Showing posts with label KLAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KLAC. Show all posts

Thursday, 17 September 2026

The Tribulations of KLAC-TV

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

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

Today that station occupies Channel 13 in Los Angeles.

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Here’s Broadcasting of July 5:

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


An update from Variety on July 28:

KLAC Sets Sights On Sept. Preem; Accent To Be on Disk Jockeys
Hollywood, July 27.
KLAC will have its television station in operation by the latter part of September, according to Don Fedderson, v-p and general manager, and will be largely a disk jockey operation, according to present trend at station.
Fedderson stated that station is spending $68,000 on the Mt. Wilson video site, on which construction has already begun, and $15,000 on their TV studio, which is being added to station's present broadcast building. All construction is expected to be completed in from 12 to 16 weeks.
KLAC-TV's technical equipment is all on hand, and engineers are in the east along with program personnel, studying video workings of operation stations.
Four platter spinners at the station, AI Jarvis, Bob McLaughlin, Dick Haynes and Don Otis, are churning tele ideas as applied to records.
Jarvis may use his "Squeeley the Cat," standard broadcast airer, on TV fare, and station feels McLaughlin's "Picture Album" is videoperative. Don Haynes' "Studio Frolics" will be worked into KLAC-TV programming, and Otis reportedly is shaping up an idea of his own.
Meanwhile, Warners is awaiting a decision from the FCC regarding the sale of the Thackery stations, KLAC and KYA, San Francisco. Fedderson would not comment on negotiations between studio and Thackery's, but general feeling is that sale is much more likely to include TV channel if KLAC has its video station in operation.

Variety, Sept. 1:

KLAC-TV AIMS FOR SEPT. 15 KICKOFF
Hollywood, Aug. 31
KLAC expects to have its Mt. Wilson tele transmitter erected within 20 days, according to Don Fedderson station manager. RCA engineers were flown here from New York, arriving Thursday (26).
Engineers claim the record for putting up a transmitter is 40 days. Fedderson has asked them to cut this in half so he can get KLAC-TV on the air by Sept. 15.


Meanwhile, back at the sale.... Variety, Sept. 8:

Thackrey-Warner Coast 'Package' Deal Hits Snags
Washington, Sept. 7.
The Dorothy S. Thackrey sale to Warners of her West Coast radio interests hit several new snags last week. Los Angeles Broadcasting Co., in a surprise move, filed for channel 13 in L.A., for which she already holds a CP. Southern California Television Co. asked the FCC to deny her request to transfer.
Mrs. Thackrey wants to sell KYA, San Francisco, KLAC and KLAC-TV, Los Angeles, to Warners for $1,045,00[0]. Southern objects to the "package" deal, and has asked FCC to request a breakdown of price for each facility. Los Angeles Broadcasting Co., which owns KFAC, does not care to meet the Warners price for the TV channel.
KFAC is owned and operated by Calvin J. Smith. His partners in the TV station are E. L. Cord, wealthy rancher, real estate, and mining man. He is the owner of Pan Pacific Auditorium in L.A. His son, Charles E. Cord, and an attorney, Edward D. Neuhoff, are the other partners, although E. L. Cord, owns all the stock.
The proposed TV station is filing the first application for a channel for which a construction permit has already been granted. However, the company feels that since Mrs. Thackrey is planning to sell the channel, and not enter the tele field, the channel should be reallocated.
Southern, composed of Ed Pauley and a group of Los Angeles business men, filed their objection to the sale with FCC and asked for a chance to bid under the AVCO rule. In their second petition they point out that if the price isn't broken down Warners may realize a tremendous profit on the sale of KLAC Warners must sell KLAC because of multiple interests in the same city.
Mrs. Thackrey says she can't provide a breakdown as Warners is assuming certain obligations in the purchase price. Both she and Warners cited 33 cases where AM, FM and TV sales of purely broadcast properties had been made by a "package" deal.
If the Commission accepts KFAC's bid for the channel, hearings will have to be called, according to attorneys for the station.


KLAC soon had a reason to get on the air fast. Variety of Sept. 8 reported on a programming deal:

Indie KLAC Pays 75G For Coast Tele Package Of 13 USC, UCLA Games
Hollywood, Sept. 7.
KLAC has captured the University of Southern California-University of California in Los Angeles television package for a reported $75,000. Indie station is not yet tele-casting.
Package will be a 13-game series emanating from the Los Angeles Coliseum. Two colleges will each play six games plus the grid tilt between themselves. USC-UCLA football games will be the only Pacific Coast Conference games to be telecast this year. First battle will be held on Friday, Sept. 17. KLAC-TV expects to have its tele signal booming two days prior.
KLAC-TV first announced that it expected to be in operation by mid September, on July 6. Station broke ground for its Mt. Wilson transmitter 10 weeks ago and has been working day and night since that time.
New TV studio being erected at standard broadcast site will be ready within three weeks. Station is also expecting a $13,000 remote pickup truck within the week. Eric Harris, former lenser for John Ford has joined station's tele staff as top cameraman.


The first test patterns went out on Tuesday, September 14, according to that day's Hollywood Reporter. That was enough for Don Fedderson. The transmitter was shut off until the station debuted three days later. Here are two stories about the first day of programming, September 17. First, from Variety, Sept. 22 and then from Billboard, Sept. 25.

