-In 1940’s, DTN operated a microwave link between Oxford and New Haven, CT.
-ABC used DTN facilities to air Detect & Collect.
-15 minute long, newsreel style news program hosted by Mike Wallace, wearing a Bond suit. After news, Wallace plugged the Manhattan clothier, thereby geting a free suit.
-Textile Division of Owens- Corning Fiberglas Corp sponsored the Owens- Corning Color Cavalcade, using Vitascan. Self contained studio and large recievers visited about 20 stores, coast to coast, in nine months, with an average 8 day stay. Merchandise from varius departments telecast to in-store recievers.
-DTN Telecenters: Ambassador Theare (215 West 49th Street, near Broadway) and the Adelphi Theare (152 West 54th, between 6th and 7th Avenues. A remodeled brownstone, opened as The Craig in 1928 seating 1400. Unuse 31- 34, renter 36- 39 by the Federal theatre Project. Taken over 40 by Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians and called the Radiant Center. Returned to legitimate theater under Shubert control in 44. DTN signed an 8 year lease for it 49 and used it until 57. Bacame the The 54th in 1958 and The george Abbott 65. demolished 70 for expansion of the NY Hilton.
-ABC and DTN used lots of news-service footage.
-1954- 1959: market share fell from 11% to 5%
-DTN initially popular, though less costly and less sophisticated than the competition.
-DTN routinely made 1/10- 1/3 as much as CBS or NBC.
-During the freeze, had more affiliates than CBS or NBC and usually more than ABC.
-DTN lost $16M in 10 years.
-133 post-freeze affiliates
-DTN conceived as a ‘calculated loss’.
-21 affiliates after WDTV’s airdate, over 100 by mid- decade. More than CBS, less than NBC
-early east coast network used NY, DC and part- time affiliates in Philadelphia and Schenectady.
-3’x5’ posters in all DTN studios and control rooms read “Attention, Producers, Directors and Talent: your audience is the average American family- Mom and Dad- Junior and Sis- and Grandma. You are a guest in their living- rooms. Any violation of this privilege though the use of material in bad taste, immoral business, situations, dialogue. lyrics, routines or costuming will not be tolerated by the Du Mont Television Network” Signed by DTN president Mortimer W. Loewi and Program Director James L. Caddigan
1986: DuMont plaza built at 150 East 34th, NYC
1951: $1.8M for 26 dated, top grade films from Quality Films
Sgt. Bilko filmed on Electronicam at DTN studios. Wooden bleachers on East 67th. rehearsal at Nola Studios, over Lindy's
DTN announcer: Don McGannon, who later went to Westinghouse
Adelphi and Ambassador theaters rented from Shubert Organization for $75,000 a year
1946
-01 March: NYC stations (DTN, NBC, CBS) off air for channel reassignment
-13 April: DTN officially inaugurated via WABD, WTTG & KYW. Latter via radio relay, whole thing an experiment.
-WABD back on the air, NYC’s first.
-Fall: Chevrolet Division of GM’s GM Keating (at a DC dealer meeting) & AB Du Mont (in NY) both sign a contract while other party watched on TV. Signatures superimposed together on TV and photographed.
-first televised chuch service, from Grace Episcopal Church (Broadway & 10th)
1947
-5 East Coast affiliates
-coaxial cable used 34 timesˇ between NV46 & AP47.
-Annual Report at Shareholders Meeting reveals networking plans & applications for Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati ad Boston stations.
1948
-24 May: DTN announced. Affils: WMAR, WFIL & WNHC.
-27 September: 15 hour, weekday schedule announced.
-03 November: WAAM becomes an affiliate
-07 November: Day sked begins.
-26 November: Performer auditions resumed (shutdown due to 515 Madison studio refurbishing) under Casting director Elizabeth Mears and assistant to Caddigan Jack Rayel.
-11 December: WDSU affiliates, witˇh shows to follow in one week.
