The paper published a story on Nov. 23, 1945 reading:
Washington, Nov. 22—One of the four commercial television channels assigned the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area likely will be allocated to The Courier-Express Station WEBR, it was believed here tonight. WEBR made the first bid for a Buffalo television channel months ago. The only other application from Buffalo was recently filed by WBEN.
“Believed?” Believed by whom?
WEBR’s application had been sitting in a file since at least June 1944, when it asked the FCC to award it Channel 1. Then came the re-allocation mentioned above. The Courier-Express noted on Nov. 15, 1945:
Television OK Asked
Washington, Nov. 15—The Federal Communications Commission said today it had received an application from Radio Station WBEN, Buffalo, to operate a commercial television station on “channel three—60 to 66 megacycles.”
When a hearing finally took place, the Courier-Journal was out of luck. It doesn’t look like the company ever got a TV station, even after its application changed to Channel 7 when 1 disappeared. But we learn from the Evening News of August 16, 1946:
TELEVISION PERMIT GRANTED TO WBEN
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.—The Federal Communications Commission Thursday [15] granted WBEN, Buffalo, a construction permit for a new television station to be located in Buffalo. The commission ruled that the station could operate on 66 to 72 megacycle, assigned to Channel 4, with 14.4 kilowatts visual power and 7.2 kilowatts aural power. The permit also allows for erection of a 378-foot antenna.
The station was nowhere near ready to go on the air. A year later, in its Sept.8, 1947 issue, Broadcasting magazine gave a progress report.
WORK IS COMPLETED ON WBEN-TV ANTENNA
CONSTRUCTION was completed last week on the television antenna for WBEN-TV Buffalo, which expects to take the air early this winter.
The 122-foot RCA three-bay super-turnstile antenna will be located atop Hotel Statler, 385 feet above street level. The station's transmitter will also be placed in the Statler, which now houses WBEN studios and the WBEN-FM transmitter. Work on the video studios is now underway and installation of the transmitter will begin in the fall.
WBEN-TV is owned by the Buffalo Evening News and will operate on Channel 4 or 66-72 mc. with power of 5 kw video and 2.5 kw audio.
A staple of late 1940s television was the first thing brought to viewers in Buffalo: professional wrestling. The telecast was Feb. 13, 1948. The next day’s News:
WBEN-TV BROADCAST OF WRESTLING MATCHES OPENS NEW RADIO ERA
By ED KELLY
Radio entertainment in the Buffalo area entered a new and exciting era Friday night [13] when 400 fascinated spectators in Hotel Lafayette "watched" wrestling matches from Memorial Auditorium as WBEN-TV broadcast the first television program in the city's history.
Viewed from the screens of 13 receiver sets, the 75-minute show brought ringside thrills to radio dealers and press and radio representatives at a "television introduction" meeting sponsored by Bickford Brothers Company, distributor for RCA Victor. President Paul Wolk conducted the historic meeting.
As the slam-bang action of the Sexton-Managoff and Von Schacht-Thesz bouts was mirrored on the RCA Victor sets in the hotel's ball-room and Orchard Room, here's what was happening: Picture Images Converted
1—WBEN-TV Technicians Philo Stevens and Jack Elliott, manning two electronic television cameras in the auditorium stands, were photographing the ring action and views of the 5125 spectators cheering the event.
2—These cameras were picking up the scenes on a camera tube and converting the picture images into electronic impulses.
3—The impulses, in turn, were sent by a TV relay—which functions as a miniature transmitter—through the night air to the WBEN-TV station atop Hotel Statler. They were captured there by a pickup mechanism, resembling a large dish balanced on its edge.
4—At the station, these electronic impulses—which, remember, were really the photographs taken at the ringside and converted — were amplified, then sent out again through the air. This time, an antenna atop Hotel Lafayette picked them up.
Field Equipment Used
5—From the antenna, the impulses traveled downward through the hotel and into the television sets. Here the kinescope, or picture tube, reconverted the electrical impulses into the same pictures seen by the television camera tube in the auditorium seven blocks away. The picture was then flashed to the screen of the receiving set.
Although the process sounds lengthy, actually the wrestling scenes traveled from the auditorium to the television receivers at the incredible speed of 166,000 miles a second!
The cameras wed in the broadcast were field equipment of RCA and similar to cameras to be used by WBEN-TV when it begins its regular programs.
As 9:30 o'clock approached—time for the beginning of the telecast—the spectators at the Lafayette pulled their chairs into semicircles around the receiving sets and awaited, with keen anticipation, what was for most of them their first glimpse of the new entertainment wonder.
Applause Spontaneous
Punctually, the screens came to life, images leaped to focus and the audience was not only hearing Ed Reimers, WBEN-TV production staff member, announce the match between Frederick Otto von Schacht and Lou Thesz—it was seeing him (as the television camera photographed him). A spontaneous wave of applause swept the audience as the telecast began.
The scene changed. Now there was a "long shot" of the ring, the two wrestlers and Referee Teddy Thomas moving nimbly about as the bout progressed from feinting to grappling to contortions on the canvas.
The scenes, changing frequently from long shots to closeups as the cameraman pressed a button, unfolded to the sound accompaniment of the cheers, boos and applause that swept the auditorium.
