Encore:NBC Returns to Cleveland June 19, 1965

Editors Note:Another Encore posting:NBC Comes back to Cleveland..Originally posted August 23, 2007..With some video below



The changing of the guard..The removal of the KYW sign at WKYC-TV's Studios at 1403 E. 6th St., Downtown Cleveland (Courtesy Cleveland Press)



A TV Guide Ad from November 1967 picturing(Top)Chet Huntley and David Brinkey (Bottom) Virgil Dominic, Wally Kinnan and Jim Graner, TV 3's main news team from I believe late 1965-1974 (There was a news note saying Dominic would replace Bud Dancy in November 1965)The first post-Westinghouse logo is featured prominently..I never cared much for the "artisitc clown" in this logo..

New Note (10-25-08):In doing recent research, I find that the "artistic clown" had a name.."Threezy" Lame...

The next installment in what has become a series focuses on the "New" WKYC-TV 3 in Cleveland. Cleveland Plain Dealer TV writer James Flanagan talks to New General Manager Arthur Watson as NBC is about to take over the Cleveland TV/Radio facilites. Watson discloses hopes and plans for the new NBC Owned and Operated Station.

It's WKYC Now

NBC RETURNS TO CLEVELAND

By James Flanagan
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Friday, June 18, 1965

Sixteen men from Philadelphia arrived here yesterday to change KYW to WKYC. Their leader said he is not about to rock the KYW image here.

It is Arthur Watson, general manager of the former Philadelphia WRCV, which the FCC ordered the National Broadcasting Co. to swap for Westinghouse Broadcasting's KYW. Watson is g.m. of WKYC now.

"Our new call letters seek to preserve KYW's image in that they mean KY Cleveland." Watson told the Plain Dealer. "We want all KYW personnel to stay on here, including Jimmy Runyon."

Runyon is the "mom-slot" (10AM-2PM) deejay on the 1100kc spot. Almost a year ago a Chicago station (WCFL) wooed Jim with much money and he has been trying to break his contract here to go there.

KYW had the biggest broadcast news operation here, employing 33 in its combined Radio/TV operation, in contrast to WEWS and WJW's less than 20 each.

"News is my primary interest." said Watson. "we employed about 30 full-time newsmen in Philadelphia and I expect to continue a big news operation here. Our news ratings in Philadelphia doubled the combined ratings of the competition and it pays off."

Watson said the rock'n'roll music policy of KYW would be continued with its Beatle countdowns and all. "We are the only NBC station to offer such a program." He said "but that is what Cleveland wants from us and that is what we will continue to give. We also intend to expand the public service offerings on both radio and TV."

"The Mike Douglas Show" will continue to air from Cleveland, though it is a Westinghouse property, at least through August. "it will take some time for studios to be built for Mike in Philadelphia" Watson said, "so NBC will permit Mike to continue in his excellent facility here. We Carried Mike in Philadelphia and we will continue to carry it here."

KYW had first refusal on NBC shows here and generally carried that network's shows. But it did decline Johnny Carson's "Tonight" and NBC radio network news and weekend Monitor programs. WEWS grabbed the former and WGAR has the latter. Watson said WKYC will air the "Tonight Show" in about three months, since NBC has already notified WEWS that WKYC wants the show. It will take six months before WGAR must relinquish its rights to NBC Radio network.

"I understand WGAR is now using some American Broadcasting Co. news shows." said Watson, "so we may get NBC net radio shows even sooner, if WGAR waives the rights to them"

Watson said he hoped all Westinghouse people now employed here and not invited to Philadelphia by KYW would stay on. Dick Goddard and Tom Snyder are going to Philadelphia along with TV news director Al Primo and radio's Bob Hagen.

Weatherman Wally Kinnan comes here from Philadelphia in Goddard's slot. Watson said he would use Bud Dancy for the time being to fill Snyder's 11PM news spot. Bud already works the early evening news so he is slated for double duty until a replacement can be found.

Irvin Margolis will replace Primo as TV news director. Margolis was TV news director in Philadelphia. Robert Martin is the new radio station manager, replacing Perry Bascom, whom Westinghouse shuffled to Boston

Clark Reed is the new radio program manager and Neal Van Ells will be the TV program manager.

All in all, Watson brings good news to the personnel which had been pulsating with rumors that a cutback would be effected shortly after NBC took over..

End of article

Comments:
Jim Runyon finally made it to WCFL Chicago not long after this..He would return to WKYC/WWWE about 1970-73 before his untimely passing. He was the mellow announcer voice ("Wellll...") on the ChickenMan skits

Dick Goddard became homesick after several months in Philly. After fielding offers from all three Cleveland TV stations, he settled in with WJW-TV 8 because "They had the Browns"..He is still there 41 years later.

Al Primo created the "Eyewitness News" format used all over the country by the early 1970's, though the title "Eyewitness News" was used by KYW-TV as early as April 1959.
WEWS-5 used "Eyewitness News" in the 1970's and 80's.

Tom Snyder made a name for himself in Philly doing the news and hosting local talk shows. He would eventually gain national fame as the host of NBC's "Tomorrow" Show and his own national radio show..He passed away just recently.

Neal Van Ells-Began at NBC as Program Director of WRCV in 1962 and stayed at WRCV/WKYC till 1968, when he moved to KNBC Los Angeles as station manager before returning to WKYC as VP/General Manager from 1969-83. He died in 2004.

