W6XIS and KDYL

Attempting to settle when a TV station first went on the air can be a challenge. There are test transmissions. Then there is a regular schedule of test transmissions. Then there are transmissions containing programming. And that’s if the information is recorded somewhere.

This brings us to W6XIS. Well, actually it brings us to KDYL.

KDYL was a radio station in Salt Lake City that decided it wanted to broadcast pictures, too. So it did. Here’s what the Salt Lake Tribune of Sept. 16, 1939 had to say:

S. L. Will See Television Tests Tonight
KDYL, NBC Invite Public to Demonstration
Arrangements for the first in a series of television demonstrations to be given during the next two weeks, beginning Saturday evening at the Park company, 28 East Broadway, were completed by television and radio engineers Friday night [15].
One of the first public demonstrations of its kind in the United States, the television show will formally signalize completion of an extensive renovation program at the Paris company, officials stated Friday.
Many thousand dollars have been spent in remodeling the store's interior and exterior. An entire new facade has been completed after several weeks' work.
In cooperation with KDYL and the National Broadcasting company, the first demonstration will be given Saturday from 7:30 p. m. until 10 p. m. on the second-floor studio especially constructed in the store.
Will Explain Method
City, state, church and other dignitaries will participate on the program, in addition to a variety show including dancing, musical numbers and an explanation of the revolutionary radio development by John M. Baldwin, chief engineer for KDYL.
Among those scheduled to speak on the program are the Most Rev. Duane G. Hunt, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Salt Lake; President Heber J. Grant of the L. D. S. church; Rabbi Samuel H. Gordon of Temple Israel; The Very Rev. Franklin L. Gibson,-dean of St. Mark's Episcopal cathedral; The Rev. Jacob Trapp, minister, First Untarian [sic] church; Herbert A. Snow, president of the Salt Lake chamber of commerce; Major John T. Zellers of Fort Douglas; City Judge Reva Beck Bosone; S. O. Bennion, Hamilton G. Park, LeRoy D. Simmons, Earl J. Glade, S. S. Fox, E. F. Dreyfous, Frank C. Carman and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Felt, only surviving member of the original company of the old Salt Lake theater. David N. Simmons will be master of ceremonies.
First Time in S. L.
The program will originate in a special studio on the second floor. From there, television sets will transmit by direct wire to six portable receivers scattered in various parts of the store, affording visitors an opportunity to see the radio image for the first time.
At 9:30 p. m., the sound program will also be broadcast over KDYL. President Grant will speak, and a series of dramatic sketches depicting various periods in western history will be presented. By means of television sets in the store, visitors will see styles of each period modeled to the accompaniment of music typical of each period.
The public also will be able to witness the broadcast procedure through glass panels in the studio.
After the initial show Saturday night, a daily program for two weeks will be "telecast" from 11:30 a. m. until 4:30 p. m. in the store.

This wasn’t a true television broadcast with a signal being sent out over the air. The story makes it clear this was a closed-circuit affair; there were a number of these happening in various parts of the U.S.

However, the owner of KDYL, was serious about television and applied to the FCC for a license. The Deseret-News reported on Nov. 17, 1943:

Television Station Sought By KDYL
Application for permission to operate an experimental television station has been filed by the Intermountain Broadcasting Company—operators of KDYL—with the Federal Communications Commission, it was announced today. S. S. Fox, president and general manager of the corporation, said the station will begin the broadcasts as soon as permission is granted. Receiving sets will be placed in several downtown areas for daily one-hour broadcasts, he added. Range of the broadcasts will be about five miles.

This was at a time when almost all television had been curtailed as the war sucked away all the electronics the industry needed. The application seems to have sat there. Then the weekly NAB Reports reported on Sept. 29, 1944 about the following application:

NEW — Intermountain Broadcasting Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah — Construction permit for a new experimental television station to be operated on Channel #1 (50004-56000 kc., A5 and special emission. Amended to also request Channel #17 (282000-288000 kc.) with power of 50 watts (200 peak) for visual and 100 watts for aural.

“Experimental” wasn’t enough. A new application was revealed by NAB Reports of Oct. 27:

NEW — Intermountain Broadcasting Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah. — Construction permit for a new commercial television broadcast station to be operated on Channel #1 (50000-56000 kc.).

This gets confusing as Intermountain had two applications—one for a commercial station (KDYL-TV) and one for an experimental station (W6XIS). The Deseret-News of Dec. 30, 1944 reported:

S. L. To Have Television Testing Station
The Itnermountain [sic] Broadcasting Corp. of Salt Lake has been granted a permit by the Federal Communications Commission for construction of an experimental television broadcasting station, it was announced today. The permit to the Intermountain firm, which operates radio station KDYL, will provide for the first television broadcasting unit between Chicago and the Pacific coast.
"KDYL has been interested in television for five years and this license justifies our experimental work in what we feel will be the great postwar industry." said S. S. Fox, president and general manager of the corporation.
Mr. Fox explained that KDYL had bought a standard RCA boradcasting [sic] unit with a number of receiving sets in 1939 and has been making laboratory experiments since then preparatory to obtaining this license. The equipment originally produced a 441 line picture but KDYL's technical staff, under direction of John M. Baldwin, has converted it to the current standard of 525 lines.
Mr. Baldwin said the experiments so far had been conducted without radiated waves but that with the granting of this license the station expects to undertake transmission of television waves early in the spring.

The red tape gets a little confusing from here. The next development was an FCC Board decision on May 17, 1946 to grant a permit to build a commercial station to operate on Channel 2. But then on July 3, the FCC “re-instated” a construction permit for W6XIS to operate on either Channel 2 or Channel 9 and to move the proposed transmitter.

Here’s an update from the Dec. 14, 1946 edition of the Deseret News, with a description of the experimental programming.

TELEVISION: Utah Station Experiments With New Media
By King Durkee
Activities are now under way that will see the telecasting of commercial television programs in Utah in the not too distant future.
Experimental telecasts are already being transmitted by KDYL, the National Broadcasting Company affiliate. Operating as experimental television station W6XIS, the present telecasts are purely of a technical nature, according to S. S. Fox, president and general manager of KDYL. Operation consists mainly of tests patterns and live views of activities in downtown streets as picked up by the television camera from the KDYL Playhouse windows on First South St.
That possible projection of films over the air might be in store for Utahn's even as early as the first of the year was disclosed by Mr. Fox who said the New York City manufacturer of a 16-millimeter television film projector held out prospects of being able to make delivery to the Salt Lake station early in 1947.
"Station KDYL has already been granted a construction permit by the Federal Communications Commission to build a commercial television station under the call letters KDYL-TV," Mr. Fox said, but added that "such an undertaking must await completion of current experimental work."
Mr Fox declared that his station's work with experimental television is the only such actitity of its kind in the Intermountain West. The station's telecasts are also unique, he pointed out, in that transmission is accomplished from the heart of the city faced on two sides by towering mountains.
Mountain Influence
"In their experimental transmission," the station executive said, "KDYL engineers are seeking to determine the effect of signal reflections from these mountains.”
Technically, he explained, this means the engineers must develop a signal strong enough to cover the broadcast area without a reflection strong enough to confuse or distort the television picture.
"Because the signal traveling directly to the home receiver has less distance to cover," Mr Fox said, "it will reach the receiver a fraction of a second ahead of the reflection which travels to the mountains and 'bounces back.' "
If the reflection or "bounce" signal doesn't virtually dissipate itself, he added, it will overlap the direct signal and give a fuzziness or out-of-focus effect to the picture.
"The work of engineers on this problem is expected to produce findings helpful to the industry in meeting similar problems elsewhere," Mr. Fox declared.
Television Tower
KDYL's broadcast tower atop the 16-story Walker Bank and Trust Company Building, tallest structure in the city, places the antenna 330 feet above Salt Lake's Main St., and in full command of the Great Salt Lake Valley.
"The two-bay turnstile, constructed by KDYL engineers, is identical in principal to the one designed by Dr. George H. Brown of the Radio Corporation of America Laboratories for the National Broadcasting Company on the Empire State Building in New York City," Mr. Fox said.
The station official also declared that the tower is built to accommodate an FM (frequency modulation) antenna.
Transmitter equipment in the penthouse on the Walker Bank Building roof was constructed in the KDYL laboratories under the direction of John M. Baldwin, technical director. The work was completed under war-time difficulties including shortage of parts and materials.
"A coaxial cable has been installed between the KDYL Playhouse at 68 Regent St., to the transmitter, and Mr. Baldwin expects to develop the film projection facilities in the playhouse," Mr. Fox said.
Mr. Baldwin reported that he was recently advised that the first hundred thousand television receivers built by RCA will be distributed in the New York and Philadelphia area, where successful television is already under way.
Television Sets
"RCA's second hundred thousand receivers probably will go to the Los Angeles area," Mr. Baldwin continued, "and Salt Lakers should be able to draw from that allotment, possibly by the middle of next year."
When the receivers are available, it was pointed out, KDYL's immediate aim will be to provide service only for Salt Lake City. Eventually, it was added, in order to extend service to surrounding cities, it will be necessary to locate a powerful transmitter on one of the mountains in the area.

