{"id":23,"date":"2022-02-23T13:09:40","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T13:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/?post_type=chapter&p=23"},"modified":"2022-05-19T19:21:03","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T19:21:03","slug":"chapter-2-a-cleveland-radio-legend-is-born","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/chapter\/chapter-2-a-cleveland-radio-legend-is-born\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 2: A Cleveland Radio Legend is Born"},"content":{"raw":"On February 13, 19<\/span>56 <\/span>Clevelanders woke up to a brand new <\/span>radio <\/span>s<\/span>ound <\/span>with the call letters <\/span>KYW. <\/span>G<\/span>ala programs <\/span>that ended with <\/span>a <\/span>very <\/span>lively <\/span>cocktail party and dinner at the <\/span>stately <\/span>H<\/span>otel Statler<\/span> <\/span>marked th<\/span>is <\/span>special <\/span>occasion<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, o<\/span>ver <\/span>eight hundred <\/span>leaders <\/span>welcomed <\/span>the <\/span>all-new <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>Broadcasting <\/span>Company <\/span>to <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>f you think that was a big deal<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>Clevelanders<\/span>,<\/span> you are <\/span>absolutely <\/span>right<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The former <\/span>WTAM<\/span> <\/span>was <\/span>one of t<\/span>h<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>country\u2019s <\/span>oldest<\/span> stations <\/span>dating back <\/span>more than <\/span>thirty years<\/span>. <\/span>Located at <\/span>1100 on the AM dial<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>this 50,000 watt<\/span> <\/span>g<\/span>i<\/span>a<\/span>nt <\/span>first g<\/span>ained <\/span>national <\/span>recognition <\/span>in 1924 <\/span>when <\/span>it broadcasted the Republican <\/span>Presidential <\/span>Convention <\/span>held <\/span>in <\/span>Cleveland. <\/span>One of its <\/span>jovial <\/span>announcers <\/span>Samuel E. (<\/span>Eddy<\/span>) Leonard<\/span> (1897-1967)<\/span> <\/span>p<\/span>l<\/span>a<\/span>yed a<\/span>n influential <\/span>role in <\/span>convinc<\/span>ing <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>to purchase <\/span>WTAM <\/span>in 19<\/span>30. O<\/span>wned and operated <\/span>by <\/span>the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC over the ne<\/span>x<\/span>t twenty-five years <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ed <\/span>several very <\/span>p<\/span>opular <\/span>radio <\/span>shows<\/span> <\/span>from<\/span> <\/span>its <\/span>Superior <\/span>Building<\/span> studios<\/span>. <\/span>After the Second <\/span>World W<\/span>ar, <\/span>NBC <\/span>expanded its <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>operations to include <\/span>WNBK-TV <\/span>and <\/span>WTAM-FM.<\/span> Although th<\/span>is <\/span>AM <\/span>outlet <\/span>remained <\/span>profitable<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>in the early \u2018<\/span>50s<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>envisioned a <\/span>much <\/span>larger <\/span>network <\/span>presence <\/span>in<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>East Coast <\/span>and <\/span>that didn\u2019t <\/span>include <\/span>its <\/span>Cleveland<\/span> st<\/span>ation<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Specifically, <\/span>RCA\u2019s <\/span>B<\/span>oard <\/span>of Directors <\/span>concoct<\/span>ed<\/span> a <\/span>broad<\/span> business <\/span>plan <\/span>that <\/span>among other things called for <\/span>reloc<\/span>ating <\/span>its <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>radio and television <\/span>station<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>t<\/span>o <\/span>Philadelphia<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>he <\/span>hefty <\/span>business <\/span>agreement <\/span>hammered<\/span> out <\/span>b<\/span>y <\/span>Philco <\/span>and <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> <\/span>in 19<\/span>53 that <\/span>resulted in <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>purchas<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>Philadelphia\u2019s <\/span>Channel 3<\/span> <\/span>set th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>wheels in motion.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nIn <\/span>early <\/span>19<\/span>54<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>first <\/span>approach<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>Broadcast<\/span>ing Company <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>possibility of <\/span>exchanging stations<\/span>. <\/span>Under this<\/span> <\/span>agreement<\/span>, <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>current <\/span>broadcasting arm <\/span>in Cleveland <\/span>WTAM <\/span>would <\/span>relocate <\/span>to Phil<\/span>adelphia <\/span>while <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s moneymak<\/span>er <\/span>KYW <\/span>would <\/span>leave Philly <\/span>for <\/span>the Lake Erie<\/span> shores<\/span>. <\/span>What s<\/span>hould have been <\/span>a <\/span>simple <\/span>transfer <\/span>rapidly <\/span>became <\/span>a <\/span>complicate<\/span> mess<\/span>. <\/span>W<\/span>e will <\/span>soon <\/span>see how that<\/span> <\/span>controversial <\/span>trade <\/span>not only <\/span>affect<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>both <\/span>NBC<\/span> and <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>; but also, <\/span>altered <\/span>the <\/span>U.S.<\/span> <\/span>radio<\/span> <\/span>industry<\/span> forever<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Rumors <\/span>of <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>two city <\/span>station swap first <\/span>surfaced <\/span>in <\/span>January 19<\/span>55<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Supposedly<\/span>, <\/span>NBC<\/span> and WBC were <\/span>about to <\/span>reach<\/span> a<\/span>n <\/span>agreement <\/span>that<\/span> would <\/span>lead to <\/span>them <\/span>exchang<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>ose <\/span>two <\/span>outlets<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However, th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>recent <\/span>action<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>taken <\/span>by <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse\u2019s <\/span>higher ups <\/span>seemed<\/span> <\/span>somewhat <\/span>strange<\/span>. <\/span>After all, <\/span>it had <\/span>recently <\/span>bought Philco\u2019s profitable Philly affiliate WPTZ-TV<\/span> <\/span>for <\/span>a whopping <\/span>$8<\/span>.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>and <\/span>was <\/span>about to <\/span>shell<\/span> out<\/span> <\/span>an<\/span> additional <\/span>$9<\/span>.<\/span>75<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> for <\/span>Dumont\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>Pittsburgh outlet <\/span>WDT<\/span>V.[footnote]\u201cPhiladelphia Story Again,\u201d<\/span><\/span> Broadcasting Telecasting, The Business Weekly of Radio & Television<\/span><\/span><\/em>, January 17, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote] <\/span>Why <\/span>would Westinghouse <\/span>want to <\/span>move <\/span>its <\/span>Philly station <\/span>to Cleveland <\/span>at th<\/span>at<\/span> <\/span>moment?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Had WBC bigger fish to <\/span>fry who knew? But <\/span>everyone <\/span>in the radio industry <\/span>recognized <\/span>that something was <\/span>afoot<\/span>. <\/span>The a<\/span>ppoint<\/span>ment <\/span>that summer <\/span>of <\/span>Donald H. McGannon <\/span>(1920-1984) <\/span>as <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>latest <\/span>GE and <\/span>V<\/span>P<\/span> <\/span>meant that something major was <\/span>about to<\/span> happen<\/span>. A <\/span>top <\/span>ranking <\/span>member <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Dumont<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>elevision<\/span> network<\/span>, <\/span>McGannon <\/span>was known <\/span>as <\/span>a tough <\/span>negotiato<\/span>r<\/span> <\/span>prepared <\/span>to <\/span>fight<\/span> at any moment<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cDumont\u2019s<\/span> McGannon Joins Westinghouse,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> January 17, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nBy <\/span>the <\/span>mid-<\/span>\u2018<\/span>5<\/span>0s<\/span>, t<\/span>h<\/span>e five<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>owned <\/span>and operated <\/span>radio <\/span>stations <\/span>had achieved <\/span>a<\/span>n <\/span>amazing <\/span>first<\/span> in <\/span>U.S. <\/span>broadcasting<\/span>. They<\/span> <\/span>now <\/span>reached 26% more homes <\/span>than <\/span>any <\/span>other network<\/span>. <\/span>Clearly<\/span>, i<\/span>ts <\/span>shrewd <\/span>business <\/span>managers <\/span>had u<\/span>tilized <\/span>their 50<\/span>,000 <\/span>watt<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>outlets <\/span>to <\/span>successfully <\/span>promote <\/span>th<\/span>eir <\/span>many <\/span>goods and <\/span>services<\/span> to a<\/span>n ever<\/span> <\/span>expanding <\/span>audience<\/span> base<\/span>. In terms of KYW-<\/span>Philadelphia, <\/span>that <\/span>radio <\/span>station <\/span>had <\/span>successfully <\/span>ma<\/span>i<\/span>n<\/span>tain<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>high <\/span>ratings <\/span>for the <\/span>l<\/span>ast <\/span>decade<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, <\/span>its <\/span>daytime <\/span>ratings w<\/span>ere<\/span> legendar<\/span>y<\/span> in the industry<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cNo Selling Without,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>January 17, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote] <\/span><\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>long-term<\/span> <\/span>success <\/span>was no<\/span>t <\/span>some <\/span>fluke<\/span>. <\/span>As o<\/span>ne of its <\/span>proud <\/span>advertisements<\/span> <\/span>so <\/span>accurately <\/span>de<\/span>s<\/span>cr<\/span>i<\/span>be<\/span>d<\/span> it <\/span>\u201cBest Buy Nationally, Best Buy Locally, Best by Any Standard of Measurement, KYW 1060 on Your Dial.\u201d[footnote]\u201cDay & Night More People Listen to KYW than any other radio station in the Philadelphia area\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 28, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote] <\/span>It represented a success story with an honored past and an equally promising future. Founded in Chicago by Edison Electric and Westinghouse Electric in 1921, KYW-Radio was this nation\u2019s seventh oldest station. Relocating to Philly in 1934, it advanced rapidly to become a leading force in local broadcasting by the end of that decade. In fact, it ruled the airways in eastern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware and southern New Jersey at the outbreak of the Second World War.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nIn order to <\/span>better <\/span>serve the <\/span>growing <\/span>needs of its <\/span>expanding audience<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>KYW <\/span>opened <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>new <\/span>$<\/span>600,000<\/span> <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>studios<\/span> in 1938<\/span>. <\/span>Three <\/span>years later<\/span>,<\/span> this <\/span>leading <\/span>Red Dot<\/span> <\/span>affiliate <\/span>upped its power to 50<\/span>,000 <\/span>watts <\/span>and <\/span>relocated <\/span>it <\/span>further <\/span>down <\/span>the <\/span>AM <\/span>dial <\/span>from<\/span> 1020<\/span> <\/span>to 106<\/span>0<\/span>.<\/span>[footnote]\u201cHistory of Philadelphia Radio Station 1060 KYW,\u201d http:\/\/www.phillyradioarchives.com\/history\/kyw<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>Regarded <\/span>as <\/span>a top <\/span>radio station<\/span> in the m<\/span>id<\/span>-\u201850s<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>industry leaders thought that <\/span>WBC <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>fool<\/span>ish <\/span>to <\/span>give <\/span>up <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> bread <\/span>winner<\/span> to <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span>. <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>acqui<\/span>sition of <\/span>WPTZ-TV <\/span>in \u2018<\/span>53 <\/span>seemed <\/span>to <\/span>demonstrate <\/span>to nearly everyone <\/span>that <\/span>this up and coming<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>locally-oriented <\/span>network<\/span> was <\/span>truly <\/span>commit<\/span>t<\/span>ed to <\/span>Philly<\/span>. Yet, <\/span>persistent <\/span>rumors <\/span>said otherwise<\/span>.<\/span> By the early months of 195<\/span>5 e<\/span>veryone <\/span>in the U.S. broadcasting industry <\/span>wanted to know <\/span>exactly <\/span>w<\/span>hat <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s legal counsel<\/span> had up its sleeve<\/span>s<\/span> and what part <\/span>RCA<\/span>\u2019s Board of Directors <\/span>w<\/span>ould play <\/span>in <\/span>it<\/span>?<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nW<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s future <\/span>prospects <\/span>were further <\/span>a<\/span>ssured <\/span>when <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>P<\/span>resident Chris J. Witting <\/span>(1915-2005) <\/span>announced th<\/span>e election of <\/span>Don McGannon <\/span>to <\/span>its <\/span>board <\/span>a<\/span>long with <\/span>the appointment of <\/span>Jo<\/span>e<\/span> Baudino <\/span>(19<\/span>04-1998) <\/span>as its <\/span>new <\/span>Washington o<\/span>perations<\/span> VP<\/span>. <\/span>Board members <\/span>overwhelmingly <\/span>believed <\/span>that McGannon and Baudino <\/span>were well-qualified<\/span> for their new posts<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cTwo WBC Executives Names to New Offices,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> May 16, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Later th<\/span>at <\/span>same <\/span>summer<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>officials <\/span>announced <\/span>that i<\/span>ts <\/span>corporate headquarters <\/span>would soon <\/span>be moving <\/span>from <\/span>Washington, D.C. <\/span>to <\/span>New York<\/span> City<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Much <\/span>of <\/span>that network\u2019s <\/span>current <\/span>success <\/span>stemmed from<\/span> it<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>recent <\/span>purchas<\/span>ing of <\/span>WPTZ-TV<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>Philadelphia<\/span>,<\/span> KPIX-TV<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>San Francisco<\/span> <\/span>and WDTV-TV <\/span>in <\/span>Pittsburgh, PA. The Phi<\/span>lly <\/span>deal <\/span>alone <\/span>was worth <\/span>$8.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> while <\/span>the <\/span>San Francisco <\/span>sale <\/span>was valued at <\/span>$6<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0The <\/span>Pittsburgh<\/span> <\/span>station <\/span>cost <\/span>even <\/span>more at <\/span>$9.<\/span>75<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>plus <\/span>stock option<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cNBC, WBC Trade Properties in Cleveland, Philadelphia,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting <\/span><\/em>Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> May 23, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As you <\/span>might have <\/span>already <\/span>figured out<\/span>, major networks <\/span>like Westinghouse <\/span>rarely p<\/span>urchas<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>cost<\/span>ly<\/span> <\/span>outlets <\/span>if they d<\/span>id<\/span>n\u2019t<\/span> <\/span>plan to stay <\/span>there.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nHowever, th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>high priced <\/span>ventures <\/span>seemed <\/span>of little consequence when <\/span>measured <\/span>against <\/span>the <\/span>NBC-WBC <\/span>station <\/span>swap <\/span>that was <\/span>recently <\/span>submitted to the F<\/span>ederal Communications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Much<\/span> of it <\/span>hing<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>pay<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>Broadcasting Company <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>$3<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>bonus <\/span>upfront<\/span>. <\/span>Once <\/span>that was <\/span>resolved then <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> President Sylvester L. Weaver (1908-2002) and W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>Chief Chris<\/span> J. Witting<\/span> (1915-2005)<\/span> <\/span>proceeded ahead<\/span> with their <\/span>plans<\/span>.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>All that remained <\/span>was <\/span>for the FCC to approve the deal and that occurred on December 29, 1955. Financially speaking, that one-time KYW Class A rating stood at a firm $450 while the WTAM class AA rating was slightly higher at $520.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nIn terms of earnings, KYW<\/span>-Philadelphia<\/span> reported that its <\/span>previous year<\/span>\u2019s gross income <\/span>was <\/span>$1 <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>while WTAM<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>earnings <\/span>stood at <\/span>a <\/span>highly <\/span>respectable <\/span>$900,00<\/span>0.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Both <\/span>leading <\/span>networks <\/span>admi<\/span>t<\/span>ted<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>perennial <\/span>moneymak<\/span>ers <\/span>such as <\/span>KYW and WTAM<\/span>,<\/span> and not costly<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>large <\/span>network<\/span>-supported<\/span> operations accounted for <\/span>the<\/span> bulk of their <\/span>revenue<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In both cases, those profitable <\/span>networks <\/span>spent most of their time either <\/span>purchasing <\/span>or <\/span>selling <\/span>locally-based <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>outlets<\/span> <\/span>or <\/span>improving <\/span>their <\/span>properties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Common sense <\/span>a<\/span>nd <\/span>practical needs most often <\/span>dictated <\/span>wh<\/span>o <\/span>got what<\/span>. <\/span>In this c<\/span>as<\/span>e<\/span>, <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>extensive <\/span>holdings in Lancaster, PA, Camden, N.J., Harrison, N.J. and Princeton, N.J. made it <\/span>far <\/span>more practical <\/span>for <\/span>that network <\/span>to <\/span>become <\/span>the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>prime stakeholder<\/span>\u201d<\/span> in <\/span>Philadelphia <\/span>leaving <\/span>Clevelan<\/span>d<\/span> to WBC.<\/span>[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Although nothing was said by Westinghouse<\/span> officials<\/span> <\/span>regard<\/span>ing<\/span> that <\/span>arrangement, it <\/span>apparently <\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span> <\/span>trouble <\/span>them<\/span> <\/span>greatly<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>ts board <\/span>members <\/span>had <\/span>previously<\/span> discussed the possibilities of <\/span>expanding <\/span>their <\/span>Midwest operations<\/span>. <\/span>Gaining a <\/span>sizeable <\/span>foothold in th<\/span>e<\/span> growing Cleveland market <\/span>might be <\/span>a major step towards attaining that <\/span>worthwhile business <\/span>goal<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nRealistically <\/span>speaking<\/span>, <\/span>mov<\/span>ing <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s top<\/span> <\/span>executives<\/span> Lloyd E. Yoder (1903-1967), Samuel E. (Eddie) Leonard and Curtis Peck <\/span>from Cleveland <\/span>to Phil<\/span>adelphia<\/span> <\/span>made <\/span>the <\/span>greatest <\/span>sense<\/span>. <\/span>Two W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>manager<\/span>s <\/span>from Philadelphia <\/span>Roland V. Tooke<\/span> (b. 1909)<\/span> and Frank A. Tooke <\/span>(1912-1999) <\/span>w<\/span>ould <\/span>handle <\/span>the <\/span>relocat<\/span>ion efforts <\/span>to <\/span>Clevelan<\/span>d.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0If for some reason th<\/span>at <\/span>did<\/span> not <\/span>happen <\/span>as planned <\/span>th<\/span>e<\/span>n <\/span>NBC <\/span>officials, with the blessing of <\/span>its <\/span>RCA board, <\/span>intended <\/span>to <\/span>swap <\/span>WTAM for <\/span>another <\/span>prime <\/span>Phil<\/span>ly <\/span>station<\/span>. Apparently, <\/span>it <\/span>was<\/span> <\/span>considering <\/span>an exchange with <\/span>the ABC affiliate <\/span>there <\/span>WFI<\/span>L.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>Talk on the street <\/span>strongly suggested <\/span>that this <\/span>transfer <\/span>might <\/span>involve <\/span>more than <\/span>just <\/span>one <\/span>station<\/span>. <\/span>If that <\/span>occur<\/span>red<\/span> then <\/span>the<\/span> <\/span>National<\/span> <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany planned <\/span>to <\/span>trade <\/span>its <\/span>Washington, D.C.