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TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 4:19 pm
by krazgeo
We got our first TV when I was about 10, in 1956. It was a Westinghouse table model -- 21 inch or thereabouts. It needed a converter sitting on top, because all the channels were UHF and no TVs had UHF tuners then. There was Channel 24, Channel 27, and Channel 47. I know 12 and 30 were there, but I don't remember seeing them at the beginning. Channel 27 was KVVG in Tulare.

We were barely able to get audio from a Sacramento channel, KCCC Channel 40. I mostly remember watching 'Victory At Sea' and 'Mighty Mouse Playhouse'. We didn't get color until about 1960. The first thing I saw on that screen was "Days of our Lives" -- McDonald Carey and the other seniors were alive and well then. Another kid's show in B/W was a lady working a little lamb puppet. I can see and hear her, but I don't remember the names. Wikipedia verifies KVVG and KCCC, saying they are both gone, but KCCC turned into KTXL, Fox 40 in Sacramento.

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:43 am
by EdWebbo
The lady was Shari Lewis.And who can forget Lambchop?

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:00 pm
by Drakonyx
Tulare had its own TV station?!?!? How long did that last?

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 2:30 pm
by K.M. Richards
Hello, I did the research on the early history of UHF television at the DuMont Television Network history website and also wrote an article on my own site that can help clarify the original poster's memory, I hope.

Channels 12 and 30 weren't around at the same time, unless you count a brief overlap period in 1961. KFRE-TV (today's KFSN-TV) started off on channel 12 in 1956 but when the Federal Communications Commission wanted to make Fresno all-UHF they were moved to channel 30. The overlap period of about four months was when KFRE-TV transmitted on both channels to help viewers find their new channel number.

KCCC-TV channel 40 in Sacramento did not "become KTXL" as it had gone off the air in 1957 and KTXL was an entirely new station that went on the air in 1968. (In between, channel 40 was operated in 1959-1960 as KVUE, under different ownership than either KCCC or KTXL.)

Also, to answer the last question: KVVG on channel 27 operated from late-1953 to mid-1957. Its original owner tried to revive channel 27 as KCOK-TV in 1961 but it never got on the air.

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 1:26 pm
by radionut
In the mid 60s there were early incarnations of channels 21, Hanford and 43, Visalia. I don't remember the call sign of the Hanford station, but 43 in Visalia was KICU, and used an ID logo of a guy looking through binoculars. Neither of these lasted for more than a year or two before going off the air, only to return several years later under different ownership.

I think KICU might've had their antenna on a mountain and 21 was on the valley floor. Channel 21 had their studios at "Riverland" on the Kings river near Kingsburg. Not much of a TV watcher myself, the only programming I remember seeing on either station was an afternoon teen record hop that was live from the Riverland studios of channel 21.

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:29 pm
by 1christone1
Channel 12 morphed into Channel 30 when Fresno went all VHF. It was the CBS affiliate and the network sent many of its series stars to Fresno to celebrate the transition.

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 5:53 pm
by VinQ
Yes, channel 26 KMPH in the early 70's, was broadcast from Tulare.

TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 11:00 am
by sdresser
KVVG TV 27 studio/office was in Tulare. Transmitter was at Eschom Point.

KMPH TV 26 is Licensed to Visalia and came on the air in early 70's. Studio at 2600 South Mooney Blvd, Visalia Transmitter was at Blue Ridge mountain above Springville. KMPH TV 26 is now at 5111 E McKinley Ave in Fresno. Transmitter at Baldy Ridge in Sequoia National Forest above Montecito-Sequoia Lodge near the Generals Highway.

Re: TV Channels in the '60s

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 9:03 am
by Clipper cat
I don't remember much about channel 26 EXCEPT sometime in the early 1970s there was a Saturday morning 2 hr slot called "The Voice of Tokyo" (I'm pretty sure this was ch 26.) Featured in that program was a long-running series called (English translation) "Golden Era". I was hooked from the get-go; I think I would have watched it even without the English subtitles. As purely an historical series it was fascinating; heart-stoppingly handsome actors boosted the attraction for me . . .Alas, I left Frez before the conclusion of the series, moving north to a small city which did not receive the channel's signal.

If you remember this series, post a reply letting me know I'm not alone in my fandom.