The Salt Lake papers had very little in 1947 about local television, though some test broadcasts were reported. Broadcasting of Feb. 2, 1948 announced “experimental broadcasts will start this month.” But definitive word was published in the Salt Lake papers on March 17 that W6XIS would officially begin regularly scheduled experimental telecasts on Monday, April 19 at 8 p.m.

This is the Tribune’s version of the story the following day:

PICTURES ON THE AIR
Utah Notables Praise First Scheduled Telecast Show
Television—long heralded as one of the 20th century's major scientific strides—came to Salt Lake City Monday night.
Still not perfect, but a good barometer of what is to come, station W6XIS, operated by KDYL, went on the air with the first scheduled telecast in the intermountain area.
And with the phrase "We're on the air," many notables of the city and state, tensed for their first appearance on the new medium. The "cameramen" and technicians tensed also as the first sound and pictures were telecast.
Welcome Station
Gov. Herbert B. Maw, Mayor Earl J. Glade, Frank S. Streator, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce president, and Dr. A. Ray Olpin, University of Utah president, were among those to welcome the station and participate in the program.
Gov. Maw noted that Salt Lake City is the 13th city in the United States to have regularly scheduled television. Dr. Olpin, no newcomer to the field since he specialized in electronics and television pioneering more than 20 years ago, spoke briefly.
All went smoothly on the initial broadcast. But just in case, the cameramen had a sign ready for emergencies. It read: "Oops, sorry."
Free Demonstrations
Besides Salt Lakers with television sets in their homes, some free demonstration shows to interested patrons.
Station employes watched the televised, program on sets in adjoining studios. Besides the speakers, news reels, travel films and "live" singers and players were televised.
Programs will be broadcast regularly each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 p.m. Test telecasts will be conducted Monday through Friday at 3 p.m.


The papers don’t provide any programme listings, though the Apr. 21st Deseret News mentions a local broadcast on traffic safety called “Your Chance to Lose” at 8:30 p.m. However, Variety of May 12 reported the station had something other experimental stations did not: commercials. (That issue, it was mentioned W6XAO in Los Angeles had been given 90-day approval to air spots). W6XIS’s programming highlight was kinescope highlights, documentary films and background from the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia that began June 21 that were flown to Salt Lake City. Large newspaper ads touted the LIFE-NBC coverage that could be watched from 3 to 4 p.m. at several stores (coverage resumed from 8 to 9 p.m.).

There was a channel change. Broadcasting magazine of May 31, 1948 reported the FCC had authorised KDYL-TV to move from Channel 2 (54-60 mc) to Channel 4 (66-72 mc) and increase effective radiated power to 14.5 kw.

Nat Berlin in Variety of June 22 explained the problems the new station was dealing with.

Pioneering in Smallest Center Yet, TV Finds It Tough Going in Salt Lake
When W6XIS, KDYL’s video outlet, hit the air six weeks ago with the first of its regularly scheduled telecasts, it was pioneering in the smallest population center yet to have television broadcasts. The teeoff was accompanied by plenty of fanfare, amid the presence of the usual brass from the governor of the state down. Public interest was high, and dealers around town reported satisfactory buying of sets.
Since then, interest has dropped, and set buying has slumped along with it. Programs not up to the standards set by AM or pictures, are blamed. W6XIS is on the air three times a week for about an hour each. Programs consist of a mixture of local productions and film. The film is old stuff, considered without enough interest to keep a family’s attention, and the local programs are basically not television. They’re AM with pictures.
(Difficulties encountered by the Salt Lake City station are indicative of those found by other stations opening up throughout the country, who don’t have access to network shows originating in N. Y. Solution to the problem, according to tele officials, lies only in providing better programming fare to keep the public’s interest at the high pitch engendered by the prebroadcast ballyhoo. Otherwise they point out, the consistent dropoff in viewer interest may result in irreparable damage both to the station and to the industry in general.)
W6XIS claims it hasn’t as yet completed its setup. According to Harry Golub, director, mobile units should be available by the end of June, and when they arrive a heavier schedule of outside telecasts will be used.
Tele faces two main problems in the Salt Lake City area. Because the valley is completely surrounded by mountains, the maximum potential audience, considering present population figures, is in the neighborhood of 250,000. This limits the market. In addition this area is not known for its spending and with video sets running from about $750 up, not too many customers are going to beat a path to the dealers. Right now there are about 200 sets in operation.
With a nut of about $300,000, W6XIS will undoubtedly do something to make the current picture a lot brighter. S. S. Fox is owner and general manager.
W6XIS is operating with a small staff, headed by Golub, former theater operator and outdoor show producer. The production staff has Dan Rainger in the program slot, Keith Engar handling production, Emerson Smith announcing, and Gloria Clark taking care of scripts.

Finally, everything was in place to drop the “experimental” moniker. Broadcasting magazine reported:

KDYL-TV Salt Lake City Makes Commercial Start
COMMERCIAL operations were commenced July 7 by KDYL-TV Salt Lake City, owned and operated by The Intermountain Broadcasting Corp., on Channel 2 (54-60 mc) with an effective radiated power of 4 kw visual and 2 kw aural.
The NBC affiliate, which is said to be the first commercial video outlet between St. Louis and the Pacific Coast, has been on the air experimentally as W6XIS since last April 19. Studios are located in Television Playhouse, 68 Regent Street, and the transmitter is located atop the Walker Bank building in downtown Salt Lake City.
Personnel actively engaged in operation of KDYL-TV are S. S. Fox, president and general manager; John Baldwin, vice president and technical director; Harry Golub, television director; Allen Gunderson, chief television engineer: Dan Rainger and Keith Engar, programming and production, and Gloria Clark, film librarian.

What’s maddening today is either the station didn’t provide, or the newspapers decided not to publish, the daily programme schedule. Stories got out, however. In July, the Democratic National Convention, the Gene Autry rodeo, the Days of ’47 Parade and, on the 29th, the first baseball game from Derks Field was put on the air (for Petty Motor, your friendly Ford dealer).

It’s difficult to say when the station gave up the call-letters W6XIS. They could still be found in local newspaper stories and ads as late as April 1949. But the papers still didn’t have any listings.

Second Station For The Second City

Television got a huge boost in 1948, not only from a show that brought you a guy in drag and men who work from Maine to Mexico, but from the end of war-time restrictions on the material needed to build TV sets and the studios/transmitters that sent out programmes.

Viewers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago could tune in new stations that year. For Chicagoans, one that formally began on April 5 was WGN-TV.

Chicago had plenty to pick from back in the spinning-disc days, when the city’s U.A. Sanabria was promoting a mechanical system he developed. W9XAA (as WCFL) was put on the air in 1928. W9XAP, W9XR and W9XAO followed, but all faded away. At the end of the 1930s, what stood were W9XZV (owned by Zenith), which had a chequered history, and W9XBK (Balaban and Katz), which went commercial as WBKB.

WGN’s television story begins in late January 1944; the Chicago Tribune put WGN radio on the air in 1922. Here’s what the Trib’s radio editor wrote on Jan. 30.