-Affiliates at years start: ABC 0, CBS 1, DTN 2, NBC 9. Year end: ABC 20, CBS 28, DTN 14, NBC 24. Alternate report: 16 East Coast DTN affliiates and 13 kinescope-fed midwest affiliates.
-Profits four times those of 1947. Losses: $1,424,088.
-Plans announced to show daytime shows in the midwest.
-DTN advertisers; American Tobacco Co, P. Lorrilard, Atlantic Refining Co, United Cigar Stores/ Whelan Drugs, Bonwit Teller, Corning Glass, EL Cournand Co, US Rubber, Lee Hat Co.
-1948 Convention: DTN uses correspondents from Newsweek and the NY Herald Tribune.
1949
-05 January: Friday Night Frolic announced for 24 stations (in 16 cities) on both DTN and NBC’s respective eastern and midwest networks. In 2 weeks, 14 kinescoped stations to be added in 2 weeks. Originated from NBC’s newly acquired International Theatre in Columbus Circle.
-11 January: East coast to Midwest coaxial cable cable times established:
DTN had Monday- Friday: 10 am- 1:30 pm, 230- 330 pm and 6- 630. Saturday: 6- 630 pm and 830- 9 pm. Sunday was a Solomon special... starting on 16JA, DTN took 730- 8 pm and ABC got 8-9, and the two alternated ties. CBS and NBC split 9- 10. This whole schedule rotated, with the 10- 11 pm slot going to the network not on between 8- 10 that week.
-11 January: Inaugural show features NY Mayor Wm. O’Dwyer and a cooking demonstration, the latter sponsored by a pasta company.
-January: Du Mont (& Paramount) stations put on temporary licenses
-09 February: DTN leases Adelphi at 152 West 54th (1500 seats) from Shubert Theatre Company.
-22 February: DTN carries fights from Philadelphia Arena to NYC, Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, DC and Pittsburgh. RJ Reynolds sponsored and Tom Moorehead announced.
-22 May: Cavalcade Of Stars announced, from Adelphi. Whelan Drug Stores, Inc agrees to pay $8000 for talent.
-29 May: New summer shows announced, although airdates untold: Magic Cottage, lady Luck Or The Tiger (audience participation), captain Video (with Dean Carleton) and a showcase of eight programs, starting in Jun¸e: Apartment For Four (sitcom), Actor’s Auditions, Stop The Picture (phone quiz), Roscoe Karns and Inky Doo (sitcom (s?)), Play Du Mont (new visual game), Hands Of Murder (psych suspense), Timid Soul (based on “Caspar Milquetoast”) and All The World’s A Stage.
-November: DTN attempts programming 10- 11 pm, but effort soon abandoned.
-Boston- Chicago- St. Louis- DC region cost an advertiser $6750 per hour, which caused the network to be touted as reasonably priced and not too large.
-Central Turn Verein Hall (at 205 East 64th St) acquired, built 1887. 40’ ceiling, 100’ x 75’ floor space (2.5 million cubic feet).
-45 affiliates/ affiliates: WABD, WTTG, WDTV, WHNC, WDSU, WNAC, WFIL, WAAM, WGN, KTSL (LA), WEWS (Cleve), WJBK, WSPD (Toledo), KRSC (Seattle) & KOB (Albe.)/ ABC 10, CBS 6, DTN 8, NBC 14/ 8 Primary DTN affils, 44 secondary, 53 basic
- Data: net prim affils second affils rev (Mill) prog % aftnn/ night
ABC 10 43 .9 7.3/ 8.9G
CBS 33 22 2.7 17 / 20.2
DTN 8 44 1.2 6.9/ 4.3
NBC 42 14 5.5 31.9/ 47.8
Local 36.9/ 18.8
-Sales double those of 1948, but network still loses money.
- $1 million in billings, 8% of industry total.
1950
-28 January: New DTN/ WABD sked. 630pm- western Film, 730- 6th night of Captain Video, 8 Floor Show (Vincent Lopez and orchestra from Hotel Taft Grill Room.