Eyes Riveted on Screen
Spectators in the hotel leaned forward tensely as the action grew more violent. Involuntarily, many moved to the edge of their chairs. All eyes were riveted to the animated screens.
The bout was over. With the intermission preceding the main event, the “eye” of the electronic camera swung slowly over the throng with panoramic effect. Members of the auditorium crowd were seen rising. Stretching, smoking. White-coated refreshment vendors crossed the screen, hawking their wares.
Again the camera picked up Mr. Reimers, this time with Ed Don George, wrestling immortal, at his side. The interview ended as Frank Sexton and Bobby Managoff climbed into the ring, with the cameras picking up the introduction of the principals as Mr. Reimers resumed the narration.
Sound Relayed Accurately
New wrestling fans were made at the telecast. Several youngsters leaped impatiently from their chairs to shout encouragement to their favorites as the tempo of the action became more violent. The pictures of the opponents hurling each other to the canvas with audible thumps drew "oohs and aahs" from the hotel spectators as well as those at the ringside.
With the bout ended, again the camera traveled over the crowd showing spectators rising, donning their hats and coats and filing to the exits. Another shot showed the rows of empty seats and the after-the-event litter cluttering the auditorium floors.
During the meeting preceding the telecast, Vice President Joseph B. Elliott of Radio Corporation of America, in charge of the Home Instrument Division, predicted that the industry, which produced and sold nearly 180,000 television sets in 1947, will produce about 750,000 this year.
Sets Will Be Available
The RCA sets installed for the test broadcast ranged from the $325 table model to the $1195 de luxe floor model. The screen on the former is 52 square inches; on the latter, 300 square inches. The de luxe model screen, 15 by 20 inches, is approximately the size of a newspaper page. Mr. Elliott told the dealers that sets will be available for consumer purchase on "T Day"—when WBEN-TV officially goes on the air with commercial programs.
Television Director J. Woodrow Magnuson of the station said that WBEN-TV expects to begin commercial operation in the Spring.
Other speakers of RCA Victor were Dan D. Halpin, television receivers sales manager; Henry G. Baker, general sales manager, and, Jack Williams, advertising and sales promotion manager of the Home Instrument Division.
The next test show was the following Tuesday the 17th, a 10-act variety show for Philco dealers; the station was using Philco field equipment.
A sight familiar to those of us of a certain generation appeared on Buffalo’s televisions on Feb. 27—the Indian Head Test Pattern. The News told readers more than they probably wanted to know about it.
WBEN-TV Pattern-Testing Transmissions Are Underway
Fixed Picture Will Be Used as Guide for Radio Servicemen
By JOE HAEFFNER
This morning at 10 o'clock WBEN-TV started telecasting a fixed test pattern to guide radio servicemen in the installation of television sets in the Buffalo area.
The start of the test telecast climaxed a week of intensive, inch-by-inch inspection of the intricate mechanism and replacement of a defective link in the coaxial cable running from the transmitter to the antenna atop Hotel Statler.
The pattern hereafter will be on the air regularly Monday through Friday from 10 A. M. to noon and from 3 to 5 P. M. It also will aid radio dealers in demonstrating a "picture" on sets for prospective customers in their stores.
The pattern will be broadcast for a period of from 60 to 90 days, along with frequent announcements so that both audio (sound) and video (picture) portions of WBEN-TV may be effectively tested. At the conclusion of this test period, when studio equipment is expected to arrive, The Buffalo Evening News television station will begin a regular schedule of commercial programming. Broadcasting of the test pattern then will continue for aid in installation and proper tuning of receivers.
Station operates on Channel 4
The pattern is a fixed "picture" on a tube at the WBEN-TV transmitter on the 18th floor of the Statler, where the station's studios are being completed. The station is on Channel 4 (66-72 megacycles).
First, let's understand that all television pictures are based on a ratio of 4 to 3, so the width of the pattern is 1.33 times the height. This ratio long ago was established as more pleasing to the eye than a square picture. Before the "picture" on the receiver is properly adjusted, the object may be distorted in width or height, something like the reflections of persons looking into trick carnival mirrors.
The circle in the pattern may come in like a large capital "O" or it may be flattened to a short-and-stout Mr. Five-by-Five appearance. Adjustments can be made by radio servicemen to get the true perspective.
Circle Shows Uniformity
The large circle in the center indicates linearity or straightness of the cathode ray scanning beam used in transmission, and shows that the picture is being transmitted with true uniformity. That is, the proper height to the proper width.
The diameter of the large circle is three-fourths the pattern height. When the deflection is adjusted to give a true or undistorted form to this circle, the standard aspect ratio of 4 to 3 is established. The cathode-ray scanning beam "scans" the picture from side to side at the rate of 525 times in one-thirtieth of a second. Much like newspaper halftone pictures are broken up into tiny dots (The News uses 75-line screen), so the television picture is a series of "lines," individually invisible to the naked eye.
"Wedges" Guide Adjuster
The sets of horizontal and vertical "wedges" in the center circle are calibrated in what engineers call number of "lines resolution," that is, the numbers indicate the total number of alternate black-and-white lines of equal width which can be contained in the height of the picture.