W-G-N ORDERING EQUIPMENT FOR TELEVISION ERA
Preparing for Post-War Telecasting Service.
BY LARRY WOLTERS.
Looking forward to the expected era of television after the war, W-G-N Inc. has placed an order for a 40,000 watt transmitter, and filed an application for a television wave-length and construction permit with the federal communications commission in Washington. This announcement of W-G-N's intention to enter the field of visual radio was made yesterday [29] by W. E. Macfarlane, vice president of the station. The transmitter and the elaborate studio equipment for telecasting, costing more than a quarter of a million dollars, will be built by the General Electric company for delivery after the war or as soon as priorities, as determined by the war production board, permit its construction. The W-G-N television order will be the first to be filled when the company is released from production of war communications equipment in which all radio manufacturers now are exclusively engaged.
New Building Planned.
Television is to occupy an important place in the great new building which W-G-N will construct loiter the war on the site recently purchased by the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, south of Tribune Tower, fronting on Michigan avenue and overlooking the Chicago river. W-G-N announced on New Year's day plans to build the most modern and spacious radio structure in the world, costing several million dollars, as soon as wartime construction restrictions are lifted.
The new W-G-N structure, to be seven or eight stories high, will be designed to take full advantage of the expected tremendous developments in many fields of radio after the war. Besides television, these include frequency modulation [FM], the high fidelity, noise-free system of transmission; fascimile, the reproduction of printed and pictorial matter by radio, as well as in standard, or amplitude modulation [AM] radio.
Spacious Rooms Required.
Since the techniques of television in many respects resemble those of movie making more than standard broadcasting the new W-G-N building will contain large spaces suggestive of the Hollywood movie stages. Big room and high ceilings will be required to accommodate the television cameras which can be rolled about; overhead microphones on long booms, elaborate lighting equipment, and other apparatus that will be required in the new art The entire top floor of the building will be devoted to television, under plans tentatively approved.
W-G-N's order includes both video [picture] and audio [sound] transmission equipment. W-G-N also has applied for a 20,000 watt transmitter license to carry the sound portion of the television programs. The sound would be broadcast by FM, but on other wave lengths than those assigned to WGNB. W-G-N's sister FM station now in operation.
New Lights Developed.
Years of television research, speeded by discoveries and emergency developments under the impact of war will be reflected in peace-time telecasting, it is expected. General Electric has developed a mercury vapor type of watercooled lights, with intensity much the same as sunlight, which are said to overcome several of the hurdles previously confronting television.
The new lights eliminate the necessity for studio makeup, a complicated art in movie making. And the mercury lamps give out almost no heat. The incandescent lighting systems employed in other television systems are torturous to performers. The exclusive new lights, of course, will be included in the new W-G-N equipment.
W-G-N has ordered four television cameras, two equipped with telephoto lenses for handling "live talent" productions. The other two are specially designed for transmitting sound motion pictures of either 35 or 16 milimeters. [sic]
Less Light Required.
The newest television cameras require less light than demanded by movie cameras. A great deal of improvements in the character of the television images has been made in the last three years, W-G-N engineers report. The pictures are now in black and white with a good graduation between highlights and shadows.
The largest pre-war receivers showed pictures of about 12 by 15 inches; smaller models, 5 by 7 inches. Post-war screens providing for pictures of 18 by 24 inches have been promised.
Much of television's fare to date has been sound movies. Drama, musical shows, sports and news all seem to offer promise for telecasting. W-G-N directors say that such productions as the Chicago Theater of the Air operettas, when given in costume, as on Jan. 22, will lend themselves naturally to telecasting. W-G-N expects to transmit both movies and "live shows."
Experiments Lay Groundwork.
Considerable experimenting in the telecasting of drama has been done. Boxing bouts and baseball games have been fairly satisfactorily televised. Telecasts from airplanes in flight have been made. Before the war a television camera recorded a young woman's suicide leap from a skyscraper in New York. In England the telecamera recorded the action of the fanatic who broke thru police lines to lunge at King George. Comics, cartoons, theaters, movies—all appear to be within the range of television, altho staggering economic problems must be solved before these potentialities may be realized.

Little seems to have happened until September 13, 1946. Broadcasting reported WGN had amended its application to change from Channel 4 (78-84 mc.) to Channel 9 (186-192 mc.) The application was granted. Broadcasting reported in its Nov. 11, 1946 issue:

WGN Building on TV Is Started Immediately
CONSTRUCTION of transmitter facilities for WGN's new television station, granted Nov. 1 by the FCC, will get underway immediately, Carl J. Meyers, WGN director of engineering, has announced.
Transmitter will be located in the Tribune Tower, Chicago, with the antenna atop the tower, 500 feet above ground level.
Call letters for the new station have not yet been decided. With the addition of television, the Chicago Tribune climaxed 25 years in the broadcasting field during which time it has operated WGN, FM, which it began with WGNB in 1941, and facsimile broadcasting, resumed last July after experimental broadcasting in 1939.
The new station expects to be on the air by next May or June, according to Frank P. Schreiber, WGN general manager.

The Trib added, on Dec. 11, 1946:

WGNA will be the call letters of W-G-N’s new sister television station, Frank P. Schreiber, W-G-N general manager, announced yesterday. The use of the call letters was authorized by the federal communications commission in Washington, D. C. W-G-N’s frequency modulation station has the call letters WGNB assigned to it. W-G-N’s mobile transmitter, which has been operating under the call WONA has been assigned WGNM.
WGNA will telecast on channel 9 (196-192 megacycles) with an effective video (sight) power of 18.1 kilowatts and an audio (sound) power at 11 kilowatts, Carl J. Meyers, director of W-G-N engineering announced. The new television station expects to be programming by next May or June after necessary cameras and other equipment, flow on order, are delivered. Preliminary construction work is already proceeding, Meyers said. WGNA’s transmitter will be located on the 29th floor of Tribune tower. The antenna structure will be placed atop Tribune tower, rising 505 feet above street level.

A projected air date was set, and the Tribune of Jan. 18, 1948 announced the call-letters had changed.

PLAN WGN-TV PROGRAMS TO BEGIN MARCH 1
Video Station to Cost $500,000
BY LARRY WOLTERS
W-G-N's new television station will be on the air with test patterns around Feb. 1 and regular programs will start by or before March 1, Frank P. Schreiber, manager of W-G-N, Inc., announced yesterday. The television station, which will bear the call letters WGN-TV, will be located atop the Daily News building, 400 W. Madison st., pending completion of the Centennial building adjoining Tribune tower.
WGN-TV will occupy studio and office space on the 24th, 25th and 26th floors at 400 W. Madison. The transmitter is being installed on the 26th floor. A mast will be erected atop the building to which the antenna structure, rising 427 feet above street level, will be attached.
Plan Program Schedule
“Employing the extensive facilities of W-G-N we here begun developing a well rounded program schedule for WGN-TV,” Schreiber said. “This schedule will include studio and remote originations, films and news events—both on the spot and newsreel features to be included in the latter.”
The investment in WGN-TV by the time it has launched a regular telecasting schedule will run to about a half million dollars,” Schreiber said. Originally assigned the call letters WCNA, the station will be identified as WGN-TV under a recent FCC ruling providing that all video stations shall have the letters TV added to some combination of three or four letters.
Assigned To Channel 9
WGN-TV will operate on channel 9, occupying the 186-192 megacycle band. Its programs will greatly enlarge the program availability for the 14,000 television set owners in the Chicago area limited up to now to the offerings of WBKB, operating on channel 4.
While WGN-TV is testing its equipment, teleset owners during February will have an opportunity to have their receivers checked by service men, Carl J. Meyers, director of engineering of W-G-N, pointed out. Many antenna installations were made with reference only to pickup of WBKB and some adjustments may have to be made to get the best reception from WGN-TV. A test pattern is merely a pictorial or graphic station identification on a slide. "It shows no action, but it is sufficient to guide men in making any needed adjustments.
Best Of Equipment
The WGN-TV installation includes the newest and best in camera, transmitter and studio equipment and facilities. General offices will be located on the 24th floor. Two studios, master control and studio control rooms, a work-shop, property and dressing rooms and some additional office space are provided on the 25th floor. Besides the transmitter the 26th floor will accommodate a projection room for 16 and 55 milimeter [sic] movies and for slides; a music library, and some added studio space.
The main studio is a commodious room 40 by 50 feet. The smaller studio is 12 by 16 feet.
A complete mobile transmission unit will be delivered to WGN-TV Feb. 10, Meyers said. This car will be used to relay sports shows and special events from points of origination to the main transmitter where they will be put on the air for viewers.
Meanwhile the American Broadcasting company and the National Broadcasting company announced that they will be on the air with additional television stations in Chicago. ABC's station is expected to be in operation in early August; NBC's on Sept. 1. Thus, Chicago televiewers may have four video stations available by fall.

Incidentally, a story in the Jan. 25 Tribune mentioned W9XZV was “on the air from time to time.”

Wolters reported on Feb. 2 that “WGN-TV will go on the air with test patterns next week.” On Feb. 17, his column mentioned “W-G-N’s new television station has been on the air with test patterns” but they didn’t appear on a regular basis until March 3, 1948. The Tribune story that day:

WGN-TV TO BEGIN VIDEO PATTERN TESTING TODAY
BY LARRY WOLTERS
W-G-N's new television station, today will begin a regular schedule of test pattern transmissions to enable video service men to make adjustments on sets and antennae to receive the station properly.
WGN-TV will operate on channel 9 on the 186-192 megacycle band. WBKB, the Balaban and Katz station, operates on channel 4 on the 66-72 megacycle band. Many telesets now in operation may require servicing to insure proper reception when WGN-TV begins regular operations in a few weeks.
Detects Flaws Better
The test pattern transmission will be telecast daily from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. The pattern is made up of a series of lines, circles, and shaded areas with a small Indian head at the top. Such a design provides a more critical means of detecting difficulties than a picture because the black lines against a light background show flaws and distortions more clearly.
The viewer may encounter “ghosts.” Thus, if he sees ten shadowy circles instead of one, or duplication of the lines instead of a clean-cut pattern, adjustments are indicated. Often service men can make adjustments on the direction of the antenna to eliminate the shadows. However, sometimes different settings may have to be made in the telesets themselves.
No Motion Shows
Test patterns, unlike regular television programs, have no motion or action in them. They are like a slide film.
The first scheduled WGN-TV telecast is scheduled for Friday evening [5] when a crew of engineers will set up special equipment to cover the Golden Gloves finals. This telecast will start at 8 p.m.