<\/span> <\/span>outlet <\/span>WRC <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany\u2019s station in <\/span>Boston<\/span> <\/span>WBZ<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Acquiring WRC<\/span> <\/span>would have <\/span>en<\/span>abled <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span> Broadcasting<\/span> t<\/span>o erect <\/span>a <\/span>new, <\/span>high<\/span> <\/span>power<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>television <\/span>antenna <\/span>somewhere <\/span>between Baltimore<\/span> <\/span>and Washington<\/span>. <\/span>S<\/span>ervic<\/span>ing <\/span>two <\/span>big <\/span>markets<\/span> <\/span>from <\/span>a single <\/span>giant <\/span>tower <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>lower<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>costs<\/span> considerabl<\/span>y.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However, that idea <\/span>was <\/span>scuttle<\/span>d<\/span> quickly<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nThe <\/span>process of <\/span>relocating <\/span>the <\/span>two <\/span>stations<\/span> <\/span>continued <\/span>through<\/span>out<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> summer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In term of actual wealth, <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>corporate<\/span> <\/span>assets <\/span>for <\/span>19<\/span>55 <\/span>were <\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>extraordinary <\/span>$50.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span>. That <\/span>excluded <\/span>plant equipment <\/span>which was <\/span>worth <\/span>an additional <\/span>$43<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span>. Its $17<\/span>.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>network <\/span>reserves <\/span>was <\/span>equally <\/span>impressive<\/span>. <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>ledger also <\/span>included<\/span> <\/span>$31.<\/span>2<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>liabilities <\/span>and <\/span>$6.<\/span>5 million in capital stock. Its reinvestment earnings alone exceeded the $39.6 million mark. In today\u2019s world that would be worth more than $396 million.[footnote]\u201cNBC, Westinghouse Seek Approval of Cleveland-Philadelphia Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcast<\/em>ing<\/em> Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> <\/span>June 20, 1955<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]\u00a0Not too shabby for a twenty-nine year old broadcasting network.\u00a0Also, WBC\u2019s revenues had grown substantially over the past two years from $10.9 million to $13.9 million. Its corporate expenses had climbed from $8.7 million and $10.6 million while its net income had increased from $1.15 million to $1.61 million. That would equal $4.6 million in today\u2019s market.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Any way you might look at it, both broadcasting companies were top investment choices then.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nIn <\/span>terms of <\/span>the <\/span>actual <\/span>stations,<\/span> <\/span>they <\/span>owne<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>NBC<\/span> <\/span>controlled <\/span>WRCA<\/span>-<\/span>New York; WRC<\/span>-<\/span>Washington, D.C., WMAQ-<\/span>Chicago, KNBC<\/span>-<\/span>San Francisco<\/span>, and WKNB<\/span>-<\/span>New Britain, C<\/span>T.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>owned and <\/span>operated <\/span>KDKA<\/span>-<\/span>Pittsburgh,<\/span> WBZ-<\/span>Boston, KEX<\/span>-<\/span>Portland, OR and WOWO<\/span>-<\/span>Fort Wayne, I<\/span>N.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>One of <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>principal <\/span>ways to <\/span>increas<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>its <\/span>revenue<\/span> <\/span>stream <\/span>involved <\/span>sw<\/span>apping <\/span>l<\/span>ackluster <\/span>outlets for <\/span>potentially <\/span>more profitable ones<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>RCA\u2019s shrewd B<\/span>oard <\/span>of Directors <\/span>knew <\/span>that the <\/span>FCC<\/span> would n<\/span>ever <\/span>allow <\/span>any <\/span>network to exceed its <\/span>allotted <\/span>number <\/span>of <\/span>company-owned <\/span>stations<\/span>. <\/span>However, <\/span>trading <\/span>one <\/span>outlet <\/span>for another was <\/span>very much <\/span>l<\/span>egal <\/span>and that<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>what <\/span>prompted <\/span>this <\/span>exchange<\/span>. <\/span>You might wonder if <\/span>that deal <\/span>contained <\/span>an<\/span> <\/span>escape<\/span> clause<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>entatively approved <\/span>in <\/span>May<\/span> 19<\/span>55<\/span>, <\/span>this agreement <\/span>did <\/span>indeed <\/span>include <\/span>one<\/span>. Either network <\/span>did <\/span>ha<\/span>ve <\/span>the <\/span>legal <\/span>right <\/span>to <\/span>pull out <\/span>during the first year <\/span>should <\/span>it <\/span>discover <\/span>something wrong<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0However, <\/span>the <\/span>details <\/span>for<\/span> pulling out <\/span>were <\/span>very <\/span>sketchy<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nI<\/span>n the <\/span>mid<\/span>d<\/span>le of <\/span>these <\/span>negotiations<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>one of the <\/span>leading <\/span>Buffalo, NY <\/span>broadcasters<\/span> <\/span>WGR<\/span> <\/span>challenge<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>it<\/span>. <\/span>Its l<\/span>egal representatives <\/span>q<\/span>uestion<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>the motives <\/span>that had <\/span>l<\/span>ed the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany recently to try and <\/span>purchas<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>one of <\/span>its <\/span>chief <\/span>rivals<\/span> <\/span>WBUF<\/span>-T<\/span>V.[footnote]\u201cWGR Asks Hearing on NBC UHF Buys and NBC-Westinghouse Station Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, June 27, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>WGR<\/span>\u2019s counsel<\/span> <\/span>argued that <\/span>pending <\/span>federal <\/span>litigation <\/span>against <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>parent <\/span>corporation <\/span>RCA<\/span> <\/span>would compel <\/span>the F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>flatly <\/span>deny <\/span>the petition<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>WGR-<\/span>Buffalo<\/span> <\/span>furth<\/span>er contended that <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>forced <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> <\/span>Broadcasting Company <\/span>to <\/span>consent <\/span>to <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> Cleveland-Philadel<\/span>p<\/span>hia <\/span>station <\/span>exchange<\/span>. <\/span>WGR\u2019s <\/span>attorneys <\/span>went so far as to s<\/span>uggest <\/span>th<\/span>at two of W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>prime <\/span>television <\/span>stations <\/span>would <\/span>los<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>their <\/span>NBC <\/span>affiliation<\/span> <\/span>if <\/span>present negotiations were <\/span>not brought to a <\/span>speedy <\/span>conclusion<\/span>. <\/span>The possib<\/span>ility <\/span>of <\/span>f<\/span>oul play <\/span>on the part of the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>was to <\/span>re<\/span>appear <\/span>numerous times <\/span>over the next <\/span>decade <\/span>as <\/span>the feds and other <\/span>private <\/span>corporations <\/span>repeatedly attacked <\/span>that network <\/span>for <\/span>its <\/span>so-called <\/span>unethical<\/span> <\/span>behavior<\/span>. In the <\/span>Buffalo <\/span>case<\/span>, <\/span>NBC<\/span> <\/span>offered<\/span> WBUF <\/span>only <\/span>$918,994<\/span>. <\/span>Many <\/span>experts <\/span>in the radio industry believed <\/span>that <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>low ball figure<\/span>. <\/span>A<\/span>lso<\/span>, <\/span>WGR <\/span>l<\/span>egal staff<\/span> <\/span>w<\/span>anted to know <\/span>w<\/span>hy <\/span>the FCC had not demanded <\/span>a more thorough assessment of <\/span>WBUF<\/span>\u2019s financial worth <\/span>upfront<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Tho<\/span>se <\/span>concerns <\/span>needed to be a<\/span>ddressed <\/span>immediately<\/span>.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t get me wrong, NBC<\/span>\u2019s lawyers<\/span> repeatedly <\/span>reassure<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>that this <\/span>upcoming <\/span>exchange <\/span>was fair<\/span>. <\/span>After all, <\/span>the number of new <\/span>spot sales <\/span>on WTAM-R<\/span>adio had i<\/span>mproved <\/span>by <\/span>a<\/span>n amazing <\/span>60% <\/span>over the p<\/span>revious <\/span>two year<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cNBC Owned Stations<\/span> Report Spot and Local Gains for May,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, <\/span>June 27, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>That <\/span>eye-opener <\/span>led <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse\u2019s <\/span>shrewd <\/span>programmers <\/span>to <\/span>scrutinize <\/span>WTAM\u2019s <\/span>programming <\/span>very carefully <\/span>and <\/span>when<\/span>ever<\/span> possible <\/span>retain <\/span>it<\/span>s <\/span>best <\/span>DJs<\/span>.<\/span>[footnote]Tom O\u2019Connell, \u201cThose Whiting Girls to Play Themselves in C.B.S. Series,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 3, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>About<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>recent <\/span>charges made by <\/span>WGR;<\/span> <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s legal team<\/span> <\/span>repeated<\/span>ly <\/span>claimed <\/span>that <\/span>NBC had <\/span>never <\/span>placed <\/span>any <\/span>undue <\/span>pressure on<\/span> i<\/span>t.[footnote]\u201cNo Duress in NBC Exchange, Westinghouse Tells FCC,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>July 4, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>After all, why <\/span>would <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>know<\/span>ingly <\/span>engage in such unlawful practices<\/span>? <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>firmly <\/span>believe<\/span>d<\/span> that <\/span>this deal <\/span>would be <\/span>profitable<\/span> for <\/span>both parties<\/span>. <\/span>On another note, <\/span>Chri<\/span>s Witting <\/span>proudly <\/span>reported <\/span>that his <\/span>company owned and operated <\/span>stations had <\/span>seen <\/span>their <\/span>spot <\/span>advertising<\/span> revenues increase by <\/span>30% <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>p<\/span>revious <\/span>six month<\/span> period<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>KYW-Philadelphia <\/span>le<\/span>a<\/span>d<\/span>ing the pack<\/span> with a <\/span>healthy <\/span>32%<\/span> gain<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>When all was said and done<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> Broadcasting<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>earnings <\/span>had <\/span>improved <\/span>by<\/span> an <\/span>astounding <\/span>60% <\/span>over its <\/span>previous <\/span>high<\/span> mark <\/span>achieved <\/span>in 1948<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cSensational Gains Cited for Westinghouse Radio,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 25, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nBelieving that an ounce of prevention<\/span> wa<\/span>s <\/span>well <\/span>worth a pound of cure<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the FCC <\/span>in July 19<\/span>55 <\/span>ordered a<\/span> <\/span>second <\/span>investigat<\/span>i<\/span>on<\/span> of the upcoming station trade<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This time the commission <\/span>would <\/span>focus <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>precise <\/span>allegations<\/span> <\/span>made by WGR-Buffalo <\/span>against NBC<\/span>. <\/span>Some <\/span>critics <\/span>contended <\/span>that <\/span>th<\/span>e federal regulatory agency <\/span>wanting <\/span>to <\/span>quickly <\/span>approve the <\/span>NBC-WBC <\/span>trade <\/span>m<\/span>ay <\/span>have <\/span>overlooked <\/span>some <\/span>cr<\/span>itical <\/span>evidence <\/span>and that a<\/span> second<\/span> <\/span>investigation<\/span> <\/span>into it <\/span>might <\/span>clear up <\/span>any <\/span>earlier <\/span>wrong doing<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>As you <\/span>might <\/span>expect, t<\/span>he<\/span> F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>made it <\/span>abundantly <\/span>clear that <\/span>they <\/span>would <\/span>leave no rock <\/span>unturned<\/span> especially if<\/span> <\/span>the commissioners<\/span> <\/span>should <\/span>discover that<\/span> <\/span>NBC <\/span>had <\/span>coerced <\/span>WBC<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span> second <\/span>in-depth <\/span>investigation would <\/span>undoubtedly <\/span>reveal <\/span>whether the <\/span>public\u2019s <\/span>interests would <\/span>best <\/span>be served <\/span>by <\/span>such an<\/span> <\/span>exchange <\/span>or not<\/span>,<\/span> and that was what <\/span>really <\/span>mattered<\/span>. <\/span>On a<\/span>nother<\/span> <\/span>level<\/span>, t<\/span>h<\/span>is <\/span>inquiry might well determine whether <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>alleged<\/span> drummed up <\/span>actions <\/span>did indeed <\/span>represent <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>violat<\/span>i<\/span>on of <\/span>the <\/span>anti-monopoly provisions <\/span>as <\/span>set down in <\/span>the <\/span>Communicatio<\/span>ns Act of 19<\/span>34. Any <\/span>a<\/span>ntitrust litigation <\/span>resulting from <\/span>fraud<\/span>ulent<\/span> <\/span>activities <\/span>on the part of <\/span>the National Broadcasting Company <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>automatically canceled <\/span>th<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>e<\/span>xchange<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nEverything <\/span>remained c<\/span>opasetic <\/span>in<\/span>to<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>autumn<\/span> of \u2018<\/span>55<\/span>. <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Philadelphia<\/span> <\/span>cont<\/span>inu<\/span>ed<\/span> to broadcast <\/span>its <\/span>favorite<\/span> <\/span>s<\/span>hows<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>includ<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>popular <\/span>Princeton University football games<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Herb Carneal <\/span>(1924-2007) <\/span>and Mark Olds <\/span>(1921-2009) <\/span>provided <\/span>the <\/span>play-by-play coverag<\/span>e.[footnote]\u201cPrinceton KYW Hottest Football Package in the East!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>August 29, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>It<\/span>s <\/span>skilled <\/span>p<\/span>romot<\/span>ers <\/span>through <\/span>their <\/span>clever<\/span>ly worded<\/span> <\/span>newspaper<\/span> ads<\/span>, <\/span>hyped <\/span>merchandise<\/span> and dazzling <\/span>outdoor billboards <\/span>promised <\/span>their many sports listeners <\/span>a super year for the <\/span>fighting <\/span>Princeton <\/span>Tigers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hat <\/span>same <\/span>autumn<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> <\/span>Board of Directors <\/span>announced the appointment of Robert H. Teter <\/span>(1919-2011) <\/span>as <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>new<\/span>est<\/span> <\/span>GM<\/span>. <\/span>Teter<\/span>\u2019s claim <\/span>to<\/span> fame was that he <\/span>had <\/span>single handedly increased <\/span>that outlet\u2019s <\/span>spot sales <\/span>to <\/span>lofty <\/span>new <\/span>heights<\/span> <\/span>over the <\/span>l<\/span>ast <\/span>five year<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>Co<\/span>mpany <\/span>l<\/span>oyalty <\/span>certainly <\/span>had i<\/span>ts<\/span> <\/span>rewards <\/span>as <\/span>Frank Tooke advanced up the <\/span>corporate <\/span>ladder to become <\/span>it<\/span>s new <\/span>Special Assignments<\/span> <\/span>E<\/span>xecutive <\/span>O<\/span>ffice<\/span>r<\/span> at year\u2019s end<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cKYW Names Teter General Manager,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 3, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nPesky <\/span>legal <\/span>issues <\/span>continu<\/span>ed to <\/span>plague <\/span>t<\/span>h<\/span>e FCC\u2019s f<\/span>ollow-up <\/span>investigation<\/span>. One <\/span>sticking point <\/span>that <\/span>remain<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>unsettled <\/span>concerned <\/span>the <\/span>allegation <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>Company<\/span> had<\/span> <\/span>planned to <\/span>end <\/span>its <\/span>affiliation <\/span>with <\/span>certain <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>television <\/span>station<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>if <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> <\/span>swap <\/span>had <\/span>not<\/span> <\/span>happened<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cFCC Wants Hearing on NBC-WBC Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 24, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Certain <\/span>commissioners <\/span>believed <\/span>that <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>trade <\/span>was <\/span>essential <\/span>if <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC <\/span>was <\/span>determined to <\/span>secur<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>a greater foothold on <\/span>the <\/span>growing <\/span>East Coast <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>market<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>WGR<\/span>-Buffalo<\/span> <\/span>legal team <\/span>claimed that W<\/span>BC\u2019s <\/span>control of <\/span>WTAM <\/span>would <\/span>ultimately <\/span>result in <\/span>a <\/span>similar <\/span>stranglehold over <\/span>m<\/span>uch<\/span> of <\/span>N<\/span>orth<\/span>east<\/span> Ohio<\/span> <\/span>and <\/span>N<\/span>orthwest <\/span>West Virgini<\/span>a.[footnote]\u201cNBC-WBC Swap Hangs Fire,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 25, 1955.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe FCC <\/span>had <\/span>hoped that <\/span>t<\/span>his<\/span> <\/span>latest <\/span>round of <\/span>talk<\/span>s<\/span> might <\/span>bring to an <\/span>end <\/span>this <\/span>confusion<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Of course, it didn\u2019t<\/span> <\/span>achieve <\/span>that <\/span>at all<\/span>. <\/span>On another<\/span> very positive <\/span>note, <\/span>KDKA, <\/span>KYW<\/span> and <\/span>WBZ<\/span> <\/span>in October 1955 <\/span>received <\/span>recognition <\/span>from United Press <\/span>International <\/span>for two decades of <\/span>dedicated<\/span> <\/span>news <\/span>servic<\/span>e.[footnote]\u201cWestinghouse Stations, Esso Mark \u2018Reporter\u2019 Anniversary,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 31, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>A month later<\/span>, <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>advertising agency <\/span>Free & Peters <\/span>proclaimed that <\/span>the network <\/span>was <\/span>\u201cbusting its buttons\u201d <\/span>now that it w<\/span>as <\/span>this nation\u2019s <\/span>largest independent broadcaster. <\/span>Its<\/span> <\/span>five <\/span>radio <\/span>outlets<\/span>,<\/span> includ<\/span>ing <\/span>KYW<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>furnished <\/span>the <\/span>fines<\/span>t<\/span> in <\/span>entertainment, <\/span>music, <\/span>news<\/span> and <\/span>sport<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cWBC is busting its buttons-On,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 7, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>Pleased with <\/span>its <\/span>new, <\/span>sky-high <\/span>earnings<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s Board of Directors <\/span>appointed <\/span>President Chris J. Witting<\/span> <\/span>as <\/span>its latest <\/span>We<\/span>stinghouse Electric\u2019s <\/span>Consumer Products Division<\/span> GM<\/span>. Don <\/span>McGannon <\/span>was voted in as <\/span>board presiden<\/span>t.[footnote]\u201cChris J. Witting, Donald H. McGannon Appointed to New Westinghouse Posts,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 14, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nAlways d<\/span>edicated to <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>community service<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>proudly <\/span>cover<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>education <\/span>conference <\/span>hosted by <\/span>President Eisenhower<\/span> <\/span>on November 28<\/span>, 1955<\/span>.<\/span>[footnote]\u201cWBC Plans Heavy Coverage of White House Educ. Meet,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 14, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>KYW-Phi<\/span>ladelphia <\/span>received a great deal of <\/span>praise<\/span> from its <\/span>many <\/span>higher ups <\/span>for its <\/span>outstanding coverage<\/span> of that <\/span>event<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Later t<\/span>h<\/span>at <\/span>same month<\/span>, <\/span>NBC and <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>submitted <\/span>their <\/span>petition <\/span>to the FCC<\/span> for <\/span>its <\/span>final <\/span>approva<\/span>l.