TV Station No. 38

Detroit was one of two cities in the U.S. with the distinction of being able to watch two new TV stations premiere in the same month. WXYZ-TV formally went on the air on October 9, and WJBK did the same thing 15 days later, though it had test patterns on the air before this.

WXYZ-TV was Detroit’s second station. Its radio station was known as the home base for The Lone Ranger starting in early 1933. Partial credit has been given to station owner George Trendle for its creation. While the Ranger made the transition to TV, he wasn’t part of the WXYZ-TV line-up when the station signed on. Neither was Trendle, for that matter.

Trendle was considering television in the wake of all the publicity surrounding NBC announcing it would begin regular telecasts from the New York World’s Fair. A Variety story dated from July 11, 1939, began:

Concurrent with resignation late last week of George W. Trendle as prez of United Detroit Theatres Corp. (Par), it was revealed that King-Trendle Broadcasting Corp. is mapping erection of brand new studios for WXYZ here, with an eye to television…

The company didn’t act right away. In fact an application for an FM license was turned down in 1942 because the war caused a shortage of materials to build the station. It was another two years before the owners of WXYZ acted on television. Broadcasting of May 22, 1944 reported:

Three Video CPs Sought
THREE new commercial television stations were sought in applications filed with the FCC last week. United Detroit Theatre Corp., Detroit, which is 74.35% owned by Paramount Pictures, Inc., seeks a Channel 4 outlet. Remaining interest is held by Balaban & Katz, which operates WBKB, Chicago. Licensee of WXYZ Detroit, King Trendle Broadcasting Corp., has applied for a Channel 2 outlet and WOW Omaha requests a Channel 1 station.

The August 28, 1944 issue of the trade paper indicated International Detrola Corp. had applied for Channel 2 as well (WJR had asked for Channel 6). The same paper noted as of Oct. 15, 1945, the News Assn. and the Jam Handy Organization had applications for stations in Detroit. That made six companies vying for the five channels assigned to Detroit.

The FCC’s job was made easier when WJR and International Detrola pulled out early in April. It announced its decision on April 15, 1946 (Windsor Star, same date). Here’s a portion of Broadcasting’s report of April 22.

Detroit Gets Two Television Grants
FCC Delays Other Hearings As Applicants Withdraw
FIRST television stations for Detroit were authorized by the FCC last Monday with grants to the Evening News Assn. (WWJ) and King-Trendle Broadcasting Corp. (WXYZ). The grants were the first to be processed without hearing and brought to six the total issued since the resumption of licensing last Fall. . . .
Two Withdrawals
Action on the Detroit grants resulted from the withdrawal of two of the original six applicants for the five available channels, eliminating the necessity for hearings scheduled for April 24. The commission vacated its order of Feb. 1 which designated the applications for consolidated hearing.
The two grants were made subject to frequency assignments and other engineering details to be determined. The actions, it was explained, are more than conditional grants, which will not be issued on television applications as announced under the new Commission procedure.
Two other applications are pending for television stations in Detroit—The Jam Handy Organization Inc. and United Detroit Theatres Corp. Action on these cases will be taken later. …

It was at this point King-Trendle decided to get out the radio and television business. ABC bought WXYZ, a radio station in Grand Rapids and the Michigan Network which provided programmes to nine stations, for $3,650,000. The FCC approved the sale July 17, 1946. WXYZ was an ABC radio affiliate; there was no doubt what TV affiliation it would have.

Meanwhile, on July 12, 1946, the Commission granted Channel 5 (76-82 mc) to King-Trendle (and Channel 4 at 66-72 mc to the Evening News) with visual power at 16 kw, aural at 14 kw and a tower of 379 feet. Broadcasting’s list of TV stations as of Oct. 1, 1946 gave the call letters at WDLT (apparently for “Detroit’s leading televisors”).

The station was lining up sponsors. Billboard of Nov. 30, 1946 blurbed:

The U. S. Rubber Company, General Mills, Chevrolet and the Campbell-Ewald ad agency have all contracted to sponsor programs with ABC over WDLT, net’s second station being built in Detroit, altho it won’t start operations for six months.

On March 27, 1947, WDLT was back before the FCC asking to modify the permit which changed the frequency to Channel 7, 174-180 mc. It applied on Dec. 15, 1947 to extend the completion date to June 10, 1948, which was granted Feb. 12. United Detroit Theatres wasn’t happy about this. On Feb. 20, 1948, the FCC denied a petition from the company to have WDLT’s channel assignment revoked, complaining about the delay in getting the station built, then lost an appeal on May 7, 1948.

It’s unclear when the call letters were changed. Billboard used them in a story on April 24, 1948. On May 14, it asked the Commission to allow the corporate name to be changed from King-Trendle Broadcasting Corp. to WXYZ-TV. And it asked for yet another extension to Nov. 1, 1948.

But things were getting closer, according to the Free Press, June 16, 1948:

2nd Station to Broadcast Television
Detroit's second television station, WXYZ-TV, will start broadcasting the first week in October. Announcement of the formal opening was made by James G. Riddell, general manager of WXYZ, WXYZ-FM and WXYZ-TV.
• • •
RIDDELL SAID that exchange of programs with stations in Chicago and Cleveland would start in October. New York programs are expected by Jan. 1. 1949.
The TV transmitter and studios will be in the Maccabees Building. Riddell said WXYZ-TV will operate on channel No. 7.
The present antenna will be replaced by one 487 feet above ground level. Addition of a second station is expected to advance the quality of television programs in Detroit, Riddell said.

The station was getting sponsors, mainly on a network basis. The Hollywood Reporter, July 15, 1948:

More Spots for Bulova
Bulova Watch, pursuing its cornering of time signal spots on all TV stations, has signed up three of ABC’s leading projected stations. Through the Biow, Co., New York, it has bought 17 signals weekly on WENR-TV, Chicago; WXYZ-TV, Detroit, and KGO-TV, San Francisco.

A local sponsor deal, Billboard, Aug. 14, 1948:

WXYZ-TV Inks 52-Week Series
DETROIT—Aug. 7.—First commercial contract for 52-week series of program was signed Tuesday [3] by James G. Riddell, manager of WXYZ-TV, which is not expected to be on the air until after October 1. Sponsor is the Wettlaufer Manufacturing Company, with the Marvin Hahn Agency handling the show. Present contract offers the sponsor a choice of three different shows being readied by the station, all in the sports field.
Rates for whatever show is decided upon for Wettlaufer will be based upon the rate card issued June 1 by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), which owns the station.
Original plans to carry the University of Michigan home football teams under Wettlaufer sponsorship were nixed by Riddell as a matter of station policy. WWJ carried the games last year and is slated to do so again, and Riddell ruled against any duplication in programming.
Instead, another sports deal was slated for signing Friday (6) to carry the eight home games of the Detroit Lions by WXYZ on both television and AM. Show will be sponsored again by Goebel Beer, who sponsored the Lions on WXYZ’s AM operation in 1947. (The following week, Billboard reported radio was not part of the deal).

