Retired Columbus broadcaster, former nightclub owner Al Fleming dies at 91
Al Fleming, the retired Columbus broadcaster known for his outspoken opinions and owner of the former Al Who’s nightclub, has died.
Fleming died Sunday in Columbus Hospice after suffering a head injury from a fall at home March 5, Muscogee County coroner Buddy Bryan told the Ledger-Enquirer. He was 91.
Fleming worked at all three Columbus TV news stations as news director and anchor at WDAK (now WTVM) from 1966-75 then WYEA (now WLTZ) and WRBL, according to WTVM.
Borden Black, who also worked in TV news at all three Columbus stations, noted Fleming won the first two Emmy Awards in the local market, both for commentary.
“He was a real mentor to me,” Black told the L-E. “He was an ultimate professional. … His commentaries stimulated a lot of thought.”
Those commentaries ran the gamut from as serious as criticizing government for not disclosing public information to as funny as hollering about dogs pooping in someone else’s yard.
“He was always a lot of fun,” Black said. “He was always telling jokes, but he could be serious too. You felt comfortable around him. He didn’t have a star persona.”
And his Al Who’s nightclub had a comfortable vibe as well.
“He was a real host with the most,” Black said. “He kept it where there was no trouble. He didn’t’ tolerate any bad behavior, so it always was a good place to see all your buddies.”
In a tribute to Fleming, former L-E reporter Brad Barnes wrote Monday on Facebook, “In some ways, Al Fleming, a polarizing public figure in Columbus for decades, perfectly exemplified and magnified the sort of contradictions inherent in all of us. His impact on Columbus’s nightlife on into the 2000s may be without equal.”
Barnes attached to his post a PDF of the 2003 article he wrote about Fleming’s retirement. The subhead was as biting as one of his commentaries:
“He’s no longer on TV every night, and he just ended a 30-year reign as the king of Columbus nightlife. Can Al Fleming stand not being loved and hated?”
In addition to Al Who’s Place, which opened on Buena Vista Road in 1975 and on Sidney Simons Boulevard in 1988, Fleming’s other businesses included, according to Barnes’ timeline:
- 1968: Buys the Dipper Dan ice cream shop on Victory Drive. Sells it a few years later.
- 1973: Opens the Bronze Boot bar on St. Marys Road.
- 1989: Turns the Buena Vista Road Al Who’s into City Lights Club.
- 1991: Turns the City Lights Club into Big Al’s then reverts back to City Lights six months later.
- 1991: Fleming’s stepson, Neil Turner, buys the Fleming’s Prime Time Restaurant next door to Al Who’s on Sidney Simons Boulevard and names it Scooter’s.
- 2002: Renovates Al Who’s and renames it Shakers then reverts back to Al Who’s.
- 2003: Sells Al Who’s, and the new owners call it The Fire House.
Fleming’s funeral will be at 3 p.m. March 19 in the chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd., in Columbus, and visitation will be March 18, from 5-7 p.m., in the funeral home, according to his obituary.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 11:12 AM.