[footnote]\u201cNBC, Westinghouse Ask FCC to Approve Station Exchange,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 21, 1955.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Guess what<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>commission <\/span>approved <\/span>it <\/span>by a six to one vote. Robert T. Bartley (1909-1988)<\/span> <\/span>represented <\/span>the on<\/span>ly<\/span> dissenting vote<\/span>. He believed that <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>Company<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>strong-armed <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>into <\/span>accepting <\/span>what he considered to be <\/span>a <\/span>lopsided <\/span>dea<\/span>l.[footnote]\u201cNBC-Westinghouse Swap Approved; FCC Stirs Justice Dept. Interest,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>January 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nIn <\/span>supporting <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>swap<\/span>, th<\/span>e F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>temporally <\/span>held back <\/span>attempts<\/span> <\/span>by <\/span>the Department of Justice (DOJ) <\/span>or <\/span>the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) <\/span>to <\/span>prosecute <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC on <\/span>charges of <\/span>monopoly or restraint of trade. <\/span>As everyone <\/span>fully acknowledged<\/span>, <\/span>NBC <\/span>was <\/span>a powerful <\/span>force in U.S. <\/span>business<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>That network <\/span>used <\/span>its <\/span>tremendous <\/span>power <\/span>to exert<\/span> <\/span>further <\/span>pressure on the feds to end <\/span>those <\/span>a<\/span>llegations <\/span>of <\/span>wrongdoing<\/span>. <\/span>Its <\/span>top<\/span> leaders <\/span>firmly <\/span>believed that if th<\/span>ose charges <\/span>remain<\/span>ed un<\/span>checked <\/span>it might bring the whole house down. In retro<\/span>s<\/span>p<\/span>e<\/span>ct, that <\/span>seem<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>unlikely<\/span>. <\/span>However, odd makers <\/span>at that time <\/span>weren\u2019t so sure<\/span>.<\/span> St<\/span>ranger things <\/span>had occurred <\/span>with<\/span>in <\/span>the radio <\/span>industry<\/span> in the <\/span>recent <\/span>past<\/span>.<\/span> Who knew what <\/span>lay ahead<\/span>?<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nHowever, t<\/span>h<\/span>at <\/span>trade <\/span>did <\/span>g<\/span>i<\/span>ve <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>exactly <\/span>what it <\/span>wanted <\/span>a <\/span>prime <\/span>Phil<\/span>ly <\/span>station<\/span> without an<\/span>y kind of<\/span> protest from the Westinghouse Broadcasting<\/span> Company<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Such acq<\/span>ui<\/span>esce <\/span>on the part of WBC seemed somewhat out of character <\/span>based on the fact <\/span>that <\/span>its negotiat<\/span>ion team<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>had <\/span>a reputation for using <\/span>hardnosed <\/span>tactics<\/span> <\/span>to achieve <\/span>its <\/span>aims<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>ndustry-wide <\/span>leaders <\/span>fully <\/span>acknowledged <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>Broadcasting <\/span>Company<\/span> <\/span>was <\/span>n<\/span>ever a <\/span>pushover<\/span> at the bargaining table<\/span>. <\/span>One of the reasons <\/span>its <\/span>Board of Directors <\/span>had hired McGannon <\/span>in the first place <\/span>was that he <\/span>was <\/span>known as <\/span>a <\/span>stubborn <\/span>negotiator<\/span>. <\/span>Yet, <\/span>in spite of <\/span>the <\/span>bravo<\/span> when push came to shove<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>,<\/span> led by McGannon<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>did <\/span>v<\/span>ery little <\/span>to improve <\/span>that broadcaster\u2019s <\/span>bargaining <\/span>position<\/span> with NBC<\/span>. <\/span>Perhaps he w<\/span>as outwitted by <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>skillful legal team<\/span>,<\/span> or <\/span>maybe<\/span> <\/span>he thought that the exchange was <\/span>equally <\/span>beneficial <\/span>for Westinghouse. Who <\/span>knew<\/span>?<\/span>\r\n\r\nW<\/span>hatever the reason<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>behind <\/span>this swap, <\/span>NBC<\/span> <\/span>initially seemed to <\/span>benefit <\/span>the most <\/span>from it<\/span>. This being <\/span>said<\/span>, <\/span>in order <\/span>f<\/span>or this <\/span>exchange <\/span>to <\/span>occur <\/span>smoothly<\/span> <\/span>NBC <\/span>had to <\/span>first <\/span>agree to <\/span>retain <\/span>its <\/span>affiliation<\/span> with th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>questionable <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>television <\/span>stations<\/span>. <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s Boa<\/span>rd of Directors had <\/span>made it <\/span>crystal<\/span> clear <\/span>to NBC<\/span>\u2019s legal team<\/span> that if it <\/span>decided<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>in the last moment<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>pull <\/span>its affiliation <\/span>from those outlets <\/span>then <\/span>the <\/span>deal <\/span>w<\/span>as <\/span>off<\/span>. <\/span>C<\/span>ounsel representing <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC <\/span>listened <\/span>attentively <\/span>to <\/span>W<\/span>BC\u2019s <\/span>demand<\/span> and <\/span>agreed to do <\/span>it<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Also, <\/span>both parties <\/span>knew f<\/span>u<\/span>ll-well that this <\/span>Philadelphia-Cleveland <\/span>exchange <\/span>might <\/span>be <\/span>viewed <\/span>by some legal e<\/span>agles <\/span>as <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>golden opportunity <\/span>for <\/span>both networks <\/span>to <\/span>establish <\/span>powerful <\/span>regional broadcasting <\/span>monopol<\/span>ies by <\/span>allowing them <\/span>to <\/span>skirt <\/span>around <\/span>current FCC ownership <\/span>restrictions<\/span>. The fact that <\/span>there wa<\/span>s<\/span> no <\/span>official <\/span>change <\/span>in <\/span>owners<\/span>hip<\/span> did not mean that <\/span>the <\/span>exchange <\/span>was <\/span>complete<\/span>ly <\/span>above board<\/span>. <\/span>One tactic used by <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> and <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>to lessen its <\/span>impact <\/span>on competing broadcasters in <\/span>both th<\/span>e <\/span>Cleveland and Philadelphia <\/span>areas <\/span>was to convince the feds <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>upcoming <\/span>trade <\/span>was <\/span>only regional <\/span>affect<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>a<\/span>bout <\/span>8% of the <\/span>country\u2019s <\/span>populatio<\/span>n.[footnote]\u201cNBC, Westinghouse Ask FCC to Approve Station Exchange.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>That <\/span>seemed <\/span>r<\/span>easonable <\/span>gi<\/span>ven <\/span>the high revenues <\/span>currently <\/span>being <\/span>made <\/span>by <\/span>long <\/span>e<\/span>stablished <\/span>radio and televi<\/span>si<\/span>on station<\/span>s<\/span> i<\/span>n th<\/span>ose <\/span>district<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nL<\/span>imiting <\/span>the number of stations an individual broadcasting company might own within <\/span>certain regions <\/span>was not <\/span>something <\/span>new <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>19<\/span>50s.<\/span>\u00a0Al<\/span>though <\/span>the number of own<\/span>er <\/span>and operate<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>outlets <\/span>has increased <\/span>in numbers <\/span>over the past seven<\/span>ty years<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the<\/span> F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>still <\/span>impose<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>tough <\/span>restrictions <\/span>on <\/span>broadcasters<\/span> <\/span>w<\/span>anting to <\/span>control<\/span> <\/span>numerous <\/span>radio and television <\/span>stations <\/span>with<\/span>in <\/span>the same market<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cFCC Broadcast Ownership,\u201d January 17, 2020, <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.fcc.gov<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Virtually all <\/span>the <\/span>accusations <\/span>made <\/span>against <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>vanished <\/span>by the end of <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>h<\/span>e one <\/span>exception <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>claim <\/span>that<\/span> <\/span>it <\/span>had <\/span>placed undue pressured <\/span>on <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>to <\/span>accept <\/span>the <\/span>exchange<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Like <\/span>a<\/span> bad penny it <\/span>kept <\/span>p<\/span>opping <\/span>up<\/span> repeatedly<\/span>. <\/span>Part<\/span> of the <\/span>reason <\/span>for that rested <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>DOJ <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>federal <\/span>court<\/span> <\/span>s<\/span>ystem<\/span>. <\/span>In the <\/span>DOJ\u2019s <\/span>case<\/span>, it has always <\/span>considered itself to be <\/span>straight<\/span> shooter intent on righting legal wrongs<\/span> when they occurred<\/span>. Its actions <\/span>against<\/span> NBC <\/span>were visceral. <\/span>The same might be said for <\/span>the federal courts <\/span>that<\/span> repeatedly would not <\/span>let <\/span>go of <\/span>that nagging issue<\/span>. <\/span>Both <\/span>knew s<\/span>omething was<\/span> <\/span>wrong <\/span>and they were <\/span>determined <\/span>to get to the bottom <\/span>of it<\/span> ASAP<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nAs you might have <\/span>already <\/span>figured out<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>NBC <\/span>off<\/span>i<\/span>cials <\/span>expected this <\/span>deal <\/span>to <\/span>yield <\/span>high <\/span>returns<\/span> quickly and <\/span>they were <\/span>entirely correct<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, <\/span>in <\/span>less than a <\/span>year <\/span>corporate <\/span>sales <\/span>at NBC <\/span>had increased <\/span>by 15%. <\/span>During th<\/span>at <\/span>same <\/span>period<\/span>, <\/span>that network <\/span>had <\/span>experienced a <\/span>huge <\/span>29% increase in <\/span>its <\/span>earnings<\/span>. <\/span>WBC <\/span>reported <\/span>a <\/span>more modest <\/span>5% gain in gross sales <\/span>with <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>s<\/span>light <\/span>dip <\/span>in <\/span>radio <\/span>sales<\/span>.<\/span>[footnote]\u201cWBC Radio Gross Up 5%; TV, 13.5%,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>November 28, 1953.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>Again, <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Philadelphia<\/span> <\/span>led <\/span>all <\/span>other <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>broadcasters <\/span>with <\/span>a<\/span> striking <\/span>23% <\/span>increase in <\/span>its <\/span>spot <\/span>sales<\/span>. <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>higher ups<\/span> congratulated <\/span>th<\/span>eir <\/span>Philly station <\/span>for its significant increase<\/span> in sales<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>In <\/span>December 19<\/span>55, <\/span>NBC <\/span>officially <\/span>recognized <\/span>WTAM<\/span>-Radio <\/span>for its <\/span>productive <\/span>Northern<\/span> Ohio Sales Clini<\/span>c.[footnote]\u201cWTAM Host to R&B Clinic,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 5, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>H<\/span>osted by <\/span>Harold W. Waddell<\/span>, <\/span>this <\/span>forum <\/span>provided <\/span>worthwhile <\/span>di<\/span>alogue <\/span>that <\/span>center<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>on <\/span>future <\/span>business prospects for <\/span>those investing in <\/span>local <\/span>radio<\/span>. <\/span>Eleven hundred AM <\/span>also aired a<\/span>n information program <\/span>detail<\/span>ing <\/span>the<\/span> many<\/span> <\/span>federal <\/span>benefits <\/span>a<\/span>vailable for <\/span>returning <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>veterans<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cWTAM Airing Show for Veterans,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 5, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nLast<\/span> <\/span>February, WTAM and WNBK<\/span>-TV<\/span> <\/span>addressed <\/span>some of <\/span>the <\/span>worst <\/span>parking and traffic problems <\/span>facing <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>ers<\/span> <\/span>by <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing<\/span> several programs on those issues<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>September, <\/span>1955, <\/span>WTAM <\/span>had <\/span>sponsored<\/span> a<\/span>n equally <\/span>success<\/span>ful <\/span>Red Cross <\/span>blood <\/span>driv<\/span>e.[footnote]\u201cBeep-Beep,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, <\/span>February 21, 1955. \u201c100 Answer Radio Blood Appeal,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>September 5, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>The year ended <\/span>with <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s Board of Directors announcing that <\/span>Gordon W. Davis <\/span>would be <\/span>replacing Robert Teter as <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>GM<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Teter <\/span>left the station to <\/span>bec<\/span>o<\/span>me <\/span>the <\/span>new <\/span>E<\/span>xecutive <\/span>Assistant<\/span> <\/span>to the <\/span>WBC <\/span>President<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cDavis Named Gen. Mgr. for KYW Philadelphia,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>December 19, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/span><\/span><\/em> o<\/span>n January <\/span>21, <\/span>19<\/span>56 ran a<\/span> special <\/span>in-<\/span>depth article<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>de<\/span>scrib<\/span>ed in detail <\/span>the <\/span>many <\/span>management<\/span> <\/span>changes<\/span> <\/span>that were <\/span>about to <\/span>occur <\/span>at <\/span>both <\/span>outlet<\/span>s<\/span>. George Cyr, Bill Dallmann, <\/span>Bill Howard, <\/span>Samuel E. (<\/span>Eddie<\/span>)<\/span> Leonard, <\/span>Jack McHale, <\/span>Curtis Peck<\/span>, <\/span>Jean Strobel, <\/span>Hal Waddell, <\/span>Edward Wallace<\/span>, Ted Walworth<\/span>. <\/span>Markie<\/span> Wattenberg<\/span> and Lloyd <\/span>E. <\/span>Yodis<\/span> <\/span>were <\/span>go<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>to Phil<\/span>ly <\/span>while Gordon <\/span>W. <\/span>Davis, Mark Olds. Sidne<\/span>y <\/span>V. <\/span>Stadig<\/span>, <\/span>E. Preston Stover, Rolland V. Tooke <\/span>and <\/span>G. <\/span>Edward Wallis <\/span>were <\/span>c<\/span>om<\/span>ing <\/span>to Clevelan<\/span>d.[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cNBC Pioneers Join Mass Exodus in Weekend Management Shift,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> January 21, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>To h<\/span>onor<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>eir <\/span>arrival<\/span> in <\/span><\/span>Cleveland<\/span>, that city<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>top <\/span>business<\/span>, civic<\/span> and government <\/span>l<\/span>eader<\/span>s <\/span>sponsored a<\/span> <\/span>daylong<\/span> <\/span>celebration<\/span> on February 10<\/span>, 19<\/span>56<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Festivities <\/span>included <\/span>floating <\/span>10,000 balloons <\/span>over <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>Public Squar<\/span>e.[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cWestinghouse Co. Will Release 10,000 Balloons Next Week, Moscow Papers Please Copy,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The <\/span>all-<\/span>new KYW call letters <\/span>officially <\/span>replaced WTAM <\/span>three days late<\/span>r.<\/span><\/span>[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cHistorical KYW Call Letters Make Bow on Monday,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 11, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nBe<\/span>ing the new kid on the block meant <\/span>that thi<\/span>s <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcast<\/span>er <\/span>had to <\/span>generate <\/span>a <\/span>tremendous amount of <\/span>positive publicity <\/span>very <\/span>quickly<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That was <\/span>a <\/span>major challenge for KYW<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>shrewd <\/span>management<\/span> team<\/span>. <\/span>Radio l<\/span>isteners depend<\/span>ed<\/span> on <\/span>certain <\/span>program<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>being broadcasted <\/span>from <\/span>their<\/span> favorite radio stations<\/span>. <\/span>A<\/span>ny<\/span> change<\/span>s<\/span> in <\/span>station <\/span>ownership m<\/span>ight <\/span>or might not gain <\/span>their <\/span>immediate<\/span> <\/span>approval<\/span>. Glowing ratings <\/span>for the new owners <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>start <\/span>usually <\/span>indicated <\/span>that everything was okay<\/span> with <\/span>the<\/span>ir<\/span> <\/span>present <\/span>offerings<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>at least for <\/span>the<\/span> time being<\/span>. However, any sudden drop in <\/span>ratings <\/span>might <\/span>suggest <\/span>that <\/span>major <\/span>changes <\/span>w<\/span>ere <\/span>requir<\/span>ed<\/span> right now<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>The <\/span>many <\/span>program<\/span>mers <\/span>and <\/span>p<\/span>romoter<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>working <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse Broadcasting <\/span>Company <\/span>knew <\/span>their efforts <\/span>directed <\/span>to<\/span>wards<\/span> <\/span>win<\/span>ning<\/span> <\/span>over <\/span>local listeners <\/span>depended on them mastering <\/span>two <\/span>goals <\/span>from <\/span>the<\/span> day they started<\/span>. First, <\/span>they <\/span>must <\/span>try <\/span>as much as possible <\/span>to <\/span>calm <\/span>any <\/span>apprehensions Cleveland <\/span>listen<\/span>e<\/span>rs<\/span> might have regarding this new <\/span>station<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>program<\/span> <\/span>lineup.<\/span> <\/span>Th<\/span>at <\/span>was achieved by <\/span>carrying over <\/span>as <\/span>many of the <\/span>programs<\/span>, <\/span>features and <\/span>radio personalities <\/span>from WTAM <\/span>as possible <\/span>before <\/span>introducing <\/span>their <\/span>own <\/span>new <\/span>shows <\/span>or <\/span>superstars<\/span>.<\/span> Second, th<\/span>e<\/span> new manage<\/span>rs <\/span>at KYW-Cleveland <\/span>must <\/span>uphold <\/span>business <\/span>principles and <\/span>social <\/span>values <\/span>similar to their <\/span>NBC <\/span>predecessor <\/span>even if <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>actual <\/span>approach towards<\/span> local<\/span> broadcasting <\/span>might be <\/span>differ<\/span>ent<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Th<\/span>ose <\/span>objectives <\/span>seemed <\/span>attainable <\/span>since <\/span>KYW<\/span>-<\/span>Radio<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>always prided itself on <\/span>providing its <\/span>many <\/span>fans <\/span>with <\/span>exactly <\/span>what they <\/span>needed and <\/span>wanted<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0If they could accomplish <\/span>th<\/span>at <\/span>task <\/span>in a <\/span>smooth<\/span> <\/span>and <\/span>timely fashion <\/span>then the<\/span>y would win <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>WTAM <\/span>audience<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>no questions asked<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nKYW<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>new<\/span>est<\/span> <\/span>GM <\/span>Gordon Davis <\/span>understood precisely what needed to be done and therefore <\/span>did <\/span>no<\/span>thing to <\/span>abruptly <\/span>change <\/span>the <\/span>lineup<\/span>. <\/span><\/span>F<\/span>or the interim<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>this <\/span>radio <\/span>station <\/span>would <\/span>uphold <\/span>the tradition<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>of RCA-<\/span>NBC <\/span>by <\/span>continuing<\/span> to <\/span>broadcast <\/span>popular <\/span>program<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>ts <\/span>initial <\/span>programming <\/span>covered <\/span>a wide range <\/span>of options everything <\/span>from <\/span>Shakespear<\/span>e<\/span>an plays<\/span>, farm <\/span>reports <\/span>and <\/span>the latest <\/span>album <\/span>cuts <\/span>at one end <\/span>of the spectrum <\/span>to <\/span>symphon<\/span>y concerts<\/span>, semi-classical music <\/span>performances <\/span>and <\/span>reading<\/span> aloud<\/span> at the other<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>At the same time<\/span>, <\/span>this new station <\/span>m<\/span>a<\/span>de sure that it <\/span>continued to <\/span>showcase <\/span>some of <\/span>WTAM<\/span>\u2019s favorite <\/span>jocks <\/span>along with <\/span>its <\/span>NBC <\/span>shows<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>newscasts<\/span>, <\/span>sports<\/span> and weather <\/span>forecast<\/span>s.