-13 February: New office building considered, to combine offices and studios on Avenue of the America’s between 43d and 44th. 12 story wing (apart from main structure) in blueprints.
-16 March: Beginning on 01AP, DTN o•ffers 21 city, coaxial hookup to private users, at $1100 for first hour. 16mm kinescopes and additional receiving sites available. Cities: NY, Boston, Toledo, Detroit, Chicago, Schenectady, Syracuse, Rochester, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati.
-May: DTN provides 3.7% of network programs to 17 one station markets, 15.3 to three 2 station markets and 8.8% to six 3 station markets.
-03 August: DTN GM Whitting leases Ambassador Theatre (cinema for prior 5 years, stage before that) from Lee Shubert. TV renovations to begin immediately.
-September: Schenely Tele- Meeting (“It’s great To Be With Schenely”) from Ambassador to TV studios and hotels in 18 cities with 18oo viewers with receivers and monitors, with a total audience of 4000.
-02 November: Loewi says DTN won’t use CBS color and will continue in monochrome telecasts.
-30 November: Only DTN carries Sec∞retary of State Acheson’s Korean Speech.
-$5M renovation of TeleCenter completed.
-Bouquet of flowers kept on hand in studios, lest a female’s attire showed too much cleavage.
-5 affiliates.
-Loss of $1,387,000.
1951
-Central Opera House (built 1889 by Jacob Rupert and last used as a ballroom) leased, with option to buy. Permanent street set to be built inside.
-62 affiliates.
-18 June: DTN Director Mortimer W. Loewi steps down for post as Executive Assistant to Dr. Du Mont. Chris J. Whiting becomes Director of DTN and Owned Stations.
-31 July: DTN announces purchase and renovation plans of Central Opera House. Director/ GM Whiting says DTN expects partial occupation by 01OC. 5 studios & 2 programming rooms in 7 stories. Architect: William T. Meyers with Rodney D. Chipp as DTN’s supervising engineer. Contractor: Thompson-Starrett Company.
1952
-62 affils
-Average ratings: ABC 17, CBS 26, DTN 16, NBC 29.
-ABC cutbacks [maπinly in affil comp] garners new DTN affils.
-$2,570,000 lost (some $1,145,000 than the Labs made)
-$10.1 million in billings (06% of industry total)
-End of freeze: 80 affils and 410M in revenues.
1953
-03 January: film syndication folded into Teletranscriptions. Head Don Stewart moved to transmitter sales. Supervisor (Film Syd) Merriman Holtz reported directly to Teletranscription & Kinescope Chief Robert Wolf, who in turn reported to Station Relations Department Head Elmore “Buck” Lyford.
-21 January: DTN billings for previous week up 35.6% from 1950.
-January: Du Mont licenses renewed (Paramount, too)
-24 March: FCC okayed [previous week] teletranscription service to XELD Matamoros for one year.
-Fall: Esso Standard Oil introduces “Total Power Esso” premium gas to sales and dealer organizations. 18 states, 2000 Esso-ites and 10,000 individual dealers. 14 talk- back sites. Shows kinescoped and fifty eight 16mm prints rushed to District Offices in 72â hours. DMs in turn showed it to dealers.
-Loss of $3,807,362 (minus O&O profit of $2,988,940 and the amount was $818,422).
-Loss of $3,816,000. Net billings of $12.4M were 05% of the industry total.
-133 affils/ 178 affils and bills of agreement with 27 more.
-1948 - 1950 pro footfall games bought. 19 on whole network, others regional. Aired in prime time and on Sunday afternoons.
-DTN buys 26 top grade (albeit dated) films from Quality Films for $1.8M.
1954
- 29 April: Along with ABC, DTN says it will continue carriage of daytime Army- McArthy hearings, although unsure of nights.
- 21 May: DTN says Army- McArthy hearings to continue, provided Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations sessions follow previous schedule (ie 10am- 1230 pm and 2- 5 pm).