Columnist Wolters waited until March 14 to write about reception of the boxing telecast.

WGN-TV URGES FANS TO HAVE SETS ADJUSTED
Report Varied Reception on 1st Telecast
BY LARRY WOLTERS
The family and a few friends had gathered about the television receiver to watch WGN-TV do its first scheduled telecast—the Golden Gloves finals. The test pattern came in fine. But when the engineers switched to Chicago Stadium we got only the pictures—not Jack Brickhouse's voice. No amount of tinkering with knobs would bring in the sound.
We hurried over to a neighbor's house. They were getting good pictures (on a different brand set) and also the excellent commentary of Brickhouse. Next we called on another neighbor who has a set exactly like ours. He was getting swell pictures. Also Mr. B.
Our experience wasn't unusual. WGN-TV engineers got more than 300 calls from teleset owners that evening. Many calls came in congratulating the station on the excellence of the pictures and sound. Among these was one from a viewer in Crystal Lake, 47 miles out, who reported good reception and another from a looker at Kenanee, 140 miles away, who got faint reception (He shouldn't have expected anything at all at that distance!).
Many Have Problems
Many callers complained that they weren't getting any sound but were getting pictures, and vice versa. Others got nothing at all. This reaction was in line with the expectations of WGN-TV engineers. All who called were advised that their receivers and antennas might require adjustments by service men before they could expect to receive WGN-TV signals clearly. Many expressed complete surprise that such measures are indicated when a new station comes on the air.
Some unfortunate teleset owners telephoned that they couldn't even find channel 9 (assigned to WGN-TV). Some persons reported their sets had only five or seven channels marked on the dial. WGN-TV engineers explained that these sets are obsolete. They were manufactured before the federal communications commission allocated 13 channels for commercial television. Seven channels ultimately will be assigned to Chicago.
Blames The Station
One irate televiewer in Glencoe, a suburb from which WGN-TV had received several reports of excellent reception, refused to believe that his set might need adjustment. He told an operator that he had a brand new $1,000 set and it was obvious to him that the trouble must lie with WGN-TV's transmission. Despite assurance that no matter how expensive a set night be, it still might require some antenna modification. The caller indignantly banged down the phone.
Since the night of the Golden Gloves WGN-TV has received hundreds of calls and postcards inquiring what to do to get ready for WGN-TV's regular programs when they come on. The official opening date is Monday, April 5 Before this opening WGN-TV engineers urge all teleset owners who have not done so already to tune in the station's test pattern and sound any day between 10 and noon or between 2 and 4 p.m. and then report the results to their service man.
Some May Be Okay
Many teleset owners will not be able to obtain satisfactory reception from WGN-TV until the proper adjustments are made by competent service men.
Other set owners may find their installations okay. One antenna company installed its serials on telesets in five widely scattered sections of the metropolitan area from Mundelein to the south side. These aerials were adjusted to WBKB and when the sets were tuned to WGN-TV excellent reception was reported from all locations.

There was another test, but only of the closed circuit kind, later in the month, as reported on March 24.

WGN-TV GIVES PREVIEW OF SIX KINDS OF SHOWS
1,200 Attend Half Hour Demonstration
BY LARRY WOLTERS
More than 1,200 television retailers and manufacturers were treated to a preview of WGN-TV's telecasts last night [23] in the Sheraton hotel at a meeting sponsored by THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE. WGN-TV is to start regular programming Monday, April 5.
During a 30 minute demonstration, piped exclusively to the meeting and not transmitted to the public, the television people viewed on a 9 by 12 foot screen samples of six types of programs to be carried by WGN-TV. These included a marionette show, a vocal quintet, a sports film with Jack Brickhouse as narrator, a feature for homemakers, a dancer, and a video newsreel. There also was a dramatic showing of a dealer's show room, with the manager and a salesman discussing television merchandising technique.
Outline WGN-TV Plans
Frank P. Schreiber, manager of W-G-N, and Carl J. Meyers, director of engineering, outlined the plans for WGN-TV. Vernon Brooks, operations manager, read a greeting from Mayor Kennelly.
Tribune representatives told the television men how to utilize the newspapers' promotion ideas, complete with banners, pennants, and special displays.
The speakers included Paul Fulton, Edward Tukey, Pilchard Swank, and Philip Cooper. Don Nightingale served as chairman.
Urge Sets Be Checked
Further details about WGN-TV's programs are to be announced Sunday, April 4. Meanwhile, WGN-TV engineers again urged all television receiver owners who have not had their sets checked to do so. Test patterns and sound are transmitted daily from 10 to 3 p.m. over WGN-TV to enable service men to get receivers and antennae into alignment to insure the best possible pictures.
In the meantime, the station made two huge programming deal. The first was reported on March 8, the next the following day.

WGN-TV WILL TELECAST CUB HOME GAMES
Boon to Game, Says Wrigley
BY LARRY WOLTERS
The first move by WGN-TV to provide full coverage of major sports to Chicago area televiewers was made yesterday [7] with the announcement that W-G-N's new television station will carry all home games of the Chicago Cubs this season. The announcement was made by Philip K. Wrigley, president of the Cubs, and Frank P. Schreiber, treasurer of W-G-N, Inc.
The first Cub game to be played before WGN-TV cameras will be the home opener against St. Louis in Wrigley field on Friday, April 23.
Stimulates Attendance
“As pioneers in the televising of baseball games as they were in the radio broadcasting of baseball,” said Wrigley, “the Chicago Cubs are happy to have WGN-TV telecasting the Cubs home games from Wrigley field this year.
“The Cubs are gratified that the televising of baseball games, which we inaugurated from Wrigley field, is not meeting with the resistance that greeted the pioneer efforts in radio broadcasting we inaugurated in 1925.
“For many years there was a suspicion among baseball people that broadcasting would hurt attendance at ball games. Now, of course, everyone recognizes that radio broadcasting has been a potent factor in stimulating baseball attendance.”
Expects Similar Effect
Wrigley expressed the view that telecasting will have a similar effect on the box office.
“We are confident that television, handled with imagination and understanding,” he said, “will bring baseball closer to vast numbers of Americans, and will result eventually in bringing many more persons to ball parks, to get a closeup, personal view of the dramatic scenes and colorful characters they become acquainted with on the television screens.”
Schreiber said that WGN-TV will have the newest in camera equipment at Wrigley field, assuring fans excellent pictures of the action on the diamond.
Jack Brickhouse will give the commentary. Brickhouse was recently appointed sports service manager for W-G-N, WGN-TV, and WGNB.

WGN WGN-TV TO TELECAST SOX HOME GAMES
Exclusive Tieup Revealed
BY LARRY WOLTERS
The White Sox baseball games, for the first time, will be televised this season. The entire home schedule will be presented exclusively over WGN-TV, new television station of W-G-N. This announcement was made yesterday [8] by Leslie M. O'Connor, general manager of the White Sox, and Frank P. Schreiber, treasurer of W-G-N. Inc.
This deal with the White Sox will make WGN-TV the first television station in the nation to offer a complete 154 game schedule of major league baseball. It was announced Sunday that WGN-TV would telecast the home games of the Chicago Cubs.
The arrangement to telecast the White Sox games marks a change in the club's policy regarding television. The deal, also, will bring a new experience to Chicago tele-viewers—the first opportunity to see big league night games thru television cameras. WGN-TV will telecast all of the 21 night games—the first with the Philadelphia Athletics on May 25.
Televise Spring Series
Televiewers will get their first look at both teams in the annual spring series. The Cubs and Sox will meet April 16 and 18 at Wrigley field and April 17 in Comiskey park. The first regular Sox game to be televised will be the season opener against the Detroit Tigers on April 20.
“We are looking forward with a great deal of interest to our entrance in television,” said O'Connor. “We are happy that the games can be made available, especially to people in hospitals who are unable to attend in person.”
Brickhouse At Microphone
Jack Brickhouse, sports service manager for W-G-N, Inc., will be at the microphone for the Sox telecasts. Brickhouse formerly broadcast baseball on W-G-N and spent the 1946 season reporting the Giants games over a New York station.

Monday, April 5, 1948, WGN-TV finally went on the air. To be honest, too much of it sounds like radio. There was an awful lot of talk with one message—gee, aren’t WGN and the Tribune great?