The figures in the wedged circle are to be multiplied by ten. At the point where "35" is indicated, it means that it would take 350 lines of that width to make the entire picture, top to bottom. Naturally, the higher the number of lines that can be "picked out" by the eye, the finer the adjustment of the receiver.
The principal set of wedges in the central part of the pattern and those in each of the four corners provide an indication of the quality of focus. This applies particularly to the corner wedges where defocussing is most likely to prevail.
Who Let the Indian In
The diagonal wedges simulate a density range extending from black towards white. With the brightness adjusted so that the innermost portion is black, or 100%, the remaining three sections of each wedge are respectively 75, 50 and 25% of black. Transmission of these sections will indicate how much picture detail is being transmitted.
The thin-line grids extending over the pattern provide an additional check on the horizontal and vertical "deflection" linearity, for instance, from the solid black of a gown down to the highlights in a person's eyes.
The flat heavy lines at the bottom indicate how the "low frequencies" or picture images with very little detail are received.
The Indian? Nobody—including Robert G. Beerbower, RCA Service Co. engineer from Camden. N. J., who has supervised the WBEN-TV testing—knows exactly how he got into the picture, but somebody suggested it might be Chief Red Jacket, also a pioneer in these parts.
Since the Buffalo News owned the station, there was an almost-daily parade of little stories about it as the time approached for full programming. Here is a sampling.
March 13th:
WBEN TV Applies For Relay Station
WASHINGTON, March 13.—The Buffalo Evening News' television station, WBEN-TV, has applied formally to the Federal Communications Commission for permission to operate an experimental television relay broadcast station.
This is the unit that will permit WBEN-TV to pick up "on-the-scene" television shows around Buffalo, such as at Civic Stadium and Memorial Auditorium, and then relay them to the station's main transmitter atop Hotel Statler. According to the application reported Friday [12] by the FFC, the re-lay station would operate within the 6950-6975 megacycle band with power of one-tenth watt.
March 24th:
WBEN-TV Televises Broadcast Cartoon
WBEN-TV continued its experimental tests early this afternoon, telecasting buildings and traffic in downtown Buffalo. The cameras were trained from windows in Hotel Statler, where the station's studios are located. A studio-to-receiver story of the course of a television show was cartooned and a sample of pictorial newscasts was telecast Tuesday afternoon [23]. Also, questions often asked about WBEN-TV and its programs were answered, and members of the administrative, technical and production staffs of the station were tele-viewed briefly.
The cartoons showed the path of a telecast, starting with an artist in the studio and proceeding with the director in charge, the control room with a busy producer in command, the transmitter, the coaxial cable leading to the station antenna, the tele-viewer's home with dipole antenna and the picture on the home receiver.
Photos of Secretary of State Marshall and other news figures and ballplayers in Spring-training action were televiewed, with oral descriptions.
March 26th:
'Live' Telecasts Due On WBEN-TV Monday
WBEN-TV today finished a week of varied test telecasts, including circus folk, a lion, shots of down-town and outlying buildings, cartoons, a marionette act and interviews with station personnel. Next week the station will continue or a schedule of tests, with "live" telecasts scheduled sometime between 2 and 4 P. M.
Television cameras were taken to the roof of Hotel Statler Thursday afternoon [25] and close-ups were shot of the WBEN-TV antenna. Then telephoto lenses brought the Central Terminal, St. Michael's Church, the Masten Avenue Armory, the Buffalo General Hospital and Masten Park High School and other buildings into focus.
WBEN-TV is on the air Monday through Friday from 9:30 A. M. to noon and from 2 to 5 P. M., with a test program occupying the morning schedule and some of the afternoon period.
March 30th:
BULOVA FIRST TO BUY TIME ON WBEN-TV
The Bulova Watch Company, the first sponsor when the standard broadcast station started in 1930, is the first advertiser to contract for time on WBEN-TV, station officials said today.
Bulova will make nightly time announcements over The Buffalo Evening News television station when it begins regular commercial programming in the late Spring.
WBEN-TV already has issued a television rate card and a list of local programs available for sponsorship.
March 31st:
WBEN-TV Plans Expanded Schedule
WBEN-TV today [31] announced a new schedule of experimental programs to be included in the station's 9:30-to-noon and 2-to-5 P. M, test periods, Monday through Fridays.
Scenes in downtown Buffalo and in outlying sections will be televised afternoons from 2:30 to 3 P. M. The station's cameras will be pointed from various windows of Hotel Statler, with telephoto lenses bringing buildings and traffic several miles away into focus.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon at 3:30 there will be studio shows. Available talent will perform and there will be pictures of events in the news and explanations of television techniques. Performers from the Shrine Circus and the Midwest Sports & Boat Show, current in Buffalo, have entertained during the last few days.
WBEN'S sports director, Ralph Hubbell, was scheduled to give his predictions on current sports late this afternoon, with emphasis on hockey and baseball. Action photographs were to intersperse his interview with Announcer Ed Reimers.
The test pattern, which radio servicemen use as a guide when installing television receivers, will comprise the morning period and those portions of the afternoon schedule when street traffic and studio shows are not being televised.
WBEN-TV expects to begin regular commercial programming in the late Spring.
