The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • 53

Section he News and Observer Section Television Section Television Section pRrr DAIL FITS cults -taa SUNDA! "Ira CUTS RALEIGH SUNDAY MORNING AUGUST 23 1953 VOL CLXXVII NO 44 Television Comes to Capital City By RAL STANLEY WNAO News Director For the most part the public was aware that Raleigh would get its first television station on a day in 114 1y of last year On that morning The News and Observer carried a story announcing that an application had been filed with the Federal Communications Commission for Channel 28 to serve the Raleigh-Durham market The TV station would be known as WETV and would be constructed by the Sir Walter Television Co Inc For the public this was the beginning of Raleigh's first television station Actually the story did not begin in July but earlier in 1952 when the decision was made to file for a statio in Raleigh The company had considered Winston-Salem Durham and Roanoke Va in addition to Raleigh The decision to choose the Capital City was based on many months of research They found that Raleigh was a better market that talent would be more easily accessible due to the large number of colleges and the William Neal Reynolds Cobseum which is the hub of entertainment for North Carolina Friendly Citizens Then after a visit here the clincher was the friendliness of Raleigh's citizens and their desire for a television station So the decision was made to come to Raleigh 1 The period between July when application was made and October 15 when permission from the FCC to start construction of the station came was a quiet one Most people figured it would still be a long time before Raleigh would have television When the announcement came of the grant on October 15 1952 everyone began to look forward to viewing their own television station in the near future The Federal Communications Commission's green light on October 15 started a chain of events each designed to bring television service to Raleigh as soon as possible This is a INNAO-TV camera In this case it is being used to pick up movie films projected into the shadow box 1 i i Television Comes to Capital City 4 By HAL STANLEY For the public this was the be- WNAO News Director ginning of Raleigh's first televi For the most part the public sion station Actually i i MO I 's lly the story did not begin in July but earher tortft449 was aware that Raleigh would get! when the decision was made Totw ft 4 i It und mg its first television station on a day to file for a statio in Raleigh The 0777 -s A in 141y of last year On that morn- company had considered Winston- ing The News and Observer car- Salem Durham and Roanoke Va 't4' 1: IJ' ried a story announcing that an in addition to Raleigh The decision Federal Communications Commis- Raleigh-Durham market The TV station would be known as WE TV S4 c'1 application had been filed Communications sion for Channel 28 to serve the They with the nt to choose the Capital City was based on many months of research CIA -tl-tc found that Raleigh was a tt-i 'i s'- 41 Apt-'' 4 1 '4 better market that talent would I 1 'V '736: 31 be more easily accessible due to i--t and would be constructed by the the large number of colleges and vet t' -r-- 1 111 -I elevisi Co the William Neal Reynolds Coil- tt -'Z 1 I 4 4-t 4 Sir Walter -on Inc 7717 seum which is the huh of enter- e': 4 tainment for North Carolina '67'-iqr 4-- K)10 1 0 4 WI 1 4 eIrNm! Friendly Citizens i 4 -A L'': 54 i 'N'' '''rkk Tben after a visit here the A 4 A 0 '4' 'i clincher was the friendliness of 1:: 1'-1A4 4 '-4' o' Raleigh citizens and their desire l': ur4 t''''' for a television station So the de- A NvA 4 w9 cision was made to come to Ra- tIN A t' 4 4 3 2 leigh '''I- i 41 11 -'-'-t '1-''' 4: q-' r' --4 A1 The period between July when 4A 4E 4 'e '''-AA'w aPPIteatmn WaS made arildt(131 i 15 when permission fro 1 --1 'k' c11 --4" 44: 40' I a 17 to start construction of the station 'i--- ---114- -i'" -1 A1 i xttc'-- I- 1-z)--7 ision station 14 F-4 came as a quiet one Most peo Vi 7fs- i1 i- i-tyooto 4 k-4 --1 '''s pie figured it would still be a long 4 titl 1 '4 time before Raleigh would have fir? '''''7 '14 3' i''''''''1! '4'4' 'k' ecW 7P ''''''''5if'''''Ci'4W i I ft" television When the announcement -ttft qt ilat came of the grant on October 15 1 it le it I 4: 44- t-k 1 1952 everyone began to look for- i 1- '''-'4- 7' or- 4 i ward to viewing their own tele- in the near future 4 4 lrf 444N04 0 tp) i11-'1 ''''4 A'" I $03403 The Federal Communications r'i Commission's green light on Octo- This is a WNAO-TV camera In this case it is being used to pick up movie films 1 projected into the shadow box A i A A ber 15 started a chain of everts each designed to bring television -t I PETE MILLER service to Raleigh as soon as pos- i Chief Engineer sible I ---ize----1 hy I I A- 4 rittli -44 4 if :4 -4 t- nt- 1 '4: 4 4 4 Is 4 10 I Cst Is 414 4 A 4 4 04: 4 4 4 4 :4 4 B1 4 0 a 4 4 Pvm i1 '441i'N-41a -t P'-'ij -v': ft 'i 3 otor iN 0 i '-t 4 -m 0 6: wTe --s it er 6 164s 24 '4''14 1 4fi '44 1 e1 ''4 4- 0 41(1'' 5N)- ''1 41: :::::::1 2) stallations WNAO-TV had to stall their programs and most of all Raleigh citizens would