Interesting note:Mike Douglas last co-host on KYW Cleveland (June 14-18, 1965) was comedian/bad boy Henry Morgan..He made some disparaging remarks about Dorothy Fuldheim after seeing her news commentary program during the week..Caused a real ruckus among the viewers and critics that week..
Saturday, November 18, 1967

6:25 News
6:30 Farm Front
7AM Popeye Theater
9AM Super 6
9:30 Super President
10AM Flintstones
10:30 Samson and Goliath
11AM Birdman
11:30 Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel
Noon Top Cat
12:30 Cool McCool
1PM Panorama-Hicks
1:30 Movie-Double Feature
I Want You-1951
The First Traveling Saleslady-1956
5PM Gadabout Gaddis-Fishing
5:30 GE College Bowl-Robert Earle
6PM Big Ralph-Teen Dance Show
6:30 Montage
7PM NBC News-Frank McGee
7:30 Maya
8:30 Get Smart
9PM NBC Saturday Night at the Movies-Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man-1962
Midnight News-Ron Becker
12:10 Weather-Hicks (anyone know a first name?)
12:15 Sports-Dick Hammer
12:20 Movie-Double Feature
The Tarnished Angels-1957
She Played with Fire-English 1958
3:55 News and Sign Off

Listing from Cleveland Edition TV Guide



A short clip on NBC's Return to Cleveland, with Dick Goddard..From Channel 3:50 Golden Years


WKYC History slideshow, featured a few weeks back..Sights and sounds from WNBK/KYW/WKYC up to about 1983..Stills from WKYC-TV's 35th anniversary..Copyright NBC

NBC Returns to Cleveland-James Flanagan

The changing of the guard..The removal of the KYW sign at WKYC-TV's Studios at 1403 E. 6th St., Downtown Cleveland (Courtesy Cleveland Press)



A TV Guide Ad from November 1967 picturing(Top)Chet Huntley and David Brinkey (Bottom) Virgil Dominic, Wally Kinnan and Jim Graner, TV 3's main news team from I believe late 1965-1974 (There was a news note saying Dominic would replace Bud Dancy in November 1965)The first post-Westinghouse logo is featured prominently..I never cared much for the "artisitc clown" in this logo..

The next installment in what has become a series focuses on the "New" WKYC-TV 3 in Cleveland. Cleveland Plain Dealer TV writer James Flanagan talks to New General Manager Arthur Watson as NBC is about to take over the Cleveland TV/Radio facilites. Watson discloses hopes and plans for the new NBC Owned and Operated Station.

It's WKYC Now

NBC RETURNS TO CLEVELAND

By James Flanagan
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Friday, June 18, 1965

Sixteen men from Philadelphia arrived here yesterday to change KYW to WKYC. Their leader said he is not about to rock the KYW image here.

It is Arthur Watson, general manager of the former Philadelphia WRCV, which the FCC ordered the National Broadcasting Co. to swap for Westinghouse Broadcasting's KYW. Watson is g.m. of WKYC now.

"Our new call letters seek to preserve KYW's image in that they mean KY Cleveland." Watson told the Plain Dealer. "We want all KYW personnel to stay on here, including Jimmy Runyon."

Runyon is the "mom-slot" (10AM-2PM) deejay on the 1100kc spot. Almost a year ago a Chicago station (WCFL) wooed Jim with much money and he has been trying to break his contract here to go there.

KYW had the biggest broadcast news operation here, employing 33 in its combined Radio/TV operation, in contrast to WEWS and WJW's less than 20 each.

"News is my primary interest." said Watson. "we employed about 30 full-time newsmen in Philadelphia and I expect to continue a big news operation here. Our news ratings in Philadelphia doubled the combined ratings of the competition and it pays off."

Watson said the rock'n'roll music policy of KYW would be continued with its Beatle countdowns and all. "We are the only NBC station to offer such a program." He said "but that is what Cleveland wants from us and that is what we will continue to give. We also intend to expand the public service offerings on both radio and TV."

"The Mike Douglas Show" will continue to air from Cleveland, though it is a Westinghouse property, at least through August. "it will take some time for studios to be built for Mike in Philadelphia" Watson said, "so NBC will permit Mike to continue in his excellent facility here. We Carried Mike in Philadelphia and we will continue to carry it here."

KYW had first refusal on NBC shows here and generally carried that network's shows. But it did decline Johnny Carson's "Tonight" and NBC radio network news and weekend Monitor programs. WEWS grabbed the former and WGAR has the latter. Watson said WKYC will air the "Tonight Show" in about three months, since NBC has already notified WEWS that WKYC wants the show. It will take six months before WGAR must relinquish its rights to NBC Radio network.

"I understand WGAR is now using some American Broadcasting Co. news shows." said Watson, "so we may get NBC net radio shows even sooner, if WGAR waives the rights to them"

Watson said he hoped all Westinghouse people now employed here and not invited to Philadelphia by KYW would stay on. Dick Goddard and Tom Snyder are going to Philadelphia along with TV news director Al Primo and radio's Bob Hagen.

Weatherman Wally Kinnan comes here from Philadelphia in Goddard's slot. Watson said he would use Bud Dancy for the time being to fill Snyder's 11PM news spot. Bud already works the early evening news so he is slated for double duty until a replacement can be found.

Irvin Margolis will replace Primo as TV news director. Margolis was TV news director in Philadelphia. Robert Martin is the new radio station manager, replacing Perry Bascom, whom Westinghouse shuffled to Boston

Clark Reed is the new radio program manager and Neal Van Ells will be the TV program manager.