April 8th:
WBEN-TV Audience Sees Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Monroe appeared in person on television Wednesday afternoon [7], but his singing voice didn't—that was recorded. The singing bandleader, in Buffalo for a concert at Kleinhans Music Hall Wednesday evening, appeared on a WBEN-TV test telecast from the station's studios in Hotel Statler. He was interviewed by Ed Reimers.
When Ed called for a song, a technician started an RCA-Victor recording of Vaughn's late release of "Matinee," with brilliant orchestra accompaniment, and Mr. Monroe went through the lip motions. He also did a few bars of his theme song, "Racing With the Moon." The illusion was nigh-perfect.
From Michigan to Buffalo to Rhode Island in overnight hops is suite a tour of one-night stands, but Vaughn explained to Ed that his orchestra travels on his own plane, a Lockheed Lodestar.
The WBEN-TV schedule Wednesday afternoon also included a brief newscast illustrated with photographs, including shots of the Stassen-MacArthur-Dewey preferential primary in Wisconsin.
April 10th:
Mazurki ‘Pins’ Hubbell For WBEN-TV Mat Fans
Mike Mazurki, 240-pound wrestler from Hollywood, demonstrated various holds for the benefit of WBEN-TV audiences Friday [9] afternoon. The 240-pound Mazurki’s “opponent” was Ralph Hubbell, WBEN’s 140-pound sports director. Hubbell also interviewed Ed Don George, former world mat champion and present matchmaker for Upstate A.C.
April 24th:
WBEN Plans Same Program Tonight on TV, FM and AM
For the first time in Buffalo radio history, a program will be broadcast on television, frequency-modulation and standard-broadcast this evening. The University of Buffalo Round Table will be on WBEN, WBEN-FM and WBEN-TV at 7:30.
The topic. "The Movies and Social Problems," will cover polities, anti-discrimination, housing and other social aspects which recent motion pictures have featured.
Participants will be Dr. Nathaniel Cantor, head of the department of sociology and anthropology at U. B.; Dr. Willard H. Bonner, professor of English at the university, and Michael Simon, Western New York sales manager for Paramount Pictures. Dean Claude E Puffer will be moderator.
The television portion was first planned as an in-the-studio test, with the picture only on studio monitors and receivers. However, WBEN-TV officials explained that while the telecast may be rough in spots, the television audience will understand that the program is merely of an experimental nature.
It is another in the series of tests being conducted before the station begins regular programming in the late Spring. The television operations this evening will in no way interfere with the regular program on WBEN.
April 26th:
WBEN-TV TO START EVENING TELECASTS
Starting tonight, WBEN-TV will be on the air with a test pattern from 7 to 9 o'clock, Monday through Thursday, as an additional service for radio technicians and dealers. The evening service is being added, with music and announcements, so the effectiveness of sets may be demonstrated in homes and stores. The local television station will continue its daytime schedule of test patterns Monday through Friday, with a pictorial newscast and other test shows starting at 2:30 in the afternoon.
The WBEN-TV crews of producers, announcers and technicians have been getting varied experience in the handling of cameras and mikes during the past several days, with a variety of test telecasts.
Saturday evening, the University of Buffalo Round Table was televised on WBEN-TV as well as broadcast over WBEN and WBEN FM.
The first weekend telecasts included a conservation talk, and Eskimos from the Buffalo Sportsmen's & Boat Show Saturday, and archers and Indians Sunday.
Other telecasts of the past several days featured pictorial newscasts, Model Candy Jones and other acts from the Sportsmen's & Boat Show, including a slingshot artist, animal hunters, lariat and whip experts, a ventriloquist, bird imitator and comic tumblers.
April 29th:
WBEN TO TELEVISE MAY DAY CEREMONY
WBEN-TV will televise a Diocesan Catholic function for the first time Saturday noon—the second annual May Day ceremony in Lafayette Square. The Most Rev. John F. O'Hara, CSC, bishop of the Buffalo Diocese will speak. The program, sponsored by the Holy Name Societies, will feature prayers for Russia and Soviet-dominated countries. Bishop O'Hara and other Holy Name leaders—the Rt. Rev. Joseph E. Maguire, spiritual director, and Stanley C. Collins, president—emphasized that non-Catholics are welcome.
Mr. Collins will be marshal of a parade that will leave the City Hall at 11:30 A. M. The general chairman is Austin J. Roche, with the Rev. Francis A. Growney special spiritual director.
There was also a Buffalo-Cleveland hockey game and a performance by Jimmy O’Neil, later of Shindig fame.
Finally, Friday, May 14, 1948 arrived, the official first day of regular programming. The News was filled with next-day coverage, including the text of every speech made on camera. We’ll skip all that and give you the long front-page story.
Excited Thousands See WBEN-TV Inaugurate Television for Buffalo
Sets Throughout City and Surrounding Communi-ties Attract Viewers; 3-Hour Entertainment Follows Brief Dedicatory Program
By ED KELLY
Television came to Buffalo Friday night [14] and—in excited thousands—Buffalo came to television.
Throughout the city and in surrounding communities, marveling throngs gathered before TV receiving sets to witness the dawn of a new entertainment era as WBEN-TV formally inaugurated a regular-program schedule.
There were excited spectator-audiences everywhere.
