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Around 1980, I recall getting the nickel tour of Bluff Road on the way to being a guest reporter on the "Report from the Statehouse" series that channel 4 distributed around the state for radio and television. The news studio was more of a glorified hallway with a couple of cameras and a long desk for the anchors. It's small size really brought the "illusion" home.
I don't think Shana Kelly ever did news for channel 4. I remember her as Kommander Kasey (sp?) on bumpers for kids programming and the occasional weekend movie.
What is funny is that WTTV was widely distributed in the midwest to cable systems. I think they pulled the plug on that in the early 90's. I believe they were on several cable systems out of the Indy area.
I don't think Shana Kelly ever did news for channel 4. I remember her as Kommander Kasey (sp?) on bumpers for kids programming and the occasional weekend movie.
Looking back, it's very sad to see what was once a great, well-respected television station go down hill so badly over the years. Now, WTTV is nothing more than Fox 59 Junior.
It has been a shame to watch the fall of channel 4. IU and Purdue basketball (produced with local talent) great kids shows and someone there always had a pretty good sense of what shows and movie packages to buy. The final nail I think was when it picked up the UPN network instead of programming everything locally. The owners of channel 23 beat them to the punch on the WB, then ironically was purchased by Paramount who asked to put the UPN on there with 4 getting the WB, and now the CW. (side note: The Big 10 Network has the rights to all of the "regional" games you used to see on channel 4 and 40 the past few years, so we'll be relegated to the occasional ESPN and CBS showing over the air, and even on cable if the Big 10 Network is put on the digital delivery systems and not on regular cable.)
Looking back, it's very sad to see what was once a great, well-respected television station go down hill so badly over the years. Now, WTTV is nothing more than Fox 59 Junior.
I agree...Seems like the locally produced stuff is becoming a thing of the past. Growing up in the 60's, I remember Happy Herb the sailor, John B and Clem, Sammy Terry, Janie Woods, Cowboy Bob Glaze, and my dad taking my brothers and me to Channel 4 to watch the wrestling matches with Dick the Brusier, which were taped in the afternoon and shown later that evening (so we could see ourselves in glorious black and white). Even the test pattern that was on a good part of the day until programming began. Talking to guys like Charlie Sears and Steve Ross, you can always hear great stories of what went on behind the scenes there (Charlie's name was on the headstone used on the Sammy Terry set)..they always made it sound like it was a fun place to work at.
Sadly, they don't do Pacers games this past year as it went to Fox Sports Midwest (I think...me no have cable) and I heard they were phasing out Big Ten games, even on the weekends.
Remember how...um, upset, people were when one of IU/Purdue's b-ball games wasn't even televised?
Looking back, it's very sad to see what was once a great, well-respected television station go down hill so badly over the years. Now, WTTV is nothing more than Fox 59 Junior.
I agree...Seems like the locally produced stuff is becoming a thing of the past. Growing up in the 60's, I remember Happy Herb the sailor, John B and Clem, Sammy Terry, Janie Woods, Cowboy Bob Glaze, and my dad taking my brothers and me to Channel 4 to watch the wrestling matches with Dick the Brusier, which were taped in the afternoon and shown later that evening (so we could see ourselves in glorious black and white). Even the test pattern that was on a good part of the day until programming began. Talking to guys like Charlie Sears and Steve Ross, you can always hear great stories of what went on behind the scenes there (Charlie's name was on the headstone used on the Sammy Terry set)..they always made it sound like it was a fun place to work at.
My wife was student of Mrs McGinnis. They were TOLD not to call her..Janie! Janie was not as happy in school as she was on TV.
I grew up in Crawford County, IL (just across the river from Sullivan, IN). We could get 2, 10 and maybe 4 on a good day. Mom liked to watch the movies instead of the sports during the weekends.
BTW, this was before channel 38 came on the air. Even then 4 was still watched.
I watched the WTTV 50th Anniversary show when it was on however many years ago and I was struck by how hard the staff there worked to put on programming, even into the early 90s when virtually every other station in the nation had reduced local stuff to news and maybe a kids' show host.
I wish I had taped the special; it had lots of great stuff in it.
Oh, and also: I wouldn't have guessed that Shana Kelly is old enough to ever have been Commander KC.
Guess you can tell I didn't grow up in the Indy market.
Safe to say this topic has so much interest because television AND radio have both developed the same attitude towards any local programming?
If it exists we need to get rid of it.
I even went to a Janie appearance outside a Hills Department store in Columbus.
The best part was seeing Janie and Crazy Charlie. The second best part was when thousands of kids charged the car she was standing near. She jumped up on the car and started yelling in horror as thousands of litle hands were grabbing for candy or whatever she was giving away.
"Charlie, Charlie, they're attacking me." Something about little b@st*rds and get the heck away.
I find Channel 4's programming now while more professional and polished...
Less likely to garner any loyalty because there is nothing special about it.
I also have no avenue to make light of Chuck Marlowe's hair. Wonder if he still has the same hairpiece....or any hair? Or Gary Lee's voice. Does he do Lee's Liquor commercials now? The guuuy sooounds the saaame.
How hard is it for a kid to get their parents to take them to a public appearance at 11 years old?
What do we have now that brings loyalty from any age group???
Insert Quote
Quote from: ScatzerFan on Yesterday at 12:33:26 pm
Actually, Staci Edwards was Commander K.C. # 2....and the longest tenured of the THREE Commanders.
WTTV made their 50th anniversary show available for purchase, both in VHS and DVD format. It would be nice to know if WTTV still had the masters around (or leftover copies) and would be willing to sell the DVD to anyone interested in purchasing it.
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE AN INDIANA TELEVISION BOARD ON THIS SITE, TOO!!! Does anyone know of a website dedicated to Indiana television, such as WTTV or the other Indy-based stations, which might showcase old footage, newscasts, etc.? I have seen some old WTHR newscast footage on Youtube; it was great to see. I would love to see some old stuff from WTTV; I love seeing those old logos and bumpers. The fans of WTTV-TV will continue to hope for something like this. Please, keep us posted on any developments.
Reading about the channel 4 news with a script and lectern reminded me of the newsman they had in the early 60s named Frank Edwards. Frank wrote books about UFOs and became known as an expert on the subject. I remember him guesting with Art Linkletter on "House Party" to talk about one of his books. Why "House Party?"
Who knows?
(Note: Frank actually sat at a desk to deliver the news, if memory serves me correctly)
What did Don Benda do at Channel 4? Did he anchor a noon newscast? I met him at Mustard's in Bloomington years ago. Does anyone remember the name of the white-haired gentleman who did a morning show with Joe Smith? I think the show was called RFD 4. I worked with Joe at WBWB in the late 80's.
My 10-year-old has been hot and heavy into Yu-Gi-Oh since he was, goodness, maybe 4 or 5. In some cities, kids organize and have official dueling tournaments, usually at Toys R Us stores. Of course, you can't have Yugi himself show up at these events since he doesn't exist. But the fantasy world is there for these kids nonetheless.
The loyalty today is there, just different.
btw, What I wouldn't have given to meet Ray Rayner or Bill Jackson; those are the hosts I grew up with.
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