NBC radio in Los Angeles had huge stars on the air—Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Burns and Allen, Fibber McGee and Molly, Al Jolson, the guest actors of the Screen Guild Theatre, and many more. When NBC’s radio station in Los Angeles went full-time into television the biggest star they could drum up for a regular show was—the guy who played Charlie Weaver, Cliff Arquette.
To be fair, KFI was an affiliate of NBC; a local station. The station and the network had studios in different locations. And when KFI-TV held its “opening night” on October 6, 1948, it was not an NBC affiliate. Even if it was, there was no way it could connect to the company’s television network, which was linked to cable and relay stations that went only as far as St. Louis.
KFI-TV was Los Angeles’ third to go on the air. That October, its competition was Don Lee’s KTSL, which was still officially the experimental station W6XAO, and Paramount’s WXYZ.
The owner of KFI decided in 1939 to get into television. Broadcasting of April 1 reported:
Anthony Seeks Television
EARLE C. ANTHONY Inc., operating KFI and KECA, Los Angeles, made known its intention of entering the television field March 25 when the FCC announced its application for an experimental visual broadcasting station to operate with 1,000 watts on 42000-56000 kc. The station would be located at a site to be determined in Los Angeles. RCA equipment would be used. The Anthony television application is the fifth now pending before the FCC's television committee, the others being those of WTMJ, Milwaukee; Crosley Radio Corp., Cincinnati; Don Lee Broadcasting System, San Francisco, and KSTP, St. Paul. All of the applications have been referred to the FCC television committee.
On November 15, 1940 the FCC granted a construction permit to Anthony to operate on Channel 6 (96,000 to 102,000 kcs.) at one kilowatt; Variety of November 20 said the station’s purpose was “for a study of the effect of ignition and diathermy interference, and transmission over salt water to Catalina Island.”
Anthony submitted a new application for a commercial television station on Channel 6 on August 18, 1941, and a construction permit was awarded on Sept. 16, 1941. A story in Variety dated Sept. 30 said the call letters would be KSEE. A completion date on Jan. 15, 1942 was approved by the FCC. But the war got in the way, and Broadcasting magazine of June 29, 1942 mentioned “inability to obtain materials necessary for building has promoted abandonment of immediate plans for the new KSEE.”
With the war nearing an end, KFI made another move. Television magazine of May 1945 revealed:
Earle C. Anthony, 141 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
They are requesting reinstatement of a construction permit for commercial television station KSEE which Anthony allowed to expire. At the same time he wants to modify the terms of his construction permit to give 95% coverage of the Los Angeles metropolitan area rather than the 91% possible at the transmitter site and with the aural equipment he proposed using originally.
Anthony is asking for Channel No. 6 (96-102 mc), and plans to use RCA-transmitter equipment with visual power at 3 kw and 1kw aural. He hopes now to locate his transmitter either on Mt. Wilson in the San Gabriel range at an elevation 5728 feet or on Mt. Harvard at an elevation of 5440 feet.
Both sites are about 16 airline miles from the center of Los Angeles, about 115 miles from San Diego and 93 miles distant from Santa Barbara. Either site would give line-of-sight coverage of greater portion of metropolitan Los Angeles and most of the inhabited region within a 130-mile radius. His application estimates total cost of KSEE at $163,000, with a monthly operating cost of $9,250.
Anthony is licensee of KFI in Los Angeles and is also in the automobile finance and insurance business.
When the application was filed with the FCC on June 6, 1945, the Hollywood Reporter and other media reported it was to operate on Channel 2 (60 to 66 mcs.).
It was almost a year later before hearings on applications for TV stations in Los Angeles began. There were several hearings involving KSEE and seven other applicants beginning May 20, 1946. The Los Angeles Times on May 22 outlined Anthony’s testimony.
ANTHONY REVEALS PLAN FOR TELEVISION STATION
Some of the fine points of what will be offered the public over television in the future were disclosed yesterday [21] by agents of Earle C. Anthony, Inc., at a hearing in the Federal Building, where seven applicants are seeking television permits.
For one thing, the housewife will be able to turn on her television set and see previews of the latest in household gadgets and at a later hour the latest fashions of various department stores modeled for her approval.
Varied Programs Planned
Also there will be programs for the children with puppeteers, technical demonstrations for farmers of how to treat diseased citrus trees or improved methods of budding, grafting or pruning.There will be newsreels, too, according to the proposed schedule, along with news commentary with still pictures of persons prominent in current events.