They gathered at "television parties" in the homes of set owners; they packed the showrooms of nearly every radio dealer in the downtown area and neighborhoods who held "open house' for T-day; they clustered expectantly about viewing screens in scores of public places; they lingered by the hundreds on sidewalks outside of display windows featuring television sets. Electric Expectancy in Air
Throughout the station's 15-minute dedication program and the three hours of variety acts, films and wrestling exhibits that followed, scores of persons sat on chain in front of a music-shop window in the Elmwood-Utica section. In the Broadway-Fillmore area an audience stood curb-deep outside of a department store to view the proceedings on four large screens. Passing autos snailed by as their occupants craned for a glimpse of the telecast. In the veranda of Hotel Statler scores of onlookers were riveted to the screens of two receivers.
In WBEN-TVs blue-and-silver-draped temporary studio at Memorial Auditorium, there was an air of electric expectancy as the moment of television's official debut drew near.
Powerful banks of floodlights bathed the scene of the dedication ceremony, cameramen made final adjustments to the two electronic field cameras.
3 Years in Preparation Producer
John L. Hutchinson signaled all in readiness and promptly at 7:30 o'clock, the show went on —culminating three years of preparation and three months of experimental telecasting.
Viewing screens everywhere glowed to life. Watchers saw an envelope appear, saw its flap lifted and an invitation card slowly withdrawn until its message was visible:
“The Buffalo Evening News cordially invites you to the dedication ceremony of WBEN-TV.”
The scene shifted to Announcer Ed Reimers who introduced Edward H. Butler, editor and publisher of The Buffalo Evening News and president of WBEN whose remarks formally launched the new enterprise.
“We are making history tonight," Mr. Butler told the television audience. "I hope all who hear, and for the first time also see, this program share the elation that we in the studio feel.
“We are inaugurating regularly-scheduled television programs. In addition, we are dedicating Buffalo’s pioneer television station to serve you and the thousands of others who will become television [remainder of quote missing].
"Finest" Service Assured
A few minutes later, Vice President Sidney N. Stroll of the National Broadcasting Company declared: "Tonight it is my pleasant duty to welcome WBEN-TV as the newest affiliate of the rapidly-growing NBC television network. We look forward with pleasure to this association ... We salute them (officials of The News and WBEN) for their enterprise in bringing television to Buffalo.
“Under their guidance, we are confident that you, who are and will be the television audience of WBEN-TV, are assured of the finest possible service that this new medium can bring to you."
Other speakers on the dedicatory program, representing federal, state, county and city governments, were Federal Judge John Knight, Supreme Court Justice R. Foster Piper, dean of the judges in the Eighth Judicial District; Chairman Roy R. Crockett of the Board of Supervisors. Mayor Dowd and Council President Peter J. Crotty.
All in Front-Row Seats
Mr. Reimers read congratulatory telegrams from Chairman Wayne Coy of the Federal Communications Commission, President Niles Trammell of NBC, Frank M. Folsom, executive vice president of the RCA Victor Division of the Radio Corporation of America and others.
WBEN-TVs first public service program—three brief messages from YMCA officials in behalf of their organization's fund-raising campaign—followed. The telecast was then returned to the station's projection room in Hotel Statler where a film explaining television was shown.
Ten minutes later TV audiences were back in their front-row "seats" as the curtain went up on a glittering variety show, originating in the auditorium studio.
With pert Mary Jane Dodd, network singing star from Chicago, effervescing through the proceedings as mistress of ceremonies, TV viewers were treated to the nimble stepping of the "Adorables," the Town Casino's chorus line. Interested watcher, on sets at the Casino, were the co-owners, Harry Altman and Harry Wallens, through whose efforts the entertainers were obtained.
Action Followed Closely
From the station's mobile unit—a complete control-room-on-wheels—parked at the south end of the auditorium. Producer Ed Wegman watched the monitoring screens which recorded what each of the cameras was "seeing" upstairs in the studio. From group shots of the dancing line, he switched to close-up views for solo routines and ordered the cameras, in close for shots of a chorine's fast-stepping feet. The three De Castro Sisters—one of them more telegenic than the next, as the sighs from the men in the TV audiences indicated—provided a gay Latin number. The "eyes" of the TV camera turned evenly back and forth to follow the gyrations and acrobatics of Dancer Dorothy Deering. Younger TV watchers were gleeful over the antics of Danny O'Day, the wooden upstart who behaved incorrigibly for his manipulator. Jimmy Nelson, youthful ventriloquist.
Newscast Is Included
The picture signals, meanwhile, were flowing by coaxial cable to the WBEN-TV microwave transmitter on the auditorium roof. From the transmitter they went through the air to the receiver atop Hotel Statler. They then were radiated by the transmitting antenna to TV sets throughout the area.
The variety show concluded, WBEN-TV crews swiftly moved their equipment from the studio rooms to the "blue seats" in the arena, preparatory to televising the wrestling an hour later.
Meanwhile, the program was returned to the projection room in the hotel studios and viewers saw an INS newsreel, a sports film, a melodious Stephen Foster musical presentation, a newscast in which still photographs were accompanied by an up-to-the-minute commentary, and several short educational and commercial films.