All in all, Watson brings good news to the personnel which had been pulsating with rumors that a cutback would be effected shortly after NBC took over..

End of article

Comments:
Jim Runyon finally made it to WCFL Chicago not long after this..He would return to WKYC/WWWE about 1970-73 before his untimely passing. He was the mellow announcer voice ("Wellll...") on the ChickenMan skits

Dick Goddard became homesick after several months in Philly. After fielding offers from all three Cleveland TV stations, he settled in with WJW-TV 8 because "They had the Browns"..He is still there 41 years later.

Al Primo created the "Eyewitness News" format used all over the country by the early 1970's, though the title "Eyewitness News" was used by KYW-TV as early as April 1959.
WEWS-5 used "Eyewitness News" in the 1970's and 80's.

Tom Snyder made a name for himself in Philly doing the news and hosting local talk shows. He would eventually gain national fame as the host of NBC's "Tomorrow" Show and his own national radio show..He passed away just recently.

Neal Van Ells-Began at NBC as Program Director of WRCV in 1962 and stayed at WRCV/WKYC till 1968, when he moved to KNBC Los Angeles as station manager before returning to WKYC as VP/General Manager from 1969-83. He died in 2004.

Interesting note:Mike Douglas last co-host on KYW Cleveland (June 14-18, 1965) was comedian/bad boy Henry Morgan..He made some disparaging remarks about Dorothy Fuldheim after seeing her news commentary program during the week..Caused a real ruckus among the viewers and critics that week..

Hello Cleveland:Early WKYC Days

Full Page ad in the Cleveland Press Monday,June 21, 1965 just after WKYC arrived in Cleveland. This ad has been featured in TV 3 anniversary programs..Courtesy Cleveland Press Microfilm archive, Cleveland State University

TV Guide WKYC-TV 3"Early Show" ad from February 1968..TV 3 had movies in the early evening time slot as early as 1959..


Hello:
Anyone who has read Cleveland Classic Media from the beginning (March 2007) knows I have written a lot about NBC affiliate WNBK/KYW/WKYC-TV, especially detailing "The Swap" of WNBK to Philadelphia (as WRCV)and WPTZ/KYW-AM Westinghouse to Cleveland (As KYW-AM-FM-TV) in 1956 and the subsequent reversal of the swap in June 1965..The "Hello Cleveland" ad above was featured in local newspapers upon NBC's return to Cleveland. Several months ago, a reader wanted to see the full page ad, which was shown partially in WKYC anniversary specials. I found this at CSU, In their Cleveland Press Microfilm Collection, while in Cleveland Monday for other research..I thought also we would feature three random schedules from the early years of WKYC-TV..

WKYC-TV 3-From TV Guide:

Friday, September 10, 1965

6:20 News
6:25 Farm Fare
6:30 Educational Exchange
7AM Today
9AM Woodrow
9:30 Love That Bob!
10AM Truth Of Consequences-COLOR
10:30 What's This Song?-COLOR "Win" Martindale
Kaye Stevens, Gene Pitney guests

11AM Concentration-Hugh Downs
11:30 Jeopardy-COLOR-Art Fleming
Noon News
12:30 Mike Douglas-Corbett Monica Co Host
2PM Moment Of Truth
2:30 Doctors
3PM Another World
3:30 You Dont Say-COLOR-Tom Kennedy
Ruta Lee, John Gavin guests

4PM Match Game-COLOR Gene Rayburn
Whitey Ford, Joe Garagiola guests

4:25 NBC News-Nancy Dickerson
4:30 Phil Silvers
5PM Movie-Phantom From Space-1953
6:30 Huntley/Brinkley
7PM Seventh Hour News-Carl Stern, Bud Dancy, Wally Kinnan, Jim Graner
7:30 International Showtime-Dom Ameche (Camp Runamuck and Hank take over the time slot the following week)

8:30 Bob Hope Chrysler Theater (Convoy premieres at this time the next week)
9:30 Jack Benny-Last Show after 15 years on TV and 33 years on regular radio and TV-He would do specials after this (Mr. Roberts premieres the next week)

10PM Jack Paar-His last show (replaced by the Man From UNCLE)
11PM News-Pat Murray
11:10 Weather-Wally Kinnan
11:15 Sports-Jim Graner
11:20 Merv Griffin (Johnny Carson's Tonight Show would move here November 1, 1965)
12:50 Movie-California Passage-1950

Thursday, December 15, 1966 BW=Black and White

6:20 Farm Fare-BW

6:25 Education Exchange

6:55 What's Doing?

7AM Today

9AM Mike Douglas-BW

10AM Eye Guess-Bill Cullen

10:25 NBC News-Sander Vanocur

10:30 Concentration

11AM Pat Boone-Guest Dennis Day

11:30 Hollywood Squares-Peter Marshall

Noon Jeopardy-Art Fleming

12:30 Swingin' Country-Roy Clark

12:55 NBC News

1PM Three On The Town

1:30 Let's Make A Deal-Monty Hall

2PM Days Of Our Lives

2:30 Doctors

3PM Another World

3:30 You Dont Say-Tom Kennedy

Mel Torme, Keely Smith, guests

4PM Match Game-Gene Rayburn

Vivian Vance, Henry Morgan, guests

4:25 NBC News-Floyd Kalber

4:30 Sea Hunt

5PM Movie-Canyon Passage-1946

6:30 Huntley/Brinkley Report

7PM News-Virgil Dominic,. Wally Kinnan, Jim Graner

7:30 Daniel Boone

8:30 Star Trek

9:30 The Hero

10PM Dean Martin

11PM News-Dominic

11:15 Weather-Kinnan

11:20 Sports-Graner

11:30 Johnny Carson

1AM Star Performance-BW

1:30 What's In it For You?