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The <\/span>local <\/span>press <\/span>welcome<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>KYW <\/span>to Cleveland <\/span>by <\/span>prais<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>its <\/span>many <\/span>first<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>broadcasting<\/span> industry<\/span>. <\/span>For example<\/span>, <\/span>it <\/span>was the first <\/span>AM <\/span>st<\/span>a<\/span>tion <\/span>in the Windy City <\/span>to broadcast <\/span>a <\/span>Midwest <\/span>college football<\/span> game<\/span>. It also <\/span>present<\/span>ed the first life <\/span>performance <\/span>out of <\/span>the <\/span>Chicago Opera Company. <\/span>That <\/span>broadcaster <\/span>had the distinction of being <\/span>a <\/span>part of the first national wire hooku<\/span>p.[footnote]\u201cThe Highlights and Sidelights of Radio-TV\u2019s Past 25 Years,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 15, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\nTo <\/span>celebrate <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>debut in <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>, <\/span>the managers at <\/span>WBZ-<\/span>Boston <\/span>on February 14, 19<\/span>56 <\/span>extended <\/span>their <\/span>colleagues their <\/span>best wishe<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cWBZ-WBZA Boston, Aims Best Wishes to KYW Radio 1100 Television Channel 3,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 14, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Its sister station was glad that KYW was on the beam and<\/span> it hoped that <\/span>it would <\/span>continue <\/span>to <\/span>prosper <\/span>in <\/span>its new <\/span>home<\/span> for many years<\/span> yet to come<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Program<\/span>ming changes <\/span>at KYW <\/span>began <\/span>in late February <\/span>when <\/span>a new <\/span>radio <\/span>personality <\/span>named <\/span>Wes Hopkins<\/span> (1927-2008)<\/span> <\/span>entered <\/span>the scene<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span> highly energetic<\/span> <\/span>disk<\/span> <\/span>jock<\/span>ey<\/span> <\/span>out of <\/span>Trenton, N.J., <\/span>Hopkins <\/span>started <\/span>play<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>records <\/span>weekday<\/span> evenings<\/span> <\/span>from <\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>to 7 <\/span>p.<\/span>m.<\/span>[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cSteve Allen Plays Himself in TV Comedy But He Wasn\u2019t Meant To,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 17, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>KYW g<\/span>ot a sizeable boost at <\/span>the<\/span> 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span> Annual <\/span>American Federation of Radio & Television Artists<\/span> luncheon<\/span> <\/span>when its own <\/span>Tom Field and Gene Martin<\/span> <\/span>were honored <\/span>for their <\/span>many <\/span>years of <\/span>devoted <\/span>community servic<\/span>e.[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cBill Gordon, Warren Guthrie Lead Top Broadcasters of 1955 at Annual Awards Luncheon,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As I\u2019m sure you realize <\/span>by now<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the need to <\/span>expand its advertising <\/span>base <\/span>remained <\/span>a top priority <\/span>for KYW-Radio <\/span>f<\/span>rom the <\/span>first <\/span>day <\/span>it <\/span>arrived <\/span>in Cleveland<\/span>. <\/span>Beginning in <\/span>March<\/span> 19<\/span>56<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>launched a<\/span> <\/span>new<\/span> and exciting<\/span> <\/span>promot<\/span>i<\/span>on<\/span>al<\/span> campaign <\/span>aimed <\/span>towards <\/span>increas<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>the amount of <\/span>local <\/span>advertis<\/span>ing<\/span> time<\/span> <\/span>ASAP<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Its <\/span>promoters <\/span>repeatedly <\/span>reaffirmed <\/span>t<\/span>he <\/span>many <\/span>a<\/span>dvantages <\/span>awaiting <\/span>those <\/span>businesses <\/span>that <\/span>purchas<\/span>ed large blocks of <\/span>advertising <\/span>time <\/span>from <\/span>these new 50,000 watts<\/span> <\/span>radio <\/span>leader<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cYour Market is Moving!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 19, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nC<\/span>atchy KYW <\/span>jingles <\/span>not only brightened <\/span>daily <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcasts, but also, <\/span>captured <\/span>the attention of <\/span>many of the <\/span>station\u2019s <\/span>happy <\/span>new <\/span>listeners<\/span>. <\/span>Not surprisingly, t<\/span>hey <\/span>preceded <\/span>each and <\/span>every <\/span>newscast, <\/span>sports<\/span> report<\/span>, <\/span>station break<\/span> and <\/span>weather <\/span>forecas<\/span>t.[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cProducer Defends \u2018Crossroads\u2019 as Carefully Checked, Approved by Subject,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> April 6, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ever wonder who produced those jingles? <\/span>Apparently, m<\/span>any companies <\/span>marketed them<\/span>; h<\/span>owever, BENS and PAMS <\/span>excelled <\/span>above <\/span>most <\/span>others<\/span>. <\/span>Fortunately,<\/span> <\/span>KYW\u2019s early popularity among its <\/span>expanding <\/span>listening audience <\/span>went <\/span>far <\/span>beyond <\/span>just <\/span>playing <\/span>catchy jingles<\/span> on a regular basis<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>he arrival of <\/span>happy go lucky DJ<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>such as <\/span>Malcolm (Big) Wilson<\/span> (1924-1989)<\/span> <\/span>dramatically alter<\/span>ed <\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>tempo <\/span>of <\/span>Radio 11 <\/span>foreve<\/span>r.[footnote]\u201cIt\u2019s Sales, King-Size, as Mr. Big comes to KYW!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> May 14, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Entering <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>in <\/span>May 19<\/span>56<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>Big<\/span> Wilson<\/span> <\/span>rapidly <\/span>ad<\/span>apted <\/span>his <\/span>own <\/span>special radio <\/span>person<\/span>a<\/span> to fit the needs and wants of his growing fan-base<\/span>. <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Radio<\/span> <\/span>needed a <\/span>new<\/span> kind of <\/span>fun guy <\/span>to attract <\/span>new <\/span>listeners <\/span>and he <\/span>certainly <\/span>fit<\/span>ted<\/span> the bill<\/span>. Big Wilson <\/span>not only played <\/span>the <\/span>cool<\/span>est sounds <\/span>in town<\/span>; but also, <\/span>invigorated <\/span>his audience <\/span>even <\/span>on <\/span>Cleveland\u2019s <\/span>dreariest<\/span> <\/span>day<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span> A true showman<\/span> <\/span>he <\/span>sang along <\/span>with <\/span>some of <\/span>his favorite <\/span>tunes<\/span> or <\/span>played<\/span> them on hi<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>special<\/span>ly-adapted<\/span> <\/span>keyboard<\/span>. <\/span>Cleveland listen<\/span>ers <\/span>loved his <\/span>fresh<\/span> <\/span>new <\/span>approach<\/span> towards broadcasting<\/span> as the station\u2019s ratings <\/span>went <\/span>through the roof<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nCalled <\/span>\u201cThe King of All Night Broadcasting\u201d <\/span>Joe Mulvihill\u2019s <\/span>late <\/span>night <\/span>show <\/span>also <\/span>premiered <\/span>that July<\/span>. <\/span>His <\/span>\u201c1100 Club,\u201d <\/span>featured <\/span>some of the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>coolest <\/span>sounds<\/span>\u201d<\/span> <\/span>in town<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cNow KYW Broadcasts all <\/span>Nite<\/span> Long 1100 Club <\/span>Mid<\/span>night to 6:00 A.M.,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Setting <\/span>aside <\/span>KYW-R<\/span>adio<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>gr<\/span>eat <\/span>success <\/span>for <\/span>just <\/span>one <\/span>moment<\/span>,<\/span> th<\/span>e <\/span>many <\/span>legal <\/span>controvers<\/span>ies<\/span> <\/span>surrounding <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>station <\/span>exchange <\/span>w<\/span>ere <\/span>not dying<\/span> <\/span>out<\/span> <\/span>as one might have <\/span>expect<\/span>ed<\/span>. <\/span>What <\/span>exactly <\/span>was going on? <\/span>T<\/span>he House Antitrust Subcommittee<\/span> led <\/span>by <\/span>the outspoken <\/span>U.S. <\/span>R<\/span>epresentative <\/span>from New York <\/span>named <\/span>Emanuel <\/span>Celler<\/span> (1888-1981)<\/span>, <\/span>began <\/span>investigat<\/span>ing <\/span>the <\/span>alleged business <\/span>monopolies <\/span>that <\/span>had <\/span>been <\/span>overwhelm<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>many <\/span>television <\/span>stations<\/span> <\/span>as of late<\/span>.[footnote]\u201c<\/span>Celler<\/span> Committee Probes NBC-Westinghouse Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, July 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>His <\/span>committee\u2019s <\/span>decisive <\/span>action <\/span>on that <\/span>very <\/span>matter <\/span>led to <\/span>a<\/span>n <\/span>additional <\/span>prob<\/span>e <\/span>int<\/span>o <\/span>the <\/span>recent <\/span>NBC-WBC <\/span>trade<\/span>. T<\/span>he bitterness <\/span>whirling around <\/span>t<\/span>h<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>alleged <\/span>claims of <\/span>double dealing <\/span>on the part of <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>infuriated Celler\u2019s <\/span>committee.\u00a0<\/span>To no one\u2019s surprise, t<\/span>he <\/span>DOJ <\/span>plac<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>at <\/span>hotly contended <\/span>issue <\/span>right <\/span>in front of a <\/span>federal grand jury<\/span> <\/span>who <\/span>immediately <\/span>subpoen<\/span>aed <\/span>all <\/span>related <\/span>d<\/span>ocument<\/span>s.[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nThat <\/span>same <\/span>Jul<\/span>y<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>KYW announced a<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>important <\/span>shake-up in its <\/span>daytime <\/span>radio <\/span>lineup<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Local program<\/span>ming <\/span>would <\/span>now <\/span>replace NB<\/span>C<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>shows<\/span>.[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201cKYW to Drop All Daytime NBC Radio Programs at End of Week,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 11, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span>Specs Howard (b. 1926) <\/span>was <\/span>o<\/span>ne of the first jocks <\/span>to be <\/span>hired <\/span>by KYW <\/span>following <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> <\/span>crucial <\/span>announce<\/span>ment<\/span>. <\/span>H<\/span>is <\/span>all-<\/span>new <\/span>one hour <\/span>morning <\/span>gig <\/span>proved to be <\/span>a<\/span>n i<\/span>nstant <\/span>hi<\/span>t<\/span> with Clevelanders<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cKYW Radio Declares Saturday, August 11<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span> Independence Day,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>Beginning on November 7, 19<\/span>55, NBC <\/span>began <\/span>offer<\/span>ing <\/span>a new option to <\/span>radio <\/span>affiliates <\/span>who might have been <\/span>considered <\/span>the possibility of <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing<\/span> their own independent<\/span> <\/span>shows. <\/span>Hosted <\/span>by Margaret Truman and Mike Wallace<\/span> and <\/span>called \u201cWeekday<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> it<\/span> was geared <\/span>mostly <\/span>for <\/span>housewives<\/span>. It <\/span>featured <\/span>such things as <\/span>life <\/span>performances by popular singers<\/span>, <\/span>special short-story readings<\/span> and in-depth <\/span>interviews<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cWeekday on the NBC Radio Network,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 7, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>KYW\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>highly <\/span>capable <\/span>news editor Sanford Markey <\/span>(<\/span>1914-1995) <\/span>a<\/span>nd <\/span>his <\/span>several <\/span>ace <\/span>reporters <\/span>successfully <\/span>cover<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>both <\/span>Presidential Conventions<\/span> <\/span>in the <\/span>s<\/span>ummer<\/span> of \u201856<\/span>. <\/span>Unquestionably<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>overpowering <\/span>success <\/span>of <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>new <\/span>program<\/span>ming <\/span>took the <\/span>U.S. <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>industry by storm. <\/span>But, it <\/span>symbolized <\/span>much <\/span>more than <\/span>just <\/span>a <\/span>formable <\/span>challenge <\/span>to <\/span>traditional <\/span>network <\/span>program<\/span>ming<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>clever<\/span> <\/span>promo<\/span>tions <\/span>had <\/span>convinced <\/span>even its harshest <\/span>c<\/span>ritic<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>desert <\/span>their <\/span>NBC <\/span>radio <\/span>s<\/span>hows<\/span> <\/span>for <\/span>th<\/span>o<\/span>se <\/span>exciting <\/span>local <\/span>o<\/span>fferings<\/span>. KYW<\/span>-radio <\/span>markedly <\/span>i<\/span>mproved <\/span>its <\/span>ratings <\/span>by <\/span>consistently <\/span>producing the kind of <\/span>high quality <\/span>daytime and nighttime <\/span>shows <\/span>that <\/span>everyone <\/span>seemed <\/span>to <\/span>need and <\/span>want<\/span>. However, <\/span>promotional<\/span> <\/span>changes <\/span>were not <\/span>limi<\/span>ted <\/span>exclusively <\/span>t<\/span>o <\/span>new programming<\/span>. <\/span>In an att<\/span>empt to reach out <\/span>even <\/span>further<\/span>, KYW discerning promoters sponsored very pleasurable lake cruises on the \u201cS.S. Aquarama\u201d from July 26th<\/span> through August 1st<\/span>. Departing from Cleveland\u2019s Lederer Pier, those \u201cKooler Kruises\u201d enabled KYW-Radio listeners to intermingle with some of their favorite DJs.[footnote]\u201cKYW\u2019s Kooler Kruises,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 18, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]\u00a0Banter with cool radio personalities would not be possible if the shows fans listened to originated from far off places such as New York, Chicago or Hollywood.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nEleven hundred <\/span>on the AM dial <\/span>also <\/span>proudly <\/span>sponsored <\/span>a <\/span>special <\/span>girl\u2019s fashion show <\/span>on August 5, 19<\/span>56 <\/span>courtesy of <\/span>the <\/span>Sterling Lindner Davis<\/span> Department S<\/span>tore<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>hose t<\/span>eens <\/span>that <\/span>model<\/span>led<\/span> <\/span>Sterling Lindner\u2019s <\/span>cloth<\/span>ing <\/span>automatically <\/span>qualified <\/span>for <\/span>t<\/span>h<\/span>at summer\u2019s <\/span>\u201cMiss<\/span> Kooler Cleveland Contest<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>[footnote]\u201cCampus Headlines for fall in SLD\u2019s College Shops, Sterling Lindner Davis,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 5, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>During th<\/span>at <\/span>autumn<\/span>, <\/span>KYW<\/span> <\/span>reaffirmed <\/span>its<\/span> <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>Clevelanders by <\/span>continuing <\/span>to p<\/span>rovid<\/span>e<\/span> the<\/span>m with the<\/span> <\/span>finest <\/span>in entertainment, news and community service. <\/span>Station officials <\/span>back<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>up <\/span>that <\/span>guarantee <\/span>by <\/span>introduc<\/span>ing <\/span>several <\/span>exciting and <\/span>new <\/span>programs<\/span> to <\/span>glowing <\/span>reviews<\/span>. <\/span>Clevelanders welcomed <\/span>new entities such as <\/span>\u201cDimensions<\/span>;<\/span>\u201d \u201cSaturday Night Dance Party\u201d and \u201cHi-Fi from Studio K\u201d<\/span> <\/span>to the KYW lineup.<\/span>[footnote]\u201cJoin the Celebration KYW Radio-1100 on Your Dial,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>All p<\/span>a<\/span>r<\/span>t<\/span> <\/span>of \u201cthe Spirit of <\/span>\u2019<\/span>56<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>th<\/span>ey<\/span> <\/span>symboliz<\/span>ed the <\/span>invigorating <\/span>new <\/span>sound <\/span>that <\/span>could <\/span>only <\/span>come from <\/span>the brand new <\/span>Radio 11<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cKYW, Cleveland\u2019s Newest Independent Radio Station Celebrates the Spirit of \u201956,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 12, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nC<\/span>lever p<\/span>ublicity <\/span>campaigns<\/span> <\/span>developed <\/span>by <\/span>professional <\/span>promoter<\/span>s like <\/span>Janet K. Byers and Tom Garagen <\/span>helped <\/span>th<\/span>e station\u2019s <\/span>cause <\/span>considerably<\/span>. O<\/span>ne <\/span>of their <\/span>many <\/span>corny efforts <\/span>called <\/span>\u201cKYW is Kooler\u201d <\/span>c<\/span>reated <\/span>quite <\/span>a <\/span>stir<\/span> <\/span>in the <\/span>summer<\/span> of 1956<\/span>. <\/span>The <\/span>staff <\/span>repeatedly <\/span>yelled out \u201cget kooler\u201d as they <\/span>parad<\/span>ed <\/span>through <\/span>downtown <\/span>Cleveland wearing <\/span>Bermuda short<\/span>s.[footnote]George E. Condon, \u201c<\/span>Korny<\/span> KYW Kooler <\/span>Kampaign<\/span> Proves <\/span>Kwite<\/span> a <\/span>Komedy<\/span> to <\/span>Klevelanders<\/span>,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> September 9, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>The<\/span> <\/span>people <\/span>in the streets <\/span>yelled <\/span>the same<\/span> thing <\/span>right <\/span>back<\/span> at them<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Star spangled <\/span>marketing ploys<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>like that<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>woke everybody<\/span> up<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> new <\/span>local <\/span>radio <\/span>station<\/span>.<\/span> How could <\/span>they <\/span>not<\/span> notice<\/span>? <\/span>The <\/span>April <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56 Nielsen <\/span>ratings<\/span> <\/span>showed<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>such <\/span>strategies<\/span> did <\/span>work. <\/span>Twenty-five percent <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>listening <\/span>audience <\/span>now <\/span>had their radios <\/span>tuned <\/span>every day<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>KYW <\/span>between 6 <\/span>a.m.<\/span> and <\/span>12 <\/span>Mid<\/span>night<\/span>.<\/span>[footnote]\u201cTime to Wake up to Independent KYW\u2019s Bigger Programming! Bigger Signal! Bigger Listenership!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 13, 1956.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The <\/span>same rating service <\/span>in <\/span>July <\/span>reported <\/span>that <\/span>KYW-Radio <\/span>led its nearest competitor by <\/span>over <\/span>40% and that between 6 and 9 a.m. an average of 90,000 homes listened to <\/span>the <\/span>new, <\/span>fast-paced <\/span>sound <\/span>that only <\/span>11<\/span>00<\/span> <\/span>AM <\/span>could <\/span>successfully <\/span>produce<\/span>. That <\/span>90,000 figure embodied <\/span>an amazing <\/span>51% of <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>total <\/span>listening audienc<\/span>e.[footnote]\u201cNielsen Reports KYW Again Breaks the Sound Barrier as Cleveland\u2019s Top Radio Station,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 1, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Effective programming <\/span>such as <\/span>that <\/span>certainly <\/span>bolster<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>corporate <\/span>e<\/span>arning<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>19<\/span>56<\/span>. <\/span>After all, e<\/span>veryone loves a winner<\/span> <\/span>and that <\/span>includ<\/span>es<\/span> <\/span>the many <\/span>successful <\/span>advertisers<\/span> w<\/span>ho <\/span>spen<\/span>t<\/span> plenty <\/span>of <\/span>money <\/span>on <\/span>this new, to<\/span>p <\/span>rated <\/span>outlet<\/span>. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>very <\/span>proud <\/span>adverti<\/span>si<\/span>ng agency <\/span>said it best<\/span> when <\/span>it proclaimed that when <\/span>\u201ci<\/span>n Cleveland, no selling campaign is complete without the <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>station<\/span>\u2026KYW<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>[footnote]Ibid.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>According to t<\/span>he Hooper Radio Audience Index<\/span>, <\/span>other <\/span>local<\/span>ly-based<\/span> <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcasters<\/span> such as W<\/span>ERE and <\/span>W<\/span>GAR <\/span>were <\/span>rapidly<\/span> <\/span>losing their edge to <\/span>th<\/span>is <\/span>latest <\/span>r<\/span>iva<\/span>l.[footnote]Hooper Radio Audience Index, City Zone, Cleveland, Ohio<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nIn <\/span>October 19<\/span>56, a longtime <\/span>radio <\/span>favorite <\/span>of <\/span>many <\/span>Clevelanders <\/span>named <\/span>Bill Meyer <\/span>departed <\/span>KYW-<\/span>Radio <\/span>f<\/span>or <\/span>the bright lights of <\/span>Phil<\/span>adelphia<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Big Wilson <\/span>assumed his <\/span>morning <\/span>duties <\/span>while <\/span>a <\/span>dashing <\/span>young <\/span>freelancer <\/span>named <\/span>Joe Finan <\/span>(1927-2006) <\/span>took over <\/span>Wilson\u2019s <\/span>afternoon<\/span> <\/span>gi<\/span>g.[footnote]\u201cBill Mayer Going to Philadelphia; Finan Joins KYW,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 4, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>After serving in the <\/span>Second <\/span>World War, Finan <\/span>had <\/span>joined the <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing team <\/span>at <\/span>WISR<\/span> in <\/span>Butler, PA. He later <\/span>mov<\/span>ed to Cleveland <\/span>to <\/span>becom<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>Channel 3\u2019s <\/span>part-time <\/span>weatherman<\/span>.<\/span> KYW<\/span>-Radio<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>keen <\/span>interest in <\/span>education <\/span>brought <\/span>it <\/span>together with <\/span>the National Citizens Council for Better Schools <\/span>to <\/span>introduc<\/span>e <\/span>a <\/span>new, <\/span>ten<\/span>-<\/span>minute <\/span>radio <\/span>segment <\/span>called <\/span>\u201cSpotlight on Schools<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>[footnote]\u201cWBC Begins Education Series,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 8, 1956. \u201cAnother Trail-blazing Public Service Program from WBC,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 4, 1957.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>Aware <\/span>of the latest breakthroughs in <\/span>radio and television <\/span>broadcasting<\/span> led <\/span>KYW <\/span>cunning <\/span>engineer<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>t<\/span>o <\/span>demand <\/span>the <\/span>latest <\/span>IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Processing Machine. <\/span>That technological <\/span>marvel<\/span> <\/span>permitted <\/span>its <\/span>news t<\/span>eam<\/span> <\/span>to process <\/span>the upcoming <\/span>election results <\/span>faster<\/span> than any<\/span> other station <\/span>in <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>.[footnote]Tom O\u2019Connell, \u201cBob Hope Not Happy About Gag on Indians,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 21, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That <\/span>November, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>President <\/span>McGannon<\/span> delivered a<\/span>n impassioned <\/span>speech <\/span>in front <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>New Jersey <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasters<\/span> Associatio<\/span>n.[footnote]\u201cDefense of Music-News Made Before N.J. Assn,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> <\/span>November 12, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>He <\/span>stressed the practical<\/span> <\/span>aspects <\/span>of <\/span>embracing h<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>network\u2019s new <\/span>combination <\/span>music<\/span> and <\/span>news format. <\/span>McGannon <\/span>firmly <\/span>believed th<\/span>at<\/span> if <\/span>radio <\/span>programmers <\/span>follow<\/span>ed <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>latest <\/span>guidelines<\/span> <\/span>they would <\/span>undoubtedly <\/span>win<\/span>. <\/span>He also<\/span> <\/span>contended <\/span>that independent broadcaster<\/span>s<\/span> should <\/span>leave <\/span>news gathering<\/span>, writing<\/span> and reporting to <\/span>their experts<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Th<\/span>ey <\/span>we<\/span>re <\/span>far <\/span>more <\/span>competent than the many of<\/span> the <\/span>lackluster <\/span>reporters <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing national<\/span>ly<\/span>. <\/span>He <\/span>further claimed <\/span>that <\/span>today\u2019s radio <\/span>audience <\/span>demand<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>far <\/span>greater <\/span>accountability<\/span> from <\/span>its <\/span>local <\/span>broadcasters <\/span>than had been the case <\/span>in<\/span> years past<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nL<\/span>ocal <\/span>DJs <\/span>helped <\/span>greatly in achieving <\/span>those<\/span> <\/span>ambitious <\/span>goal<\/span>s<\/span>. McGannon <\/span>strongly <\/span>s<\/span>uggest<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>AM outlets <\/span>should <\/span>rely <\/span>more <\/span>on <\/span>\u201cT<\/span>he Block Programming Pattern<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>as <\/span>perfected <\/span>by W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>to<\/span> handle <\/span>their <\/span>many <\/span>daytime <\/span>program<\/span>ming<\/span> <\/span>need<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cBellwether Breakaway: What Happens to Westinghouse?\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 26, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>News, music and public service <\/span>represented <\/span>the <\/span>leading <\/span>hallmark<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>of this <\/span>new<\/span> <\/span>approach<\/span> towards broadcasting<\/span>. <\/span>McGannon <\/span>concluded <\/span>his speech <\/span>by saying <\/span>that <\/span>news and information junkies <\/span>have <\/span>already seized <\/span>the <\/span>reins<\/span> of <\/span>nighttime <\/span>broadcasting<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>many<\/span> <\/span>of his <\/span>most <\/span>prized <\/span>radio <\/span>stations <\/span>and that W<\/span>BC <\/span>programmers <\/span>deserved <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>credit for creating such <\/span>thought provoking <\/span>new <\/span>shows<\/span>. <\/span>Those<\/span> <\/span>offerings <\/span>both amuse<\/span>d<\/span> and inform<\/span>ed<\/span> their <\/span>listening<\/span> audiences on <\/span>a host of <\/span>worthwhile topics<\/span>. <\/span>Apparently, <\/span>McGannon<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>convincing <\/span>arguments<\/span> struck a chord<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>those <\/span>broadcasters as <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Cleveland<\/span> <\/span>continu<\/span>ed to achieve <\/span>high <\/span>local <\/span>ratings. Joe Finan<\/span>, for example<\/span>, swept<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>November <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56 <\/span>mid<\/span>-day <\/span>ratings<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>more than <\/span>30% of <\/span>the <\/span>listen<\/span>ing <\/span>audienc<\/span>e.[footnote]\u201cEveryone Loves Joe Finan: Noon to 4 p.m.-KYW-Radio, Cleveland,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 26, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Additional fi<\/span>reworks <\/span>were to <\/span>li<\/span>gh<\/span>t up <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>national <\/span>legal skies that December when <\/span>the <\/span>DOJ <\/span>accused <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>Broadcasting<\/span> <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>of <\/span>conspir<\/span>ing <\/span>with other networks <\/span>to gain <\/span>control of <\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>nation<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>five <\/span>bigg<\/span>est<\/span> <\/span>market<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cU.S. Fights RCA & NBC in Air Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 5, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>It <\/span>further <\/span>argued <\/span>that <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>actions <\/span>had <\/span>not only <\/span>weakened <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>compet<\/span>itiv<\/span>e<\/span> edge<\/span> in technology<\/span>; but also, <\/span>consciously <\/span>violated the Sherman <\/span>Antitrust <\/span>Ac<\/span>t<\/span> of 1890<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cNetwork Revenues in 1955,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>In particular, <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>E<\/span>lectric found it <\/span>next to impossible <\/span>to <\/span>satisfy <\/span>large orders <\/span>of <\/span>their <\/span>technical<\/span>ly-advanced<\/span> <\/span>equipment <\/span>so essential <\/span>in transmitting <\/span>clear <\/span>radio and television <\/span>signal<\/span>s.[footnote]\u201cThe Government\u2019s Charges against RCA-NBC,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nThe <\/span>NBC <\/span>network <\/span>den<\/span>ied <\/span>all <\/span>those <\/span>a<\/span>llocations <\/span>and more <\/span>by <\/span>argu<\/span>ing that the <\/span>FCC<\/span> had approved the <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56 <\/span>trade <\/span>unconditionally<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>and that the DOJ was <\/span>drumming up false charges<\/span> to make itself look good<\/span> in the public\u2019s eyes<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cThe RCA-NBC Answer to the Charges,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span> <\/span>Meanwhile<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span> <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting Company <\/span>continued to <\/span>drag <\/span>its feet\u00a0<\/span>throughout <\/span>those pertinent <\/span>discussions. <\/span>In <\/span>r<\/span>espon<\/span>d <\/span>to <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>d<\/span>iscontinuing <\/span>its <\/span>daily <\/span>radio <\/span>program<\/span>ming<\/span>,<\/span> NBC <\/span>announced<\/span> <\/span>that WHK<\/span> <\/span>would<\/span> <\/span>now <\/span>be<\/span> <\/span>carry<\/span>ing <\/span>the<\/span>m.[footnote]Tom O\u2019Connell<\/span>, \u201cWHK Ties into new NBC News Network,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 8, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As p<\/span>art of a<\/span> <\/span>world tour, <\/span>the General Director of the Iranian Ministry of Labor F. Aheiri <\/span>paid <\/span>KYW <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>special <\/span>visit<\/span>. <\/span>He wanted to know more about <\/span>how <\/span>U.S. <\/span>labor relations <\/span>operated <\/span>and how <\/span>it <\/span>influenced <\/span>radio and television <\/span>outlet<\/span>s<\/span> such as KYW<\/span>-Cleveland<\/span>.[footnote]\u201cIranian Labor Chief Eyes Conditions Here,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 18, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/footnote]<\/span><\/span>","rendered":"

On February 13, 19<\/span>56 <\/span>Clevelanders woke up to a brand new <\/span>radio <\/span>s<\/span>ound <\/span>with the call letters <\/span>KYW. <\/span>G<\/span>ala programs <\/span>that ended with <\/span>a <\/span>very <\/span>lively <\/span>cocktail party and dinner at the <\/span>stately <\/span>H<\/span>otel Statler<\/span> <\/span>marked th<\/span>is <\/span>special <\/span>occasion<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, o<\/span>ver <\/span>eight hundred <\/span>leaders <\/span>welcomed <\/span>the <\/span>all-new <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>Broadcasting <\/span>Company <\/span>to <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>f you think that was a big deal<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>Clevelanders<\/span>,<\/span> you are <\/span>absolutely <\/span>right<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The former <\/span>WTAM<\/span> <\/span>was <\/span>one of t<\/span>h<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>country\u2019s <\/span>oldest<\/span> stations <\/span>dating back <\/span>more than <\/span>thirty years<\/span>. <\/span>Located at <\/span>1100 on the AM dial<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>this 50,000 watt<\/span> <\/span>g<\/span>i<\/span>a<\/span>nt <\/span>first g<\/span>ained <\/span>national <\/span>recognition <\/span>in 1924 <\/span>when <\/span>it broadcasted the Republican <\/span>Presidential <\/span>Convention <\/span>held <\/span>in <\/span>Cleveland. <\/span>One of its <\/span>jovial <\/span>announcers <\/span>Samuel E. (<\/span>Eddy<\/span>) Leonard<\/span> (1897-1967)<\/span> <\/span>p<\/span>l<\/span>a<\/span>yed a<\/span>n influential <\/span>role in <\/span>convinc<\/span>ing <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>to purchase <\/span>WTAM <\/span>in 19<\/span>30. O<\/span>wned and operated <\/span>by <\/span>the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC over the ne<\/span>x<\/span>t twenty-five years <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ed <\/span>several very <\/span>p<\/span>opular <\/span>radio <\/span>shows<\/span> <\/span>from<\/span> <\/span>its <\/span>Superior <\/span>Building<\/span> studios<\/span>. <\/span>After the Second <\/span>World W<\/span>ar, <\/span>NBC <\/span>expanded its <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>operations to include <\/span>WNBK-TV <\/span>and <\/span>WTAM-FM.<\/span> Although th<\/span>is <\/span>AM <\/span>outlet <\/span>remained <\/span>profitable<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>in the early \u2018<\/span>50s<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>envisioned a <\/span>much <\/span>larger <\/span>network <\/span>presence <\/span>in<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>East Coast <\/span>and <\/span>that didn\u2019t <\/span>include <\/span>its <\/span>Cleveland<\/span> st<\/span>ation<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Specifically, <\/span>RCA\u2019s <\/span>B<\/span>oard <\/span>of Directors <\/span>concoct<\/span>ed<\/span> a <\/span>broad<\/span> business <\/span>plan <\/span>that <\/span>among other things called for <\/span>reloc<\/span>ating <\/span>its <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>radio and television <\/span>station<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>t<\/span>o <\/span>Philadelphia<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>he <\/span>hefty <\/span>business <\/span>agreement <\/span>hammered<\/span> out <\/span>b<\/span>y <\/span>Philco <\/span>and <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> <\/span>in 19<\/span>53 that <\/span>resulted in <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>purchas<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>Philadelphia\u2019s <\/span>Channel 3<\/span> <\/span>set th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>wheels in motion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By <\/span>the <\/span>mid-<\/span>\u2018<\/span>5<\/span>0s<\/span>, t<\/span>h<\/span>e five<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>owned <\/span>and operated <\/span>radio <\/span>stations <\/span>had achieved <\/span>a<\/span>n <\/span>amazing <\/span>first<\/span> in <\/span>U.S. <\/span>broadcasting<\/span>. They<\/span> <\/span>now <\/span>reached 26% more homes <\/span>than <\/span>any <\/span>other network<\/span>. <\/span>Clearly<\/span>, i<\/span>ts <\/span>shrewd <\/span>business <\/span>managers <\/span>had u<\/span>tilized <\/span>their 50<\/span>,000 <\/span>watt<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>outlets <\/span>to <\/span>successfully <\/span>promote <\/span>th<\/span>eir <\/span>many <\/span>goods and <\/span>services<\/span> to a<\/span>n ever<\/span> <\/span>expanding <\/span>audience<\/span> base<\/span>. In terms of KYW-<\/span>Philadelphia, <\/span>that <\/span>radio <\/span>station <\/span>had <\/span>successfully <\/span>ma<\/span>i<\/span>n<\/span>tain<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>high <\/span>ratings <\/span>for the <\/span>l<\/span>ast <\/span>decade<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, <\/span>its <\/span>daytime <\/span>ratings w<\/span>ere<\/span> legendar<\/span>y<\/span> in the industry<\/span>.[3]<\/sup><\/a> <\/span><\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>long-term<\/span> <\/span>success <\/span>was no<\/span>t <\/span>some <\/span>fluke<\/span>. <\/span>As o<\/span>ne of its <\/span>proud <\/span>advertisements<\/span> <\/span>so <\/span>accurately <\/span>de<\/span>s<\/span>cr<\/span>i<\/span>be<\/span>d<\/span> it <\/span>\u201cBest Buy Nationally, Best Buy Locally, Best by Any Standard of Measurement, KYW 1060 on Your Dial.\u201d[4]<\/sup><\/a> <\/span>It represented a success story with an honored past and an equally promising future. Founded in Chicago by Edison Electric and Westinghouse Electric in 1921, KYW-Radio was this nation\u2019s seventh oldest station. Relocating to Philly in 1934, it advanced rapidly to become a leading force in local broadcasting by the end of that decade. In fact, it ruled the airways in eastern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware and southern New Jersey at the outbreak of the Second World War.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In order to <\/span>better <\/span>serve the <\/span>growing <\/span>needs of its <\/span>expanding audience<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>KYW <\/span>opened <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>new <\/span>$<\/span>600,000<\/span> <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>studios<\/span> in 1938<\/span>. <\/span>Three <\/span>years later<\/span>,<\/span> this <\/span>leading <\/span>Red Dot<\/span> <\/span>affiliate <\/span>upped its power to 50<\/span>,000 <\/span>watts <\/span>and <\/span>relocated <\/span>it <\/span>further <\/span>down <\/span>the <\/span>AM <\/span>dial <\/span>from<\/span> 1020<\/span> <\/span>to 106<\/span>0<\/span>.<\/span>[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>Regarded <\/span>as <\/span>a top <\/span>radio station<\/span> in the m<\/span>id<\/span>-\u201850s<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>industry leaders thought that <\/span>WBC <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>fool<\/span>ish <\/span>to <\/span>give <\/span>up <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> bread <\/span>winner<\/span> to <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span>. <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>acqui<\/span>sition of <\/span>WPTZ-TV <\/span>in \u2018<\/span>53 <\/span>seemed <\/span>to <\/span>demonstrate <\/span>to nearly everyone <\/span>that <\/span>this up and coming<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>locally-oriented <\/span>network<\/span> was <\/span>truly <\/span>commit<\/span>t<\/span>ed to <\/span>Philly<\/span>. Yet, <\/span>persistent <\/span>rumors <\/span>said otherwise<\/span>.<\/span> By the early months of 195<\/span>5 e<\/span>veryone <\/span>in the U.S. broadcasting industry <\/span>wanted to know <\/span>exactly <\/span>w<\/span>hat <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s legal counsel<\/span> had up its sleeve<\/span>s<\/span> and what part <\/span>RCA<\/span>\u2019s Board of Directors <\/span>w<\/span>ould play <\/span>in <\/span>it<\/span>?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s future <\/span>prospects <\/span>were further <\/span>a<\/span>ssured <\/span>when <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>P<\/span>resident Chris J. Witting <\/span>(1915-2005) <\/span>announced th<\/span>e election of <\/span>Don McGannon <\/span>to <\/span>its <\/span>board <\/span>a<\/span>long with <\/span>the appointment of <\/span>Jo<\/span>e<\/span> Baudino <\/span>(19<\/span>04-1998) <\/span>as its <\/span>new <\/span>Washington o<\/span>perations<\/span> VP<\/span>. <\/span>Board members <\/span>overwhelmingly <\/span>believed <\/span>that McGannon and Baudino <\/span>were well-qualified<\/span> for their new posts<\/span>.[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Later th<\/span>at <\/span>same <\/span>summer<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>officials <\/span>announced <\/span>that i<\/span>ts <\/span>corporate headquarters <\/span>would soon <\/span>be moving <\/span>from <\/span>Washington, D.C. <\/span>to <\/span>New York<\/span> City<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Much <\/span>of <\/span>that network\u2019s <\/span>current <\/span>success <\/span>stemmed from<\/span> it<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>recent <\/span>purchas<\/span>ing of <\/span>WPTZ-TV<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>Philadelphia<\/span>,<\/span> KPIX-TV<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>San Francisco<\/span> <\/span>and WDTV-TV <\/span>in <\/span>Pittsburgh, PA. The Phi<\/span>lly <\/span>deal <\/span>alone <\/span>was worth <\/span>$8.