Climax Is Thrilling
Television audiences were whisked back to ringside in Memorial Auditorium in time to watch Wrestler Lou Thesz vanquish Tommy O'Toole with an airplane spin and body slam, the TV camera faithfully recording every grimace and framing the participants in an exciting dissents for the slam-bang finish WBEN's Ralph Rtthholl announced the telecast. A picture of Ed Don George, Upstate A.C. matchmaker, flashed on the screen. A few minutes later, after the cameras swept slowly over the auditorium to show TV audiences the jam-packed arena during intermission, the telecast —thanks to Wrestler Gorgeous George, a "natural" for television if ever there was one—reached its thrilling and hilarious climax.
Into view on the TV screens stalked the valet of Gorgeous, the marceled mauler who faced Jack Page in the finale. The arena audience howled—and so did the TV watchers—as the slender valet, dead-pan and stiffly formal in a frock coat, put on the famous act that has caused sensations in wrestling rings. Out came the squirt gun and the valet proceeded to spray the ring with disinfectant —for Gorgeous, though fearing no fellow grappler—quakes at the thought of germs.
Every Move Recorded
Suddenly the ringside audience stood, craning for its first peck at the goldenlooks [sic] of George. The TV camera turned too, and picked up the perfumed, manicured mauler as he marched aloofly toward the ring, resplendent in his silk-and-sequin robe.
Oblivious to the hoots, cat-calls, hisses and boos, he posed in the ring, primping his golden locks daintily and displaying haughtily his Grecian profile as the TV cameramen recorded his every gesture.
For the madcap antics that climaxed the show—Gorgeous having his hand disinfected after the referee touched it. Gorgeous giving a final look in the mirror at his new marcel before squaring off. Gorgeous patting his curls back into place after sis opponent mussed his hair in the first grapple—TV watchers were in the “front row,” as they had been all evening.
The News had been publishing WBEN-TV listings in the test stage. Here is the first week’s programming:
FRIDAY, MAY 14
7:30—Dedication Ceremonies from Memorial Auditorium—radio and public officials. 7:45—YMCA Public Service Program. 7:50—Magic in the Air", film. 8:00—Town Casino Variety Show—dancers, singers, ventriloquist. 8:30—INS Newsreel. 8:38—Stephen Foster Melodies, film. 8:49—Sports Around the World, film. 9:00—The News in Pictures. 9:10—Special Edition. Film; Soundies. 9:30—Wrestling Matches, Auditorium. 11:00—Sign off.
SATURDAY, MAY 15
5:00-6:00—Poochie’s Party—Magic, comedy and movies for girls and boys. 7:30—U. B. Round Table—“Buffalo Looks to the Future.” 8:00—Today’s News Pictures; Playbill. 8:15—Barbershop Quartet. 8:30—INS Newsreel. 8:37-9:50—Western Theater—Moonlight on the Range.
SUNDAY, MAY 16
3:30-4:30—Midget Auto Races from Civic Stadium. 8:00—News in Pictures; Soundies. 8:15—Here Comes the Circus. 8:30—INS Newsreel. 8:37—Let’s Look at Sports, with Ralph Hubbell. 9:00-10:15—“It Happened Tomorrow,” with Dick Powell
MONDAY, MAY 17 and TUESDAY, MAY 18
11:00-noon—Test Pattern. 1:00-5:00—Test Pattern. 7:00-9:00—Test Pattern.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19
11:00-noon—Test Pattern. 1:00-5:00—Test Pattern. 8:00—News in Pictures; Playbill. 8:15—“On Two Wheels,” film. 8:30—INS Newsreel, Industrial Exposition. 9:00-10:00—Four Film Featurettes.
THURSDAY, MAY 20
11:00-noon—Test Pattern. 1:00-5:00—Test Pattern. 8:00—News in Pictures; Playbill. 8:15—“Land of the Skylarks,” film. 8:26—Soundies, film. 8:30—INS Newsreel, Tune Topics, cartoon. 8:45—“It’s Wanton Murder,” film. 9:00—Variety Show with Clint Buehlman. 9:30—Weather.
FRIDAY, MAY 21
11:00-noon—Test Pattern. 1:00-5:00—Test Pattern. 8:00—News in Pictures; Playbill. 8:15—Baseball film. 8:26—Soundies, film. 8:30—INS Newsreel. 9:30-11:00—Wrestling.
There was no connection to NBC between Buffalo and Schenectady, so no network programmes aired. It was a matter of time. The News reported on May 15:
WBEN-TV Signs Contract for NBC Network Service
WBEN-TV will be part of the NBC television network. Contracts to make this a part of television development in Buffalo were signed this week by the station and the National Broadcasting Company. Thus WBEN-TV becomes one of the first independent stations to join the NBC network. Initial network service will be delivered by film. By the end of this year the coaxial cable network, connecting this area with the East Coast, will be in operation and will transmit programs regularly to WBEN-TV. Network service, making program material in many cities available to the inter-connected television stations, is a reality now. Microwave radio-relay systems link Boston, Schenectady and New York. Philadelphia, and the other cities are connected by coaxial cable.
A television network via coaxial cable will be in operation this Fall between St. Louis, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland and Buffalo. This will carry some Midwest football telecasts. This service will be inter-connected with New York by way of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.