100,000 SEE GALA DEBUT OF WGN-TV
Hail ‘Television Adventure’
BY RITA FITZPATRICK
History was in the making last night [5], and thousands of Chicagoans were part of it. Not long ago, people said it couldn't happen.
Hundreds gathered in flood-lighted W-G-N studio theater and an estimated 100,000 men and women clustered around 16,000 telesets in homes and retail establishments for the official premiere and dedication program of Chicago's newest television station, WGN-TV.
There were men and women who remembered when "flickers" were new; others who had shaken their heads in disbelief when music first came out of the air because of a needle and a crystal. Among them, too, were folks who had scoffed at the idea that men and women on a movie screen could be heard. There were others who had exclaimed, “It can't be done,” when visionary men began to try to send pictured motion thru the air.
Distant Screens Come Alive
But last night, with the speed of light, a stellar program was flashed in all its sparkling beauty to screens as far away as 45 miles, WGN-TV's first “live” broadcast, “WGN-TV Salute to Chicago.” When he first began to envision such a night as last, Col. Robert R. McCormick, editor and publisher of THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE and president of W-G-N, Inc., termed it “an experiment and an adventure.” “Since this is a pioneering venture, I should like to record my own feelings in having a part in it,” he said last night in a speech delivered for him by John Mallow, noted radio reporter. (Col. McCormick was prevented from attending the dedication because of a cold.) The pioneer, of course, sought new lands, new opportunities, new wealth, and a finer future. But he also sought something else. And that something was not material. The pioneer sought new scenes and new horizons.
Invited To Share Adventure
“He felt that in casting off the old he was adventuring toward something more splendid and more spacious. He marked out the trail, not only for himself, but for others. He went among the first, and there was high adventure in his going.
“It is this feeling of adventure that I would communicate to you. In television we have embarked upon another of America's adventures. Come along with us! Let us share the adventure together.” This pioneering on the part of Col. McCormick and his associates in W-G-N, Inc., was warmly lauded by three men who realize the great service WGN-TV can give to the public—Sen. Brooks, Gov. Green, and Mayor Kennelly. The three public officials appeared before the television cameras with ease and naturalness at the beginning of the show.
Hail Service To Public
Sen. Brooks saluted Col. McCormick as one of “the greatest living Americans" and pointed out the many services THE TRIBUNE and W-G-N, Inc., have performed. Mayor Kennelly emphasized how much a major television station, such as WGN-TV, will do for Chicago, and the great influence it will exert.
“In these exciting times as we witness the development of television,” Gov. Green stated, “citizens of Illinois can welcome the advent of station WGN-TV as a manifestation of the role their state is playing in the perfection of this new communication form. As governor, and on behalf of the citizens of Illinois, I wish the fullest measure of success to Chicago's new television station, WGN-TV.”
It looked as the the governor's wish would come true. From, the very first to the end of the two hour program, it was good theater. Hollywood style, celebrities among the “first nighters” were interviewed and televised in the lobby of W-G-N studio theater as they entered.
Celebrities Interviewed
There were plenty of them, among them such stage lovelies as Jan Sterling and Fay McKenzie, both appearing as leading ladies in hit comedies here. Jack Brickhouse, W-G-N, Inc., sports service manager, was the genial interviewer.
Except for the dedicatory service, in which tiny Patricia Ann Murray, 7, of 830 N. Massasoit av., appeared as the spirit of WGN-TV and promised to “grow and grow,” the show could sell have been a variety bill of the old days at the Palace. There was lots of action, beautiful dancers, ventriloquists, fancy roller skaters, impersonators, animals, and comedians specializing in visual comic effect. It seems that vaudeville isn't dead after all.
Tito Guizar, handsome troubadour, who has made a hit on stage and screen, looked and sounded like a natural for television. “Two Ton” Baker, a great favorite on W-G-N, looked twice as big on WGN-TV. For the first time in Chicago, viewers saw a full scale orchestra and chorus on television. Bruce Foote, Chicago Theater of the Air star, was soloist and Robert Trendler, director.
Best of all, Larry Wolters, radio editor of THE TRIBUNE, reported that reception of the show had been excellent.
So the cameras whirred and out into the night, in rain and fog, went pictures and sound together. “The experiment,” as Col. McCormick had called it, was a success.

Here’s the first week of programming, with an in-depth rundown of Sunday’s offerings.

MONDAY, APRIL 5
7:45—Launching of station WGN-TV, with Jack Brickhouse interviewing celebrities. 8:00—“WGN-TV Salute to Chicago,” with talks by Col. Robert R. McCormick, Gov. Green and Mayor Kennelly.

TUESDAY, APRIL 6
2:00—Newsreel. 2:10—Woman Speaks. 2:20—News. 2:30—At Home with Barbara Barclay. 5:00—Wonder House, television show for children with Dick (Two Ton) Baker. 7:30—Scrapbook. 8:00—Newsreel. 8:10—Weather predictions. 8:15—Sportsman’s Corner. 8:30-10:00—Feature film: “It Happened Tomorrow,” with Dick Powell and Linda Darnell.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
2:00—Newsreel. 2:10—Film. 2:20—News. 2:30—At Home with Barbara Barclay. 5:00—Wonder House, television show for children with Dick (Two Ton) Baker. 7:30—Stephen Foster Melodies. 7:50—Film. 8:00—Newsreel. 8:10—Weather predictions. 8:15—Sportsman’s Corner. 8:30—Highlights of Notre Dame-S. Cal. Football game. 9:15—Teleades.

THURSDAY, APRIL 8
2:00—Newsreel. 2:10—Woman Speaks. 2:20—News. 2:30—At Home with Barbara Barclay. 5:00—Wonder House, television show for children with Dick (Two Ton) Baker. 7:30—Travel Guide. 8:00—Newsreel. 8:10—Weather predictions. 8:15—Sportsman’s Corner. 8:30—Wrestling from Madison Athletic Club, with Jack Brickhouse.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9
2:00—Newsreel. 2:10—Short Subject film. 2:20—News. 2:30—At Home with Barbara Barclay. 5:00—Wonder House, television show for children with Dick (Two Ton) Baker. 7:30—Variety Show. 8:00—Newsreel, local and national news. 8:10—Weather predictions. 8:15—Sportsman’s Corner. 8:30—Film. 9:00—Boxing from Madison Athletic Club, with Jack Brickhouse.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10
5:00—Film, “Secret Valley” with George O’Brien. 7:50—News. 8:00—Newsreel, local and national news. 8:10—Water Polo Championships.
WGN-TV will televise the semi-final and national A.A.U. water polo championship matches tonight in the Illinois Athletic Club pool starting at 8:10 o’clock. The Central A.A.U. 3 meter high board diving event will be telecast between the completion of the semi-final water polo matches and the start of the title contest. Illinois A.C., Northwestern, University of Illinois, Town club, and Lake Shoe A.C. divers will be seen in action. Jack Brickhouse will do the commentary.

SUNDAY, APRIL 11
6:30—Pump Room Show. 7:00—Music Corner. 7:30—Minor Opinions. 8:00—Newsreel, local and national news. 8:25—Global Glimpses. 8:45—Cross Questions.
WGN-TV, Chicago's newest television station, which began regular programming last Monday, will offer its first Sunday schedule today. Until the baseball season opens WGN-TV will be on the air Sundays only during the evening hours.
For the present the evening schedule will run from 6:30 to 9:15 p. m. The schedule opens with a *first* for WGN-TV as well as for metropolitan televiewers—Sunday Night at the Pump room. Lee Bennett, WGN-TV singer and master of ceremonies, will be on hand to introduce televiewers to Host Ernie Byfield.
Cameras will be trained on celebrities and well known guests at this gustatory and entertainment rendezvous.
Quiz School Kids
“Music Corner,” a film, will run for the half hour starting at 7 o'clock. This will be followed by a juvenile show (expected to interest parents, too) called Minor Opinions. A panel of Chicago school children will offer some refreshing and candid comments on current events and public issues.
At 8 p.m. the WGN-TV Newsreel will be presented. This will be a review of the week's news. The Newsreel is assembled and edited by an eight-man staff headed by Spencer Allen. A United Press news period follows at 8:15 p.m.
From 8:25 to 8:45 Sunday nights WGN-TV is to telecast a series of movies titled Global Glimpses. The first one is a documentary titled “Small Town, U.S.A.” Sub-sequent shows will take viewers to many points around the world.
Plan Bar Program
At 8:45 WGN-TV will introduce Cross Questions, a new kind of ad lib show featuring two members of the Chicago Bar association each week. A legal problem will be presented to the two lawyers. One will be designated for prosecution, the other for defense. Witnesses will be introduced, and an unrehearsed trial will be conducted.
A guest *jury* each week will decide the winner.
After the baseball season starts WGN-TV will telecast both the home games of the Cubs and the White Sox. The first Sunday baseball telecast will be the Cubs-Sox city series next Sunday. (Larry Wolters column)

Texas Tee-Vee

The distinction of the first city in Texas to have TV sets beaming signals into its homes was Fort Worth. Take that, Dallas!

The owner of radio station WBAP and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram decided to expand into the television business. We’ll use the paper’s files to follow the story.

On May 12, 1946, it announced:

WASHINGTON, May 11—The Federal Communications Commission Friday accepted an application of Carter Publications, Inc., of Fort Worth, requesting permission to construct a new commercial television broadcast system to cover 5,000 square miles.