Earle C. Anthony, in person, was the key witness at the hearing which is being conducted by Harry Plotkin, assistant chief counsel for the Federal Communications Commission.
Initial Loss Expected
After telling the aims of his organization, Anthony was asked by an attorney for the Hughes Tool Co., another applicant, if he was willing to spend $1,800,000 for his television plant.
"I'm willing to spend enough," Anthony answered.
"How long would you be willing to operate your station at a loss of $400,000 a year?" the attorney continued.
"That depends upon the income from KFI," Anthony said.
Costs In Doubt
Anthony pointed out that it was impossible to estimate accurately the cost of the project, but he said his firm would be willing to meet all reasonable expenses and expects to operate at a loss for some time.
The principal owner of radio station KVI added he does not expect television to become profitable for several years until receiving sets are made available to everyone at reasonable prices.
Five additional applicants for the seven available permits still are to be heard by the government, which is holding hearings in Room 324 in the Federal Building. The hearing probably will last another week.
The FCC approved seven construction permits on December 19; KFI was given Channel 9 despite requesting Channel 4 (NBC got Channel 4). Variety of Dec. 25 pointed out: “A split FCC vote of 4-2 was cast on the Anthony grant, with Commissioners Clifford J. Durr and Rosel Hyde voting to defer action until the commission decides whether or not to renew the license of his station KFI, Los Angeles KFI is on the hook because of protests against its firing of six commentators in 1945 and a new policy requiring all commentators to be employees.” There was no mention of the KSEE call-letters in any of the available media reports.
1947 came and went. The first real news about KFI-TV came in April when it was announced the station would televised Los Angeles Rams football with Union Oil putting up $40,000 in sponsor money. The Hollywood Reporter of April 28 also mentioned away games would be filmed for later broadcast. A United Press dispatch of June 28 reported former Rams star Tommy Harmon had been hired to do the play-by-play.
Test patterns had been expanded starting Tuesday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Fridays. Listings in the Citizen-News said they were accompanied with music. And actual programming was getting closer. Variety has this on Aug. 4, 1948.
KFI-TV BOWS AUG. 25 WITH FOOTBALL REMOTE
Hollywood, Aug. 3.
KFI-TV will be on the air this week over channel nine with program tests. Tele station will start broadcasting regularly with remotes of the Los Angeles Rams football games sponsored by Union Oil of California. First tilt will be televised on Aug. 25.
KFI's program tests to go on this week will be of the Los Angeles baseball games at Wrigley field. Games, up to this time, have been broadcast exclusively by Paramount's KTLA but station does not have the exclusive rights to games according to KFI. Earle C. Anthony station has had an arrangement with Wrigley Field to pick up the games for televising when they found themselves ready. Station has been running a series of closed circuits tests now to break in a green camera crew.
KFI took out a full-page ad in Broadcasting of Aug. 16 in a newspaper story format.
KFI BEGINS COMMERCIAL SHOWS THIS MONTH
AS ITS six-week test programming period nears completion, KFI-TV, Los Angeles, will embark on commercial telecasts late this month. First commercial series will be the Union Oil-sponsored Los Angeles Rams intra-squad game. Formal dedication of the TV station's new studios and official opening date has been set for October 6.
A heavy promotional barrage, which began this month, will reach its climax during the week of the official opening with the publication of a special television issue of the Los Angeles Downtown Shopping News. The Shopping News with a circulation of more than 500,000 copies, twice weekly, cooperates with KFI on a continuous mutual promotion.
The station's new television studios, immediately adjacent to the standard broadcast studios, were completed in late July and all equipment will be installed and tests completed before the final week in September. KFI-TV's main studio, measuring 40 by 70 feet, will be supplemented by remote studios.
Initial broadcast schedule will be 16 hours weekly with a large share of this programming allocated to Saturday and Sunday. At first the Earle C. Anthony outlet may operate on a five-day schedule starting Wednesday of each week.
Opening of the station will cap two years work by KFI organization, highlighted by intensive tests of the all-new RCA equipment in recent months.
First test pattern [15 minutes in length] went out June 21, three weeks ahead of schedule, from the station's Mt. Wilson transmitter. Since that time thorough tests of all remote points in the vicinity have been made as reports from San Diego to Ventura flowed in that KFI-TV's pattern was being well received.
Close to four and one-half million persons will be in the KFI-TV service area, first estimates indicate.
As promised, the station began commercial programming on Aug. 25, 1948. Here’s the Hollywood Citizen-News preview.
Preliminary Testing Is Over For Los Angeles' Third Video Station
By ZUMA PALMER
Television set owners will now have more programs from which to choose because KFI-TV will transmit approximately seven hours a week beginning today—12 or more starting Oct. 6.