2AM News-BW

Saturday, September 28, 1968

6:30 Farm Front

7AM Popeye Theater

9AM Super 6

9:30 Top Cat

10AM Flintstones

10:30 Banana Splits

11:30 Underdog

Noon Birdman

12:30 Super President

1PM Panorama-Jack Hicks

1:30 Between The Lines

2PM Baseball-Houston/St. Louis and Washington/Detroit

5PM Campaign and The Candidates

5:30 College Bowl-RETURN-Robert Earle

6PM Montage

6:30 Frank McGee Report

7PM News

7:30 Adam-12

8PM Get Smart

8:30 Ghost and Mrs. Muir

9PM NBC Movie-The Train (1964)-BW

11:45 News

12:05 Movie-Double Feature

1. Once More, With Feeling! (1960)

2. The Old Man And The Sea (1958)

Brief clip on NBC's return to Cleveland..From WKYC's 50th anniversary special..The above ad (Hello Cleveland) is briefly seen..Dick Goddard relates how he came back to Cleveland within months of joining Westinghouse In Philadelphia..



Some more footage of Channel 3's 50th anniversary in 1998..Including a Tribute to the late Jim Graner, Sports anchor at Channel 3 from 1957-75 and radio voice for the Browns..

Comment:Considering the current state of this year's Cleveland Browns, one hopes that eventually the people put in the place to run the Browns show the class and dignity expressed by Mr. Graner in his lifetime covering the team..

Back to NBC-1965-1989

Even as Westinghouse set up shop in Cleveland in 1956 they were not happy about the circumstances behind the move, though to the company's credit they set out to create an outstanding, locally oriented television station in spite of everything..The FCC with a complaint by Westinghouse, undertook a 10-year investigation of the Sale/swap..It was found that NBC coerced Westinghouse into making the move, threatening to pull affiliations from other Westinghouse Owned NBC stations. The FCC ultimately ordered NBC to reverse the swap, while not realizing any profit from the move back. The swap was completed by June 1965..with the KYW call letters back in Philadelphia at channel 3 and AM 1060. NBC changed its call letters on channel 3, AM 1100 and FM 105.7 to WKYC. AM 1100 was known as a top 40 giant in Cleveland..moving to some news and talk in the early 1970's. AM 1100 and 105.7 were sold to Nick Mileti and Tom Embrescia in 1973..under the call letters WWWE-AM and WWWM-FM.
105.7 has since become WMJI with Majic Oldies..After many format changes...3WE settled into a News-Talk format..changing call letters back to WTAM in 1996.

As for WKYC-TV 3, while some of the long time employees stuck around, Mike Douglas moved to Philly to continue his talk show. There have been some bright spots concerning channel 3 from the 60's through the 80's, such as conversion to All-color programming in 1965: Award winning documentary show Montage and somewhat successful morning shows by Scott Newell and Dave Patterson. Also the long run of "Today In Cleveland" with Del Donahoo (whose long running Del's folks travel segment on the news was a hit) and Tom Haley. Wally Kinnan had a nice run of popularity as the weeknight weatherman. There was a perception among viewers, however that WKYC-TV 3 was not much more than a "Farm Team" for NBC..With popular folks like Weatherman Al Roker Newsman Bud Dancy and Dawn Stensland moving on to bigger positions in New York..(Stensland to CBS)
The Farm Team perception hurt ratings as for years WKYC was number 3 in news ratings..

NBC ultimately relinquished majority control of WKYC to Multimedia, Inc. in 1989..Multimedia merged with Gannett in 1995. A new downtown studio, coupled with the acquisition of Talk Show Dr. Phil, has improved the fortunes of WKYC in recent years.

Edit:Just became aware that Dawn Stensland currently is 10PM News anchor at WTXF-Channel 29 in Philadelphia

Saturday, November 18, 1967

6:25 News
6:30 Farm Front
7AM Popeye Theater
9AM Super 6
9:30 Super President
10AM Flintstones
10:30 Samson and Goliath
11AM Birdman
11:30 Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel
Noon Top Cat
12:30 Cool McCool
1PM Panorama-Hicks
1:30 Movie-Double Feature
I Want You-1951
The First Traveling Saleslady-1956
5PM Gadabout Gaddis-Fishing
5:30 GE College Bowl-Robert Earle
6PM Big Ralph-Teen Dance Show
6:30 Montage
7PM NBC News-Frank McGee
7:30 Maya
8:30 Get Smart
9PM NBC Saturday Night at the Movies-Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man-1962
Midnight News-Ron Becker
12:10 Weather-Hicks (anyone know a first name?)
12:15 Sports-Dick Hammer
12:20 Movie-Double Feature
The Tarnished Angels-1957
She Played with Fire-English 1958
3:55 News and Sign Off

Listing from Cleveland Edition TV Guide

The Westinghouse Cleveland Legacy-Bill Barrett

KYW-TV 3 Logo from 1959 (TV Guide)



TV Guide Ad for Barnaby and Woodrow's Christmas Party from December, 1961



Most familiar KYW-TV 3 Logo-used approximately 1963-65 in Cleveland and many years thereafter in Philadelphia..KYW-AM Newsradio 1060 in Philadelphia still uses the font style in their logo..Ironically enough, this comes from a March, 1966 Philadelphia TV Guide reprint.