It didn’t take very long for the FCC to act. This story is from June 22.

WBAP Given Permit for Television
Carter Publications Friday [21] obtained a permit giving Fort Worth the first television station in the Southwest—one with sufficient power to cover all of Tarrant and Dallas Counties.
The permit granted by the Federal Communications Commission in Washington calls for 30.4 kilowatts power, one of the biggest power allocations made in the nation and approximately equivalent to 100.000 watts power in conventional broadcasting equipment.
The station, which is planned to be in operation within one year and in time for next year's baseball and football games, will operate on Channel 5, the center channel and generally considered most desirable for television reception.
Televising will be done from a 500-foot antenna to be located in the Meadowbrook area near White Lake Dairy and five miles east of Main and Seventh Sts. The station's call letters have not been assigned.
Fort Worth is among fortunate inland cities which will have early television facilities since it is located on the American Telephone and Telegraph Company's new coaxial transcontinental cable. Many cities, including Kansas City and St. Louis, are not served by the cable.

The station received the call letters KCPN.

It took a while to sort out some things. A building permit for the station’s transmitter wasn’t issued until August 27, 1947.

The call letters were changed. Television Digest of November 29, 1947 reports:

Six-letter calls received FCC blessing this week, when it permitted Scripps-Howard’s TV and FM stations in Cleveland to be known officially as WEWS-TV and WEWS-FM — even though stations have no AM. Practice of using “TV” or “FM” after AM call letters has grown in popularity during past year. Most recent changes in TV field were Ft. Worth Star-Telegram's WBAP-TV and Baltimore Sun’s WMAR-TV. Previously, non-AM grantees had to use 4-letter combinations, without TV or FM tag.

Football is big in Texas. Baseball has its fans in the state. The station started lining up play-by-play broadcasts as it set a date to get on the air. The Star-Telegram, May 16, 1948:

The [Texas Tech] faculty committee approved a one-year experimental contract with the Humble Oil & Refining Company, holder of radio rights for football, for television broadcasts through WBAP (TV), Fort Worth.

The Star-Telegram, June 3, 1948:

Television Station May Open Sept. 15
Plans Being Made To Put Some Dixie Ball Games on Air
Fort Worth's television station, WBAP-TV, should be on the air about Sept. 15, Harold V. Hough, director of WBAP-TV, told the Advertising Club Wednesday [2] at the Blackstone Hotel.
Plans are being made for putting some of the Dixie Series baseball games on the air if Fort Worth is in the series, he said.
The first football game to be televised in Texas is scheduled from TCU Stadium Saturday night, Oct. 2, between TCU and Arkansas. Some high school games from Farrington Field are to be shown also.
Television transcriptions will be used to bring major network programs from New York and Hollywood to Fort Worth, Hough said, until such time as the coast-to-coast coaxial cable is ready.
Television is a medium with ''terrific impact" he told the advertising men and advised them to begin studying now how to adapt their clients' needs to the new medium.
An 18-minute television sound film of Toscannini directing the NBC Symphony in the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was shown after Hough’s talk.

The same paper, June 20:

Assembly Work to Start On Television Transmitter
Assembly of the Southwest's first television transmitter, which will bring "video" to the Fort Worth-Dallas area on or about Sept. 15, will start Monday [21] at the new $1,500,000 radio center being constructed by Station WBAP in the Meadowbrook area.
Fort Worth's first frequency modulation station, also being erected at the center, will go on the air shortly thereafter.
The 502-foot tower for the television and frequency modulation antennas will be completed within two weeks.
The sprawling two-story radio center, the largest and most modern in the Southwest, also will house WBAP's standard band stations—WBAP-820 and WBAP-570 —in its nine studios and 400-seat auditorium, located just north of Meadowbrook Dr., three miles east of downtown Fort Worth.
First unit of the center, a one-story building for film laboratories, engineering worshops [sic] and garage space for the mobile television equipment that will pick up events from any spot in Fort Worth and Dallas, already has been finished and workmen are speeding to completion the second unit, containing the television transmitter room and one studio.
The third and fourth units, containing offices, studios, control rooms and the auditorium, will increase the total floor space in the radio center to 74,570 square feet.
All WRAP operations—WBAP-TV, WRAP-FM, WBAP-820 and WBAP-570—will be housed at the center, although the standard transmitters at Arlington and Grapevine will remain at their present sites.
WBAP-TV will go on the air for an as yet undisclosed number of hours each broadcast day with Texas League baseball games, Southwest Conference football games, the finest television films now available, special event and spot news coverage and other features.
Its reception will include all the metropolitan areas of Fort Worth and Dallas, and engineers guess that due to terrain and the use of the best transmitting equipment now made WBAP-TV may be picked up as far distant as Waco and Wichita Falls.
The huge tower, held aloft by three cables each anchored in 100 tons of concrete, was designed to be increased in height to 800 feet if necessary.
The television station, for which planning was started by WBAP officials more than three years ago, was designed by Joe Pelich. Thomas S. Byrne is the contractor.
The station found other ways to fill air time, as this wire service story shows:

WBAP-TV Is First to Sign Dual Network
NEW YORK, July 16 (AP).— The first dual network affiliation of a television station has been signed by WBAP-TV of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, which expects to open in September.
First to announce the station's affiliation was ABC. Then NBC said it also had signed. Neither network, however, in reporting the development, gave any indication that the other also was interested.
This double (maybe even triple) affiliation trend, apparently is to become more general in television than it has, in radio, where it prevails only in a few instances. This would be due largely to the limitation in the number of stations in immediate prospect. At the same time it would permit wider selection of programs by the local station.
Eastern stations now served direct by network relay already have begun to carry programs from more than one network, but so far primarily under a "gentleman's agreement." As a rule they affiliate only with one network although taking programs from others.
WBAP-TV will be served by the two networks on a non-relay basis until facilities are ready for the southwest.

RCA dealers came to town on July 20 and were entertained with what the Star-Telegram called “the first television presentation by WBAP-TV.” That’s only technically correct as the string band being broadcast “was fed by a WBAP television truck into the RCA demonstration sets in the hotel’s Keystone Room. It was closed circuit affair. Carter Publications v-p Harold V. Hough described some of the coming programming:

Football broadcasts planned by the station include TUC-Oklahoma, SMU-TCU, Texas-Oklahoma, the Cotton Bowl and Fort Worth high school games, Hough stated.
News coverage by the eyewitness broadcasts will include all outstanding events within a 100-mile radius of Fort Worth.
Arrangements already have been completed for a week-night “theater club” when the station will broadcast a series of film epics, Hough said.
Top stage attractions can be televised in Fort Worth a day after showing in New York by a special film process which has been perfected.

More from the Star-Telegram on football, and a date to sign on, Aug. 6, 1948:

Four Frog Grid Games Here to Be Televised
TCU's four home football games this fall will be televised by WBAP-TV under sponsorship of the Humble Oil & Refining Company, George Cranston, WBAP manager, disclosed Thursday [5].
Humble's regular sportsmaster, Kern Tips, will provide commentary for the games scheduled at TCU stadium, beginning with the Southwest Conference fracas with Arkansas Oct. 2.
Other contests to be offered video customers include: Oct. 23, Oklahoma University; Oct. 30, Baylor; and Nov. 13, University of Texas.
WBAP-TV is pioneering the new medium in the Southwest and will be the only television station of the area in operation this fall. WBAP-TV expects to begin operation about Sept. 29.

Another football sponsor. From the Star-Telegram, Aug. 15, 1948:

Armchair quarterbacks came into their own last week when Leonard’s Department Store signed contracts for televising Fort Worth high school football over WBAP-TV. The television station will make home games regular Thursday, Friday and Saturday features after it goes on the air about Sept. 29.

That favourite of 1940s and ’50 television, “Test Pattern” was about to debut. The paper reported the previous day, Sept. 14:

First Television Tests to Be Made Here Tomorrow
Television set owners in the Fort Worth area will have the first opportunity to test their sets Wednesday [15] when television station WBAP-TV goes on the air with patterns from 11 a. m. until noon and from 4 to 5 p. m.
Tests will consists of a stationary artist's design with WBAP-TV call letters and "Channel 5" worked in, accompanied by a musical background. Station management emphasized that this is not a television program.
The announcement was made by R. C. Stinson, the station's director of engineering. The Federal Communications Commission granted permission for the tests Saturday.
Dealers will be able to adjust TV sets for best reception. Actual program on the Southwest's first television station will begin on WBAP-TV Day, Sept. 29.
Commercials for Humble Oil & Refining Company, sponsor of televised Southwest Conference football games, were shot last week. An aid to sports telecasts, the Zoomar lens, was installed last week on a station camera. The $7,500 lens enables the camera to "zoom" in and out on an object.
Work on the television section of the new radio center in east Fort Worth is nearing completion. Roofs now are on the three studios. The transmitter is wired and connected to the 502-foot transmission tower.