It appeared WXYZ-TV would make the deadline to be part of the ABC regional TV network when it was ready. Here is the Free Press, Aug. 29, 1948:

WXYZ Joins Video Network in Midwest
The first Midwest television network will be launched Sept. 20 by the American Broadcasting Co., Paul V. Mowrey, ABC’s national television director, announced.
On Oct. 9 television programs will be initiated by WXYZ, the ABC outlet in Detroit.
A coaxial network, to be completed with the Detroit inauguration, will link Detroit, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo and two other cities, probably St. Louis and Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, test patterns will begin on Sept. 15.

And some programmes were put together. Billboard, Sept. 11, 1948:

FORE!
DETROIT, Sept. 4.—Professional golf lessons are to go on the air over WXYZ-TV, new American Broadcasting Company affiliate, with signing of Chick Harbert, pro at Meadowbrook Gold Club, for a series of telecasts. The Michigan open champ will demonstrate strokes.

And from Broadcasting, Sept. 13, 1948:

‘Lady O’ Charm’
SPECIAL COOKING show will be conducted on WXYZ-TV, ABC’s Detroit video outlet which begins telecasts Oct. 9, by Edythe Fern Melrose, WXYZ’s “Lady O’ Charm” being constructed at Lake St. Clair, 12 miles from Detroit. Show will be televised once weekly.

And an update on the ABC Midwest network from Broadcasting, Sept. 20, 1948:

WXYZ-TV TO COMPLETE MIDWEST TV NETWORK
WXYZ-TV Detroit, opening Oct. 9, will complete the coaxial system joining Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, St. Louis and Milwaukee. Link is supplemented by microwave relay between Detroit and Toledo, already connected: Exchange programs are expected from the East early in the year, according to James G. Riddell, general manager of WXYZ AM, TV and FM. Before year's end, ABC expects to have video stations operating also in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition to programming from these five key cities, the network will establish three preliminary regional circuits, from which an overall national TV network will be developed later, Mr. Riddell said.
New 40,000-pound TV and FM tower, mounted atop the Maccabees Bldg. and anchored to concrete beams at the 15th floor level, is in the "last stages of construction," he added. Placed 469 feet above ground level, it replaces the 187-foot radio tower and antenna, dismantled at cost of $50,000.
Facilities will include nine studio cameras, one complete remote unit and a film projection unit. Studios and control room will be constructed on the 15th floor of the building, centered in the city's art district, with a main floor auditorium to be used as an audience studio.

WXYZ-TV hit the airwaves with what was mainly a sports package on October 9, 1948. Here's Variety's review:

ABC Takes Wraps Off WXYZ-TV With a 10 1/2–Hr. Sponsored Pree
By GEORGE ROSEN
Detroit, Oct. 12.
ABC forged another important link in its coast-to-coast television network and in its bid for a lofty perch in the TV sphere, with the preem of its owned-and-operated Detroit station—WXYZ-TV—last Saturday (9). It's now three down and two to go for Ed Noble's $8,000,000 video enterprise, with the wraps also off in New York and Chicago, and with Los Angeles and San Francisco still coming up.
As TV preems go, the Detroit opening was significant from several standpoints, leaving in its wake TV blueprints to chart the medium's future course in the hinterlands. As Detroit's second television station (the Detroit News' WWJ-TV is an old story in tele pioneering), WXYZ-TV has served as a midwest stimulant, with a 24-sheet pre-preem ballyhoo not only spiraling set ownership from a previous 15,000 mark to nearly 20.000 within a week, but injecting a hypo into the local competitive programming setup. That's how WWJ-TV wanted it, and significant was the fact that the Detroit News' station staged its own program Friday night (8) as a salute to the newcomer.
Too, the WXYZ-TV preem rates a nod as the most commercially successful one to date, with its solid 10 1/2 hours of inaugural programming (in itself establishing a record for a marathon preem shows completely sold out, with the exception of a 15-minute segment allotted to talks by ABC board chairman Noble; prez Mark Woods, and WXYZ AM-FM-TV gen. mgr James G. Riddell.
Otherwise the bankrolling of the variegated opening-day programming setup more than offset the $10,000 preem nut. This included Philco's picking up the tab for the 60-minute entertainment spread emceed by Georgie Price and comprising Frances Langford, Paul and Grace Hartman, Gil Maison, "Sugar Chile" Robinson and Paul Whiteman with a house orch augmented by key men of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and pianist Earl Wild, who was brought on from N. Y. as part of the "Philco Package."
Opening day sponsored program spread also included a pickup of the World Series game from Cleveland and the Notre Dame-Michigan State grid contest, both tied in with the midwest tele web; a program by the Chevrolet Glee Club, an early vintaged Danny Kaye pic, sports commentary and a pickup of the Detroit Lions vs. Boston Yanks pro football game for the nightcap.
Significant, too, was the Detroit premiere's inauguration of the “Philco Package" tieup for TV openings around the country, with the set manufacturer laying out $7,500 for the 60-minute show here and already prepping ambitious plans to underwrite elaborate Coast shows for the L. A. and Frisco ABC-TV curtain-raisers.
Occupying Channel 7 on the Detroit video band, WXYZ signal on the opening day festivities was generally excellent. Weighed strictly on terms of bigtime professional standards and to one familiar with slick, know-how techniques associated with the New York-originating "Texaco Star Theatre" and CBS' "Toast of the Town," the WXYZ premiere, from a technical standpoint, left much to be desired. This was particularly true on the lighting and camera work, which resulted in some of the ace Philco-bankrolled acts suffering.
But at the same time the Philco show, virtually a replica of the east coast network's Texaco stanza, was a revelation to these midwest viewers, who perhaps for the first time recognized the potentialities of bigtime live programming when coaxial coast-to-coast TV becomes a reality. And while the shortcomings of the local technical crews were apparent, nevertheless there is evidenced here an eagerness and a daring in some of the camera work, with some of the Paul Whiteman superimpositions, for example, rivalling those achieved in the east.
It's expected that by the middle of December WXYZ, along with the remainder of the midwest TV web, will be finally linked coaxially with N. Y., with an ambitious Christmas full network show currently in the works at ABC. But until then the ABC Detroit operation, for one, is striving hard to overcome the handicaps resulting from lack of experience.
With a weekly schedule of 20 hours programming, it's estimated that about 40% of the time will be sponsored by the end of October. Chief reliance, or course, is on films and sports, with the station also benefiting by a six hours a week midwest net program exchange.
Detroit's next TV premiere will be the George Storer station, WJBK, scheduled for Oct. 24.
Broadcasting’s issue of Oct. 11, 1948 concentrated on the station’s sales abilities.