Highlights of a Cleveland Press Column (6-18-65) by Bill Barrett on what Westinghouse meant to Cleveland:

SHOWTIME


Bill Barrett

Friday, June 18, 1965

Cleveland Press


KYW TO FOLD IT'S TENT IN A QUIET FAREWELL

The nine lively years of KYW end precisely at 5AM tomorrow. The curtain comes down without fuss, flourish or fanfare.

This just isnt the KYW style, somehow. For reasons not entirely clear, the colorful radio and TV operation on East Sixth Street has chosen to steal out of town as if they owed somebody a lot of money.

I hate to see it end this way. The Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., Owners of the stations which return to Philadelphia tomorrow morning at the Government's bidding, has been a congenial and responsible neighbor in most every sense.

Barrett suggests KYW identified with Cleveland and took up its causes..He also mentions "big league television" in the form of the Mike Douglas Show, That Westinghouse was responsible for. He also quotes:

"The record suggests that there would have been a fond farewell from KYW to the old hometown--A final friendly hour, perhaps, in radio or TV Schedule in which to kick up a few fond memories". Barrett then notes the fanfare (1956) when KYW arrived in Cleveland, sound trucks, billboards, balloons, fireworks..."KYW loved us--each and every one" The station waa the first to air editorials in Cleveland (1958)..Barrett notes the "Open Circuit" TV Show-controversial news magazine..

Barrett gives a plug to WCLV and Bob Conrad, who aired a "Goodbye Westinghouse Hello NBC" Party on WCLV that Saturday night at 10:10 PM. Conrad also aired an editorial on his station that stated:

Although many of us quarrel with the choice of music on KYW-AM, it is a fact that the public service rendered by both KYW Radio and TV has been outstanding--and in the highest tradition of American broadcasting.

Barrett closes his thoughts:

"At 5AM tomorrow, the Westinghouse Broadcasting Company quietly leaves town. They'll leave behind the VIP disk jockeys to be sure and the TV performers. But I figured they owed us a fond farewell."

"So, Ok, Westinghouse. But at least you could have said goodbye."


Comment:It occurs to me that as great an owner as Group W/Westinghouse was in Cleveland, They appeared to have a "Get Out of Dodge" mentality once the Justice Department and the FCC gave the ok for the station swap..I know it's 42 years later but it just seems wrong to me somehow..

Encore:WNBK to KYW..February 13, 1956

Editors Note:In honor of WKYC's 60th anniversary, here is an encore posting..The Changeover from WNBK to KYW..Originally posted May 12, 2008




KYW-TV 3 Station ID Slide...from likely 1957-58.. Special Thanks to Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia for the use of this image from their Archives



From Jerry Immel:KYW-Radio Transcription Disc Label..



TV Guide listing for Feb. 14, 1957..Probably a highlights show.. along with a Newspaper ad for the "Twin Hearts" Ball At Cleveland Arena that same evening..(Courtesy Jerry Immel)



"WBC" Ad touting how perfect KYW and Cleveland would be for each other..From the same TV Guide as the other ad below..



Ad/Article from TV Guide the week of Feb.11, 1956 on the occassion of WNBK's call letter change to KYW-TV. Courtesy Atlanta area voiceover artist Jerry Immel.

Our first posting in a while will highlight the NBC/Westinghouse swap of 1956-WPTZ-TV-AM to Cleveland (adding FM in the process)(with 3,000,000 dollars) and WNBK-AM-TV to Philadelphia(As WRCV). WPTZ had been bought in 1952 by Westinghouse from Philco Corp...To preserve the KYW Call Letters, then on their AM station at 1060 khz..They transferred them to Cleveland as KYW-TV 3, KYW-AM 1100 and KYW-FM 105.7..KYW had been in Chicago from 1921-34 before moving to Philadelphia..below are TV Guide listings:WNBK's final full day In Cleveland... and the first day of KYW-TV.

TV Guide Cleveland Edition
Sunday February 12, 1956
WNBK-TV 3

8AM TV Sunday School
8:30 The Christophers
9AM Catholic Hour
9:30 Spirituals
10:30 Youth Wants to Know
11AM American Forum
11:30 Pat Patterson
Noon Tomorrow
12:30 Norman Vincent Peale
12:45 Strange Adventure
1PM Movie-Japanese War Bride
2:30 Movie-In Old Sacramento
4PM Wide Wide World-Dave Garroway
5:30 Captain Gallant
6PM Meet The Press
6:30 Roy Rogers
7PM It's A Great Life-Comedy
7:30 Frontier
8PM Colgate Comedy Hour-Johnathan Winters, Peter Donald, Stan Freberg
9PM Philco/Goodyear TV Playhouee
10PM Loretta Young
10:30 Justice-Syndicated
11PM Movie-Best Of Hollywood-Spitfire