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> while <\/span>the <\/span>San Francisco <\/span>sale <\/span>was valued at <\/span>$6<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0The <\/span>Pittsburgh<\/span> <\/span>station <\/span>cost <\/span>even <\/span>more at <\/span>$9.<\/span>75<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>plus <\/span>stock option<\/span>s.[7]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As you <\/span>might have <\/span>already <\/span>figured out<\/span>, major networks <\/span>like Westinghouse <\/span>rarely p<\/span>urchas<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>cost<\/span>ly<\/span> <\/span>outlets <\/span>if they d<\/span>id<\/span>n\u2019t<\/span> <\/span>plan to stay <\/span>there.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>high priced <\/span>ventures <\/span>seemed <\/span>of little consequence when <\/span>measured <\/span>against <\/span>the <\/span>NBC-WBC <\/span>station <\/span>swap <\/span>that was <\/span>recently <\/span>submitted to the F<\/span>ederal Communications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Much<\/span> of it <\/span>hing<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>pay<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>Broadcasting Company <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>$3<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>bonus <\/span>upfront<\/span>. <\/span>Once <\/span>that was <\/span>resolved then <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> President Sylvester L. Weaver (1908-2002) and W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>Chief Chris<\/span> J. Witting<\/span> (1915-2005)<\/span> <\/span>proceeded ahead<\/span> with their <\/span>plans<\/span>.[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>All that remained <\/span>was <\/span>for the FCC to approve the deal and that occurred on December 29, 1955. Financially speaking, that one-time KYW Class A rating stood at a firm $450 while the WTAM class AA rating was slightly higher at $520.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of earnings, KYW<\/span>-Philadelphia<\/span> reported that its <\/span>previous year<\/span>\u2019s gross income <\/span>was <\/span>$1 <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>while WTAM<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>earnings <\/span>stood at <\/span>a <\/span>highly <\/span>respectable <\/span>$900,00<\/span>0.[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Both <\/span>leading <\/span>networks <\/span>admi<\/span>t<\/span>ted<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>perennial <\/span>moneymak<\/span>ers <\/span>such as <\/span>KYW and WTAM<\/span>,<\/span> and not costly<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>large <\/span>network<\/span>-supported<\/span> operations accounted for <\/span>the<\/span> bulk of their <\/span>revenue<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In both cases, those profitable <\/span>networks <\/span>spent most of their time either <\/span>purchasing <\/span>or <\/span>selling <\/span>locally-based <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>outlets<\/span> <\/span>or <\/span>improving <\/span>their <\/span>properties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Common sense <\/span>a<\/span>nd <\/span>practical needs most often <\/span>dictated <\/span>wh<\/span>o <\/span>got what<\/span>. <\/span>In this c<\/span>as<\/span>e<\/span>, <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>extensive <\/span>holdings in Lancaster, PA, Camden, N.J., Harrison, N.J. and Princeton, N.J. made it <\/span>far <\/span>more practical <\/span>for <\/span>that network <\/span>to <\/span>become <\/span>the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>prime stakeholder<\/span>\u201d<\/span> in <\/span>Philadelphia <\/span>leaving <\/span>Clevelan<\/span>d<\/span> to WBC.<\/span>[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Although nothing was said by Westinghouse<\/span> officials<\/span> <\/span>regard<\/span>ing<\/span> that <\/span>arrangement, it <\/span>apparently <\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span> <\/span>trouble <\/span>them<\/span> <\/span>greatly<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>ts board <\/span>members <\/span>had <\/span>previously<\/span> discussed the possibilities of <\/span>expanding <\/span>their <\/span>Midwest operations<\/span>. <\/span>Gaining a <\/span>sizeable <\/span>foothold in th<\/span>e<\/span> growing Cleveland market <\/span>might be <\/span>a major step towards attaining that <\/span>worthwhile business <\/span>goal<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Realistically <\/span>speaking<\/span>, <\/span>mov<\/span>ing <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s top<\/span> <\/span>executives<\/span> Lloyd E. Yoder (1903-1967), Samuel E. (Eddie) Leonard and Curtis Peck <\/span>from Cleveland <\/span>to Phil<\/span>adelphia<\/span> <\/span>made <\/span>the <\/span>greatest <\/span>sense<\/span>. <\/span>Two W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>manager<\/span>s <\/span>from Philadelphia <\/span>Roland V. Tooke<\/span> (b. 1909)<\/span> and Frank A. Tooke <\/span>(1912-1999) <\/span>w<\/span>ould <\/span>handle <\/span>the <\/span>relocat<\/span>ion efforts <\/span>to <\/span>Clevelan<\/span>d.[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0If for some reason th<\/span>at <\/span>did<\/span> not <\/span>happen <\/span>as planned <\/span>th<\/span>e<\/span>n <\/span>NBC <\/span>officials, with the blessing of <\/span>its <\/span>RCA board, <\/span>intended <\/span>to <\/span>swap <\/span>WTAM for <\/span>another <\/span>prime <\/span>Phil<\/span>ly <\/span>station<\/span>. Apparently, <\/span>it <\/span>was<\/span> <\/span>considering <\/span>an exchange with <\/span>the ABC affiliate <\/span>there <\/span>WFI<\/span>L.[12]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>Talk on the street <\/span>strongly suggested <\/span>that this <\/span>transfer <\/span>might <\/span>involve <\/span>more than <\/span>just <\/span>one <\/span>station<\/span>. <\/span>If that <\/span>occur<\/span>red<\/span> then <\/span>the<\/span> <\/span>National<\/span> <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany planned <\/span>to <\/span>trade <\/span>its <\/span>Washington, D.C.<\/span> <\/span>outlet <\/span>WRC <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany\u2019s station in <\/span>Boston<\/span> <\/span>WBZ<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Acquiring WRC<\/span> <\/span>would have <\/span>en<\/span>abled <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span> Broadcasting<\/span> t<\/span>o erect <\/span>a <\/span>new, <\/span>high<\/span> <\/span>power<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>television <\/span>antenna <\/span>somewhere <\/span>between Baltimore<\/span> <\/span>and Washington<\/span>. <\/span>S<\/span>ervic<\/span>ing <\/span>two <\/span>big <\/span>markets<\/span> <\/span>from <\/span>a single <\/span>giant <\/span>tower <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>lower<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>costs<\/span> considerabl<\/span>y.[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However, that idea <\/span>was <\/span>scuttle<\/span>d<\/span> quickly<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>process of <\/span>relocating <\/span>the <\/span>two <\/span>stations<\/span> <\/span>continued <\/span>through<\/span>out<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> summer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In term of actual wealth, <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>corporate<\/span> <\/span>assets <\/span>for <\/span>19<\/span>55 <\/span>were <\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>extraordinary <\/span>$50.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span>. That <\/span>excluded <\/span>plant equipment <\/span>which was <\/span>worth <\/span>an additional <\/span>$43<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span>. Its $17<\/span>.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>network <\/span>reserves <\/span>was <\/span>equally <\/span>impressive<\/span>. <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>ledger also <\/span>included<\/span> <\/span>$31.<\/span>2<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>liabilities <\/span>and <\/span>$6.<\/span>5 million in capital stock. Its reinvestment earnings alone exceeded the $39.6 million mark. In today\u2019s world that would be worth more than $396 million.[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Not too shabby for a twenty-nine year old broadcasting network.\u00a0Also, WBC\u2019s revenues had grown substantially over the past two years from $10.9 million to $13.9 million. Its corporate expenses had climbed from $8.7 million and $10.6 million while its net income had increased from $1.15 million to $1.61 million. That would equal $4.6 million in today\u2019s market.[15]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Any way you might look at it, both broadcasting companies were top investment choices then.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>terms of <\/span>the <\/span>actual <\/span>stations,<\/span> <\/span>they <\/span>owne<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>NBC<\/span> <\/span>controlled <\/span>WRCA<\/span>–<\/span>New York; WRC<\/span>–<\/span>Washington, D.C., WMAQ-<\/span>Chicago, KNBC<\/span>–<\/span>San Francisco<\/span>, and WKNB<\/span>–<\/span>New Britain, C<\/span>T.[16]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>owned and <\/span>operated <\/span>KDKA<\/span>–<\/span>Pittsburgh,<\/span> WBZ-<\/span>Boston, KEX<\/span>–<\/span>Portland, OR and WOWO<\/span>–<\/span>Fort Wayne, I<\/span>N.[17]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>One of <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>principal <\/span>ways to <\/span>increas<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>its <\/span>revenue<\/span> <\/span>stream <\/span>involved <\/span>sw<\/span>apping <\/span>l<\/span>ackluster <\/span>outlets for <\/span>potentially <\/span>more profitable ones<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>RCA\u2019s shrewd B<\/span>oard <\/span>of Directors <\/span>knew <\/span>that the <\/span>FCC<\/span> would n<\/span>ever <\/span>allow <\/span>any <\/span>network to exceed its <\/span>allotted <\/span>number <\/span>of <\/span>company-owned <\/span>stations<\/span>. <\/span>However, <\/span>trading <\/span>one <\/span>outlet <\/span>for another was <\/span>very much <\/span>l<\/span>egal <\/span>and that<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>what <\/span>prompted <\/span>this <\/span>exchange<\/span>. <\/span>You might wonder if <\/span>that deal <\/span>contained <\/span>an<\/span> <\/span>escape<\/span> clause<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>entatively approved <\/span>in <\/span>May<\/span> 19<\/span>55<\/span>, <\/span>this agreement <\/span>did <\/span>indeed <\/span>include <\/span>one<\/span>. Either network <\/span>did <\/span>ha<\/span>ve <\/span>the <\/span>legal <\/span>right <\/span>to <\/span>pull out <\/span>during the first year <\/span>should <\/span>it <\/span>discover <\/span>something wrong<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0However, <\/span>the <\/span>details <\/span>for<\/span> pulling out <\/span>were <\/span>very <\/span>sketchy<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n the <\/span>mid<\/span>d<\/span>le of <\/span>these <\/span>negotiations<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>one of the <\/span>leading <\/span>Buffalo, NY <\/span>broadcasters<\/span> <\/span>WGR<\/span> <\/span>challenge<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>it<\/span>. <\/span>Its l<\/span>egal representatives <\/span>q<\/span>uestion<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>the motives <\/span>that had <\/span>l<\/span>ed the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany recently to try and <\/span>purchas<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>one of <\/span>its <\/span>chief <\/span>rivals<\/span> <\/span>WBUF<\/span>-T<\/span>V.[18]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>WGR<\/span>\u2019s counsel<\/span> <\/span>argued that <\/span>pending <\/span>federal <\/span>litigation <\/span>against <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>parent <\/span>corporation <\/span>RCA<\/span> <\/span>would compel <\/span>the F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>flatly <\/span>deny <\/span>the petition<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>WGR-<\/span>Buffalo<\/span> <\/span>furth<\/span>er contended that <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>forced <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> <\/span>Broadcasting Company <\/span>to <\/span>consent <\/span>to <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> Cleveland-Philadel<\/span>p<\/span>hia <\/span>station <\/span>exchange<\/span>. <\/span>WGR\u2019s <\/span>attorneys <\/span>went so far as to s<\/span>uggest <\/span>th<\/span>at two of W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>prime <\/span>television <\/span>stations <\/span>would <\/span>los<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>their <\/span>NBC <\/span>affiliation<\/span> <\/span>if <\/span>present negotiations were <\/span>not brought to a <\/span>speedy <\/span>conclusion<\/span>. <\/span>The possib<\/span>ility <\/span>of <\/span>f<\/span>oul play <\/span>on the part of the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>was to <\/span>re<\/span>appear <\/span>numerous times <\/span>over the next <\/span>decade <\/span>as <\/span>the feds and other <\/span>private <\/span>corporations <\/span>repeatedly attacked <\/span>that network <\/span>for <\/span>its <\/span>so-called <\/span>unethical<\/span> <\/span>behavior<\/span>. In the <\/span>Buffalo <\/span>case<\/span>, <\/span>NBC<\/span> <\/span>offered<\/span> WBUF <\/span>only <\/span>$918,994<\/span>. <\/span>Many <\/span>experts <\/span>in the radio industry believed <\/span>that <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>low ball figure<\/span>. <\/span>A<\/span>lso<\/span>, <\/span>WGR <\/span>l<\/span>egal staff<\/span> <\/span>w<\/span>anted to know <\/span>w<\/span>hy <\/span>the FCC had not demanded <\/span>a more thorough assessment of <\/span>WBUF<\/span>\u2019s financial worth <\/span>upfront<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Tho<\/span>se <\/span>concerns <\/span>needed to be a<\/span>ddressed <\/span>immediately<\/span>.[19]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong, NBC<\/span>\u2019s lawyers<\/span> repeatedly <\/span>reassure<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>that this <\/span>upcoming <\/span>exchange <\/span>was fair<\/span>. <\/span>After all, <\/span>the number of new <\/span>spot sales <\/span>on WTAM-R<\/span>adio had i<\/span>mproved <\/span>by <\/span>a<\/span>n amazing <\/span>60% <\/span>over the p<\/span>revious <\/span>two year<\/span>s.[20]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>That <\/span>eye-opener <\/span>led <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse\u2019s <\/span>shrewd <\/span>programmers <\/span>to <\/span>scrutinize <\/span>WTAM\u2019s <\/span>programming <\/span>very carefully <\/span>and <\/span>when<\/span>ever<\/span> possible <\/span>retain <\/span>it<\/span>s <\/span>best <\/span>DJs<\/span>.<\/span>[21]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>About<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>recent <\/span>charges made by <\/span>WGR;<\/span> <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s legal team<\/span> <\/span>repeated<\/span>ly <\/span>claimed <\/span>that <\/span>NBC had <\/span>never <\/span>placed <\/span>any <\/span>undue <\/span>pressure on<\/span> i<\/span>t.[22]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>After all, why <\/span>would <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>know<\/span>ingly <\/span>engage in such unlawful practices<\/span>? <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>firmly <\/span>believe<\/span>d<\/span> that <\/span>this deal <\/span>would be <\/span>profitable<\/span> for <\/span>both parties<\/span>. <\/span>On another note, <\/span>Chri<\/span>s Witting <\/span>proudly <\/span>reported <\/span>that his <\/span>company owned and operated <\/span>stations had <\/span>seen <\/span>their <\/span>spot <\/span>advertising<\/span> revenues increase by <\/span>30% <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>p<\/span>revious <\/span>six month<\/span> period<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>KYW-Philadelphia <\/span>le<\/span>a<\/span>d<\/span>ing the pack<\/span> with a <\/span>healthy <\/span>32%<\/span> gain<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>When all was said and done<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> Broadcasting<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>earnings <\/span>had <\/span>improved <\/span>by<\/span> an <\/span>astounding <\/span>60% <\/span>over its <\/span>previous <\/span>high<\/span> mark <\/span>achieved <\/span>in 1948<\/span>.[23]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Believing that an ounce of prevention<\/span> wa<\/span>s <\/span>well <\/span>worth a pound of cure<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the FCC <\/span>in July 19<\/span>55 <\/span>ordered a<\/span> <\/span>second <\/span>investigat<\/span>i<\/span>on<\/span> of the upcoming station trade<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This time the commission <\/span>would <\/span>focus <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>precise <\/span>allegations<\/span> <\/span>made by WGR-Buffalo <\/span>against NBC<\/span>. <\/span>Some <\/span>critics <\/span>contended <\/span>that <\/span>th<\/span>e federal regulatory agency <\/span>wanting <\/span>to <\/span>quickly <\/span>approve the <\/span>NBC-WBC <\/span>trade <\/span>m<\/span>ay <\/span>have <\/span>overlooked <\/span>some <\/span>cr<\/span>itical <\/span>evidence <\/span>and that a<\/span> second<\/span> <\/span>investigation<\/span> <\/span>into it <\/span>might <\/span>clear up <\/span>any <\/span>earlier <\/span>wrong doing<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>As you <\/span>might <\/span>expect, t<\/span>he<\/span> F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>made it <\/span>abundantly <\/span>clear that <\/span>they <\/span>would <\/span>leave no rock <\/span>unturned<\/span> especially if<\/span> <\/span>the commissioners<\/span> <\/span>should <\/span>discover that<\/span> <\/span>NBC <\/span>had <\/span>coerced <\/span>WBC<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span> second <\/span>in-depth <\/span>investigation would <\/span>undoubtedly <\/span>reveal <\/span>whether the <\/span>public\u2019s <\/span>interests would <\/span>best <\/span>be served <\/span>by <\/span>such an<\/span> <\/span>exchange <\/span>or not<\/span>,<\/span> and that was what <\/span>really <\/span>mattered<\/span>. <\/span>On a<\/span>nother<\/span> <\/span>level<\/span>, t<\/span>h<\/span>is <\/span>inquiry might well determine whether <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>alleged<\/span> drummed up <\/span>actions <\/span>did indeed <\/span>represent <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>violat<\/span>i<\/span>on of <\/span>the <\/span>anti-monopoly provisions <\/span>as <\/span>set down in <\/span>the <\/span>Communicatio<\/span>ns Act of 19<\/span>34. Any <\/span>a<\/span>ntitrust litigation <\/span>resulting from <\/span>fraud<\/span>ulent<\/span> <\/span>activities <\/span>on the part of <\/span>the National Broadcasting Company <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>automatically canceled <\/span>th<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>e<\/span>xchange<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everything <\/span>remained c<\/span>opasetic <\/span>in<\/span>to<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>autumn<\/span> of \u2018<\/span>55<\/span>. <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Philadelphia<\/span> <\/span>cont<\/span>inu<\/span>ed<\/span> to broadcast <\/span>its <\/span>favorite<\/span> <\/span>s<\/span>hows<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>includ<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>popular <\/span>Princeton University football games<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Herb Carneal <\/span>(1924-2007) <\/span>and Mark Olds <\/span>(1921-2009) <\/span>provided <\/span>the <\/span>play-by-play coverag<\/span>e.[24]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>It<\/span>s <\/span>skilled <\/span>p<\/span>romot<\/span>ers <\/span>through <\/span>their <\/span>clever<\/span>ly worded<\/span> <\/span>newspaper<\/span> ads<\/span>, <\/span>hyped <\/span>merchandise<\/span> and dazzling <\/span>outdoor billboards <\/span>promised <\/span>their many sports listeners <\/span>a super year for the <\/span>fighting <\/span>Princeton <\/span>Tigers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hat <\/span>same <\/span>autumn<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span> <\/span>Board of Directors <\/span>announced the appointment of Robert H. Teter <\/span>(1919-2011) <\/span>as <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>new<\/span>est<\/span> <\/span>GM<\/span>. <\/span>Teter<\/span>\u2019s claim <\/span>to<\/span> fame was that he <\/span>had <\/span>single handedly increased <\/span>that outlet\u2019s <\/span>spot sales <\/span>to <\/span>lofty <\/span>new <\/span>heights<\/span> <\/span>over the <\/span>l<\/span>ast <\/span>five year<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>Co<\/span>mpany <\/span>l<\/span>oyalty <\/span>certainly <\/span>had i<\/span>ts<\/span> <\/span>rewards <\/span>as <\/span>Frank Tooke advanced up the <\/span>corporate <\/span>ladder to become <\/span>it<\/span>s new <\/span>Special Assignments<\/span> <\/span>E<\/span>xecutive <\/span>O<\/span>ffice<\/span>r<\/span> at year\u2019s end<\/span>.