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Deleted member 108832
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A couple of young men found a long abandoned studio building here in Texas. As you will see, time has not been kind to this old girl.
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K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
This looks to me like the former facilities of KVVV-TV/16 in Galveston, which has sat abandoned since the station went off the air in October 1968.
uhfhistory.com
A lot of what I see in the new video appears to match footage of the YouTube video (from about ten years ago) linked from my article, and not that much deteriorated from the previous.
History of UHF Television
A lot of what I see in the new video appears to match footage of the YouTube video (from about ten years ago) linked from my article, and not that much deteriorated from the previous.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Great minds think alike, @Huff. You were writing your post at the same time as I.
And that first video is the one linked from my article at UHF History.
A polite correction, if I may: While KVVV did not relinquish their license until August 1969, they went dark eight months before then. I am certain of the timeline because this is that wonderfully rare occasion where I was able to interview three people involved with the station for my article.
Well ... sort of an interview. I combined posts by Jim Bell here on RD and at the Houston Architecture discussion board, ran it past him ... he forwarded it to Jeff Thompson, who added a lot, and then I had the opportunity to interview Roberta DeFrancesco to add more detail. She was a bit skeptical at first that I was going to tell the real story instead of bashing the station, but once it was finished and she read it, she sent an e-mail apologizing for her earlier attitude and congratulating me on my efforts to get the facts straight. Nice lady.
And, as noted in the footnotes, I did additional research, including confirming dates.
And that first video is the one linked from my article at UHF History.
A polite correction, if I may: While KVVV did not relinquish their license until August 1969, they went dark eight months before then. I am certain of the timeline because this is that wonderfully rare occasion where I was able to interview three people involved with the station for my article.
Well ... sort of an interview. I combined posts by Jim Bell here on RD and at the Houston Architecture discussion board, ran it past him ... he forwarded it to Jeff Thompson, who added a lot, and then I had the opportunity to interview Roberta DeFrancesco to add more detail. She was a bit skeptical at first that I was going to tell the real story instead of bashing the station, but once it was finished and she read it, she sent an e-mail apologizing for her earlier attitude and congratulating me on my efforts to get the facts straight. Nice lady.
And, as noted in the footnotes, I did additional research, including confirming dates.
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Somewhat surprising the station wasn’t sold to new owners. This was about the time religious television was beginning its growth phase and stations were being launched or acquired. Perhaps 1969 was a little too early to make that happen.
The KVVV studio equipment, transmitter and tower were moved to Corpus Christi in order to launch KEDT/16 in 1972, so in a way KVVV lived on.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I am gratified that people visit the site and read the articles I wrote for it.
(edited to remove comment about duplicated links, since the poster subsequently edited their dupe out)
(edited to remove comment about duplicated links, since the poster subsequently edited their dupe out)
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KVVV was challenged with a poor signal and a relatively short (1,100") tower on the south side of the market.
Plus, the re-born Channel 39 beat them to the air in January 1967, with a more central signal. That probably helped doom KVVV's fate, since in those days it was difficult for more than one UHF to survive, even in a market like Houston.
KVVV coverage map, with a red dot to show where the transmitter and studios were located:
Plus, the re-born Channel 39 beat them to the air in January 1967, with a more central signal. That probably helped doom KVVV's fate, since in those days it was difficult for more than one UHF to survive, even in a market like Houston.
KVVV coverage map, with a red dot to show where the transmitter and studios were located:
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I stand corrected by my own writing. (I should try reading my own work more carefully.)
Stock Market Observer was short-lived and was cancelled in October 1968. KVVV limped along with its afternoon and evening schedule for another eight months. @Huff is therefore correct. The license was surrendered sometime in 1970 or 1971.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I have a copy of that and it was my reference point in the article for the sign-off date.
Apparently @Mediafrog+ was on the right train of thought about no one buying KVVV. That was obviously explored -- involving two of the major multi-market television stations groups at that time -- and ultimately didn't come to pass. What we will never know is if those talks broke down because R.O. Beach Jr. wanted more than he was ever going to be able to realistically get.
Why doesn't the site owner do something else with the land?
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Well, you can see from the more recent video made using a drone that there's zero development going on around there, even after all these years. Probably more a question of "can't" than "doesn't".
Street View shows a For Sale sign on the boundary of the land. If someone buys it, I'm sure it'll get developed!
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
If it does, it'll be the only development for miles around. Color me skeptical.
Beach himself passed away in 1987. Perhaps his estate finally got tired of owning the abandoned cow pasture.
Development costs in the area can be prohibitive because it is in a hurricane zone, and being within Galveston County, all structures are also subject to additional windstorm insurance. There is a recent development caddy-corner to the parcel, and if/when the Grand Parkway is built through the area (just to the south, connecting Alvin and I-45,) it will likely increase development in the area.
I find it interesting that there is a relatively new fiberglass ladder that has been bungee corded for roof access. I am also surprised that someone hasn't "recycled" the spiral staircase. What value would "Cats for Kids" ( or another Charity) give you for the land if there are US income taxes for the estate? If the estate quit paying taxes on the land and there is a sheriff's sale would there be a bunch of folks show up for the tax sale?
Finishing an estate can take years or a decade if there is property and mineral rights in different states even with a good will. COVID added a couple of years for my parents's estate.
Finishing an estate can take years or a decade if there is property and mineral rights in different states even with a good will. COVID added a couple of years for my parents's estate.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
One decade is understandable. Beach has been six feet under for close to four of them.