-14 June: $5M Telecenter dedicated. Largest studio 80’ x 110’. Over 160 programs to originate there weekly, though Adelphi and Ambassador to be retained for some shows. Dedication in Studio 5, where several hundred gathered and witnessed a filmed talk by Mayor Wagner and other stuff.
-Mid-year: In the top 100 markets, majority of DTN and ABC stations on UHF affiliations.
-09 October: (in Business Week): DTN, Box Office and Theatre Network Television show TV programs in theatres. DTN charges $1000 per hour for 10 cities east of Omaha, plus $200 for each city more (to cover AT&T ‘loop’ charge). In ‘46, Chevrolet had a program on in NY, Schenely Distributors used it in 1950 to link 38 cities, and in 1950 Remington Rand had a Univac program for 50 people, costing them $1000. Demonstration of a Univac process to representatives of a prospect.
-09 November: ABC and DTN discuss ABC takeover of DTN programming and resulting leaving of TV field by DTN.
-28 December: In a joint statement, AB Du Mont and Ted Bergman say that DTN to reduce national coaxial cable facilities and effect personnel cutbacks, due to “reduced activity” at network. Bergman says only 5% of AT&T- leafsed cables used. Of almost 50 stations on circuit, 1/2 planned to be cut. Bergman says cuts coming in engineering, production and office staffs. Another source said that 25 programming and 50 engineering layoffs were planned. The causes given: sale of WDTV and the end of the football season.
- 164affils/ 195 affils/
-Fall: ABC- Du Mont merger proposed. ABC would pay $5M for program assets and keep the name for 5 years. WDTV would support the new network, WABFD and WTTG would go independent
-Net Billings of $13.1M, or 04% of the industry total.
-15 shows in the 54- 55 season.
-DTN had transmitter and equipment on 82d floor of Empire State Building.
-Loss of $4M.
-Network loss of $5,140,061 offset in part by O & O profit of $2.852,795. More losses: DC & NY together- $171,080. Overall loss: $2,287,266.
-No color. None at CBS either.
- DTN office at 681 Market ST., SF (phone R 749).
1955
-January: 21 weekly (3 in prime time) network hours.
-January: Dow from 213 affils (excluding non-synched filmed programs and kinescopes, no distinction between primary and secondary affiliation) to service in 15 cities.
-March: Live service between DC and NY only. Co-axial cable use cut down to reduce costs.
-May: Annual stockholders meeting holds the announcement of the discontinuation of the network.
-August: 5 weekly primetime hours to 160 affiliates.
-23 September: What’s The Story? last DTN non- sport show, last aired.
-September: About 6 affils.
-Telecenter offered for use by producers as a “Hollywood East”
-Telecenter & Electronicam justifications: high prod cost, high [cable] dist cost and fact that DTN never made a profit. Cable to be used ONLY for sports, important live events and [profitable] current events.
-Affiliates: ABC 80, CBS 108, DTN 158 (also given as 98), NBC 24. Alternate list: ABC 46, CBS 139, DTN 158, NBC 189.
-Average ratings: ABC 14, CBS 25, DTN 9, NBC 25.
-Net billings of $3.1 million (under 01% of industry total)
-O&O loss: $1,048,753; network loss $1,521.865; total loss: $2,570,618.
1956
-06 August: Boxing From St. Nicholas Arena, the last DTN show, aired
-First half of year: average monthly billings of $2,900K
-04 January 1955: FCC okays transfer of WDTV
-August 1955: Paramount Pictures and Loebs & Rhodes team up, making Dr. Du Mont chairman and installing Bernard Goodwin as President of DTN.
-11 August 1955: Labs call for: A) DBC spin off, B) combination of A and B stock, C) increase of number of Directors from 8 to 10, D) creation of of office of Chairman and election of company officers by Board of Directors, E) Reserve of 90,000 common shares for executive purchase and F) Dr Du Mont option to purchase 35,000 extra shares
-15 September 1955: WABD, WTTG, Telecenter and network facilities transferred to the Du Mont Broadcasting Company, a wholly owned subsidi£ary of the Labs.