[25]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pesky <\/span>legal <\/span>issues <\/span>continu<\/span>ed to <\/span>plague <\/span>t<\/span>h<\/span>e FCC\u2019s f<\/span>ollow-up <\/span>investigation<\/span>. One <\/span>sticking point <\/span>that <\/span>remain<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>unsettled <\/span>concerned <\/span>the <\/span>allegation <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>Company<\/span> had<\/span> <\/span>planned to <\/span>end <\/span>its <\/span>affiliation <\/span>with <\/span>certain <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>television <\/span>station<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>if <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> <\/span>swap <\/span>had <\/span>not<\/span> <\/span>happened<\/span>.[26]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Certain <\/span>commissioners <\/span>believed <\/span>that <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>trade <\/span>was <\/span>essential <\/span>if <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC <\/span>was <\/span>determined to <\/span>secur<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>a greater foothold on <\/span>the <\/span>growing <\/span>East Coast <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>market<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>WGR<\/span>-Buffalo<\/span> <\/span>legal team <\/span>claimed that W<\/span>BC\u2019s <\/span>control of <\/span>WTAM <\/span>would <\/span>ultimately <\/span>result in <\/span>a <\/span>similar <\/span>stranglehold over <\/span>m<\/span>uch<\/span> of <\/span>N<\/span>orth<\/span>east<\/span> Ohio<\/span> <\/span>and <\/span>N<\/span>orthwest <\/span>West Virgini<\/span>a.[27]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The FCC <\/span>had <\/span>hoped that <\/span>t<\/span>his<\/span> <\/span>latest <\/span>round of <\/span>talk<\/span>s<\/span> might <\/span>bring to an <\/span>end <\/span>this <\/span>confusion<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Of course, it didn\u2019t<\/span> <\/span>achieve <\/span>that <\/span>at all<\/span>. <\/span>On another<\/span> very positive <\/span>note, <\/span>KDKA, <\/span>KYW<\/span> and <\/span>WBZ<\/span> <\/span>in October 1955 <\/span>received <\/span>recognition <\/span>from United Press <\/span>International <\/span>for two decades of <\/span>dedicated<\/span> <\/span>news <\/span>servic<\/span>e.[28]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>A month later<\/span>, <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>advertising agency <\/span>Free & Peters <\/span>proclaimed that <\/span>the network <\/span>was <\/span>\u201cbusting its buttons\u201d <\/span>now that it w<\/span>as <\/span>this nation\u2019s <\/span>largest independent broadcaster. <\/span>Its<\/span> <\/span>five <\/span>radio <\/span>outlets<\/span>,<\/span> includ<\/span>ing <\/span>KYW<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>furnished <\/span>the <\/span>fines<\/span>t<\/span> in <\/span>entertainment, <\/span>music, <\/span>news<\/span> and <\/span>sport<\/span>s.[29]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>Pleased with <\/span>its <\/span>new, <\/span>sky-high <\/span>earnings<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s Board of Directors <\/span>appointed <\/span>President Chris J. Witting<\/span> <\/span>as <\/span>its latest <\/span>We<\/span>stinghouse Electric\u2019s <\/span>Consumer Products Division<\/span> GM<\/span>. Don <\/span>McGannon <\/span>was voted in as <\/span>board presiden<\/span>t.[30]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Always d<\/span>edicated to <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>community service<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>proudly <\/span>cover<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>education <\/span>conference <\/span>hosted by <\/span>President Eisenhower<\/span> <\/span>on November 28<\/span>, 1955<\/span>.<\/span>[31]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>KYW-Phi<\/span>ladelphia <\/span>received a great deal of <\/span>praise<\/span> from its <\/span>many <\/span>higher ups <\/span>for its <\/span>outstanding coverage<\/span> of that <\/span>event<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Later t<\/span>h<\/span>at <\/span>same month<\/span>, <\/span>NBC and <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>submitted <\/span>their <\/span>petition <\/span>to the FCC<\/span> for <\/span>its <\/span>final <\/span>approva<\/span>l.[32]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Guess what<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>commission <\/span>approved <\/span>it <\/span>by a six to one vote. Robert T. Bartley (1909-1988)<\/span> <\/span>represented <\/span>the on<\/span>ly<\/span> dissenting vote<\/span>. He believed that <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>Company<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>strong-armed <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>into <\/span>accepting <\/span>what he considered to be <\/span>a <\/span>lopsided <\/span>dea<\/span>l.[33]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>supporting <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>swap<\/span>, th<\/span>e F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>temporally <\/span>held back <\/span>attempts<\/span> <\/span>by <\/span>the Department of Justice (DOJ) <\/span>or <\/span>the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) <\/span>to <\/span>prosecute <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC on <\/span>charges of <\/span>monopoly or restraint of trade. <\/span>As everyone <\/span>fully acknowledged<\/span>, <\/span>NBC <\/span>was <\/span>a powerful <\/span>force in U.S. <\/span>business<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>That network <\/span>used <\/span>its <\/span>tremendous <\/span>power <\/span>to exert<\/span> <\/span>further <\/span>pressure on the feds to end <\/span>those <\/span>a<\/span>llegations <\/span>of <\/span>wrongdoing<\/span>. <\/span>Its <\/span>top<\/span> leaders <\/span>firmly <\/span>believed that if th<\/span>ose charges <\/span>remain<\/span>ed un<\/span>checked <\/span>it might bring the whole house down. In retro<\/span>s<\/span>p<\/span>e<\/span>ct, that <\/span>seem<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>unlikely<\/span>. <\/span>However, odd makers <\/span>at that time <\/span>weren\u2019t so sure<\/span>.<\/span> St<\/span>ranger things <\/span>had occurred <\/span>with<\/span>in <\/span>the radio <\/span>industry<\/span> in the <\/span>recent <\/span>past<\/span>.<\/span> Who knew what <\/span>lay ahead<\/span>?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, t<\/span>h<\/span>at <\/span>trade <\/span>did <\/span>g<\/span>i<\/span>ve <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>exactly <\/span>what it <\/span>wanted <\/span>a <\/span>prime <\/span>Phil<\/span>ly <\/span>station<\/span> without an<\/span>y kind of<\/span> protest from the Westinghouse Broadcasting<\/span> Company<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Such acq<\/span>ui<\/span>esce <\/span>on the part of WBC seemed somewhat out of character <\/span>based on the fact <\/span>that <\/span>its negotiat<\/span>ion team<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>had <\/span>a reputation for using <\/span>hardnosed <\/span>tactics<\/span> <\/span>to achieve <\/span>its <\/span>aims<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>ndustry-wide <\/span>leaders <\/span>fully <\/span>acknowledged <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>Broadcasting <\/span>Company<\/span> <\/span>was <\/span>n<\/span>ever a <\/span>pushover<\/span> at the bargaining table<\/span>. <\/span>One of the reasons <\/span>its <\/span>Board of Directors <\/span>had hired McGannon <\/span>in the first place <\/span>was that he <\/span>was <\/span>known as <\/span>a <\/span>stubborn <\/span>negotiator<\/span>. <\/span>Yet, <\/span>in spite of <\/span>the <\/span>bravo<\/span> when push came to shove<\/span>, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>,<\/span> led by McGannon<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>did <\/span>v<\/span>ery little <\/span>to improve <\/span>that broadcaster\u2019s <\/span>bargaining <\/span>position<\/span> with NBC<\/span>. <\/span>Perhaps he w<\/span>as outwitted by <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>skillful legal team<\/span>,<\/span> or <\/span>maybe<\/span> <\/span>he thought that the exchange was <\/span>equally <\/span>beneficial <\/span>for Westinghouse. Who <\/span>knew<\/span>?<\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>hatever the reason<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>behind <\/span>this swap, <\/span>NBC<\/span> <\/span>initially seemed to <\/span>benefit <\/span>the most <\/span>from it<\/span>. This being <\/span>said<\/span>, <\/span>in order <\/span>f<\/span>or this <\/span>exchange <\/span>to <\/span>occur <\/span>smoothly<\/span> <\/span>NBC <\/span>had to <\/span>first <\/span>agree to <\/span>retain <\/span>its <\/span>affiliation<\/span> with th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>questionable <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>television <\/span>stations<\/span>. <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s Boa<\/span>rd of Directors had <\/span>made it <\/span>crystal<\/span> clear <\/span>to NBC<\/span>\u2019s legal team<\/span> that if it <\/span>decided<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>in the last moment<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>pull <\/span>its affiliation <\/span>from those outlets <\/span>then <\/span>the <\/span>deal <\/span>w<\/span>as <\/span>off<\/span>. <\/span>C<\/span>ounsel representing <\/span>RCA-<\/span>NBC <\/span>listened <\/span>attentively <\/span>to <\/span>W<\/span>BC\u2019s <\/span>demand<\/span> and <\/span>agreed to do <\/span>it<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Also, <\/span>both parties <\/span>knew f<\/span>u<\/span>ll-well that this <\/span>Philadelphia-Cleveland <\/span>exchange <\/span>might <\/span>be <\/span>viewed <\/span>by some legal e<\/span>agles <\/span>as <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>golden opportunity <\/span>for <\/span>both networks <\/span>to <\/span>establish <\/span>powerful <\/span>regional broadcasting <\/span>monopol<\/span>ies by <\/span>allowing them <\/span>to <\/span>skirt <\/span>around <\/span>current FCC ownership <\/span>restrictions<\/span>. The fact that <\/span>there wa<\/span>s<\/span> no <\/span>official <\/span>change <\/span>in <\/span>owners<\/span>hip<\/span> did not mean that <\/span>the <\/span>exchange <\/span>was <\/span>complete<\/span>ly <\/span>above board<\/span>. <\/span>One tactic used by <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> and <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>to lessen its <\/span>impact <\/span>on competing broadcasters in <\/span>both th<\/span>e <\/span>Cleveland and Philadelphia <\/span>areas <\/span>was to convince the feds <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>upcoming <\/span>trade <\/span>was <\/span>only regional <\/span>affect<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>a<\/span>bout <\/span>8% of the <\/span>country\u2019s <\/span>populatio<\/span>n.[34]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>That <\/span>seemed <\/span>r<\/span>easonable <\/span>gi<\/span>ven <\/span>the high revenues <\/span>currently <\/span>being <\/span>made <\/span>by <\/span>long <\/span>e<\/span>stablished <\/span>radio and televi<\/span>si<\/span>on station<\/span>s<\/span> i<\/span>n th<\/span>ose <\/span>district<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

L<\/span>imiting <\/span>the number of stations an individual broadcasting company might own within <\/span>certain regions <\/span>was not <\/span>something <\/span>new <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>19<\/span>50s.<\/span>\u00a0Al<\/span>though <\/span>the number of own<\/span>er <\/span>and operate<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>outlets <\/span>has increased <\/span>in numbers <\/span>over the past seven<\/span>ty years<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the<\/span> F<\/span>ederal <\/span>C<\/span>ommunications <\/span>C<\/span>ommission<\/span> <\/span>still <\/span>impose<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>tough <\/span>restrictions <\/span>on <\/span>broadcasters<\/span> <\/span>w<\/span>anting to <\/span>control<\/span> <\/span>numerous <\/span>radio and television <\/span>stations <\/span>with<\/span>in <\/span>the same market<\/span>.[35]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Virtually all <\/span>the <\/span>accusations <\/span>made <\/span>against <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>vanished <\/span>by the end of <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>h<\/span>e one <\/span>exception <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>claim <\/span>that<\/span> <\/span>it <\/span>had <\/span>placed undue pressured <\/span>on <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>to <\/span>accept <\/span>the <\/span>exchange<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Like <\/span>a<\/span> bad penny it <\/span>kept <\/span>p<\/span>opping <\/span>up<\/span> repeatedly<\/span>. <\/span>Part<\/span> of the <\/span>reason <\/span>for that rested <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>DOJ <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>federal <\/span>court<\/span> <\/span>s<\/span>ystem<\/span>. <\/span>In the <\/span>DOJ\u2019s <\/span>case<\/span>, it has always <\/span>considered itself to be <\/span>straight<\/span> shooter intent on righting legal wrongs<\/span> when they occurred<\/span>. Its actions <\/span>against<\/span> NBC <\/span>were visceral. <\/span>The same might be said for <\/span>the federal courts <\/span>that<\/span> repeatedly would not <\/span>let <\/span>go of <\/span>that nagging issue<\/span>. <\/span>Both <\/span>knew s<\/span>omething was<\/span> <\/span>wrong <\/span>and they were <\/span>determined <\/span>to get to the bottom <\/span>of it<\/span> ASAP<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As you might have <\/span>already <\/span>figured out<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>NBC <\/span>off<\/span>i<\/span>cials <\/span>expected this <\/span>deal <\/span>to <\/span>yield <\/span>high <\/span>returns<\/span> quickly and <\/span>they were <\/span>entirely correct<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, <\/span>in <\/span>less than a <\/span>year <\/span>corporate <\/span>sales <\/span>at NBC <\/span>had increased <\/span>by 15%. <\/span>During th<\/span>at <\/span>same <\/span>period<\/span>, <\/span>that network <\/span>had <\/span>experienced a <\/span>huge <\/span>29% increase in <\/span>its <\/span>earnings<\/span>. <\/span>WBC <\/span>reported <\/span>a <\/span>more modest <\/span>5% gain in gross sales <\/span>with <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>s<\/span>light <\/span>dip <\/span>in <\/span>radio <\/span>sales<\/span>.<\/span>[36]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>Again, <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Philadelphia<\/span> <\/span>led <\/span>all <\/span>other <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>broadcasters <\/span>with <\/span>a<\/span> striking <\/span>23% <\/span>increase in <\/span>its <\/span>spot <\/span>sales<\/span>. <\/span>W<\/span>BC <\/span>higher ups<\/span> congratulated <\/span>th<\/span>eir <\/span>Philly station <\/span>for its significant increase<\/span> in sales<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>In <\/span>December 19<\/span>55, <\/span>NBC <\/span>officially <\/span>recognized <\/span>WTAM<\/span>-Radio <\/span>for its <\/span>productive <\/span>Northern<\/span> Ohio Sales Clini<\/span>c.[37]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>H<\/span>osted by <\/span>Harold W. Waddell<\/span>, <\/span>this <\/span>forum <\/span>provided <\/span>worthwhile <\/span>di<\/span>alogue <\/span>that <\/span>center<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>on <\/span>future <\/span>business prospects for <\/span>those investing in <\/span>local <\/span>radio<\/span>. <\/span>Eleven hundred AM <\/span>also aired a<\/span>n information program <\/span>detail<\/span>ing <\/span>the<\/span> many<\/span> <\/span>federal <\/span>benefits <\/span>a<\/span>vailable for <\/span>returning <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>veterans<\/span>.[38]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Last<\/span> <\/span>February, WTAM and WNBK<\/span>-TV<\/span> <\/span>addressed <\/span>some of <\/span>the <\/span>worst <\/span>parking and traffic problems <\/span>facing <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>ers<\/span> <\/span>by <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing<\/span> several programs on those issues<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>September, <\/span>1955, <\/span>WTAM <\/span>had <\/span>sponsored<\/span> a<\/span>n equally <\/span>success<\/span>ful <\/span>Red Cross <\/span>blood <\/span>driv<\/span>e.[39]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>The year ended <\/span>with <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s Board of Directors announcing that <\/span>Gordon W. Davis <\/span>would be <\/span>replacing Robert Teter as <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>GM<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Teter <\/span>left the station to <\/span>bec<\/span>o<\/span>me <\/span>the <\/span>new <\/span>E<\/span>xecutive <\/span>Assistant<\/span> <\/span>to the <\/span>WBC <\/span>President<\/span>.[40]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/span><\/span><\/em> o<\/span>n January <\/span>21, <\/span>19<\/span>56 ran a<\/span> special <\/span>in-<\/span>depth article<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>de<\/span>scrib<\/span>ed in detail <\/span>the <\/span>many <\/span>management<\/span> <\/span>changes<\/span> <\/span>that were <\/span>about to <\/span>occur <\/span>at <\/span>both <\/span>outlet<\/span>s<\/span>. George Cyr, Bill Dallmann, <\/span>Bill Howard, <\/span>Samuel E. (<\/span>Eddie<\/span>)<\/span> Leonard, <\/span>Jack McHale, <\/span>Curtis Peck<\/span>, <\/span>Jean Strobel, <\/span>Hal Waddell, <\/span>Edward Wallace<\/span>, Ted Walworth<\/span>. <\/span>Markie<\/span> Wattenberg<\/span> and Lloyd <\/span>E. <\/span>Yodis<\/span> <\/span>were <\/span>go<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>to Phil<\/span>ly <\/span>while Gordon <\/span>W. <\/span>Davis, Mark Olds. Sidne<\/span>y <\/span>V. <\/span>Stadig<\/span>, <\/span>E. Preston Stover, Rolland V. Tooke <\/span>and <\/span>G. <\/span>Edward Wallis <\/span>were <\/span>c<\/span>om<\/span>ing <\/span>to Clevelan<\/span>d.[41]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>To h<\/span>onor<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>eir <\/span>arrival<\/span> in <\/span><\/span>Cleveland<\/span>, that city<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>top <\/span>business<\/span>, civic<\/span> and government <\/span>l<\/span>eader<\/span>s <\/span>sponsored a<\/span> <\/span>daylong<\/span> <\/span>celebration<\/span> on February 10<\/span>, 19<\/span>56<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Festivities <\/span>included <\/span>floating <\/span>10,000 balloons <\/span>over <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>Public Squar<\/span>e.[42]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The <\/span>all-<\/span>new KYW call letters <\/span>officially <\/span>replaced WTAM <\/span>three days late<\/span>r.<\/span><\/span>[43]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Be<\/span>ing the new kid on the block meant <\/span>that thi<\/span>s <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcast<\/span>er <\/span>had to <\/span>generate <\/span>a <\/span>tremendous amount of <\/span>positive publicity <\/span>very <\/span>quickly<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That was <\/span>a <\/span>major challenge for KYW<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>shrewd <\/span>management<\/span> team<\/span>. <\/span>Radio l<\/span>isteners depend<\/span>ed<\/span> on <\/span>certain <\/span>program<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>being broadcasted <\/span>from <\/span>their<\/span> favorite radio stations<\/span>. <\/span>A<\/span>ny<\/span> change<\/span>s<\/span> in <\/span>station <\/span>ownership m<\/span>ight <\/span>or might not gain <\/span>their <\/span>immediate<\/span> <\/span>approval<\/span>. Glowing ratings <\/span>for the new owners <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>start <\/span>usually <\/span>indicated <\/span>that everything was okay<\/span> with <\/span>the<\/span>ir<\/span> <\/span>present <\/span>offerings<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>at least for <\/span>the<\/span> time being<\/span>. However, any sudden drop in <\/span>ratings <\/span>might <\/span>suggest <\/span>that <\/span>major <\/span>changes <\/span>w<\/span>ere <\/span>requir<\/span>ed<\/span> right now<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>The <\/span>many <\/span>program<\/span>mers <\/span>and <\/span>p<\/span>romoter<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>working <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>Westinghouse Broadcasting <\/span>Company <\/span>knew <\/span>their efforts <\/span>directed <\/span>to<\/span>wards<\/span> <\/span>win<\/span>ning<\/span> <\/span>over <\/span>local listeners <\/span>depended on them mastering <\/span>two <\/span>goals <\/span>from <\/span>the<\/span> day they started<\/span>. First, <\/span>they <\/span>must <\/span>try <\/span>as much as possible <\/span>to <\/span>calm <\/span>any <\/span>apprehensions Cleveland <\/span>listen<\/span>e<\/span>rs<\/span> might have regarding this new <\/span>station<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>program<\/span> <\/span>lineup.<\/span> <\/span>Th<\/span>at <\/span>was achieved by <\/span>carrying over <\/span>as <\/span>many of the <\/span>programs<\/span>, <\/span>features and <\/span>radio personalities <\/span>from WTAM <\/span>as possible <\/span>before <\/span>introducing <\/span>their <\/span>own <\/span>new <\/span>shows <\/span>or <\/span>superstars<\/span>.<\/span> Second, th<\/span>e<\/span> new manage<\/span>rs <\/span>at KYW-Cleveland <\/span>must <\/span>uphold <\/span>business <\/span>principles and <\/span>social <\/span>values <\/span>similar to their <\/span>NBC <\/span>predecessor <\/span>even if <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>actual <\/span>approach towards<\/span> local<\/span> broadcasting <\/span>might be <\/span>differ<\/span>ent<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Th<\/span>ose <\/span>objectives <\/span>seemed <\/span>attainable <\/span>since <\/span>KYW<\/span>–<\/span>Radio<\/span> <\/span>had <\/span>always prided itself on <\/span>providing its <\/span>many <\/span>fans <\/span>with <\/span>exactly <\/span>what they <\/span>needed and <\/span>wanted<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0If they could accomplish <\/span>th<\/span>at <\/span>task <\/span>in a <\/span>smooth<\/span> <\/span>and <\/span>timely fashion <\/span>then the<\/span>y would win <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>WTAM <\/span>audience<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>no questions asked<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