have to wait still longer for TV Pete Miller chief engineer was sent to Lodi to help expedite the delivery of the transmitter On June 20 Miller contacted Charles Stone and informed him that the transmitter was checked out and would arrive in Raleigh on the 29th of June With this information Stone announced that the test pattern would begin on July 8th and regular programs would start between July 12 and 15th Test Pattern The transmitter arrived was installed and test pattern begun On the 12th of July Raleigh had its own TV station's programs for the first time During the first month cl telecasting adjustments had to be made to assure Raleigh of the best possible picture The transmitter was new and like all new things had a few "bugs" in it Special engineering experts were flown in from the Federal Laboratories to make adjustments After a month of work Vb'NA0- TV had most all of its technical troubles ironed out and a good picture was covering a 35-mile radius Today Channel 28 has had a picture for six weeks This picture is the outcome of many months of hard work on the part of WNA0- TV As kr the future a quote from the president of the Sir Walter Television Co John English "No cost or effort will be spared to assure Raleigh of the best possible television on WNAO-TV Channel thstaelliratirnosgraWmNsA0an-TVd linica)csit toof CHARLES STONE General Manager The first event was the acquisition of WNAO AM FM 10000 watt ABC outlet for Raleigh since 1948 Throughout the first of 1953 the Sir Walter Television Company Incorporated negotiated with The News and Observer Publishing Co for the purchase of WNAO On February 13 the sale was consummated and the company assumed the operation of the radio station The future TV station WETV became WNAO-TV The next step Was to set a tentative date for Raleigh's first tale-cast on Channel 28 This was a-difficult problem for many of the 1 factors determining the date were dependent upon circumstances over which WNAO-TV had no control Equipment Needed The biggest factor was the delivery of necessary equipment par- 1 ticularly a transmitter The Sir Walter Television Company had placed an order with Federal Telecommunications Laboratories for the equipment many months before they acquired I WNAO but still the question of when it would be delivered loomed as the biggest stumbling block to the setting of a date for the first picture During March the Federal Laboratories promised that delivery of the equipment wotild come in April With this assurance WNA0- TV set April 27 as the day Raleigh would view a picture on Channel 28 In the meantime while the engineering department was lining up its equipment another department was making arrangements for the equipment it would need This was the Program Department and its equipment would have to be the best television programs available After many months of negotiations a contract was signed with the CBS Television Network and the announcement came WNAO-TV would be a CBS basic affiliate Later the news of affiliation with the other major networks NBC ABC and Du Mont was announced Films of outstanding quality were screened and added to the WNA0- TV Library From the program standpoint things were ready and Raleigh would get the tops in TV service Transmitter Delay In early April the first bad news came The transmitter could not be delivered on the date promised This meant Raleigh would have to wait another month for a picture on Channel 28 This time was used in screening personnel to be used both on radio and television Charles Stone was appointed general manager of and television and he in turn announced that Pete Miller would head the engineering department Byron Davidson the program department and Earl Weide would be sales manager Meanwhile based on the assurances of Federal Laboratories WNAO-TV set another target date The test pattern would begin on May 28 The cameras had been installed studios were built all necessary equipment was installed and ready to go All that was needed was the transmitter Again the bad news came It would be impossible to deliver the transmitter before late in the month of June The date would have to be changed again This was a bitter pill to swallow for everyone concerned The dealers would have to hold off on their in CHARLES STONE General Manager The first event was the acquisi- on of WINIA0 AM FM 10000 watt ABC outlet for Raleigh since 1948 Throughout the first of 1953 the Sir Walter Television Company In- corporated negotiated with The News and Observer Publishing Co for the purchase of WNAO On February 13 the sale was consum- the mateodpearantdion of the ompraandyioassstautmioend The future TV station WETV be- came wNAo-Tv The next step Was to set a tenta- tive date for Raleigh's first tele- cast on Channel 28 This was a- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 Charles Stone WNAO general manager is shown getting ready to watch a television program -''f4' 54 28 4 a- i jit ''''L11 4 3 65Is33: 4 3331 31433333 hbwARkatiball--- 4b BYRON DAVIDSON Program Director ee 411 (a Pi a 4 4 I My 'ASVAI7't'c i' i 4 C77 1'': ''1 4: :1 0t: 40:::: 1::: :4: :::0 1: it it 1:: -454' 441eoltroc: 1 i )4 ii 4: cp- -ii ii :7:4 1 -it-i