"Picture Lady," an hour's show for children at 7 with Caroline Burke at the helm, will open the bill. With her will be the Nick Nelson puppets, Chief Wah-nee-ota, who will talk about Indian lore, and Roy Gordon, who will tell in words and drawings the story of Emo the Elephant.
Pat Bishop, KFI news editor; Tom Harmon, the station's sports director, and Kathleen Wilson Stockwell, newspaperwoman, will have a half hour at 8. A concert by Bob Mitchell, KFI music director; Paul Owen and Buddy Jobe of "Ladies Day" and Betty Mills, harpist, will be telecast at 8:30.
Bridge fans will learn about the game from Robert Lee Johnson at 9. Jose Rodriguez, an authority on subjects musical, and John Crown, pianist, will be on your screen at 9:15 if you so elect. A 45-minute version of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Mikado" by the California Light Opera Co. is scheduled for 9:30.
These are all experimental programs so their length of life has yet to be determined.
And Broadcasting of Aug. 23 added some information.
TV Is Starting With 6-Hour Week
To Begin 12-Hour Schedule Oct. 6 At Formal Opening
KFI-TV Los Angeles will start its programming Aug. 25 on a six hour per week basis, according to William B. Ryan, general manager. Through special authorization from the FCC, the station will not reach the level of 12 hours weekly until Oct. 6, date scheduled for the station’s formal opening.Opening week will be divided upon a Wednesday, Friday, Sunday basis, according to Mr. Ryan. Two of the days will consist of remotes with the first comprising a children’s hour, news and sportscasts, music appreciation, a forum and light musical; according to Ronald C. Oxford, executive producer.
Mr. Ryan advised BROADCASTING, “We have developed a great many program ideas and formats during the past few months. Many of them have been auditioned on camera. Now we expect to ‘audition’ some of them for the television audience before our program schedule actually takes shape.”
The next day of programming was Aug. 27. The Pasadena Star-News explains what was on:
Electric Exposition on Television at 8
KFI-TV, television station now in operation on a test basis, will transmit a two-hour program from the Electrical Exposition at Pan-Pacific Auditorium tonight starting at 8. The station, on Channel 9, will be on the air on a test basis from 3 until the program time. The program will include a video tour of the exposition, music by the Belmont Shores Fiesta Quartet, Pat Bishop and the news, Tom Harmon interviewing Glenn Davis, Comedian Duane Truax, Joan Schafer and her "Canine Court," Leonora Conn and her "Mail Bag of Household Tricks." Bob Moon will be m.c. and Helen Parish, Miss Television of New York in 1947, will be mistress of ceremonies.
Looking at the first two weeks of programming, there are some remotes and that’s it.
Aug. 28: to 6:00—Tests and Records.
Aug. 29: 7:00—Tests and Records; 8 to 11—Aqua Gala, swimming show from Coliseum Swimming Stadium.
Sep. 2: 4:00—Tests and Records; 7 to 10—Experimental Program from Wrigley Field. Charity football game, Rams vs. Washington, sponsored by Rexall.
Sep. 3: 4:30—Tests and Records.
Sep. 4: to 6:00—Tests and Records.
Sep. 5: 5:00—Tests and Records; 7 to 10—Experimental Program.
Sep. 9: 12:00—Tests and Records; 2:00—Program; 3 to 5—Tests and Records.
Sep. 10: 3:15—Tests and Records.
Sep. 11: 12 to 6—Tests and Records.
Sep. 12: 2:00-2:30—Tests and Records; 2:30 to 5—Aquacade and Fashion Show from Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Incidentally, another station began tests on Sept. 15—Channel 13, KLAC, was on the air from 6 to 9. It was their only day of testing, but that’s a story for another time.
Finally, the station was ready for an official, formal sign-in with an actual studio programme. Here’s a summary from the Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1948 edition of the Citizen-News looking at the evening’s telecast”
Adolphe Menjou Unofficial Host At KFI-TV ‘Opening Night’ Party
By ZUMA PALMER
Billie Burke, Martha Tilton, George McManus, creator of Maggie and Jiggs; Lois Butler, Meredith Willson, Art Baker, Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Supervisor Raymond V. Darby and Earle C. Anthony will salute the start of regular programming by KFI-TV. They will be seen in the "Shall We Join the Party" 8:30 to 10:15 section of a three hour live show. The first feature, at 7 p.m., will be "Buffalo Billy," a film for children about a three dimensional Character. Cliff Arquette at 7:15 will preview his forthcoming "Television Talent Test" and Robert Armbruster, NBC "Music Hall" conductor, will be the quizmaster of his own show "Let's Face the Music." Constantin Bakaleinikoff, RKO music director; Soulima Stravinsky, concert pianist, and Eula Beal, San Francisco Opera contralto, will be his guests at 7:30.