KLAC Gets On Air After Fast And Rough Ride
Hollywood. Sept. 21.
No station will ever encounter more difficulties than those be-setting KLAC-TV on its premiere telecast last Friday night (17). Taking to the air after one night of testing, the station was forced to use makeshift mobile equipment to pick up the USC-Utah football game, its $12,000 truck being involved in a rail crackup at Omaha.
When its 2-20 lens failed to arrive, hurried calls were put through to Camden, N. J., to fly it out. A police escort hurried the lens to the Coliseum and it was adjusted just before the kickoff. Without sufficient time for testing, the pattern was blurry and the game hard to follow on the long shots. The closeups were acceptable but the camera work none too sharp. It was almost impossible to tell which team was which due to the yellow and white sweaters used by the opposing teams.
KLAC-TV, owned by Dorothy Thackrey and now awaiting FCC approval for sale to Warner Bros., bought football rights to the L. A. games of the Pacific Coast Conference for $75,000. So far there's no sponsor. Fred Henry produced the grid premiere, with Louis Boonshaft, Jr., assisting. Paul Schultz engineered and the audio brought the voice of Sam Baiter. For a fast job KLAC-TV did well enough but the improvement will have to be considerable before it can match the performances of KTLA, KTSL or KFI.


KLAC-TV, Airborne in 90 Days, Debuts With Sock Pigskin Fare
Reviewed Friday (17) , 8:30-11 p.m. Style—Sports remote from Los Angeles Coliseum. Sustaining over KLAC-TV. Producer, Fred Henry; commentator, Sam Batter.
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 18.—KLAC-TV last night became the fourth local outlet to be airborne, kicking off with a footfall remote of which they can be justly proud. The tele infant gave lookers (and the trade) a pleasant surprise. To understand this, it should be noted that ground for the KLAC tele adjunct was broken just three months ago atop Mount Wilson, making this air debut the fastest construction and engineering feat in Coast history. More dramatic, however, was the fact that the station did not air its first test pattern until 12:30 Friday (17) afternoon.
Local video—even competitors—will be ready to admit that the mere fact that KLAC-TV delivered its first airing on sked is no small accomplishment. Many tradesters were giving odds earlier this week that it wouldn't happen. Station can take credit not only for its record-breaking building accomplishment but for the general excellence of this first videocast.
With less than a full day's testing under its belt, the outlet dished out a steady, clear, first-rate picture. There were few if any bugs in pic quality, thanks to able assistance of RCA-Victor tele engineers flown from the East to superyise transmitter installation.
As for game coverage, lensers did a competent job all the way. Using two image orthicons, camera lads were quick to follow the action and sustain game interest. Close-up lensing was particularly effective, with in-playing and scrimmaging caught clearly. Long shots were okay but at times ineffective. As expected, there is room for improvement in camerawork which should come as a natural result of more game experience.
Station has a great deal at stake in this football series, financially as well as prestige-wise. Rights to the USC-UCLA tussles set the outlet back $75,000. So far, a bankroller has not been snagged. It could be surmised that the trade (particularly agency execs who control sponsors purse-strings) were waiting to see what KLAC would do. Acquitting them-selves well in their initial airer, a sale should be forthcoming. With the coast extremely hep to football, the series bids fair to become a top fall tele attraction.
KLAC manager Don Fedderson, tele program director Fred Henry, commentator Sam Bailer and station lensers and technicians deserve a well-earned pat on the back. Station occupied Channel 13 and is, therefore, promoting itself as the "lucky 13" station. Luck was with them last night and they deserved it. Alan Fischler.


1949 rolled along with Thackery, in mid-year, pushing the FCC to allow the sale of the station to Warner Bros. At the end of the year, she changed her mind again. “I do not intend to sell KLAC and KLAC-TV. During this past week, I have refused two offers that were in excess of $1,2500,000. It is my sincere intention to remain in the television and radio business.” (Hollywood Reporter, Dec. 29). The station was sold three times in the 1950s.

Here is the first week of programming, including a review of a show hosted by future schlockmaster Irwin Allen Time Tunnel, Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and others).

FRIDAY, SEPT. 17
8:00—Football, USC-Utah, Colesium.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 18
8:15—Football, UCLA-Washington State, Colesium.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18
No scheduled programming.

MONDAY, SEPT. 19
No scheduled programming.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 21
8:15—Midget Auto Races, Gilmour Stadium.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22
7:30—Don Otis Show, with Dick Sutherland, Roc Hillman’s quartet.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 23
6:30—Tests.
7:30—So This is Art.
8:00—Musical Future.
8:30—Irwin Allen’s Hollywood.
9:00—Bard Players.
HOLLYWOOD MERRY-GO-ROUND
With Irwin Allen, Guests
Producer: Louis Boonshaft
30 Mins., Thurs., 8:30 p.m.
Sustaining KLAC-TV, Los Angeles
Lack of video production and camera knowledge contributed mostly to the downfall of Irwin Allen's "Hollywood Merry-Go-Round." Given high calibre camera work and live wire personalities, this program will work itself into a worthy piece of entertainment.
Allen, m.c., corraled Hugh Herbert, Ellen Drew, George Tobias and Irving Cummings, Jr., for the initialer. Participation of the panel in identifying stills, soundtracks from recent films, a mystery guest and a personality by tracking him or her down through 20 questions is intresting only if guests are allowed to talk rather freely and permitted to banter back and forth in creating a light intimate air. Allen raced through the program adhering to strongly to the script, thus killing the potential atmosphere.
Cameras, under the guidance of Louis Boonshaft, were extremely delinquent in shifting shots and picking up the immediate interest. Lens was often focused too late, catching someone's back or hitting between seated guests. Free. (Variety, Sept. 29)


FRIDAY, SEPT. 24
8:00—Tests. 8:15—Football, USC-Oregon State, Colesium.

A final note: WENR-TV-Chicago signed on same day.

Monday, 1 June 2026

Station Three on Nine For Los Angeles

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.