-10 October 1955: DBC voted to become a separate entity
-12 October 1955: DBC declares intent to purchase broadcast facilities and elects Directors. Chairman Dr Du Mont, President Bernard L. Goodwin, VP Ted Cott, Treasurer Paul Raibourn. Other Directors: Barney Balaban, TT Goldsmith, Stanley F. Patten, Percy M. Stewart, Edwin Weisl and Armand Erpf.
-14 November 1955: Labs sell DBC to common stockholders of record
-17 November 1955: FCC okays transfer.
-02 December 1955: DBC spun off, for 9444,436 shares of Du Mont labs stock ($6,847,161 market value).
-03 December 1955: Dr Du Mont announces that separation of Labs and DBC complete.
-1957: WNEW am/fm (and 130,000 record library) bought for cash, at thefi then-record price of $7,500,000.
-06 April 1956: VP of DBC and O&O’s GM says $447,000 allocated to upgrade WABD and WTTG, most of it going to NYC. Both to receive $125,000, 25Kw transmitters(5 x current ones), doubling WABD’s erp and tripling WTTG’s. Both stations to get new film equipment. WABD also got a $37,000 remote-use microwave link and $80,000 in color equipment. WABD was to make experimental telecasts in MY and then later use mainly in kidvid, having just acquired 450 cartoons.
-July 1957: Loebs & Rhodes and WNEW people buy out Paramount Picture’s stake.
-12 May 1958 or 18 May 1958 or June 1958: DBC becomes Metropolitan Broadcasting Company. WABD becomes WNEW.
-16 April 1958: FCC okays purchase of WHK 19 am/fm/tv, from Cleveland Plain Dealer for $7fi000,000.
-1959: John Kluge buys Paramounts’ 21.75 percent. Born 1914, Kluge read in a 1946 that radio licenses could be had for $15,000; he then bought the license for WGAY am/fm of Silver Spring MD. formerly a food broker, representing grocery manufacturers to supermarket operators.
-16 January 1959: Kluge becomes Chairman of MBC.
-1959: WTVH Peoria ILL bought from Peoria Journal- Star subsidiary Hilltop Broadcasting Corporation for $610,000.
-1960: Paramount’s 385,000 shares sold to John Kluge & Associates 21.75% of WNEW tv/am/fm, WTTG and WHK am for $4M.
-February 1960: WIP Philadelphia am/fm from WIP Broadcasting Corporation (stock swap and assumption of $2M in liabilities) for $4.8M; and 97 percent of KOVR Stockton for $1,391,000 from Gannett
-March 1960: Foster & Kleiser (largest outdoor advertising company) for $4M from WR Grace Co.
-30 September 1960: FCC okays MBC purchase of WTVP Decatur ILL from Prairie Television Company for $570,000; Prairie also gets okay to buy WRUL for a million from World Wide Broadcasting System.
-24 December 1960/ August 1961: MBC buys KMBC 9 (am/fm/radio) of Kansas City MO for $8,500,000- $10,250,000 from Cook Paint & Varnish Company.
-28 March 1961: MBC becomes Metromedia.
-August 1961: MBC buys KMBC am/fm/tv for $8.5M in cash
-May 1963: Metromedia buys Ice Capades for $5M cash.
-July 1963: KTTV 11 LA bought from LA Times- Mirror for $10,390,000. Also: KLAC am/fm for $4.5M
-November 1963: Metromedia buys general Outdoor Advertising Company (operations in NY and Chicago) for $13.5M.
-February 1964: WCBM Baltimore am/fm bought for $2M in caseh.
-July 1964: Metromedia buys Fielder, Sorenson and David ( LA- based transit advertising company).
-November - December 1964: assorted NYC outdoor advertising companies for $5.7M.
-January 1965: buys Ohio’s Packer Outdoor Advertising Company. Sell off non-major market Foster & Kleiser/ General Outdoor Advertising operations. Buys David Wolper organization for $14m cash/ $3.2M cash & stock. Also buys 720 acre Mt. Wilson outside LA.
