from across all cultures, all ages, and all backgrounds,” Page said.

“I took a lot of pride in getting all different people of all backgrounds. I always felt everybody had a story to tell.”

Each episode, she sits down with a guest from an artist, an activist, a writer, a local official, or someone whose story matters in the wider tapestry of Schenectady. After some time, the show was renamed “The Carla Page Show,” and the archive episodes feature a broad mix of topics from a local poet to “March for Jesus” coverage, from cancer-services program discussions to political primaries.

Schenectady has a rich history of media and public communication, and the show taps into that legacy. Through the community access organization Open Stage Media, which lists “The Carla Page Show” among its programs, it’s available to local viewers via channels such as Spectrum 1301 and Verizon FiOS 36 and on their Open Stage Media app available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Roku.

“I wanted people to see that the public access channel had serious programing on it. I’m home grown from Schenectady and for me, it was a nice thing to be able to give back to my community,” Page said.

By operating on public-access television, the show skips the gloss and high budgets of commercial media, and instead keeps its focus squarely on the people, the issues, and the stories of the region.

This format creates space for voices that might not appear on bigger stations: the community organizer, the small‐town artist, the local election candidate, the neighborhood story. The show has become a mirror to the community’s multifaceted identity.

What makes programs like “The Carla Page Show” important isn’t just the airtime. It’s the idea that local residents can see themselves and their neighbors on screen. It has become a platform for community dialogue. Viewers might recognize the guest next door, or see an organization they know, and feel a deeper connection to the place they live.

Page has an undeniable charisma and warmth that connects her with her guests and the community at large. Her dedication and hard work earned her the Key to the City in May 1993, and many other recognitions over the years.

“When people come up to me and tell me how much they’ve enjoyed my show, I know that I have been doing the right thing,” Page said.