WXYZ-TV Opening Heavily Sponsored
Every Available Time Segment On Detroit Outlet Sold
OPENING DAY's schedule of WXYZ-TV Detroit last Saturday was scheduled to be as completely commercial as ABC executives would permit for the inaugural of its o&o TV station in the motor capital, with every time segment sold that was offered for sale.
Starting with a 15-minute preview, which was not for sale, at 12:16 p.m., WXYX-TV's first commercial was to be the Chevrolet Glee Club. 12:30-1 p.m., sponsored by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors Corp., Detroit, placed by Campbell-Ewald Co., Detroit.
Gillette Safety Razor Corp., Boston, was to sponsor the World Series telecast from Cleveland, through Maxon Inc., New York. At the end of the ball game the WXYZ-TV audience was to be taken to South Bend where the Notre Dame-Michigan State gridiron contest was under way. This WXYZ-TV telecast was to be sponsored by Admiral Corp., Chicago, through Crittenden & Eger, that city. Following the football game Don Wattridge was scheduled for a sports resume, to be presented by Detroit Edison Co., through Campbell-Ewald Co.
Another special not-for-sale program was to be followed by a film, sponsored by Galvin Mfg. Corp., Chicago (Motorola radio and TV sets), through Gourfain-Cobb, Chicage, broadcast 5:45-6:15 p.m. The next quarter-hour, according to the advance agenda, was the official welcome to WXYZ-TY by the Governor of Michigan and the Mayor of Detroit, with acknowledgements by Edward Noble, ABC board chairman; Mark Woods, ABC President, and James Riddell, general manager of WXYZ and WXYZ-TV.
The Philco premiere variety program, 6:30-7 p.m., sponsored by Philco Radio Corp.. Philadelphia, through Hutchins Adv. Inc., Philadelphia, was to open the evening schedule, followed by a quarter-hour sports news program presented by Cunningham Drug Co., Detroit, through Simons-Michelson, Detroit. WXYZ-TV's first day was to wind up with a pro football game between the Detroit Lions and Boston Yanks, sponsored by Goebel Brewing Co., Detroit, through Brooke, Smith. French & Dorrance, that city.
Other than the World Series, the programming for the first week (at least judging by the Free Press listings and ads) was purely local. Meanwhile, WWJ-TV was airing some of the shows from NBC.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1948
12:15—Preview of WXYZ-TV debut. 12:30—Chevrolet Glee Club. 1:00—World Series baseball from Municipal Stadium, Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians (ABC). 3:30—Second half of football game from South Bend, Ind., Michigan State vs. Notre Dame (ABC). 6:15—WXYZ-TV Opening Ceremonies (ABC). 6:30—Philco Premier Variety Program with Paul Whiteman, Frances Langford and the Hartmans, dance satirists, Georgie Price, emcee (ABC). 7:30-7:45—Sports News. 8:00—Football from Briggs Stadium, Boston Yanks vs. Detroit Lions.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1948
12:45—World Series baseball from Municipal Stadium, Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians (ABC). 6:00—Musical Pattern. 8:00—Dollars and Sense. 8:30—Film. 9:00—Suspense Drama. 9:30—Who Do You Think?

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1948
4:30—Charm Kitchen. 5:30—Film. 6:00—Music. 6:30—Documentary Film. 7:00—Woods and Waters, hunting and fishing show with Jack Van Coevering. 7:30—News Quiz. 8:00—Sports Parade with Don Watrick, sponsored by the J.L. Hudson Company. 8:15—Barber Shop Quartet, sponsored by Frankenmuth Beer and Ale. 8:30—Film. 9:00—Variety Show.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1948
6:30—Musical Pattern. 8:30—Wrestling at the Arena Gardens. Sky Hy Lee (the Texas Cowboy) vs. Mike (the Body) Sharpe; Fred Atkins vs. Lee Henning.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1948
8:15—Gay Deceivers. 8:30—G.E. Auction Night, hosted by Johnny Slagle. 9:00—Movie Time.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1948
No programmes scheduled.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1948
6:30—Musical Pattern. 8:00—Music in Velvet. 8:30—Platter Party.

Atlanta Joins the TV Throng

There was a burning desire to get television on the air in Atlanta, it seems.

Not only did it take less than a year from when WSB applied for a TV license to when it began broadcasting, it bought the equipment for the station before it even applied for one.

WSB was owned by the Atlanta Journal, which lavished the station with large amount of ink in the paper.

The story starts in this front-pager on Nov. 30, 1947:

WSB to Install Television; Station to Cost Half Million
Plant Expected To Be Ready for Network in 1949
Television is on its way to WSB. The Journal's 50,000-watt radio station added another pioneering advance to its record of "firsts" by announcing contracts with RCA for delivery of the first television setup in the Southeast.
The program envisions construction of a new radio-television center on a 20-acre tract on Peachtree rd. opposite Rhodes Center. It will cost approximately, half a million dollars. The equipment will be installed as it becomes available, subject to FCC approval.
Result: The Voice of the South will be standing by as the Eyes of the South by the time the nation's first coast-to-coast television network goes on the air—probably in 1949.
J. Leonard Reinsch, managing director of the Cox newspapers' radio interests and radio adviser to President Truman, announced the television plans for WSB and for its sister station, WIOD, in Miami. Contracts for The Journal's station were signed by George C. Biggers, Journal president.
The contracts call for delivery of the most advanced equipment to the two stations. Two types of the new Image Orthicon cameras are included—the studio size and a portable unit made to travel on a truck to cover special events.
Both these cameras have been developed to a pickup sensitivity rivaling the human eye, engineers say. They can "see" in the studio by the light of a single candle, and can televise a night ball game or boxing bout with no more lighting than that on hand for spectators. Only two routine details remain to be worked out before installation gets under way, said John M. Outler, WSB's general manager. These are final approval by the FCC and completion of construction plans for the new center on Peachtree rd. Major units in the center will be the television tower and transmitter plant, he said.
Mr. Outler pointed out that WSB had been preparing for television over a period of years. Key personnel from the technical and program departments have been attending schools and seminars over the country, he said, to be ready for television when it arrived.
He said NBC is now at work on final plans for a television cable into Atlanta, as a part of the first nationwide network. "We will be ready when they are," he declared.
Inauguration of television at WSB is expected to revolutionize the radio habits of the South and open up a broad new field of public service. Among things to be televised will be the big sports events, presidential addresses, joint sessions of Congress, and almost any kind of special nave events, both national and local.
In becoming the first in the South with television, The Atlanta Journal Co. adds another "scoop" in the field of public information. Among others have been: the South's first sports section, first woman's department, first rotogravure, first Wirephoto service. In 1922, station WSB was born as the South's first radio station, and three years ago became the first in Georgia to employ frequency modulation (FM) broadcasting.