tr'' ko it'4 1- L--'' 1 4 4 '9' )k 1 ri 44 :4 I kk 4 'Viral 441elt' 4 )k ---oroi: i rk 44 4 -071 i "t4: 'k: il i 40A A Nt Program 01 10 TILDE EyRONT D-VID 'k 't: s'''w-A''''' oil EARL W- baes hanager 4:1 -'44 DAirecteSOrN ri i4 ri ''f7t 4 t3 43:::: 1 1 'I'S 0i' 4 -144- i4 l' 4- r-vt -1 -t 14t "zt 1 44 i 4J 1 iir 3 -Ik4tts4s! -1N Life' -4 1411 ow- i'' 'I'' 21::: AIMI 4-'--141111 II 7111 :4: 4 17-2- 4i ilfiliPPAIII Pr I'litt14''''''" '-'i'''10iff'444Q --4 -4 -I :1 '''1tit 4- i---- 'N A it s'Oti- 4sktiqT" I i --i -it 7- 4 1: i 47V i "'I 4i 7 s'''' i i i :3 I It 11: il 17 )- ii' 1- 4 11abi 'Illi''' I'' -Am -91111111fff 4drr lig i kik 4 AiA101t 4 leitt 4 I'llibt -1 1 4 I II Agit fro Ali It io--' 411) 14 1 i lir' I ft' ii' ty lefip444: 4 t444 I 1101cli 11J': 46ti 1 ":4 ('' t' 1 014 111 Al I' i Rictrir 4:) ---Iri t7 l' 461 litt-li' i 1 6 li 3 I PIPI1 TIO lir' i Ilbk 5': ii: 101N1 4 i i '10- 3--: i i 4)1''- 17 I4 I STIA Pis- 1:: -ii 2 i I obiltril di! 2: T744: Ill :::14 A ji' 1:::: 4N 'i: i 111 61gra I 1 i 2 1 00'61 A 1 Iii i 04 4 1 dio I I 1 i 1 i I( Ari vs- 1 I itioi 2 4 :::::4 4- 'f doNowiloomook Si 'i 'i: 11)- i' t''''1: 4 l' I 1- i '1 il 1 ah It i f'''14: 'a too 14r 'r74 i olir 71e1 4acfit I a io '''''1- 14 W07777 PCV i '''1 fl 4e 4 ilk i r4 3) ift Xf '46 12 4 ''t I 41111 3' rE: 0:: it: 1i' :1::: i irl i t''': fl s' ti 'A: 't: --t T'-i'" Iti4' :1" r7z-: 1t --k it 6 i :4: 7: ir A le A 4 1 A s''' A 4111 'i: ki714 'r Pete Miller (left) head of the WNAO engineering department is shown checking equipment at the transmitter station Here Are Hints On Placing TV Set Networks On September 27 WNAO-TV will be interconnected with the four major television networks CBS NBC ABC and Du Mont station officials say This service which was originally scheduled for early next year is being inaugurated earlier in order to bring fall football and the top network shows that return in the fall to Raleigh viewers The first live telecast will be the football game between the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Cardinals on September 27 Also WNAO-TV hopes to be in its downtown studios by the same date They are now using studio facilities at their transmitter site in Asbury Although there is some disagree ment about correct viewing distance most experts recommend that seats be placed from six to 12 feet from the screen Eye doctors add that within these limits it is often a matter of personal pref erence Periodic glances away from the screen help keep the eyes fresh Advice For Children there'll be plenty of them around now that you're a TV a tendency in their interest and excitement to crowd too close to the screen and should be instructed in these basic "bests" for television viewing While they can be a bit closer to the screen than is considered correct for adults they should not be allowed to make a habit of being any nearer than four feet from the image Telling them to adjust the tone before tuning the picture up to the desired brilliance is is good idea tot) can be highly distracting to viewers If your set is placed against a light-colored wall all the better as contrast between bright screen and too-dark wall is considerably lowered If your wall is dark however one way to lighten the background and allow the eye to adjust to the vivid image without excessive strain is to conceal or focus a light behind the set Other Lighting Whether your walls are light or dark the room should have lighting other than that coming from your TV set Let some sun in during the daylight hours experts say For nighttime viewing they recommend that lamps preferably with opaque shades be placed at sides of the room away from the but add that lighting should not be too bright at any time No light of course should ever fall directly on the screen nor should it be reflected in the screen Since your new television set is an important sincel it will without doubt play an important part in your family lifel from now on you naturally want to get the maximum in enjoyment and service from a minimum of confusion Where you place your set and what provisions you make for lighting and seating can make your television viewing a happy and relaxing these factors can interfere with your fun Once you have made the decision as to the room in which you are going to place your families still choose the living room although there is a marked trend toward the creation of special "TV a bedroom recreation room sub-porch or other spare sure that the spot chosen is well out of the way of most room traffic as passing frequently in front of the screen Puns On Puny Crop' RUSSELL Kan (UP)--Kansas' puny 1953 wheat crop gave birth to the story that a farmer's straw hat blew off during the harvest and went through the combine "That's all right" he said "with this lousy yield I've already lost my shirt Fish Aplenty GLOUCESTER Mass help handle the catch of Gloucester's huge fishing fleet a new cold storage plant has been built here with acapacity of 4000000 pounds This is a closeup of the top of the WNAO-TV tower showing the part from which the television signals go out to the receivers he television which the tart from showln of the top This is a closeup of the nNAsiOgn-TalIts :00 woeurt It.