-January 1966: pays $7M for Boston’s direct mail & sales promotion Dickie- Raymond Inc.
-April 1966: KEWB Oakland bought for $2.5M.
-September 1966: Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Buffalo operations of O’Ryan and Batchelder Transit Advertising Company and New York Bus Advertising Company bought for $5,525,000.
-November 1966: KSFR fm bought for $380,000.
-May 1967: KMBC sold for $2.2M.
-”In the earlier 70’s, the Du Mont network was being bought by another company, and the lawyers were in heavy negotiations as to who would be responsible for the library of the Dumont shows currently being stored at the facility, who would bear the expense of storing them in temperature controlled facility, take care of the copyright renewal, et cetera.
One of the lawyers doing the bargaining said he could “take care of it” in a “fair manner,” and did he take care of it. At 2 a.m., the next morning, he had three huge semis back up to the loading dock at ABC, filled them all with stored kinescopes and 2” videotapes, drove them to a waiting barge in New Jersey, took them out on the water, made a right at the Statue of Liberty and dumped them in the Upper New York Bay. Very neat. No problem.”
-1972: WTCN Minneapolis bought from Crest Communications.
-06 April 1976: Crest Communications sells Metromedia KDOG (KRIV?) Houston for $11M.
-September 1981: KMBC 9 sold to Hearst Corp for $79M.
-1981: 20th Century Fox sells broadcast properties as United Television.
-1982: WCVB Boston (ABC affiliate) bought for $220M.
-April 1983: WFLD 32 Chicago bought for $136M from Field Communications.
-1983: Ex Spanish KRLD 32 bought from National Business Network for $14.9M. WXIX 19 sold to Malrite Communications Group.
-1985: WCVB sold to Hearst for $450M.
-March 1985: Murdoch’s News America buys 1/2 of 20th Century Fox for $250M. Later, the other half was bought for $325M
DTN Affiliates
1948
-WTHN 8 New haven with DTN 15JN48- 49.
-WAAM Baltimore (now WJZ) bowed 02NV48. Originated Colts football games for DTN, which held the exclusive rights, 1954-56.
-KTSL an affiliate, via kinescope. KTLA had Du Mont equipment, but owner Paramount Pictures didn’t affiliate with DTN
-CBS buys KTSL and DTN affiliation switched to KTTV.
1952
-LBJs KANG Waco bows, carrying ABC and DTN
1953
-October: KANG Waco dark
1954
-16 February: WNEM 5 Indiantown Michigan bows. DTN, NBC and sometimes ABC.
1955
-27 August - 03 September: TV Guide lists WJBK 2 Detroit, after CBS, and CKLW9 Windsor, before CBC. WSPD Toledo an affil of all 4
-09 January: WEYD (now KMSP) a DTN affiliate.
1956
-WTAO 56 Cambridge an ABC- Du Mont affiliate for its short life
-reliable affiliates: WGN and WFIL.
-WCPO Cincinnati and W___ Erie PA had du Mont equipment and eschewed payment for DTN affiliation.
W2XVT
tv 4
1939
-February- station service begins, with company executives running the transmitter for the first few months.
1942
-From Passaic, with 50W visual & 50W audio
1944
-02 May: W2XWV becomes WABD, and moves to channel 5. Premiere program is “Faces Of War”, hosted by Sam Cuff (who joined station in 1943) to 25000 viewers watching 4500 sets.
-Summer: J. Walter Thompson personally heads up 15 minute program “ The Peanut Is A Serious Guy”
-Besides WABD, Du Mont Laboratories also ran W2XVT (Passaic) and W10XKT (a mobile, NY area relay station).
-NV: Election results televised.
-”Boys from Boise” airs, first full length comedy written for TV.
1945
-31 August: Wanamaker’s 9th and Broadway president Charles R. Shipley announces that 3 studios to be built and run by WABD. Over 500,000 cubic feet, 1 large studio (50’x60’, 52’ ceiling) seating for 400 and standing room for 300 in balcony. Construction to begin Tuesday, 04SP and video production to begin that December.