The Journal officially asked the FCC on Dec. 5, 1947 for a license. Broadcasting of Dec. 8, 1947 reported:

Miami, Dayton and Atlanta TV Permits Asked by Cox Stations
THREE APPLICATIONS for television were filed Friday [5] with FCC by James M. Cox Radio Stations in Dayton, Atlanta and Miami. With the announcement of filing, J. Leonard Reinsch, managing director of the Cox stations, said that contingent contracts with RCA totaling over $1,000,000 in television equipment and installation costs had been signed. If all of Mr. Cox's video and FM applications go through, all three cities will have Cox-owned AM, FM and TV outlets. Mr. Reinsch said that the channels applied for were: in Dayton, Channel 13; in Atlanta, Channel 6 or 8, and in Miami, Channel 5.
Managers Named
Robert Moody has been named manager of the Dayton video operation, James Le Gate for the Miami outlet, and John Outler Jr., for Atlanta. Mr. Reinsch, as managing director of the Cox stations, will supervise the overall video operations.
Transmission facilities in Atlanta will be located on a 20-acre tract on Peachtree St., near Rhodes Center. A 500-ft. tower will be erected. Another 500-ft. tower will be constructed on the Wilmington Pike outside Dayton forthe WHIG affiliate outlet. In Miami, the antenna will be mounted on the Miami Daily News Tower, Biscayne Blvd. Each station will be equipped with complete facilities for remotes, with mobile cameras.
Current status of FM for the Cox stations is as follows: WIOD-FM in Miami is now in commercial operation; an FM grant has been approved for WSB Atlanta, and an application is pending for WHIO Dayton.
The Cox stations are also among newspaper-owned outlets cooperating in the experimental use of facsimile broadcasting.

Almost a month later, the FCC gave its okay. The Journal's report of Jan. 9, 1948:

Television Permit Granted to WSB
Full Broadcast Schedule With Maximum Power Hoped for by Late Summer
Television broadcasts for The Atlanta Journal's radio station WSB were approved Thursday [8] in Washington by the Federal Communications Commission.
John M. Outler Jr., the station's general manager, said, he hopes to have a full schedule of daily television broadcasts in operation by late summer or early fall of this year.
He said that the FCC granted the station authority to operate with 5,000 watts power. That he said, is the maximum power of any television in the nation today.
Contracts for equipment, including a 600-foot tower and antenna, complete new broadcasting studios, and mobile units were let in December.
The studios and tower will be located on a 20-acre tract near the intersection of Peachtree and Beverly rds., N. E. Construction of the tower and studios will start immediately.
40-Mile Radius
Mr. Outler said the new station will be able to send television programs within a 40-mile radius of the tower and transmitter.
WSB will have television channel eight.
WSB will present a daily schedule of programs from its new television studios. In addition, sports, news events, and other special events will be televised by means of a mobile field unit.
Mr. Outler said that WSB will have the best television program service in America through its affiliation with the National Broadcasting Co. The NBC has pioneered the development of television in this country. WSB first applied for a television permit in April, 1931, but the permit was never granted.
New Application
A new application was made to the FCC in December, 1947.
Television will be the third of WSB’s special attractions in addition to its regular broadcasting activities.
The station started FM (frequency modulation) broadcasts in November, 1944, and orders have already been placed for Faximile equipment which will permit the station to send printed news reports directly into Atlanta homes.
Mr. Outler will be in charge of the television station with C. F. Daugherty as chief engineer.

The Journal, rather conveniently, omits the rest of the FCC’s decision, which gave a license for Channel 2 to the paper’s rival, the Atlanta Constitution, owners of radio station WCON. The Commission had approved on December 30, 1947, an application for Channel 5 from Liberty Broadcasting, leaving Channel 11 available for bids.

We hear little from the newspaper again until June 6, 1948.

WSB REGULAR TELECASTS TO BEGIN IN LATE SEPT.
Initial Schedule 20 Hours a Week; Range, 45 Miles
WSB will go on the air with regularly scheduled television programs on or about Sept. 29, it was announced Saturday [5] by officials of The Atlanta Journal Co. A "test pattern" by the station will be televised on or about Aug. 22.
At the outset WSB-TV will offer approximately 20 hours a week of regularly scheduled television. The programs will have a range of 45 miles airline from the WSB-TV transmitter at Peachtree and Beverly rd.
Television dealers representing major distributing interests in the Southeast and retail interests in Atlanta were apprised of these plans at dinner meetings last Monday and Tuesday evenings given by The Atlanta Journal Co. A television program produced by WSB talent was presented at the dinners.
Technicians Sent Out
John Outler, general manager of WSB-TV, made a detailed statement of plans Saturday. He said this announcement was the consummation of 18 months of intensive effort on the part of the management and personnel to bring television to Atlanta.
"During this nine we have personally investigated television in theory and operation in every major center in the United States. We have sent technicians and program personnel to schools and given them job training in television centers. Our sincere opinion is that WSB-TV will begin operations with as much technical and program know-how as any independent station in the country. The transmitter is on location. Erection of the 590-foot tower to radiate the signals will be completed on schedule and the transmitter and studio building will be completed in the near future. It is on this basis that we are predicating a test program on the air about the middle of August."
Explaining the varied content of the WSB-TV programs, Mr. Outler continued:
"We have completed arrangements for adequate scheduling of news, sports events, film productions, remote control pick-ups of special events and a contract with National Broadcasting Co. network television programs has been made.
"Hearthstone of Family"
"We expect to bring the public football games this fall as well as other sporting events.
"The advent of television will mean a change in the home life of the community. It differs from standard radio broadcasting in that the viewing screen of the television set is the hearthstone of the family gathering. "You don't look at television incidentally. You either give it your whole attention or none. We've seen enough to know that the social impact of television is terrific. Sales potentialities are equally so. It will be an enormous influence in our way of living."
A test pattern is a picture comprising a set of lines at various angles by means of which the television receiving set can be properly installed and tuned.