Monday, February 13, 1956

7AM-Noon WNBK
Noon-Onward-KYW

7AM Today
9AM Variety Hour
10AM Ding Dong School
10:30 Ernie Kovacs
11AM Home-Arlene Francis
11:45 KYW-TV-Opening Ceremonies
Noon Tennessee Ernie Show
12:30 Feather Your Nest
1PM Movie-I Love Trouble
2:30 My Little Margie
3PM Matinee Theater
4PM Date With Life
4:15 Modern Romances
4:30 Queen For A Day
5PM Pinky Lee
5:30 Howdy Doody
6PM Ramar Of The Jungle
6:30 Watch the Birdie
6:35 Sports-Tom Manning
6:45 News
7PM My Little Margie
7:30 Tony Martin
7:45 John Cameron Swayze-NBC News
8PM Sid Caesar
9PM Medic
9:30 Robert Montgomery Presents-Gene Rayburn in dramatic role
10:30 Man Behind The Badge-Syndicated
11PM News
11:05 Weather-Joe Finan
11:10 Sports
11:15 Little Theater
11:30 VP Richard Nixon-Lincoln Day Dinner Speech-Special
Midnight-Tonight-Steve Allen

WNBK To KYW-February, 1956

KYW-TV 3 Station ID Slide...from likely 1957-58.. Special Thanks to Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia for the use of this image from their Archives



From Jerry Immel:KYW-Radio Transcription Disc Label..



TV Guide listing for Feb. 14, 1957..Probably a highlights show.. along with a Newspaper ad for the "Twin Hearts" Ball At Cleveland Arena that same evening..(Courtesy Jerry Immel)



"WBC" Ad touting how perfect KYW and Cleveland would be for each other..From the same TV Guide as the other ad below..



Ad/Article from TV Guide the week of Feb.11, 1956 on the occassion of WNBK's call letter change to KYW-TV. Courtesy Atlanta area voiceover artist Jerry Immel.

Our first posting in a while will highlight the NBC/Westinghouse swap of 1956-WPTZ-TV-AM to Cleveland (adding FM in the process)(with 3,000,000 dollars) and WNBK-AM-TV to Philadelphia(As WRCV). WPTZ had been bought in 1952 by Westinghouse from Philco Corp...To preserve the KYW Call Letters, then on their AM station at 1060 khz..They transferred them to Cleveland as KYW-TV 3, KYW-AM 1100 and KYW-FM 105.7..KYW had been in Chicago from 1921-34 before moving to Philadelphia..below are TV Guide listings:WNBK's final full day In Cleveland... and the first day of KYW-TV.

TV Guide Cleveland Edition
Sunday February 12, 1956
WNBK-TV 3

8AM TV Sunday School
8:30 The Christophers
9AM Catholic Hour
9:30 Spirituals
10:30 Youth Wants to Know
11AM American Forum
11:30 Pat Patterson
Noon Tomorrow
12:30 Norman Vincent Peale
12:45 Strange Adventure
1PM Movie-Japanese War Bride
2:30 Movie-In Old Sacramento
4PM Wide Wide World-Dave Garroway
5:30 Captain Gallant
6PM Meet The Press
6:30 Roy Rogers
7PM It's A Great Life-Comedy
7:30 Frontier
8PM Colgate Comedy Hour-Johnathan Winters, Peter Donald, Stan Freberg
9PM Philco/Goodyear TV Playhouee
10PM Loretta Young
10:30 Justice-Syndicated
11PM Movie-Best Of Hollywood-Spitfire

Monday, February 13, 1956

7AM-Noon WNBK
Noon-Onward-KYW

7AM Today
9AM Variety Hour
10AM Ding Dong School
10:30 Ernie Kovacs
11AM Home-Arlene Francis
11:45 KYW-TV-Opening Ceremonies
Noon Tennessee Ernie Show
12:30 Feather Your Nest
1PM Movie-I Love Trouble
2:30 My Little Margie
3PM Matinee Theater
4PM Date With Life
4:15 Modern Romances
4:30 Queen For A Day
5PM Pinky Lee
5:30 Howdy Doody
6PM Ramar Of The Jungle
6:30 Watch the Birdie
6:35 Sports-Tom Manning
6:45 News
7PM My Little Margie
7:30 Tony Martin
7:45 John Cameron Swayze-NBC News
8PM Sid Caesar
9PM Medic
9:30 Robert Montgomery Presents-Gene Rayburn in dramatic role
10:30 Man Behind The Badge-Syndicated
11PM News
11:05 Weather-Joe Finan
11:10 Sports
11:15 Little Theater
11:30 VP Richard Nixon-Lincoln Day Dinner Speech-Special
Midnight-Tonight-Steve Allen

WNBK to KYW- News Media Reaction

TV Guide Ad for a Sunday, February 19th, 1956 CBS/TV 8 showing of "The Honest Man" starring Jack Benny and Zsa Zsa Gabor on GE Theater with Ronald Reagan..Incidentally, this program is currently part of a 40-show Jack Benny DVD set from Mill Creek Entertainment.


TV Guide Ad for what was the last Movie shown on Channel 3 as WNBK Sunday Night February 12, 1956 at 11PM



KYW-TV 3 sign-off by Gordon Ward from 1956..Not long after the move from Philadelphia..Notice the Catchy Jingle just before the sign-off..KYW was at 815 Superior Avenue at this time..The sign-off was probably on a Saturday night-Sunday Morning. While this is now on the Internet Archive, I'd like to thank Jerry Immel of Atlanta for sharing this clip..He has many others which I'd like to introduce over time..Just click on the player to listen..

In the next couple of articles I'd like to look at News Media reaction to the NBC/Westinghouse 1956 swap in the form of two articles from Radio/TV writers Art Cullison of the Akron Beacon Journal and Stan Anderson of the Cleveland Press..First up:Art Cullison

KYW COMES TO OHIO
WTAM, WNBK Lineusps Revamped

By Art Cullison,
Akron Beacon Journal Radio/TV Writer
Sundsy, February 12, 1956

WTAM and WNBK will officially become KYW and KYW-TV at 11:55 AM tomorrow (2-13-56) as the new owners, Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., shake up the programming lineup but continue to carry NBC radio and television shows.

