 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2004-03-01 14:01:00
KWCH in the 50’s
Faye Graves
Question: I can't believe that Channel 12, KWCH, is 50 years old. What was it like when it first began?
ANSWER: (This is a continuation of our salute to Channel 12's 50th Anniversary, from The Q&A Times, Feb. 04')Following the broadcast era from the Lassen Hotel, Channel 12 moved to its' present location in the studios at 37th Street North and Hillside. These studios were previously occupied by Channel 16, KEDD, which had gone off the air. I served as chief director and production manager at this location.We originated numerous live shows during my time, which was before videotape came on the scene, from the 50 x 40 foot studio. Shows like Uncle Willabee and Sammy Scarecrow (both featuring Ernie Dade), Cowboy Frank, and HI FI Hop, which ran each day Monday through Friday at 5 pm. Also featured were the news, weather and sport shows with Bill Brooks, Junior Auction, and all commercials were live. Especially challenging were the commercials with ice cream that had to appear frozen under the hot studio lights, and bacon frying for the Cudahay commercials. For car commercials, the automobiles had to be driven in and out during a 60 second commercial. (You might remember the story I shared last month about the autos returning to their dealership thinking that the run-thru had been the commercial, causing havoc when no cars were available for the shoot!) Many times, even the news film was produced through a projector that was plugged into a camera in the studio, all while the news was airing. And what a day when videotape and color television came into being! It's amazing, all of the things we accomplished during these primitive days of television. I've enjoyed sharing with you, the memories of those years when the only television stations in Wichita were KTVH, KARD, KAKE, KPTS and KWCH. Happy Anniversary Channel 12!
