The third TV station in Baltimore got quick approval from the FCC, thanks to other applicants changing their minds.
The Radio-Television Corporation of Baltimore was “readying a bid” for a commercial license, according to the May 1, 1946 issue of Variety. This happened after Maryland Broadcasting, Tower Realty and Joseph M. Zamoiski Co. pulled out of the running for one of Baltimore’s three channels. Broadcasting, on May 6, 1946, reported the only outfits left were Hearst Radio (owners of WBAL radio) and A.S. Abell Co. (owners of the Baltimore Sun). Radio-Television’s application was filed on May 7, asking to use channel 11, 198-204 megacycles, and power of 3 kilowatts aural and 5 visual. However, the day before, Hearst requested to amend its application from channel 6 to 11.
With only three companies applying for three available channels, all the FCC had to do was sort out who went where. Broadcasting of May 27, 1948 reported everything was decided by May 21.
Television Stations Granted to Three
Baltimore Receives Two New Outlets, New Mexico One
TWO MORE commercial television stations for Baltimore and one for Albuquerque were authorized by the FCC last Tuesday [21].
The Baltimore grants went to Hearst Radio Inc. (WBAL) and Radio-Television of Baltimore Inc. The one for Albuquerque went to Albuquerque Broadcasting Co. (KOB).
Approval of the Baltimore applications, only ones remaining out of six originally filed, filled the last two channels available there. First grant for that city went to A. S. Abell Co. (Baltimore Sun) the Week before [May 17]. Three applicants have withdrawn.
Hearst Authorization
Hearst Radio's authorization, issued over Comr. C. J. Durr's vote for a hearing, was for use of Channel No. 11, 198-204 mc, with 14.4-kw visual and 7.3-kw aural power, and antenna height of 456 feet. . . .
Radio-Television of Baltimore was assigned Channel 13, 210-216 mc, with 31.65-kw visual and 20-kw aural power, and antenna height of 410 feet. The company is principally owned by Ben and Herman Cohen, who own clothing stores and real estate interests in a number of cities.
The name WAAM was assigned to the station the following month (Television Digest, June 29, 1946).
Precious little seems to have been written about WAAM, other than the usual requests to the FCC to extend the deadline for it to get on the air. Broadcasting has this update, March 8, 1948:
FIRST TESTS for WAAM, Baltimore's third TV station, will be made in June, well ahead of schedule, according to Norman C. Kal, co-owner and managing director of the station, and head of Kal, Ehrlich and Merrick, Washington, Baltimore and New York agency.Installation of equipment is under the direction of Fred Allman, one of the owners of WAAM, and principal owner of WSVA Harrisonburg, Va., and WSIR Winter Haven, Fla. Chief owners are Ben and Herman Cohen, owners of clothing stores and real estate interests in several cities.
The station is assigned to Channel 13 (210-216 mc). RCA antenna, transmitter, film camera channels, studio and remote channels and micro-wave relay pickup will be used. Truscon Steel Co. 450-foot tower is expected to be delivered next month. Overall cost of real estate, installation, equipment, etc. is said to be nearly a half-million dollars.
Warren L. Braun, formerly of WSVA, is chief engineer of WAAM, and is now assisting Mr. Allman in the installation work.
A tract comprising 10 acres will accommodate the building and parking area for 150 cars. The building, now near completion, provides more than 25,000 square feet of space.
ABC resumed “network” TV programming in April 1948 without a flagship station, and was looking for affiliates. The Hollywood Reporter of July 7, 1948 provided this story:
ABC Signs Up WAAM As Television Affiliate
ABC yesterday [6] completed the nucleus of its Eastern TV network. A two-year affiliation agreement was signed with station WAAM, Baltimore. Agreement gives the network outlets in all leading market and population areas in the East now, including New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston and Washington [sic].Signing of WAAM brings ABC video affiliates to a total of 12. It operates on channel 13.
Broadcasting of July 12, 1948 added: “The station. . .will begin test patterns in August, and regular programming is scheduled for September.” Its issue of August 16, 1948 said WAAM was “now in the final stages of construction.”
When (or if) the station began running test patterns, and when it finalised a start date is unclear, but the station began regular programming on November 1, 1948. It cut the programme schedule a little close. Only the day before, the station signed with DuMont and was broadcasting that network’s shows on opening night (Washington Times-Herald, Nov. 1)
The trades had little to say about the first day of programming, but Variety of Nov. 10 reported on the second day, which was Election Night.