An update from the Journal, June 20, 1948:

WSB-TV Site Near Completion For August Test
WSB-TV's new site at Peachtree st. and Beverly rd. is rapidly nearing completion, officials announced Saturday [19].
The two-story structure will be completed by the time of a test television broadcast in August. A roof was added to the building during the past week.
The lower level will include the television control room, announcers' booth, clients' booth, film projection room, an air-conditioning room, and a heating plant. Located on the upper level will be the administrative and programming offices.
Visitors to WSB-TV are to be provided with a spacious viewing lobby where they can watch both the video and FM transmitters in action.
The television studio, with a 20-foot ceiling, will require the height of both levels.

Journal, July 11, 1948:

FRONT SEAT FOR ALL
Mobile Unit Planned for WSB Video
A seat for everybody on the 50-yard line. A choice spot back of the Cracker dugout for every fan. No tiresome standing in crowds to see a parade. A place of unlimited vision at all outstanding outdoor events.
All of these things will be possible with the advent of WSB-TV in October, through the facilities of the modern television mobile unit.
WSB-TV will literally move to the scene of important events with their television "studio on wheels."
The huge new video truck is complete with cameras and all the myriad technical equipment necessary for televising out-of-door activities. WSB-TV's mobile unit stands a towering 110-feet high and stretches front to back more than 20 feet.
Colorful in design, the mobile television truck is plainly labeled with "WSB Television" printed across the sides.

Some closed circuit broadcasts—one for RCA dealers, another for the Kiwanis Club—took place in July. Meanwhile, on the 30th, the Journal published a picture of the station’s transmitter that had just been erected.

The New York Times broke a story on August 7 which wasn’t unexpected. The day before, WSB-TV became formally affiliated with NBC, which supplied programmes to WSB radio. It reported test patterns would begin Aug. 16 and full programming on Sept. 29.

There were dinner meetings in August where executives from Admiral, Crosley and Philco got together with local radio store owners to demonstrate what the station could put on the air. Here’s a portion of Reese Gleghorn’s story in the business section of the Journal from August 19.

Telecasts in Color
Predicted by Official Firm Working on Electronic Attachment To Be Fitted on Present Sets, Dealers Told
Atlantians may have the added thrill of seeing telecasts in color within a few years, Jack Otter, of Philadelphia, vice-president and general sales manager of the Philco Corp., said here Wednesday night [18].
Mr. Otter pointed out that color already might be on the market if the Federal Communications Commission had not decided against it.
Meanwhile, he said, Philco is working on an electronic color attachment that can be fitted onto sets now on the market. In other words, when color comes, present sets with their black and white images will not be obsolete.
Mr. Otter was in Atlanta to attend a regional meeting of more than 500 Philco dealers at the Atlanta Athletic Club. He was accompanied by several other officials from the Philco home office.
After a special telecast of the Georgia All-Star high school football game for the Philco meeting, WSB-TV received high praise from the television official.
"I have seen the inaugural programs of practically all the television stations in the country," Mr. Otter said, "but not a single one was as well presented and as well organized as the program tonight. Those WSB-TV cameramen work as if they had been at it for years."
He especially commented on the "smooth" way the cameramen followed the ball carrier during the game. He said most cameramen need months of practice to develop the proper technique in television action pictures such as sports events.
The Philco vice-president said he believes Atlanta will be on an Eastern television network by the end of 1949. A coaxial cable is now being laid southward and Richmond is already on the hookup. Until then, he said, WSB-TV and other Southern stations can get network programs by Kinetoscope recordings (filming the program and then flying or shipping the film to other sections of the country).

An editorial in the same day’s paper was aimed squarely at skittish sports club owners and managers who had read stories that TV would kill attendance at their events. Wright Bryan pointed out 28,000 almost filled the enlarged Grant Field, so the football broadcast didn’t keep anyone at home.

A full-page puff piece in the station owner’s paper mentioned games at Henry Grady stadium had also been lined up, that the programme manager had watched nearly 300 films to pick out the best ones to air, and an hour-long kids show had been developed with music, movies, puppets, fairy tales and a monkey MC. Meanwhile, Billboard of Aug. 28 mentioned the station had signed to broadcast daily Telepix newsreels assembled by WPIX in New York.

The Journal spent several days pushing closed circuit entertainment broadcasts at a department store but, there was a remote broadcast that went out over the transmitter.

ATLANTA, Aug. 31 (AP)—The Atlanta Journal’s new television station, WSB-TV, went on the air tonight with a showing of the Atlanta-Nashville baseball game at Ponce De Leon Park.
Lee Jordan, a member of the WSB staff, said this was the first time a ball game has been televised in the Southeast.
The showing was part of the preliminary tests being made prior to regular broadcasting by WSB-TV this fall.

The Journal added the station was picked up in Marietta and other places outside Atlanta, and proclaimed Cracker president Earl Mann was the first person to be televised during a live show in Atlanta during a post-game interview by Thad Horton.

Fans of test patterns were no doubt delighted to read on Sept. 8:

WSB-TV Test Pattern Schedule
Following is the test pattern schedule for WSB-TV on Channel 8:
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, 1:30 to 5:30 p. m.
Saturday, 10 a. m. to 12 noon, and 1 to 5 p. m.
All of next week, Monday through Saturday, 10 a. m. to 12 noon, and 1 to 5 p. m.

On Monday, Sept. 13, the pattern began airing Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. On Thursday, the 16th, there was another broadcast.

First Football Telecast in South Made by WSB-TV
The Atlanta Journal and WSB recorded another historic first Thursday night at Atlanta’s new Henry Grady Stadium. With some 5,000 people looking on, WSB-TV telecast the first football game in the South.
Using two cameras, WSB-YB was on top of every pass, ground play and tackle. The equipment was perched high atop the stadium, with the giant microwave relay pointing toward the WSB-TV tower on West Peachtree.
Public reaction was favourable, and as in other WSB-TV telecasts, long-distance reception was reported. During the first football telecast, WSB-TV’s receptionist received enthusiastic calls from as far away as Winder.
Thad Horton, WSB-TV sports director, was at the microphone, and the entire telecast was under the direction of Mark Toalson, WSB-TV production director.