The station connected with NBC on Sept. 20, but not with New York. Using cable and relay stations, an NBC Mid-West Network was cobbled together with stations in St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Toledo, Detroit and Cleveland. ABC had its own counterpart in Cleveland, Milwaukee and Chicago, and WBEN-TV took advantage of both of them on the 20th.
WBEN-TV TELECASTS HALF-HOUR SALUTE AS MID-WEST NET OPENS
At 11:22 Monday night the figure of Broadway's ageless Willie Howard reluctantly faded from the television screen, triumphantly climaxing four entertainment-packed hours that launched WBEN-TV and Buffalo into network television.
Stars of Buffalo and ballet, radio and rodeo, sports and Shakespeare and of other entertainment media passed clearly before our home receiver and before thousands of other screens as far apart as Tennessee and Ontario. Those twin miracles of modern communication, television and the coaxial cable, combined for the inaugural of the NBC Mid-West Television Network—a one-time, star-studded showcase that gave television a mighty push forward. There was no perceptible difference in clarity between Buffalo-originated programs and shows that first had to travel hundreds of miles underground by cable.
Football Telecast Saturday
Preceding the NBC-TV opening gunnery was a Admiral Radio's mountain-music melee, in which WBEN-TV joined three American Broadcasting Company stations. An Admiral spokesman said the company, soon to turn out 5000 sets a week, was showing its faith in network television by sponsoring the Notre Dame football telecasts, which start on WBEN-TV with Saturday's Purdue game.
The first half-hour and the last 82 minutes of the three-hour-plus NBC salute came from St. Louis' Opera House, where the comely Jinx Falkenburg guided the precedent-packed proceedings. At the start she asked Willie Howard whether television would bring back vaudeville. "Vaudeville will bring back television," said Willie, who later tried to prove it with a mighty one-man boost.
Film Story of Cable Shown
NBC President Niles Trammell, predicting the linking of East and West networks "around Christmas time," said: "To bring American people closer together, for a fuller enjoyment of life . . . for the better education of our children. NBC tonight dedicates its Midwest network."
Following the filmed story of the tremendous task of "sewing" the coaxial cable 30 feet underground came the NBC television-recorded parade of past achievements, heralding network fare to come: Ballet dancers, the Dewey and Truman convention speeces [sic], Ben Grauer's high school quiz, Buffalo's Bob Smith and his Howdy Doody puppet, "Television Screen Magazine." a scene from "Henry V" and a telecast from the carrier Leyte.
In an artfully-contrived night-club setting, WBEN-TV presented its local salute, with Clint Buehlman as roving emcee and with Max Miller's music.
Crotty Speaks
Seen-and-heard performers were the Arthur Murray dance team of Ryan and Williams, Vocalist Marian Sanders, Cartoonist Stu Hample and Accordionist Oakley Yale.
Council President Peter J. Crotty, who spoke informally from his table, lauded the planners of the “network linking Buffalo with its sister cities of the lakes and with St. Louis” and called it "a tribute to engineering skill." Around the tables were such old radio hands as Ralph Hubbell, Sally Work, Jim Trantcr and Ironic Joe Wesp who, always in character, claimed that the boiling Kleig lights were causing him to see Buehly through fog-covered glasses. WBEN's Ed Wegman read a telegram from Edward H. Butler, editor and Publisher of The Buffalo Evening News and president of WBEN.
French in Three Languages
From St. Louis came a smoothly-paced show—roller-skaters, the Van Damme swing quintet, the ludicrous Jerry Bergen, Andre and his stiff-jointed human mannequins, Buck and Bubbles of Broadway dance-and-comedy fame, Vocalist Jane Pickens and—Willie Howard.
Prof. Howard, who claimed he taught French in three languages, admitted an affliction in his diction. He gave priceless imitations of Chevalier and Jolson and was ably abetted by double-talking Harold Gary. At one point Jinx said that nearly every city but Toledo and Buffalo had phoned. Immediately WBEN's switchboard was swamped with requests for Jinx's address. Later she rmearked [sic] that calls had come in from Buffalo, East Aurora, Auburn and “Ontario, Canada,” all in the WBEN-TV orbit. Mr. Howard also announced that a group of "500 were listening in Buffalo."
Although a definite network schedule has not been announced, a portent of good things to come was that welcome sound at station-break:
“This is NBC in Buffalo—WBEN-TV.”
Regular Schedule by Christmas
The opening of television network service to Buffalo "means new programs, bigger programs and more programs," Mr. Butler said in the telegram. "From here on an increasing number of network programs will augment the local shows on WBEN-TV," he wired from out of town. "By Christmas-time, dependent upon final completion of coaxial cable facilities, we expect to telecast a regular schedule of network programs in addition to continual programs in locally-originated programs.
"Since WBEN-TV was dedicated . . . we have developed many program sources. Alert advertisers have made the acquaintance of this new medium. WBEN-TV is proud to be associated with the pioneer NBC television network. To take advantage of all the network and local programs which will be offered. I again want to suggest that this is the time to get your television receiver . . . There will be too many fine programs of all kinds to miss."