WAAM's Marathoner
Marathon job turned in by all television stations in election night coverage has naturally resulted in a myriad of boasts as to who set the longest continuous programming record. Among the N. Y. broadcasters, DuMont came out on top because of its day-time programming the preceding day (Tues.). Station took the air at 7 a.m. that morning and remained on until 4:34 the following ayem, thereby logging over 21 1/2 hours continuusly.
Lengthiest programming effort, though, was turned in by WAAM, new indie station in Baltimore. Although election day was only its second day of operation, the station teed off at 5:30 that afternoon and programmed for 23 hours and five minutes without a break. Much of its election returns was fed by ABC-TV from N. Y., but WAAM also staged 10 live shows during the marathon, as well as much special film. Feat was especially noteworthy because all the sta-tion's equipment was still in the breaking-in process.
Here’s the first week of programming, a mix of ABC, DuMont, old feature and educational films. DuMont began daytime programming on Nov. 1 (the only network on the air then) but WAAM did not broadcast any of it.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1948
5:30—Test Pattern. 6:00—Small Fry Club with Bob Emery (DuMont). 6:30—Russ Hodges Sports (DuMont). 6:45—Film Shorts (DuMont). 7:00—News and Views (ABC). 7:15—Sports Time. 7:30—Kiernan’s Korner (ABC). 8:00—Child’s World (ABC). 8:15—Film Shorts (DuMont). 8:30—Swing Into Sports (DuMont). 9:00—Film Short (DuMont). 9:30—Court of Current Issues (DuMont). 10:00—“Second Chorus,” Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard. 11:20—Coming Attractions.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1948
5:30—Test Pattern. 6:00—Small Fry Club with Bob Emery (DuMont). 6:30—Russ Hodges Sports (DuMont). 6:45—Maryland Election Report. 7:00—News and Views (ABC). 7:15—Cavalcade of American Presidents (ABC/WEWS). 7:30—Local and national election reports until midnight or later.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1948
5:30—Test Pattern. 6:00—Small Fry Club with Bob Emery (DuMont). 6:30—Russ Hodges Sports (DuMont). 6:45—Alan Dale Show with Janie Ford (DuMont). 7:00—News and Views with Walter Kiernan (ABC). 7:15—Sports Time. 7:30—Critic at Large, John Mason Brown with Ben Fine and Mrs. Dorothy Rodgers in “The Teachers Dilemma” (ABC). 8:00—Club Seven with Johnny Thompson (ABC). 8:30—Quizzing the News with Allen Prescott (ABC). 9:00—Boxing from Jamaica Arena (DuMont). 10:00—Coming Attractions.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1948
5:30—Test Pattern.
6:00—Small Fry Club with Bob Emery (DuMont).
6:30—Russ Hodges Sports (DuMont).
6:45—Film Shorts (DuMont).
7:00—News and Views (ABC).
7:15—Travel Time.
7:30—Film Shorts.
8:00—The Fashion Story, sponsored by Dan River Fabric (ABC).
8:30—Charade Quiz (DuMont).
9:00—Film, “Tom Brown's School Days” (RKO, 1940) with Cedric Hardwicke, Freddie Bartholomew, Billy Halop (ABC).10:30—Coming Attractions.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1948
5:30—Test Pattern. 6:00—Small Fry Club with Bob Emery (DuMont). 6:30—Russ Hodges Sports (DuMont). 6:45—Film Shorts (DuMont). 7:00—News and Views (ABC). 7:15—Sports Time. 7:30—“Tales of the Red Caboose” (ABC). 7:45—Film Shorts (ABC?). 8:00—Gay Nineties Revue (ABC). 8:30—Candid Microphone with Allen Funt (ABC). 9:00—Break the Bank (ABC). 9:30—Wrestling from Jamaica Arena (DuMont, in progress). 11:00—Coming Attractions. Note: President Truman appeared on CBS and DuMont at 10:50 a.m., and ABC and NBC at 11 a.m. There is no indication this special broadcast was picked up on any Baltimore stations.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1948
6:30—Test Pattern. 7:00—News and Views (ABC). 7:15—Cartoon 7:30—Joe Hasel Sports Review (ABC). 7:45—Three About Town (ABC). 8:00—“Queen of the Jungle.” 8:20—“Return of the Buffalo” (Educational, 1938) narrated by Corey Thomson. 8:30—Film, “Swiss Family Robinson” (RKO, 1940) with Thomas Mitchell, Freddie Bartholomew, Bobby Quillan (ABC). 10:00—Coming Attractions.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1948
6:30—Test Pattern. 7:00—Original Amateur Hour with Ted Mack (DuMont). 8:00—“Hollywood Screen Test” (ABC). 8:30—The Actors Studio (ABC). 9:00—Feature film. 10:15—Coming Attractions. 10:20—Sign off.
