The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 112

WKY-TV Heads Into 11th Year Evening Program on June 6, 1949, Marked Debut Of Television in State Before 30.000 Viewers s- "T-J -for an entire week in June, 1957. WKY-TV or qmated uave oarrowoyi during Oklahoma' Semi-Centennial Exposition. Approaching the seated Garroway in th.s been a consistent leader in the television industry. A pioneer in news and weather reporting, WKY-TV's methods have been copied throughout the nation. For several years NBC-TV has relied on the station to provide network "feeds' whenever important news stories break in the Southwest.

The stature of WKY-TV's News Department achieved complete recognition recently when the Radio and Television News Directors Association named the station the nation's outstanding television news operation for 1958. On April 8, 3954 WKY-TV originated its first local-live color programming, becoming the nation's first independent color TV station. During the same month the station originated the entire "National Square Dance Festival" colorcast for NBC-TV. This was the first network colorcast originated by a non-network-owned station. It was also in April, li)54 that WKY-TV launched its first regular local-live colorcast, "Cook's telecast from 11:00 a.m.

to 12:00 noon every Monday through Friday. WKY-TV is still the only station in Oklahoma equipped to originate local-live color programming. WKY-TV's service to the network did not end with news coverage and color originations. During 11)56 and 1957 the station originated several remote segments for Dave Garroway's "Wide Wide World" series, nnd in June, 1957 originated Garroway's "Today" show for an en-lire week during Oklahoma's Ten short years ago. on June 6, 1'JiO, WKY-TV gave birth to television in Oklahoma.

At seven o'clock that evening Mr. E. K. Gaylord pressed the button that launched the state's first telecast. An estimated throng of 30,000 "first nighters" crowded around 3,000 small-screen receivers in homes, laundries, lumber yards and other places of business to watch a special dedicatory program featuring Mr.

Gaylord and several notable guests, including Gov. Roy Turner. Now, a decade later, approximately 900,000 viewers watch WKY-TV during the Average week on more than TV sets. WKY-TV's first regular program schedule boasted 15 hours of local-live and film shows a week; 2 'A hours of programming every Sunday through Friday night. Today, ten years laler, the station offers approximately HG hours of local-live and network programming throughout its seven-day week.

Actually, the debut of television in Oklahoma was delayed for several months as the result of lire that gutted WKY-TV's new studios oil November 16, 1948. Of undetermined origin, the conflagration caused $150,000 in damages to equipment and Inst dilutions. Wasting no time, engineers and construction men went to work the following morning on remodeling and installation of new equipment, enabling the station to go on the air six months later. Since Hint meinorablu day In 194!) Oklahoma's first television station has picture is singer Helen O'Connell. one of the shows guesrs.

For TV Service You Can Trust LOOK for this Emblem ster of ten years ago doesn't remember "Gizmo ancL try to find one today who doesn't know who 3-D Danny is. From "AUIlome with Holley" to today's "TP Show" jith Tom Paxton WKY-TV lias continued to produce a wealth of memorable local-live programming. In the realm of public service the station has been instrumental for the success of countless charitable, medical and public interest campaigns. An outstanding example of this was the over-night establishment of the Lions Club sponsored Eye Bank resulting from a single local-live dramatization on WKY-TV. (Another I'lioto on l'nee HIV) Semi-Centcnnial Exposition.

Impressive as WKY-TV's network credits are, the station has earned renown for its local achievements in building personalities, programming and public service. Many former local personalities, having learned their lessons well at Oklahoma's pioneer station, have graduated to national prominence. Notable among these is NBC newsman Frank McGee. Known to WKY-TV viewers for several years as Mack Rogers, MvGee is now featured on special network news programs. Historically, WKY-TV has emphasized local programming and continues to do so.

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