The station made its debut on September 29, 1948 on schedule. We’ll skip the summary of the speeches contained in the Journal’s back-patting story the next day.

WSB-TV RAISES THE CURTAIN ON DRAMATIC ERA OF TELEVISION
By ROBERT H. McKEE
WSB-TV drew up the curtain Wednesday night [29] to give Atlanta an exciting glimpse of its future through television. It was the dedication of WSB-TV's ultramodern facilities on West Peachtree for daily programs of telecast. It was inauguration of this new service—the dawn of an era of mighty transformations.
The initial program over WSB-TV was in keeping with the tempo of modern-day Atlanta. It moved briskly in presenting a score of personalities representing the state, the city, the station and the new South.
WSB-TV's brilliant staff culminated months of preparation and study with an impressive demonstration of ability. They performed like veterans in new techniques rich with promise of things to come.
Cox, Biggers Speak
Speaking before the lights in behalf of The Atlanta Journal, WSB-TV and the newspaper and radio organization headed by Governor James M. Cox were: James M. Cox Jr. vice-chairman of the board of The Atlanta Journal Co.; George C. Biggers, president of The Atlanta Journal Co.; Daniel J. Mahoney, of Miami, a director of The Journal; Leonard Reinsch, director of the Cox radio properties, and John M. Outlet Jr., general manager of WSB and WSB-TV. [speeches omitted]
It fell the lot of Announcer John Cone to utter the momentous, words at the outset: "WSB television is on the air!"
This was followed by the national anthem and songs by the Baptist choir directed by John Hoffman.
Niles Trammell, president of NBC, not present in the flesh, was there in image as his enthusiastic greetings and congratulations were brought to the WSB-TV screen. WSB has long been an affiliate of NBC, the finest of networks.
The crack news staff of WSB and WSB-TV gave a demonstration of the concise and fast-moving newscasts that have made them famous throughout the South. Jimmy Bridges provided commentary for a newsreel and then presented a summary of latest news.
Walter Paschall, head of the news staff, introduced his colleagues and gave a preview of what's ahead for WSB-TV viewers in news graphically presented. Lee Jordan explained what goes into a newsreel. Marionettes
Don and Ruth Gilpin, operating from behind a cleverly contrived stage, made their marionettes become life-like as they danced, strutted, gesticulated and filled in the interludes.
Thad Horton and Dorothy Kirby sat at a table with three sports figures and engaged in a lively discussion of football, baseball and golf. Wedged in between them were Bobby Dodd, Georgia Tech head coach; Earl Mann, president of the Atlanta Crackers, and Howard (Papa) Beckett, for 30 years golf pro at the Capital City Country club.
Mr. Reinsch started off the formal program with a cheery "good evening" and Mr. Outler presented heads of the WSB-TV staff. These included C. F. Daugherty, chief engineer; Frank Gaither, commercial manager; Marcus Bartlett, program director; M. K. Toalson, production director, and Mrs. Alwilda Lindsey.
Bill Packem, a newcomer to the staff, served as master of ceremonies, and Dr. Ruben T. Lagemann, of the department of physics, Emory University, had an entrancing look at his TV program, "Science Is Fun." Eli Fritsch, attired in awe-inspiring get-up, let viewers in on a secret. It has to do with WSB-TV's famous talking monkey.
The "Sunshine Boys" were on twice, once attired in business suits and against in cowboy get-up seated on logs around the makin's of a campfire. Their songs have often been heard on WSB.
Mayor Hartsfield took advantage of his brief appearance before the lights to plug for TV shows at the Municipal Airport. "That's how we get programs," laughed Mr. Outler.
Brad Crandall and Elmo Ellis directed the program, which had been in course of preparation for weeks. It went off without a hitch.
Telepix and Telenews pictures (newscasts) will be flown in daily for presentation on your channel 8—WSB-TV.
Each of those appearing before the cameras first had to submit to makeup. For most of them, it was first experience at being made up for television.
As a nightcap the picture "Cheers for Miss Bishop," starring Martha Scott and William Gargan, was thrown on the screen.

Over a year later, the cable still hadn't been laid from Richmond to Atlanta.

Here’s a rundown of programming for the first week, plus a review of one of the shows.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1948
8:00-10:30—WSB-TV Debut: Salutes from NBC and WIPX in New York, Sports interlude with Thad Horton and Dorothy Kirby, Jimmy Bridges and Lee Jordon with the news, the “Sunshine Boys” and the Baptist Hour Choir directed by John Hoffman, review of “Monkey Business” marionettes, feature film “Cheers for Miss Bishop” starring Martha Scott and William Gargan, speeches by prominent Georgians including M.E. Thompson, Herman Talmadge, R.L. (Shorty) Doyle, Mayor Hartsfield, Miss Ira Jarrell, Dr. Goodrich C. White and Fred Moore.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 30, 1948
4:00—Pantry Party. 4:20—News (Telepix). 4:30—“The Lost Jungle” (Serial Chapt. 1). 5:00—“Monkey Business” featuring The Three Bears (Iwerks, 1935). 5:30—News (Telenews and AP Pictures). 6:05—Sign off. 7:20—“Here Comes the Circus.” 7:30—News (AP and Pictures). 7:35—Enid Day. 7:50—Roosevelt vs. Smith (football from Grady Stadium). 9:45—News (Telenews and AP Pictures). 10:00—Sign off.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1948
4:00—People on Peachtree. 4:30—News (Telepix). 4:40—“The Lost Jungle,” Chapter 2. 5:00—“Monkey Business” featuring “Molly Moo Cow and the Indians” (Van Beuren, 1934). 5:50—News (Telenews and Pictures). 6:05—Sign off. 7:15—“Moose” (film). 7:25—News (AP and stills). 7:30—Philco Touchdown. 7:50—Grady vs. Savannah (football with Thad Horton). 9:45—News (Telenews and stills). 10:00—Sign off.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1948
2:10—News (Telepix). 2:20—Georgia Tech vs. Tulane (football with Thad Horton). 5:00—Serial, “Law of the Wild,” Chapter One. 7:30—News (Football scores and stills). 7:40—Old Timers (Yesterday Lives Again). 7:50—O’Keefe vs. Murphy. 9:45—News (Telenews and stills), 10:00—Sign off.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1948
3:30—Weekly News Review (WPIX News). 3:50—Tele-Travels “Washington, D.C.” 4:00—Georgia vs. North Carolina (football with Wally Butts). 4:45—Telenews Weekly. 5:05—Sign off. 7:17—Music, “Maria Elena,” Johnny Long Orchestra. 7:20—News. 7:30—Stephen Foster Melodies, “Oh Susanna” (film). 7:46—“Employ Disabled Vets” (film). 7:47—Kennel Kings (Paramount, 1933). 7:57—Music, “Come Back to Sorrento,” Al Donahue Orchestra. 8:00—“Swiss Family Robinson” with Freddie Bartholomew, Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best (feature film). 9:35—Telenews Weekly review. 9:55—Sign off.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1948
4:30—News (Telepix News). 4:40—“The Lost Jungle,” Chapter 3. 5:00—“Monkey Business” featuring “Three Little Kittens” (aka “Rough on Rats,” Van Beuren, 1933). 5:50—News (Telenews and stills). 6:05—Sign off. 7:30—News (Telepix and stills). 7:45—Wonder World, “Camera Magic” (film). 7:55—Behind the Scenes in Television. 8:00—“Clean Waters” with Paul Weir. 8:26—“My Reverie,” Larry Clinton and Orchestra. 8:30—“Charade Parade,” live studio show. 9:00—Camel News Theatre (NBC film). 9:10—Sign off.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1948
4:30—News (Telepix). 4:40—Big League Baseball. 4:50—Arcade Varieties. 5:00—Children’s Corner, “The Lost Jungle” Chapter 5, “Happy Hoboes” (Van Beuren, 1932).