Tom Harmon, whose Hoffman Huddle, is scheduled for 8, was called East by the illness of his father. Ted Meyers and Bob Waterfield will take over.
KFI-TV, which went on the air with a test pattern June 21 and with experimental programming on Aug. 25, will telecast programs Wednesday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 10 approximately. It has three studios and all RCA equipment. Cool lights, which must be a joy to the entertainers and technicians, are used.
STAFF
The staff includes Haan J. Tyler, program director; Ronald C. Oxford, executive producer; Robert Livingstone, remote program director; James Leaman, Bob Hiestand and Ken Higgins, directors; Lumir Mathauser, production facilities manager; Tom Harmon, sports director; James Love, film editor; and H. L. Blatterman, Curtis Mason, Seymour Johnson and Bryan Cole, engineers. Kevin B. Sweeney is sales manager.
William B. Ryan, general manager, said that KFI-TV will have an affiliation with a San Diego and Santa Barbara station and probably with one in San Francisco. The Southern California stations will be able to take programs directly off the air from KFI-TV and put them on their own channel.
More from Broadcasting, Oct. 11:
1/2-Hour Broadcast Marks KFI-TV Bow
KFI-TV Los Angeles, owned and operated by Earle C. Anthony Inc., made its formal bow Oct. 6, presenting three and a half hours of programming with Adolphe Menjou as m.c. On air since August with six hours weekly, the station will now broadcast 12 hours. It is on Channel 9 (186-192 mc). Coincident with kickoff, William B. Ryan, general manager of KFI's AM, FM and TV operations, announced that KFI-TV is open to television network possibilities other than NBC. The fact that NBC already has a TV outlet in Los Angeles, makes a TV affiliation with NBC unfeasible, Mr. Ryan said. Station continues, however, as NBC standard affiliate.
Expanding on this, Mr. Ryan felt that a regional network might take the form of a "voluntary chain deal rather than one dominated by KFI." He suggested the possibility of a mutual agreement for relay and/or kinescope networking between stations north of Santa Barbara and San Francisco and south to San Diego. He felt that KFI might aid in sales and programming for member stations of such a network.
"KFI-TV is the only local TV station in Los Angeles," Mr. Ryan told BROADCASTING. Referring to the other stations he said:
"If their TV interest is not national, then their parent company is national."
In viewing the future of television development in Los Angeles, he felt that a purely local station could operate programming and overall policies in more elastic fashion to meet needs of agencies and their clients.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6
7:00—“Buffalo Bill.” 7:15—Cliff Arquette. 7:30—“Let’s Face the Music.” 7:50—News. 8:00—“Sports Huddle.” 8:15—Film on Video. 8:30—“Shall We Join the Party.”
THURSDAY, OCT. 7
11:30-5:00—Tests. 7:00—Electrostatics. 7:10—Witness Chair. 7:35—Mary and Harry. 7:50—News. 8:00—Mitchell Boy Choir. 8:20—Maritime Provinces of Canada. 8:30—Treasures of Literature.
FRIDAY, OCT. 8
11:30-5:00—Tests. 7:00—For Children Only. 7:30—Three Fellows. 7:50—News. 8:00—Press Women in the News. 8:15-9:00—Home Town.
SATURDAY, OCT. 9
7:00—Cartoons. 8:00—Football, Pepperdine vs. San Jose State.
SUNDAY, OCT. 10
7:00—Ladies’ Day. 7:20—Film, “High Plain.” 7:40—Shopping Quiz with the “Mail Bag.” 7:50—News. 8:00—Viewpoint Unlimited. 8:30—Dr. Handy. 8:50—Film, “Robin Red Breast.” 9:00—Amiable Detective.
MONDAY, OCT. 11 and TUESDAY, OCT. 12
No programming.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 13
11:30-5:00—Tests. 6:45—Tests. 7:00—Julian Brian, Travelogue. 7:20—Mitchell Boy Choir. 7:50—News. 8:00—Trick of the Week. 8:05—Bridge Club. 8:15—Tom Harmon.
The picture below was taken Oct. 10, 1948 at the dedication of the new Times-Mirror building. When the footage aired on KFI-TV is unclear.