Here are a few changes coming into effect on KYW Radio this week:

A New farm show will be presented Mondays through Saturdays from 5:30-6 AM. Bill Mayer, the Morning Disk Jockey will be heard from 6-9:30 AM six days a week.

"Mildred and Gloria", a woman's program, will be heard daily from 9:30 to 10:15 AM with NBC's "Weekday" following Mildred Funnell and Gloria Brown.

Mayer will Emcee an Afternoon musical program and Joe Mulvihill will spin platters from 5 to 7:30 PM. "Night Music" will be heard from 10:15 to 1 each evening. The first 75 minutes will stress semi-classical and operetta music. from 11:30 on there will be concert pieces and heavier classics..

(Comment:imagine trying to put heavy classical music on a large AM station today...Or any kind of music for that matter..lol)

By Special Arrangement with the British Broadcasting Co., KYW will present Shakespeare plays every Friday at Midnight. There will be a program of Modern Jazz Saturdays from 1 to 3 PM

At Midnight on Saturdays, KYW will present two-hour symphonies in their entirety. Sunday afternoons there will be a program of sweet popular music hosted by Jerry Liebman,

Dr. Bergen Evans, author and lecturer, will deliver a series of spoken essays "Of Many Things" Sundays at 6:15 PM starting next week, and Dr. Helen Parkhurst, child psychologist, will present a recorded series on juvenile delinquency and child development problems Sundays at 7 PM.

And here are some changes for KYW TV:

Tom Haley will Emcee "Morning Surprise" daily at 9 (AM) There will be remote telecssts from spots around Cleveland, interviews, and news.

"The Big R," a series of live and filmed programs discussing the national education problem and Cleveland in particular, will be seen Saturdays at 2:30 PM. "Juvenile Justice" a "live" show in which guest judges hold simulated court trials for Juvenile offenders will be seen Sundays at 10:30 AM..

Cleveland TV Guide Listings
Saturday, February 18, 1956

KYW-3 NBC

9AM Movie-TBA
10AM Children's Corner-With Pittsburgh's Josie Carey and Fred Rogers (Later Misterogers)
10:30 Pinky Lee
11AM Fury
11:30 Paul Winchell-Jerry Mahoney
Noon-Choose Up Sides-Gene Rayburn
12:30 Mr. Wizard-Don Herbert
1PM Film Short
1:30 Top Ten Dance Party
2:15 Film Short
2:30 The Big R-Education (DEBUT)
3PM Pro Basketball-NBA-Fort Wayne Pistons at Syracuse Nationals (Syracuse won 85-84)
Lindsay Nelson/Curt Gowdy
5PM Film Short
5:30 Zoo Parade-Marlim Perkins
6PM Ramar of the Jungle
6:30 Death Valley Days
7PM Racket Squad
7:30 Big Surprise-Game
8PM Perry Como
9PM Academy Award Nominations for 1955.
10:30 Your Hit Parade
11PM News-Tom Field
11:05 Movie-Close-Up
12:15 News

WEWS-5 ABC

8:55 News
9AM Fun Farm
10AM Movie-Man From Guntown
10:45 Green Thumbs-Gardening
11AM Western Reserve Univ. Telecourse
11:30 Enjoy Yourself-Variety
11:45 Film Short
Noon Mr. Jupiter-ABC
12:30 Variety Show-Jenkins
1PM Movie-Danny Boy
2PM Bandstand-Phil McLean
4PM Texas Jim-Jim Breslin Movie:A Lawman Is Born
5:15 Film-IUE (no idea what this is)
5:30 Film-Gardening
6PM Dollar A Second-ABC Friday 9PM
6:30 Masquerade Party-ABC Wed. 9PM
7PM Lights, Camera, Questions-Quiz
7:30 Lone Ranger-SPECIAL-Hour featuring the Lone Ranger's origin story
8:30 Ozark Jubilee-Red Foley (usually 90 minutes, 30 minutes this week)
9PM Lawrence Welk
10PM Life Begins at 80
10:30 I Led Three Lives
11PM Lone Wolf-Syndicated
11:30 Movie-Dreams Never Lie-Actually a Drama Anthology episode-"Revlon Mirror Theater"-Listed as a "Movie"
Midnight-Movie-The Black Widow
1AM News

WXEL-8 CBS

9:30 Captain Kangaroo
10:30 Winky Dink
11AM Andy's Gang-Andy Devine
11:30 Tales of the Texas Rangers
Noon Big Top
1PM Lone Ranger
1:30 Captain Midnight
2PM Film Short
2:30 National Crime Prevention
3PM Teen Press-Maggie Wulff
3:20 Film Short
3:30 Humbard Family
4PM Wrestling
4:30 Jalopy Derby
5PM Sky King
5:30 Buffalo Bill Jr.
6PM Hopalong Cassidy
6:30 Annie Oakley
7PM Gene Autry-COLOR
7:30 Beat The Clock-Guest-Jackie Gleason
8PM Jackie Gleason (Honeymooners)
8:30 Stage Show-Elvis Presley is among the guests
9PM Two For The Money
9:30 It's Always Jan
10PM Gunsmoke
10:30 Damon Runyon Theater
11PM Movie-Shape of Things to Come
12:30 Movie-TBA