As you might expect from a Star-Telegram paper, it raved about the test pattern sent out by its radio station the following day, September 16.

Television Tests Draw Acclaim From Big Area
A new era in entertainment for the Southwest was heralded Wednesday [15] in Fort Worth of the region’s first telecast.
Beamed from the station’s partially completed plan at 3900 Barnett was a test pattern with a musical background. The pattern was received in Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton, Waxahachie and McKinney, officials announced in reporting success of the test.
WBAP-TV's initial test patterns, which began ... at 11:21 a. m. [and continued through the afternoon,] have been an outstanding success with reported good reception as far away as De Leon, 87 air miles away. Carl Simpson reported the reception in De Leon. He was using an extended antenna. ...
These preliminary reports were received by telephone and telegrams Wednesday by station management and set distributors.
Ordinary good coverage by stations operating in the East run between 35 and 40 miles radius. From all indications, WBAP-TV will outstrip this average.
The test pattern consists of a stationary picture with a musical background. Programs are slated to begin Sept. 29.
Wednesday's transmission of the test pattern was the first telecast to be aired south of St. Louis. It will be on the air daily from 11 a. m. to noon and from 4 to 5 p. m. up until and after the station goes on the air with programs.
Television for the Southwest has arrived.

The paper previewed its programming in its Sept. 17 edition.

WBAP-TV Will Launch Outstanding Television Program September 29
An outstanding television program line-up covering sports, drama, variety, news and special events will be launched by WBAP-TV on Sept. 29 to an estimated 1,000 set owners in Fort Worth and Dallas.
With successful test pattern airings under way and good reception assured, this audience, averaging four to six persons to a set, will be enjoying the pleasures of a medium entirely new to the Southwest.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights they will see and hear all high school football games played in Fort Worth. Gridiron plays will be brought into sharp scrimmage-line focus by television cameras. In many instances "viewers" will see much more than if they were at the game in person.
On Saturdays, all TCU home games will be televised. If the game is played at night it will supersede the high school football game. On Oct. 9 WBAP-TV will televise the University of Texas-University of Oklahoma game in Dallas.
Wednesday night on WBAP-TV is family night, featuring full length Alexander Korda pictures. The "Scarlet Pimpernel," starring Merle Oberon and Leslie Howard, will be transmitted on opening night.
In addition, there will be film-recorded local newscasts of headline events. National newscasts also are being considered. Special events such as the Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show & Rodeo will be televised.
Ever-popular children's shows and variety programs will have a place on WBAP-TV's schedule.
NBC and ABC top network programs shown in the East will be filmed by a special "kinescope" method and flown into Fort Worth for telecasting.

The station then had a stroke of really good luck. They were able to televise an unexpected guest—no less a person than the President of the United States. The Star-Tribune reported on Sep. 21, 1948:

WBAP-TV Will Televise Truman's Visit Sept. 27 President Truman's visit to Fort Worth Monday, Sept. 27, will be televised by WBAP-TV, Harold Hough, director of the station, said Monday [20]. The telecast, the Southwest's first, will be a prelude to WBAP-TV Day, Sept. 29, when actual programing will begin.
Truman is also scheduled for a radio address that will originate over WBAP-820 and be carried by numerous Texas radio stations and networks. Both telecasts and broadcasts are scheduled for 2 p. m., when Truman's train is due in Fort Worth.
Meanwhile, activity at the new television plant is at a peak. WBAP-TV's test pattern has been increased to run from 10 a. m. to noon and from 3 p. M. to 5 p. m. Monday through Saturday. This was done to expedite set installation service, now in full swing in both Fort Worth and Dallas.
Technical tests will be made at Farrington Field this week during high school football games. First chance for viewers to see and hear a game through the new medium will be Friday. Oct. 1, when Paschal clashes with Amarillo. Leonard's Department Store is the sponsor.
The game will be picked up on-the-spot by a WBAP-TV mobile unit, transmitted to the top of the Fort Worth National Bank Building and relayed to the main plant by a micro-wave transmitter. Despite this intricate procedure, set owners will receive the action almost instantaneously.

The Sept. 23 issue of the paper unveiled programming for the first week.

WBAP-TV Premiere Will Begin at 7 P. M. Sept. 29
WBAP-TV's premiere telecast on Sept. 29 will be a three and one-half hour program beginning at 7 p. m.
The program will be opened by Amon Carter. Harold Hough, station director, will make the introduction. George Cranston, station manager, will present R. C. Stinson, director of engineering; Seymour C. Andrews, program director, and Robert Gould, chief producer.
An NBC dedicatory program will be presented at 7:10 p. m. followed by "The Flying X Ranch-boys" at 7:40 p. m. The main feature, Alexander Korda's “The Scarlet Pimpernel," starring Merle Oberon and Leslie Howard will go on the air at 8 p. m. It has a running time of one hour and 40 minutes and will be presented by W. C. Stripling Company.
From 9:40 to 9:50 p. m., an NBC newscast will go on the air. After the newscast there will be a 20-minute picture comedy. A local newscast beginning at 10:10 will round out the program.
WBAP-TV will be off the air Sept. 30, returning on Friday to show the Paschal-Amarillo football game. The T. C. U.—Arkansas game will be televised the next night.
The Oct. 3 schedule will begin at 6 p. m. with a special "kinescope" picture of Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's “Ninth Symphony." The program will last an hour and a half and will be followed by English moving pictures. "Tom Brown's School Days," starring Freddie Bartholomew, is scheduled at 8 p. m. and will conclude Sunday's schedule.
After the first week, WBAP-TV, will be on the air approximately four hours a night, Wednesday through Sunday.

President Truman arrived in Fort Worth on September 27, two days before WBAP’s official sign on. The station’s mobile unit was ready. The Star-Tribune had different stories for the morning and evening editions the next day. We’ve combined them.

PRELUDE TO PREMIERE
President Truman Seen On First Telecast Here
Two muffled rings on a portable telephone in WBAP-TV'S unit Monday [27] gave the signal to from Fort Worth and Dallas were start the Southwest's first television program—President Truman's Fort Worth appearance.
At the control panels inside the unit there was a moment of silence, broken sharply by Director Larry DuPont's, "We're on the air."
From different vantage points, Cameramen John Smith, Bill Laurtizen and Marion Crawford swung into action. The first picture seen by set owners was a crowd shot, taken a short distance west of the speaker's platform. The telecast went on the air at 1:58 p.m. and for the next 49 minutes gave viewers a complete coverage of all the action. President Truman first appeared on the screen at 2:18 p. m. as he come out of the west entrance of the station and mounted the speaker's platform. The last shot showed the president waving to the crowd from the rear seat of the automobile taking him to Dallas.
The success of this first telecast was never left in doubt. Congratulatory messages and wires from Fort Worth and Dallas were still coming in late Monday. The telecast was a prelude to WBAP-TV's premiere which be-gins at 7 p. m. Wednesday.
Telecast of Truman Seen For 30 Miles
Persons sitting in their homes 30 miles away saw President Truman Monday [27] before the main crowd at T&P Terminal had its first glimpse of him.
The WBAP-TV television unit did the trick with a camera perched atop the terminal.
With its broad view of the entire terminal area, the camera enabled WBAP-TV to telecast Truman's walk from the train. Only the official welcoming committee and a small part of the crowd was at that scene. The main crowd was out of sight on the far side of the terminal.
New Lens Used.
To bring the television scenes "close up," the station used a new $7,500 Zoomar lens, one of 14 in use in the nation.
WBAP-TV was on the air 49 minutes with President Truman's visit—the Southwest's first television program. The telecast ended as the president stepped into a car for Dallas.
George Cranston, station manager, said Tuesday that letters from Dallas and Fort Worth had hailed the event as an outstanding success.
All Angles Covered.
Residents of both Fort Worth and Dallas wrote that the reception was very good, Cranston said. Radio dealers in both cities reported that their business places were jammed with spectators witnessing the telecast. Three cameras were used in the telecast to cover the scene from all angles.

The cheery boosterism by the paper of its own radio station was dulled a bit after opening night, September 29, 1948. Things didn’t go as planned, mainly due to something out of the station’s control. There were different stories in the morning and evening editions the next day. We’ll give you both.

