WVUE-TV's Diamond Jubilee (1953-2013)!

[AarHan3 18]

The year…was 1953.

 

The Oscars are televised for the very first time; Cecil Blount DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth wins for Best Picture.

 

TV Guide magazine begins publication.

 

Everybody liked Ike.

 

The first 3-D movie, House Of Wax, is released.

 

And locally…

 

DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison was Mayor of New Orleans.

 

Robert Floyd “Bob” Kennon was Governor of Louisiana.

 

The streetcar lines on South Claiborne and Napoleon Avenues were the latest to be substituted with buses by New Orleans Public Service, Incorporated (NOPSI), leaving behind Canal (which would also go 11 years later) and the now-iconic Saint Charles line.

 

And on Sunday, November 1, “Something New on New Orleans Airwaves” was just over the horizon.

 

What is currently known as WVUE-TV FOX 8 began life on this All Saints Day as the second television station to sign on in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and originally under the call letters WJMR-TV and on the dial position Channel 61 (The Crescent City’s first UHF signal). Chester F. Owens, president of Supreme Broadcasting (the station’s first owner), stated that WJMR-TV was “dedicated to the service of the public, intent on preserving the best in television emphasis on live TV programs from CBS, ABC and DuMont networks.”

 

The transmitter (capable at the time of delivering 50,000 watts of radiated power), originating atop the famed Jung Hotel on Canal Street, switched on at 12:30 PM, with vice-president and general manager James E. Gordon greeting viewers with a brief “hello”. Then the station forged ahead with its first broadcast day: a Bill Stern sportscast at 12:45, an ABC Sports pro football game at 1:00 PM (New York Giants versus Chicago Cardinals), CBS-TV’s Omnibus at 4:00 PM, The George Jessel Show at 5:30 PM, You Asked For It at 6:00 PM, Private Secretary (or Jack Benny) at 6:30 PM, Ed Sullivan’s Toast Of The Town @ 7:00 PM, and Water Winchell at 8:00 PM.

 

Below is a link to a video of the WVUE 60th Anniversary Special which aired Sunday, November 3...to which I played a small role in crafting! May we continue to enjoy The ‘VUE for 6 more decades…and beyond even that!

 

http://www.fox8live.com/story/23864693/60th-anniversary-special

 

 

Also, since this is the first anniversary celebration that WVUE-TV has ever had, here's wishing The 'VUE a very happy, belated:

 

• 50th Anniversary (1953-2003)
  
• 40th Anniversary (1953-1993)
  
• 30th Anniversary (1953-1983)
  20th Anniversary (1953-1973)
  
• 10th Anniversary (1953-1963)
  

 

• 
  

[Action Newsroom 1150]

Congrats to everyone at the station for this wonderful occasion. It's every day a TV station reaches more than 6 decades.

[johnnya2k6 171]

And soon, it'll be Alaska's turn as KTVA and KTUU both hit the big 6-0.

[Mrtraveler01 737]

Congrats to WVUE on 60 years!

 

Their current turnaround under Benson's control has been great to see and hopefully they'll continue to be the great station it is down the road as well.

[mightynine 287]

Raycom's taking over, while Benson keeps the license.

 

http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/media-group-agrees-to-shared-services-deal-for-operations-of-wvue-tv/-/9853400/23069272/-/vrwcepz/-/index.html?absolute=true&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=wdsu

[Mrtraveler01 737]

 

Raycom's taking over, while Benson keeps the license.

 

http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/media-group-agrees-to-shared-services-deal-for-operations-of-wvue-tv/-/9853400/23069272/-/vrwcepz/-/index.html?absolute=true&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=wdsu

 

Guess I spoke too soon, lol.

 

But Raycom isn't too bad either.

[Action Newsroom 1150]

 

And soon, it'll be Alaska's turn as KTVA and KTUU both hit the big 6-0.

 

An early congrats to them for reaching this far as well.