WFMJ-21 Youngstown-NBC

10AM Children's Corner-With Pittsburgh's Josie Carey and Fred Rogers (Later Misterogers)
10:30 Pinky Lee
11AM Fury
11:30 Paul Winchell-Jerry Mahoney
Noon Wooly West
1PM Joe Palooka
1:30 Frankie Laine Show
2PM Teen Party-Ted Conner
3PM Pro Basketball-NBA-Ft. Wayne/Syracuse
5PM Horse Racing-Widener Handicap
5:30 Best of the (Little) Rascals
7PM The Rumpus Room
7:30 Big Surprise-Game
8PM Perry Como
9PM Academy Award Nominations for 1955.
10:30 Your Hit Parade
11PM News/Sports
11:10 Movie-The Limping Man
12:30 Film Short

WKBN 27 CBS/ABC Youngstown

9:30 Captain Kangaroo
10:30 Winky Dink
11AM Western Theater
Noon Big Top
1PM Roy Rogers
2PM The Plainsman
3PM College Basketball-Illinois/Michigan State-Jack Drees
4:45 Cartoon Classics
5PM Hopalong Cassidy
6PM Juke Box
6:30 Sports-Don Gardner
6:40 News
6:50 The Ohio Story-A Day With The Fishing Fleet-Narrator:Nelson Olmsted
7PM Masquerade Party-ABC
7:30 Beat The Clock-Guest-Jackie Gleason
8PM Jackie Gleason (Honeymooners)
8:30 Stage Show-Elvis Presley is among the guests
9PM Two For The Money
9:30 TV Reader's Digest-ABC Monday 8PM
10PM Gunsmoke
10:30 Bowling
11:30 Wrestling

WAKR-49 Akron ABC

Noon-Movie-Galloping Romeo
1PM Movie-Texas Pioneers
2PM Movie-TBA
3:30 Movie-Border Feud
4:30 Movie-Four Faces West
6PM Movie-Louisiana
7PM The Hunter-Syndicated
7:30 Lone Ranger-SPECIAL-Hour featuring the Lone Ranger's origin story
8:30 Ozark Jubilee-Red Foley (usually 90 minutes, 30 minutes this week)
9PM Lawrence Welk
10PM Movie-Good Time Girl
11:30 Movie-Fog Island

Next:Stan Anderson's Cleveland Press Article, Radio Schedules of the time from Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Very rare KYW-1100 Audio from the period..

KYW-1100/Final Hours..Saturday AM June 19, 1965

The following is one result of my trip to Cleveland last Thursday. Bill Barrett was the TV-Radio writer for the old Cleveland Press for many years. He was probably the leading broadcast columnist in his time..Here his column is a lighthearted look at KYW-AM 1100 all night DJ Jay Lawrence and the upcoming changeover from KYW/WKYC, which took place at 5AM Saturday, June 19, 1965. This column was written Friday, June 18, 1965.

TV Radio

Bill Barrett

JAY LAWRENCE ON DUTY FOR GREAT CHANGE AT KY

Jay Lawrence, the all-night disc jockey at KYW-Radio will check in for his regular shift Friday midnight working, as usual for the Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.

Promptly at 5AM Saturday morning Jay will become an employee of the National Broadcasting Co. and the call letters of the station will be changed to WKYC.

The Broadcasting entity known as KYW--Radio and Television--will go whisking off to Philadelphia in the Big Swap ordered by the Government. The Phildelphia stations, owned by NBC, come here with new call letters.

Jay Lawrence alone will be in the saddle at the moment of change. I would'nt be surprised if the responsibility of the occasion is beginning to bother hin just a bit. Should he change his voice a little? or sneak in some music by Montovani? Or change his name to Larry Jason? And how is he going to avoid urging us to have a K-Y-Wonderful Weekend?

You can see that old Jay has his problems all right. Having to change horses in mid-program so to speak. but that K-Y-Wonderful couplet is'nt among them.

I suppose if I ever thought about it at all before I got this assignment, I figured the voices that sing all those promotional ditties came from real men and women right there in the studio. I imagined them lounging about the building between singing about the weather and the news and all, sipping hot tea and resting their voices which go all day, all night seven days a week.

Well, that's not the way it is at all. These little songs are on records. They are called jingles, and the whole batch of them is called a jingle package.

KYW will take its jingle package to Philadelphia. I imagine they'll come up with some new jingles, like:

KYW is tickled SILLY to be here again in dear old PHILLY!

To be done fortissimo, of course, with guitars and cymbals and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

To Get back, though, to the "K-Y-Wonderful" be advised that the new station, WKYC is having a new package made up featuring the new call letters. You will note that the key letters are "K-Y". We may expect inspirational ditties like:

Don't touch that knob gang just stand by
for fun and games on old KY!

The whole idea, as I understand it, is to retain the familiar "KY sound." If all goes according to plan, you'll be able to close your eyes, clench your fists occasionally (if you're an old fuddy-duddy like me) and listen, it'll be as if KYW never left town.

With the probable exception of Jim Runyon, all the radio performers are expected to stay--from Martin and Howard through Jay Lawrence.

All this and the familiar bong*BONG*bong of NBC. It's almost too much.

Copyright 1965 Cleveland Press

Jim Runyon apparently wanted nothing to do with NBC at the time. He almost immediately left for WCFL-AM 1000 Chicago where he became the announcer for the "ChickenMan" comedy vignettes produced at CFL..He returned to AM 1100 in the 1970's when it was WWWE..

I know there is an aircheck out there of the changeover..Would love to hear it..