-20 September: WABD ceases operation after Thursday telecast, to return 15DC, when station would be on channel 5 (78- 84 megacycles) from channel 4. In the interi¯m, set owners were to be assisted with modifications.
-During war, 5- 10 weekly hours.
1946
-WABD begins carrying Yankee Games
-10 April: WABD spends over $500,000 on Wanamaker studios. Office building at 515 Madison Avenue had DTN offices, 2nd floor studio and rooftop antenna
-15 April: John Wanamaker Studios at 9th and Broadway opens, seating 400 and using all- Du Mont equipment. Studios A,B,and C. Studio D located at 315 (515?) Madison Avenue, alongside WABD, DTN and Receiver Sales.
-16 April: New studios dedicated by UN Security Council president Dr. Quo Tai- Chi, NJ Governor Walter E. Edge and NYC Mayor O’Dwyer, with presentation “Let’s Have Fun”. In DC, at Mayflower Hotel, Senators Al Lawrence (NJ), Brian D. McMahon (CT) and James M. Mead (NY) speak and “experience” presented. NY has introductions by Grover Whalen. 400 distinguished viewers, 8- 10pm.
1947
-NYC audiences- 60,000 (January), 165,000 (December)= versus 3000 in 1941.
-Station uses 22% filmed programs.
-1943 - 1947:⁄ WOR personnel put 124 shows over WABD and WRGB.
1948
-1st signal from Brighton Mills.
-Navy vessels’ microwave relay from 6 miles offshore made pictures of war dead the 1st image of any US TV station to originate from outside the USA.
-WABD 527’ feet tall, with 80’ tower
-29 June: ex Broadway actor and founder of the Group Theatre named Program Manager of WABD, replacing Caddigan, who left to do the same job at the network level.
-10 July: WABD and CBS announce longer Saturday night schedules. Both to have short films at 830PM and features at 9.
-Through Tele News Co, Chevrolet produced 20 minute, sound film called Telenews, which aired for 52 weeks over WABD and WTTG
-28 August: “Tots, Tweens and Teens” to debut Thursday at 7pm with a cast of 20 and 3’6” puppet Oky Doky (made by Raye Copelan, with voice by Dayton Allen). Produced by Television On Parade, Inc. and sponsored by Macy’s. Show bumps “Birthday Party” to 7 pm Wednesday, which in turn bumped “Photographic Horizons” to 8 pm.
-20 September: Full day schedule announce, to begin in early October (1st station to do so), Mon- Fri 7 am - 6 pm, with extant evening schedule (8 - 10) retained. Rational was that unused equipment wasteful. Strategy: average housewife’s schedule. Full story told by audio, although special audio cue indicated necessary viewing. Frequent continuous music with time displayed. Special religious broadcasts for invalids and shut-ins. Morning exercise for the family. Programing to aid dealers and small advertisers.
-01 November: Deputy Mayor John J. Bennet recommends WABD to provide educational programs at inauguration of day part. Dr. Du Mont and Mr. Loewis also spoke.
1949
-14 February: Daypart to begin at 9 am, not 7 am as previously announced (interest unjustifiable to effort)
-18 September: 2 evening hours added on Sundays. At eight: “Chicago Land Mystery Players”, 8:30 “Cinema Varieties” (musical shorts), 9 “Cross Question ( reconstructions of trials).
1950
-22 March: Announcement of transmitter relocation (to Empire state Building) when new facilities ready.
-22 November: Day begins 15 minutes earlier (at 915 am) because of introduction of “TV Department Store” (from TV Department Store, Inc) from 1030- 11 am. Viewers can order items by mail or phone. Also new: “It’s In The Bag”, Thursdays, 1:30 -2 pm.
1952
-11 December, Thursday: WABD to move studios to $4,000,000 Telecenter over weekend. 1st studio to begin operations 15JA. Network expected to give up Wanamaker studios and lease of either Adelphi or Ambassador Theaters, but not both. Telecenter to be origination point for DTN.