TELEVISION'S FIRST PROGRAM MAKES FORT WORTH HISTORY
BY C. L. RICHHART.
Fort Worth SAW its first full program of radio Wednesday night.
It was just like when Fort Worth HEARD its first movies back in the twenties, remember? Some will say it was better, some will contend it was not so good as the first sound movies. But all will agree it was interesting, even fascinating.
There was a slight interruption due to a power failure, and some of the projections were better than others, depending perhaps on how good or how well-installed your television set happened to be—but all in all, the evening's telecasts made history for Fort Worth and vicinity.
WBAP-TV, the television service of the Star-Telegram, actually is the nation's 25th station to go on the air. But it is the first station to operate east of Los Angeles and south of St. Louis, thereby earning the unchallenged credit for the first television projection in the Southwest. To the Southeast, New Orleans and Richmond, Va., are the only other cities to come into the television picture.
Television for the Southwest had its rough spots, naturally enough, and that wasn't any surprise to its producers and sponsors, for they expected that there might be some stormy interludes in the beginning.
The surprising thing about it all, the television authorities said, was that everything went off smoothly as it did. They really had been prepared for more trouble than they experienced.
The inspection of facilities of WBAP-TV Wednesday afternoon [29] by newspaper, radio and television representatives brought forth many expressions of surprise at the size and complete preparations of the plant for the new field of television and its expanded facilities for radio. The press representatives later were guests of WBAP-TV for refreshments at Hotel Texas, where they also viewed the initial telecasts.
Everything went off smoothly in the preliminary presentation of the television program, including the welcoming remarks of Harold Hough, vice president and director of radio and television for Carter Publications, Inc.; a review by Amon Carter of the development of the Star-Telegram's radio facilities from a two-watt station to the present television plant, and comments by George Cranston, station manager, and R. C. Stinson, head of the technical division.
Staff Relieved.
The first hint of difficulty came when a newscast suddenly blacked out. But just like in the movies, when it came back on the picture took up right where it left off.
It was a relief to the production and technical staff of the station to know that the break in the program was the result of a traffic collision and a power line break and not some mistake in the studio. They had a few other minor miscues for which they willingly took the blame, but a few mistakes were expected.
Reports were the same all over the city—every television set in operation had a good audience.
Calls and messages expressing congratulations poured into the station by telephone and telegraph. These included:
Edward J. Noble, chairman of the board of American Broadcasting Co.—"May I wish you every success today on the opening of your television station WBAP-TV. The people of Fort Worth can be proud that you are extending this great additional service to the community."
Step Forward.
Mark Woods, president of American Broadcasting Company —"The opening of your television station represents a great step forward and you can be proud that you are the pioneer in bringing this great additional public service to Fort Worth."
Similar messages came from Robert E. Kintner, executive vice president of American Broadcasting Company; Sheldon B. Hickok Jr., manager of station relations department, National Broadcasting of New York; Easton C. Woolley, director of stations departments, National Broadcasting Company of New York, and many others.

Trail Blazing Television Event From WBAP-TV Reaches 160 Miles
BY GITA BUMPASS
Television, the trail blazer that adds sight to sound in radio, made its debut in the Southwest Wednesday night [29] from the Star-Telegram station, WBAP-TV, and reception was recorded 160 miles away.
The first regular program of the station was registered on the video screen of Lynn Roy of Henderson, and perfect reception was reported at De Leon, Arlington, Cleburne, Grapevine, Bowie, Kennedale, Denton, Handley, Rockwall, Lancaster and Dallas.
Fort Worth fans who clustered around an estimated 1,000 screens in homes, restaurants, clubs, theaters and downtown store windows were enthusiastic. Radio Start Compared.
Amon Carter, speaking to this new audience, compared the beginning of television to that of radio. He said he remembered when he had considered radio "not necessarily necessary."
"But we set aside $300 to Lunch a station, anyway,” he said. "When it opened. I talked a little and didn't know if anybody listened or not. Then, one day, a card came from as far away as Mineral Wells.
"Now we are sending world pictures into your home, adding sight to sound."
The debut became official at 7 p. m., when Announcer Frank Mills pronounced the station call letters and introduced Harold Hough, director of radio activities for the Star-Telegram.
Welcomed as First.
The opening live telecast brought to the screen George Cranston, station manager; R. C. Stinson, director of engineering; Andy Andrews, program director, and Robert Gould, chief producer.
An NBC dedication film presented President Niles Trammel, welcoming WBAP-TV to network television as the first in Texas.
Flying X Ranchboys, who were heard under other names in the early days of radio, played and sang western numbers from the studio. "Scarlet Pimpernel," full-length movie sponsored by W. C. Stripling, comedy and newscasts rounded out the almost four-hour long program.
Visual effects and sound were excellent, but a power failure in the Meadowbrook area interrupted transmission for 17 minutes.
The power failure resulted from the crash of a truck into a power line pole in the 900 block of Collard shortly after 5 p. m. The Negro driver of the truck lost control. The machine crashed into the pole, knocking it to the street with its two transformers and its load of main feeder and secondary wires.
Service Restored.
All current in the area was cut off at 7:26 p. m. but Texas Electric Service Company workmen completed the job of elevating the lines and service was restored at 7:43 p. m.
Spot commercials were sponsored by Stuart Nursery, Ryan Motor Company, Nicolson-Jones Motor Company, Motorola Radio, Chesterfield cigarets, Walco Lens Company and the U. S. 4th Army.
Before the show, a tour of the partially completed radio-television center was made by writers representing the Associated Press; United Press, International News Service, Dallas News, Tide Magazine, Variety, Southwestern Advertising and Broadcasting Magazine.
Frank King, AP bureau chief, and Don McIver of the Dallas News found special interest in "video lane," WBAP-TV expression for the large doorways that open into the studio to allow parades, herds of cattle or horses to pass before television cameras.
Hough told the writers they could expect formal opening of the center within 60 days.
Congratulatory messages were received from Edward J. Noble, chairman of the board of American Broadcasting Company; Mark Woods, president of the company; Robert E. Kintner, executive vice president; Sheldon B. Hickcok Jr., manager of station relations, National Broadcasting Company, and Easton C. Woolley, director of stations departments of NBC.
The station will not be on the air Thursday [Oct. 1], but will return Friday at 7 p. m. with NBC news, followed at 7:10 p. m. by the Flying X Ranchboys. The Paschal-Amarillo football game will begin at 7:45 p. m., the first game in the Southwest to be televised.
In the future, WBAP-TV will function Wednesday through Sunday, approximately four hours a night. Test patterns will be aired 15 minutes before program time, in addition to tests from 10 a. m. to noon and from 3 p. m. to 5 p. m., Monday through Saturday.

'BEST WISHES' FROM NBC HEAD
Niles Trammell, president of the National Broadcasting Company, Thursday [30] congratulated officials of WBAP-TV on the station's debut.
"The inauguration of television broadcasting over WBAP-TV marks another milestone in the service which you and your group have provided to radio listeners in the Fort Worth area for many years. We shall look forward to working with you and providing your listeners the finest type of programs avail-able," Trammell said in a telegram.

Here is the week's schedule. Sponsors listed when known.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1948
7:00—Opening. 7:10—NBC Dedication Film. 7:40—Flying X Ranchboys. 8:00—Film, “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” 9:40—NBC News, sponsored by William Cameron and Co. (film). 9:50—Comedy film, “Lucky Beginners” with Our Gang (MGM/Hal Roach, 1935). 10:10—Local Newscast, sponsored by the Fort Worth & Denver City Railroad.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1948
Off the air.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1948
6:45—Test Pattern. 7:00—NBC News. 7:10—Highlights of Last Week’s Football: Yale vs. Ohio, Navy vs. Califonria, Notre Dame vs. Purdue, sponsored by Burwell Thompson Shop. 7:30—TV Close-Ups. 7:35—Texas News Review, sponsored by Texas Electric Co. 7:45—High School Football, Paschal vs. Amarillo, Farrington Field, sponsored by Leonard’s. 10:00—Musical Miniatures. 10:20—Today’s News Pictures (WPIX film).

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1948
7:00—Texas News Review, sponsored by Texas Electric Co. 7:10—Howdy Doody with Buffalo Bob Smith (NBC film) 7:45—Football, Texas Christian vs. Arkansas, TCU Stadium, sponsored by Humble Oil. 10:10—WPIX News.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1948
6:00—NBC Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Arturo Toscanini, with the Robert Shaw Collegiate Chorale, soloists Ann McKnight (soprano), Jane Hobson (contralto), Irwin Dillon (tenor), Norman Scott (bass). (NBC kinescope) 7:12—Texas News Review, sponsored by Texas Electric Co. 7:22—America’s Songs. 7:42—Invitation to the Nation. 7:52—Touchdown Thrills, 1947. 8:01—Feature Film: “Tom Brown’s School Days” with Freddie Bartholomew.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1948
Off the air.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1948
Off the air.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1948
7:00—NBC News. 7:10—Flying X Ranchboys. 7:35—Texas News Review, including highlights of the Dixie Series, sponsored by Texas Electric Co. 7:45—Television Close-Ups. 7:50—A Helping Hand. 8:00—Stripling Television Theatre, “Men Are Not Gods” with Gertrude Lawrence, Rex Harrison, Miriam Hopkins, sponsored by Stripling’s. 9:20—Comedy Film, “What Price Taxi” with Franklin Pangborn (MGM, 1935).