Sad to report that the KBTV (formerly KJAC) Channel 4 TV Studios in Port Arthur have been destroyed in a fire.
The large building was the station's original home since sign-on in 1957 as KPAC-TV.
It still served as equipment storage and was used for the station's Doppler Radar system even though news studios and business offices were moved to Parkdale Mall in Beaumont in recent years.
If you watched Beaumont-Port Arthur TV "in the day", the old studio was home to Cowboy John, Studio Wrestling, the teen dance show Jive at Five -- and tens-of-thousands of local newscasts.
I began my broadcasting career there in 1968 before moving away and will miss that old building and the incredible amount of local TV history it represented.
LINK: http://www.panews.com/local/local_story_033160832.html
The large building was the station's original home since sign-on in 1957 as KPAC-TV.
It still served as equipment storage and was used for the station's Doppler Radar system even though news studios and business offices were moved to Parkdale Mall in Beaumont in recent years.
If you watched Beaumont-Port Arthur TV "in the day", the old studio was home to Cowboy John, Studio Wrestling, the teen dance show Jive at Five -- and tens-of-thousands of local newscasts.
I began my broadcasting career there in 1968 before moving away and will miss that old building and the incredible amount of local TV history it represented.
LINK: http://www.panews.com/local/local_story_033160832.html