1953
-Managing Director says WOR’s striking workers threatened WABD crew on 25th at Ebbets Field during Dodgers- Cubs game and on 26th, Ebbet’s chief electrician (Joseph Tofano). threatened to turn off stadium lights.
-”Broadway Theatre” produced by Warren Wade, and a play (90- 120 minutes) telecast 5 nights.
-Pre- Fed tax profit of $34,246.
1955
-Phoenix Theatre and WABD present 5 of 8 off Broadway plays.
-68 weeks of Boxing from St. Nicholas arena costs $445,200.
1956
-06 April 1956: VP of DBC and O&O’s GM says $447,000 allocated to upgrade WABD and WTTG, most of it going to NYC. Both to receive $125,000, 25Kw transmitters (5 times the current ones), doubling WABD’s erp and tripling WTTG’s. Both stations to get new film equipment. WABD also got a $37,000 remote-use microwave link and $80,000 in color equipment. WABD was to make experimental telecasts in MY and then later use mainly in kidvid, having just acquired 450 cartoons.
1958
-WABD “dies” and becomes WNEW
WTTG
-March 1939: while visiting friends at the FCC, Dr. Thomas T. Goldsmith uses one of their typewriters to fill an application for a Washington, DC area experimental CP.
-June 1940: Experimental CP approved.
-20 July: FCC okays NY and DC applications. W2XWV on channel 4 at 78,000- 84,000 kilocycles with 1 kilowatt audio and 1 kilowatt visual, DC station on “new” channel 1. Passaic TV to increase to 5 kilowatt and operate on channel 4.
-1942: W3XWT channel 1 uses 1000 watts audio & 1000 watts video.
-19 May 1945: CP okayed. Equipment on 12th floor of Hotel Harrington, in former storage areas (rooms 1029 & 1030).
-November 1946: W3XWT gets experimental CP authorization. Dr. Goldsmith oversees planning, development and installation of studios at the Hotel Harrington.
-November 1946: WTTG on the air
-01 January 1947: W3XWT becomes WTTG, going out to 12 sets. Soon moves to new digs at 12th & E streets (Hotel Mayflower?).
-10 April 1947: Telecast from USS Trumpetfish (to WNBT and then WTTG and then to WPTZ and on to WRGB).
-October 1947: An appendectomy and breast tumor removal televised from Georgetown Hospital.
-1948: Through Tele News Co, Chevrolet produced 20 minute, sound film called Telenews, which aired for 52 weeks over WABD and WTTG
-1953: loss of $23,648.
-06 April 1956: VP of DBC and O&O’s GM says $447,000 allocated to upgrade WABD and WTTG, most of it going to NYC. Both to receive $125,000, 25 kilowatt transmitters (5 times the current ones), doubling WABD’s erp and tripling WTTG’s. Both stations to get new film equipment. WABD also got a $37,000 remote-use microwave link and $80,000 in color equipment. WABD was to make experimental telecasts in MY and then later use mainly in kidvid, having just acquired 450 cartoons.
-Walter Compton and the News (WABD and WTTG at 7PM)
-WTTG Show: Did You Find It?
-initially in Hotel Harrington, later in Raleigh Hotel.
*Biography
-1910: Thomas Tolliver Goldsmith Jr. born Greenville SC
-1931: TTG Jr gets Physics and Mathematics BS from Greenville’s Furman University
-1936: Phd in experimental physics and applied electricity from Cornell
-1936- 1953: Director of research
-1938: Marries Helen Elizabeth Wilcos
-1942- 1960: DuMont borad of directors
-1953- 1955: VP Research Dumont
-1955- 1957: VP Government & Research, Dumont
-1955- 1986: Metromedia board member
-1957- 1960: VP Eng & Research, Dumont
-01 June 1960: Fairchild buys DuMont, becomes Fairchild director
-1966- 1975: Physics Professor, Furman University