The first New York-based NBC shows to appear on WBEN-TV were recordings of Stop Me If You’ve Hard This One, followed by Philco Television Playhouse, starting Sunday, Oct. 31, 1948. Election results on November 3 originated from the NBC affiliate in Cleveland. WBEN-TV also picked up football games from the ABC Midwest network.
Finally, NBC joined its two regional networks for a first combined broadcast on January 11, 1949. We have omitted comments from political and network talking heads contained in the News story the following day:
WBEN-TV OPENS VISTA TO NEW WORLD WITH NETWORK TELEVISION
WBEN-TV opened new windows to the world for the Buffalo area Tuesday [11] on television's biggest technical night—a night that turned out to be a milestone in entertainment, too.
Network television, hailed as the most important entertainment development since the invention of the talkies—began as topnotch artists performed and officials of government and industry hailed the linking of the East and Mid-west networks of the Bell System, connecting 32 stations in 14 cities.
The 2100-mile cable and radio-relay network covers an area in which one-fourth of the nation's population lives. Speakers foresaw an Atlantic-to-Pacific hookup by 1950.
It was a night that glorified that magic thread—the coaxial cable —and the A T & T film that deftly explained its marvels was as fascinating as the parade of diversified entertainers who used it.
Whole Program Traced
The progress of a program was traced from studio via camera and electric impulses to Bell System wire to underground cable to telephone buildings to each of the 14 cities via cable and radio relay towers — all the way from New York City to a home receiver in Walkershaw, Wis. And all in less than 1/200th part of a second. Actual TV pictures of ballet dancers were traced through all the devious routes.
Each network using the system furnished a quarter-hour of entertainment. Arthur Godfrey, in as plain a setting as his old-shoe patter, started off for CBS, with orchestra, vocalists and a really amazing marionette-puppet act called the Lucky Pup Show. Godfrey's parting news flash: “Gov. Warren of California has given the weather 24 hours to get out.”
Dumont Network builts [sic] its show in a more decorative setting around Maestro-Singer Ted Steele, a clever, unnamed girl dancer and a literally long-haired violinist, with the orchestra featuring "Warsaw Concerto."
Berle & Richman
NBC's was a two-man show—but what a duo! Milton Berle, proving by his ad-libbing why he is television's No. 1 star, shared billing with Harry Richman. Harry, with inevitable top hat and cane, sang the inevitable "Putting on the Ritz" and—also inevitably—donned blackface before your eyes and impersonated Al Jolson in "April Showers " Berle, speaking in behalf of NBC (“and HOW I'd like to be half of NBC”), twitted audience and musicians alike. Of his unseen band-leader, Allen Roth, he remarked: "If he's a conductor, I want a transfer." The finale was a blackface, straw-hat vaudeville throwback with Richman.
ABC gave the best sample of TV technique-to-come, with a whodunit involving four theatrical people implicated in a compatriot's murder. An inquiring inspector, was out of sight most of the time, in the approximate position of the home viewer, with characters handing him varied murder exhibits. . . .
Preceding the inaugural, Announcer Ward Fenton, spokesman for WBEN-TV, traced outstanding local shows since the station's inception in May, pointing out that the more-than-10,000 receivers purchased since then bespoke the Buffalo area's faith in the station and television.
WBEN-TV begins regular network service this afternoon at 5:45 with Buffalo Bob Smith's Howdy Doody Show from New York, with the Kukla-Fran-and-Ollie puppet program, Camel Newsreel and Kraft Television Theater on the evening's NBC fare.
Toronto Radio Executives See WBEN-TV's Hookup
TORONTO, Jan. 12.—More than 100 members and guests of the Toronto Radio Executives Club saw the East-Midwest network inaugural show over WBEN-TV Wednesday night on receivers installed in the King Edward Hotel. The TV sets were placed by Harry Dawson, director of the special projects department of Canadian General Electric. Sidney Lancaster is president of the executives' club.
Burglar Alarm Set Off By Television Fans
An ADT burglar alarm sounded at 9:54 o'clock Tuesday evening at the S. W. Miner Motor Corporation, 1563 Main St., bringing four police cars to the scene. The report: "Nothing to it—just employes returning to the store to see the television show."
The day’s programming:
6:30—Test Pattern. 6:45—Musical Interlude. 6:55—The Playbill, preview. 7:00—Kukla, Fran and Ollie, RCA Show (NBC Midwest Network). 7:30—Telenews Daily, Martino Reel. 7:40—Musical Interlude. 8:00—The Day’s News in Pictures. 8:07—Harry Miller, the Piano Man. 8:20—“Who’s Who,” with Joel Warren Spiegelman, 16-year-old piano prodigy. 8:30—The New Thrill, film—Oldsmobile program. 8:59—Bulova Tie, correct to second. 9:00—Behind Your Radio Dial, film. 9:30-11:00—Network Dedicatory Program—Addresses by FCC Chairman, Wayne Coy; President Leroy A. Wilson of AT&T; and presidents of NBC, ABC, CBS and Dumont; NBC Variety Show, starring Milton Berle; CBS program with Arthur Godfrey; Dumont Salute with Ted Steele; ABC Mystery Program, “Stand By for Crime” (East and Midwest linking).
Meanwhile, that sure bet, the bid for a station by the Buffalo Courier-Journal, wasn’t going anywhere.