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1948
4:00—People on Peachtree with Bill Packham. 4:30—Telepix News. 4:50—Music (film). 5:00—“Children’s Corner” featuring “The Lost Jungle” Chapter 6, “Sinbad the Sailor” (Iwerks, 1935). 5:50—News (Telenews and stills). 6:05—Sign off. 7:30—Telepix News (and stills). 7:45—“Science is Fun” with Dr. Robert Lagemann. 8:00—“4-H Club Dinner.” 8:30—Georgia Tech vs. Tulane football game with Bobby Dodd (film). 9:15—Armchair Playhouse, “The Scarlet Pimpernell” with Leslie Howard. 10:55—Telenews. 11:05—Sign off.

WSB-TV PANTRY PARTY MOVES SHOPPERS TO TEARS
Plunging fearlessly, as into an icy shower, WSB Television invaded a grocery store Thursday afternoon [30].
A crew of technicians drove the tremendous mobile unit into the parking lot of the Kroger store at Boulevard and North ave. They unloaded the sleek television cameras and set them up inside somewhere between the grapefruit display and the pork-and-bean shelf. They were also just west of a vat of iced shrimp which gently ... uh ... poignantly brought to mind the sea.
Floodlights were quickly set up to beam on another section of the store, between the apples and the mustard. This was the stage.
The place was studded with babies. Infants in buggies and strollers. Infants in arms (one of these mercilessly beating upon his father's ear). Infants in the carts designed to hold groceries. This, last, according to a notice prominently displayed on the wall, was forbidden . . . but everybody was much too busy to enforce anything.
• • •
WSB-TV's first women's show, "Pantry Party" was under way, and while it must said for the babies that not one of them cried, two housewives burst into tears at the outset of the program and continued to weep for half-an-hour. It was not entirely unprovoked. Master of Ceremonies Bill Packham opened the show by setting them up at a table and promising a prize to the one who peeled the most onions while the show went on. The prize, incidentally, was not a box of hankies (logical under the circumstances) but a bag of groceries.
Two clerks were given two saucers full of flour—it was a contest to determine which could blow the flour out of his saucer first and pick up the hidden coin with his teeth. In the middle of this a couple of die-hard shoppers went resolutely about the business of trying to buy groceries. But business for the time being was out cold.
The ladies, with the onions wept.
Store manager, J. T. Jessee, was asked to demonstrate his salesmanship to a stranger picked from the audience. The stranger, by the wildest coincidence, turned out to be his district manager who regarded the whole thing with a glacial eye. Jesse sold a can of peas for television using the intensity of a man trying to beat a murder rap.
The housewives howled, but the ladles of the onion contest wept on. People were beginning to shun them.
Over near the soap flakes a baby in a buggy slept peacefully.
• • •
THE FINAL CONTEST was a race between four women to add a column of numbers. One of them whipped out the answer like a calculating machine leaving the other three still poised with fingers against thumbs. And the onion ladies wept.
Since nobody cared to count up the onions afterwards, they both were awarded prises, and the show was over.
The crowd began to clear. The lights were turned off. Veteran M. C. Peckham laid aside the mike and unaccountably mopped his forehead—it was not a hot day.
And clerk Homer Jones (who should go far some day) with tears streaming down his face, offered to wrap up free onions, already peeled, for any ladies in the crowd. (Edith Hills Coogler, Journal, Oct. 3)

One other note: WSB-TV included an animated spokes-cartoon when it began broadcasting. He was Oscar, a talking potato chip, who “worked” for the Frito-Lay Company. Oscar had been appearing in print ads in the Atlanta Constitution as early as 1944.

Does anyone have any idea who animated these Oscar commercials? Were they really limited animation? A company in Atlanta named Beeland-King Film Productions was making animated spots, and H.W. Lay and Co. was one of its clients, but it didn’t start until 1953. The company's agency was Liller, Neal and Battle out of Atlanta, but that's all I can find out. I imagine that a cartoon potato chip was more entertaining than Molly Moo Cow.

The Tribulations of KLAC-TV

One day of test patterns was enough for one TV station before it went on the air.

Not only that, the new station was already being sold.

Today that station occupies Channel 13 in Los Angeles.

The FCC received an application for what was to be made KLAC-TV on June 18, 1946. Here’s Variety’s brief blurb.

Thackery Tele Bids
Washington, Jan. 22
Dorothy S. Thackrey, New York publisher, has filed applications for television stations in Los Angeles and Frisco.
Mrs. Thackrey, operator of the New York Evening Post, owns WLIB, New York, and recently purchased standard [A.M.] stations in California. She also has pending applications for FM stations in Los Angeles and Frisco.

Thackery had purchased KMTR Los Angeles, which she renamed KLAC (raising objections at the FCC from KFAC Los Angeles), and KYA in San Francisco.

The Commission began hearings on May 20, 1946 in Los Angeles. Originally, 13 companies had applied for commercial licenses. Five withdrew: Walt Disney Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Fox West Coast Theatres, Warner Bros. Broadcasting Corp. and Consolidated Broadcasting Corp. That left Television Productions Inc. (Paramount), Hughes Productions, Earle C. Anthony, Don Lee System, NBC, the Times-Mirror Co., ABC, and Thackrey vying for seven licenses; Lee was already on the air with W6XAO and Paramount with W6XYZ.

The May 28 sitting of the Commission, setting a resumption date of June 20 in Washington. The Hollywood Reporter noted:

The last of the applications to be heard was that of Dorothy Thackrey, owner of the New York Post and station KLAC here, who read from a prepared statement and said that she was prepared to take a substantial loss in the initial operations of a video outlet here but believed the medium to have a limitless future and one that would become self-sustaining.
Mrs. Thackrey said her primary interest "in television, radio and newspapers is to provide the widest possible public service by utilizing and making available the most effective means of mass communications, and to improve the quality and quantity of public information." She said that a television outlet should serve for effective expression of pertinent shades of viewpoint on current political, economic and social matters, without imposition of partisan views.
Mrs. Thackrey's testimony was abetted and paralleled by the testimony of her husband, Ted Thackrey, and Don Fedderson, vice president and manager of KYA, San Francisco, and KLAC, Los Angeles. The latter will manage the video station if granted.

The Thackreys looked set—when it came to a station in San Francisco. There were six channels available and six applications. The FCC cancelled all hearings, and decided to make an announcement about the Bay Area after the Los Angeles situation was settled. But Broadcasting then reported on Dec. 9, 1946:

TWO TV WITHDRAWLS BY DOROTHY THACKREY
WITHDRAWL of television applications for New York, San Francisco, without prejudice, leaving one for Los Angeles stand, sought of FCC by Dorothy Thackrey interests. Don Federson [sic], vice president-general manager, West Coast operations, said action taken since “full justice could not have been done with all three stations or even two.”
If Mrs. Thackrey obtains Los Angeles grant, he added, “concentrated effort” will be made in that operation. “It is entirely possible that Mrs. Thackrey may later request reinstatement of applications for New York and San Francisco, perhaps one at a time,” said Mr. Federson.

It wasn’t long before an FCC decision came down. On December 20, 1946, the commission granted licenses to Thackrey as well as Earle C. Anthony, the Times-Mirror, Television Productions, ABC and NBC. Thackrey was assigned Channel 13.

Variety reported on March 26, 1947 that KLAC’s television operations were expected to start by year-end with television baseball in summer 1948 (the radio station had rights to air games of both PCL teams). Billboard’s update in its Oct. 18, 1947 issue is that the debut was “still many months away.”

Meanwhile, Dorothy Thackery was having second thoughts about television altogether. Billboard, in a story dated Nov. 29, said MGM had begun talks to buy KLAC and KYA, mainly for the TV license because Paramount had a station in Los Angeles. About a month later, the trade paper said the deal looked dead as MGM lost interest, and an offer from film producer Jack Wrather was turned down since Thackery wanted to sell both radio stations and Wrather only wanted KLAC.

With no news about getting the TV station on the air, reports swirled in the early months of 1948 that CBS, oilman Ed Pauley and Warner Bros. were either interested, or in talks, to buy Thackery’s West Coast operations. Variety broke a story on April 28 that Warners had paid $800,000 for the Tv license and the two radio stations. “Ridiculous” and “not a word of truth” was Thackrey’s response (Broadcasting, May 3). Variety came back on May 26, saying the amount was $1.1 million. No comment from Thackery. Finally, Broadcasting reported on June 28 the sale documents had been filed with the FCC the previous week, though it took almost a month for the Commission to announce it. Thackery told the commission she wanted to sell out to devote full time to her newspapers.

There were attempts to stop the sale, but we’ll set aside that story.

The man in charge of the station, Don Fedderson, was known later for syndicating Liberace and making him a household name across the U.S., and then for putting My Three Sons on television. He wasn’t going to waste any more time getting KLAC-TV on the air. First, a report from Billboard, May 1, 1948:

KLAC-TV To Bow In Mid-September
HOLLYWOOD, April 24.—KLAC-TV, local indie owned by Dorothy Thackrey, finally unveiled tele plans this week with the announcement that the station planned to he airborne by mid-September. Station Manager Don Fedderson said the outlet had acquired a new site on Mount Wilson and that construction of the transmitter would begin within two weeks. Plans call for delivery of the transmitter by July 31.
KLAC tele progress has been stymied because the previous transmitter site required considerable work to prevent settling of building and land erosion. New land parcel was leased to KLAC by the U. S. Forestry Service and previously had been earmarked for FM operation of KWKW, Pasadena indie. Because of an application for increased power, now pending before the Federal Communications Commission, KWKW has withdrawn its FM application and relinquished the land.

Variety, on April 28, said construction of the transmitter had begun.

Here’s Broadcasting of July 5:

Start of KLAC-TV Now Set for Fall
IN SURPRISE move last week, Don Fedderson vice president and general manager of KLAC Hollywood and KYA, San Francisco, announced that former station's video station would be on the air by the latter part of September.
Previously the station was not considered likely to be on the air before early 1949.
Summing up the spirit of the push he pointed out that the station's transmitter sight [sic] was underway and that construction costing $65-70,000 would be sped up to meet the new scheduled opening. This, he said, would be finished in 12-14 weeks as against the usual six to nine months required.
Ground was also broken last week for an additional studio on the property of KLAC which will provide an additional 15,000 square feet of space at an estimated cost of $15,000.
To make certain that the stepped-up schedule is met, Mr. Fedderson is headquartering in Los Angeles for several weeks. Engineers of KLAC are already being schooled in video methods by Paul C. Schulz, chief engineer of KYA-KLAC who recently returned from the RCA television school for engineers.
When Mr. Fedderson was queried on the fact that a contract for purchase of the Thackrey stations had been filed with the FCC by Warner Bros., he offered "no comment" pointing out that his only responsibility was getting the station on the air. In August he said the sales staff would begin to seek business and that a strong likelihood existed that advertisers would be offered an AM-television package rate.
As further preparation, he said that James McNamara, news director, and Fred Henry, assistant manager, both of KLAC would spend the month of July looking in on other station operations in the East and Midwest.

An update from Variety on July 28:

KLAC Sets Sights On Sept. Preem; Accent To Be on Disk Jockeys
Hollywood, July 27.