KYW<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>new<\/span>est<\/span> <\/span>GM <\/span>Gordon Davis <\/span>understood precisely what needed to be done and therefore <\/span>did <\/span>no<\/span>thing to <\/span>abruptly <\/span>change <\/span>the <\/span>lineup<\/span>. <\/span><\/span>F<\/span>or the interim<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>this <\/span>radio <\/span>station <\/span>would <\/span>uphold <\/span>the tradition<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>of RCA-<\/span>NBC <\/span>by <\/span>continuing<\/span> to <\/span>broadcast <\/span>popular <\/span>program<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>ts <\/span>initial <\/span>programming <\/span>covered <\/span>a wide range <\/span>of options everything <\/span>from <\/span>Shakespear<\/span>e<\/span>an plays<\/span>, farm <\/span>reports <\/span>and <\/span>the latest <\/span>album <\/span>cuts <\/span>at one end <\/span>of the spectrum <\/span>to <\/span>symphon<\/span>y concerts<\/span>, semi-classical music <\/span>performances <\/span>and <\/span>reading<\/span> aloud<\/span> at the other<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>At the same time<\/span>, <\/span>this new station <\/span>m<\/span>a<\/span>de sure that it <\/span>continued to <\/span>showcase <\/span>some of <\/span>WTAM<\/span>\u2019s favorite <\/span>jocks <\/span>along with <\/span>its <\/span>NBC <\/span>shows<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>newscasts<\/span>, <\/span>sports<\/span> and weather <\/span>forecast<\/span>s.[44]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The <\/span>local <\/span>press <\/span>welcome<\/span>d<\/span> <\/span>KYW <\/span>to Cleveland <\/span>by <\/span>prais<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>its <\/span>many <\/span>first<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>broadcasting<\/span> industry<\/span>. <\/span>For example<\/span>, <\/span>it <\/span>was the first <\/span>AM <\/span>st<\/span>a<\/span>tion <\/span>in the Windy City <\/span>to broadcast <\/span>a <\/span>Midwest <\/span>college football<\/span> game<\/span>. It also <\/span>present<\/span>ed the first life <\/span>performance <\/span>out of <\/span>the <\/span>Chicago Opera Company. <\/span>That <\/span>broadcaster <\/span>had the distinction of being <\/span>a <\/span>part of the first national wire hooku<\/span>p.[45]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

To <\/span>celebrate <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>debut in <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>, <\/span>the managers at <\/span>WBZ-<\/span>Boston <\/span>on February 14, 19<\/span>56 <\/span>extended <\/span>their <\/span>colleagues their <\/span>best wishe<\/span>s.[46]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0Its sister station was glad that KYW was on the beam and<\/span> it hoped that <\/span>it would <\/span>continue <\/span>to <\/span>prosper <\/span>in <\/span>its new <\/span>home<\/span> for many years<\/span> yet to come<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Program<\/span>ming changes <\/span>at KYW <\/span>began <\/span>in late February <\/span>when <\/span>a new <\/span>radio <\/span>personality <\/span>named <\/span>Wes Hopkins<\/span> (1927-2008)<\/span> <\/span>entered <\/span>the scene<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span> highly energetic<\/span> <\/span>disk<\/span> <\/span>jock<\/span>ey<\/span> <\/span>out of <\/span>Trenton, N.J., <\/span>Hopkins <\/span>started <\/span>play<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>records <\/span>weekday<\/span> evenings<\/span> <\/span>from <\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>to 7 <\/span>p.<\/span>m.<\/span>[47]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>KYW g<\/span>ot a sizeable boost at <\/span>the<\/span> 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span> Annual <\/span>American Federation of Radio & Television Artists<\/span> luncheon<\/span> <\/span>when its own <\/span>Tom Field and Gene Martin<\/span> <\/span>were honored <\/span>for their <\/span>many <\/span>years of <\/span>devoted <\/span>community servic<\/span>e.[48]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As I\u2019m sure you realize <\/span>by now<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the need to <\/span>expand its advertising <\/span>base <\/span>remained <\/span>a top priority <\/span>for KYW-Radio <\/span>f<\/span>rom the <\/span>first <\/span>day <\/span>it <\/span>arrived <\/span>in Cleveland<\/span>. <\/span>Beginning in <\/span>March<\/span> 19<\/span>56<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>launched a<\/span> <\/span>new<\/span> and exciting<\/span> <\/span>promot<\/span>i<\/span>on<\/span>al<\/span> campaign <\/span>aimed <\/span>towards <\/span>increas<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>the amount of <\/span>local <\/span>advertis<\/span>ing<\/span> time<\/span> <\/span>ASAP<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Its <\/span>promoters <\/span>repeatedly <\/span>reaffirmed <\/span>t<\/span>he <\/span>many <\/span>a<\/span>dvantages <\/span>awaiting <\/span>those <\/span>businesses <\/span>that <\/span>purchas<\/span>ed large blocks of <\/span>advertising <\/span>time <\/span>from <\/span>these new 50,000 watts<\/span> <\/span>radio <\/span>leader<\/span>.[49]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

C<\/span>atchy KYW <\/span>jingles <\/span>not only brightened <\/span>daily <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcasts, but also, <\/span>captured <\/span>the attention of <\/span>many of the <\/span>station\u2019s <\/span>happy <\/span>new <\/span>listeners<\/span>. <\/span>Not surprisingly, t<\/span>hey <\/span>preceded <\/span>each and <\/span>every <\/span>newscast, <\/span>sports<\/span> report<\/span>, <\/span>station break<\/span> and <\/span>weather <\/span>forecas<\/span>t.[50]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ever wonder who produced those jingles? <\/span>Apparently, m<\/span>any companies <\/span>marketed them<\/span>; h<\/span>owever, BENS and PAMS <\/span>excelled <\/span>above <\/span>most <\/span>others<\/span>. <\/span>Fortunately,<\/span> <\/span>KYW\u2019s early popularity among its <\/span>expanding <\/span>listening audience <\/span>went <\/span>far <\/span>beyond <\/span>just <\/span>playing <\/span>catchy jingles<\/span> on a regular basis<\/span>. <\/span>T<\/span>he arrival of <\/span>happy go lucky DJ<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>such as <\/span>Malcolm (Big) Wilson<\/span> (1924-1989)<\/span> <\/span>dramatically alter<\/span>ed <\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>tempo <\/span>of <\/span>Radio 11 <\/span>foreve<\/span>r.[51]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Entering <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>in <\/span>May 19<\/span>56<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>Big<\/span> Wilson<\/span> <\/span>rapidly <\/span>ad<\/span>apted <\/span>his <\/span>own <\/span>special radio <\/span>person<\/span>a<\/span> to fit the needs and wants of his growing fan-base<\/span>. <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Radio<\/span> <\/span>needed a <\/span>new<\/span> kind of <\/span>fun guy <\/span>to attract <\/span>new <\/span>listeners <\/span>and he <\/span>certainly <\/span>fit<\/span>ted<\/span> the bill<\/span>. Big Wilson <\/span>not only played <\/span>the <\/span>cool<\/span>est sounds <\/span>in town<\/span>; but also, <\/span>invigorated <\/span>his audience <\/span>even <\/span>on <\/span>Cleveland\u2019s <\/span>dreariest<\/span> <\/span>day<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span> A true showman<\/span> <\/span>he <\/span>sang along <\/span>with <\/span>some of <\/span>his favorite <\/span>tunes<\/span> or <\/span>played<\/span> them on hi<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>special<\/span>ly-adapted<\/span> <\/span>keyboard<\/span>. <\/span>Cleveland listen<\/span>ers <\/span>loved his <\/span>fresh<\/span> <\/span>new <\/span>approach<\/span> towards broadcasting<\/span> as the station\u2019s ratings <\/span>went <\/span>through the roof<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Called <\/span>\u201cThe King of All Night Broadcasting\u201d <\/span>Joe Mulvihill\u2019s <\/span>late <\/span>night <\/span>show <\/span>also <\/span>premiered <\/span>that July<\/span>. <\/span>His <\/span>\u201c1100 Club,\u201d <\/span>featured <\/span>some of the <\/span>\u201c<\/span>coolest <\/span>sounds<\/span>\u201d<\/span> <\/span>in town<\/span>.[52]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Setting <\/span>aside <\/span>KYW-R<\/span>adio<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>gr<\/span>eat <\/span>success <\/span>for <\/span>just <\/span>one <\/span>moment<\/span>,<\/span> th<\/span>e <\/span>many <\/span>legal <\/span>controvers<\/span>ies<\/span> <\/span>surrounding <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>station <\/span>exchange <\/span>w<\/span>ere <\/span>not dying<\/span> <\/span>out<\/span> <\/span>as one might have <\/span>expect<\/span>ed<\/span>. <\/span>What <\/span>exactly <\/span>was going on? <\/span>T<\/span>he House Antitrust Subcommittee<\/span> led <\/span>by <\/span>the outspoken <\/span>U.S. <\/span>R<\/span>epresentative <\/span>from New York <\/span>named <\/span>Emanuel <\/span>Celler<\/span> (1888-1981)<\/span>, <\/span>began <\/span>investigat<\/span>ing <\/span>the <\/span>alleged business <\/span>monopolies <\/span>that <\/span>had <\/span>been <\/span>overwhelm<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>many <\/span>television <\/span>stations<\/span> <\/span>as of late<\/span>.[53]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>His <\/span>committee\u2019s <\/span>decisive <\/span>action <\/span>on that <\/span>very <\/span>matter <\/span>led to <\/span>a<\/span>n <\/span>additional <\/span>prob<\/span>e <\/span>int<\/span>o <\/span>the <\/span>recent <\/span>NBC-WBC <\/span>trade<\/span>. T<\/span>he bitterness <\/span>whirling around <\/span>t<\/span>h<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>alleged <\/span>claims of <\/span>double dealing <\/span>on the part of <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>infuriated Celler\u2019s <\/span>committee.\u00a0<\/span>To no one\u2019s surprise, t<\/span>he <\/span>DOJ <\/span>plac<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>at <\/span>hotly contended <\/span>issue <\/span>right <\/span>in front of a <\/span>federal grand jury<\/span> <\/span>who <\/span>immediately <\/span>subpoen<\/span>aed <\/span>all <\/span>related <\/span>d<\/span>ocument<\/span>s.[54]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That <\/span>same <\/span>Jul<\/span>y<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>KYW announced a<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>important <\/span>shake-up in its <\/span>daytime <\/span>radio <\/span>lineup<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Local program<\/span>ming <\/span>would <\/span>now <\/span>replace NB<\/span>C<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>shows<\/span>.[55]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span>Specs Howard (b. 1926) <\/span>was <\/span>o<\/span>ne of the first jocks <\/span>to be <\/span>hired <\/span>by KYW <\/span>following <\/span>th<\/span>at<\/span> <\/span>crucial <\/span>announce<\/span>ment<\/span>. <\/span>H<\/span>is <\/span>all-<\/span>new <\/span>one hour <\/span>morning <\/span>gig <\/span>proved to be <\/span>a<\/span>n i<\/span>nstant <\/span>hi<\/span>t<\/span> with Clevelanders<\/span>.[56]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>Beginning on November 7, 19<\/span>55, NBC <\/span>began <\/span>offer<\/span>ing <\/span>a new option to <\/span>radio <\/span>affiliates <\/span>who might have been <\/span>considered <\/span>the possibility of <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing<\/span> their own independent<\/span> <\/span>shows. <\/span>Hosted <\/span>by Margaret Truman and Mike Wallace<\/span> and <\/span>called \u201cWeekday<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> it<\/span> was geared <\/span>mostly <\/span>for <\/span>housewives<\/span>. It <\/span>featured <\/span>such things as <\/span>life <\/span>performances by popular singers<\/span>, <\/span>special short-story readings<\/span> and in-depth <\/span>interviews<\/span>.[57]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>KYW\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>highly <\/span>capable <\/span>news editor Sanford Markey <\/span>(<\/span>1914-1995) <\/span>a<\/span>nd <\/span>his <\/span>several <\/span>ace <\/span>reporters <\/span>successfully <\/span>cover<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>both <\/span>Presidential Conventions<\/span> <\/span>in the <\/span>s<\/span>ummer<\/span> of \u201856<\/span>. <\/span>Unquestionably<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>overpowering <\/span>success <\/span>of <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>new <\/span>program<\/span>ming <\/span>took the <\/span>U.S. <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcasting <\/span>industry by storm. <\/span>But, it <\/span>symbolized <\/span>much <\/span>more than <\/span>just <\/span>a <\/span>formable <\/span>challenge <\/span>to <\/span>traditional <\/span>network <\/span>program<\/span>ming<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>clever<\/span> <\/span>promo<\/span>tions <\/span>had <\/span>convinced <\/span>even its harshest <\/span>c<\/span>ritic<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>desert <\/span>their <\/span>NBC <\/span>radio <\/span>s<\/span>hows<\/span> <\/span>for <\/span>th<\/span>o<\/span>se <\/span>exciting <\/span>local <\/span>o<\/span>fferings<\/span>. KYW<\/span>-radio <\/span>markedly <\/span>i<\/span>mproved <\/span>its <\/span>ratings <\/span>by <\/span>consistently <\/span>producing the kind of <\/span>high quality <\/span>daytime and nighttime <\/span>shows <\/span>that <\/span>everyone <\/span>seemed <\/span>to <\/span>need and <\/span>want<\/span>. However, <\/span>promotional<\/span> <\/span>changes <\/span>were not <\/span>limi<\/span>ted <\/span>exclusively <\/span>t<\/span>o <\/span>new programming<\/span>. <\/span>In an att<\/span>empt to reach out <\/span>even <\/span>further<\/span>, KYW discerning promoters sponsored very pleasurable lake cruises on the \u201cS.S. Aquarama\u201d from July 26th<\/span> through August 1st<\/span>. Departing from Cleveland\u2019s Lederer Pier, those \u201cKooler Kruises\u201d enabled KYW-Radio listeners to intermingle with some of their favorite DJs.[58]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Banter with cool radio personalities would not be possible if the shows fans listened to originated from far off places such as New York, Chicago or Hollywood.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Eleven hundred <\/span>on the AM dial <\/span>also <\/span>proudly <\/span>sponsored <\/span>a <\/span>special <\/span>girl\u2019s fashion show <\/span>on August 5, 19<\/span>56 <\/span>courtesy of <\/span>the <\/span>Sterling Lindner Davis<\/span> Department S<\/span>tore<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>hose t<\/span>eens <\/span>that <\/span>model<\/span>led<\/span> <\/span>Sterling Lindner\u2019s <\/span>cloth<\/span>ing <\/span>automatically <\/span>qualified <\/span>for <\/span>t<\/span>h<\/span>at summer\u2019s <\/span>\u201cMiss<\/span> Kooler Cleveland Contest<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>[59]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>During th<\/span>at <\/span>autumn<\/span>, <\/span>KYW<\/span> <\/span>reaffirmed <\/span>its<\/span> <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>Clevelanders by <\/span>continuing <\/span>to p<\/span>rovid<\/span>e<\/span> the<\/span>m with the<\/span> <\/span>finest <\/span>in entertainment, news and community service. <\/span>Station officials <\/span>back<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>up <\/span>that <\/span>guarantee <\/span>by <\/span>introduc<\/span>ing <\/span>several <\/span>exciting and <\/span>new <\/span>programs<\/span> to <\/span>glowing <\/span>reviews<\/span>. <\/span>Clevelanders welcomed <\/span>new entities such as <\/span>\u201cDimensions<\/span>;<\/span>\u201d \u201cSaturday Night Dance Party\u201d and \u201cHi-Fi from Studio K\u201d<\/span> <\/span>to the KYW lineup.<\/span>[60]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>All p<\/span>a<\/span>r<\/span>t<\/span> <\/span>of \u201cthe Spirit of <\/span>\u2019<\/span>56<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>th<\/span>ey<\/span> <\/span>symboliz<\/span>ed the <\/span>invigorating <\/span>new <\/span>sound <\/span>that <\/span>could <\/span>only <\/span>come from <\/span>the brand new <\/span>Radio 11<\/span>.[61]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

C<\/span>lever p<\/span>ublicity <\/span>campaigns<\/span> <\/span>developed <\/span>by <\/span>professional <\/span>promoter<\/span>s like <\/span>Janet K. Byers and Tom Garagen <\/span>helped <\/span>th<\/span>e station\u2019s <\/span>cause <\/span>considerably<\/span>. O<\/span>ne <\/span>of their <\/span>many <\/span>corny efforts <\/span>called <\/span>\u201cKYW is Kooler\u201d <\/span>c<\/span>reated <\/span>quite <\/span>a <\/span>stir<\/span> <\/span>in the <\/span>summer<\/span> of 1956<\/span>. <\/span>The <\/span>staff <\/span>repeatedly <\/span>yelled out \u201cget kooler\u201d as they <\/span>parad<\/span>ed <\/span>through <\/span>downtown <\/span>Cleveland wearing <\/span>Bermuda short<\/span>s.[62]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>The<\/span> <\/span>people <\/span>in the streets <\/span>yelled <\/span>the same<\/span> thing <\/span>right <\/span>back<\/span> at them<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Star spangled <\/span>marketing ploys<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>like that<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>woke everybody<\/span> up<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span> new <\/span>local <\/span>radio <\/span>station<\/span>.<\/span> How could <\/span>they <\/span>not<\/span> notice<\/span>? <\/span>The <\/span>April <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56 Nielsen <\/span>ratings<\/span> <\/span>showed<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>such <\/span>strategies<\/span> did <\/span>work. <\/span>Twenty-five percent <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Cleveland <\/span>listening <\/span>audience <\/span>now <\/span>had their radios <\/span>tuned <\/span>every day<\/span> <\/span>to <\/span>KYW <\/span>between 6 <\/span>a.m.<\/span> and <\/span>12 <\/span>Mid<\/span>night<\/span>.<\/span>[63]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The <\/span>same rating service <\/span>in <\/span>July <\/span>reported <\/span>that <\/span>KYW-Radio <\/span>led its nearest competitor by <\/span>over <\/span>40% and that between 6 and 9 a.m. an average of 90,000 homes listened to <\/span>the <\/span>new, <\/span>fast-paced <\/span>sound <\/span>that only <\/span>11<\/span>00<\/span> <\/span>AM <\/span>could <\/span>successfully <\/span>produce<\/span>. That <\/span>90,000 figure embodied <\/span>an amazing <\/span>51% of <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>total <\/span>listening audienc<\/span>e.[64]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Effective programming <\/span>such as <\/span>that <\/span>certainly <\/span>bolster<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>corporate <\/span>e<\/span>arning<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>19<\/span>56<\/span>. <\/span>After all, e<\/span>veryone loves a winner<\/span> <\/span>and that <\/span>includ<\/span>es<\/span> <\/span>the many <\/span>successful <\/span>advertisers<\/span> w<\/span>ho <\/span>spen<\/span>t<\/span> plenty <\/span>of <\/span>money <\/span>on <\/span>this new, to<\/span>p <\/span>rated <\/span>outlet<\/span>. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>very <\/span>proud <\/span>adverti<\/span>si<\/span>ng agency <\/span>said it best<\/span> when <\/span>it proclaimed that when <\/span>\u201ci<\/span>n Cleveland, no selling campaign is complete without the <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span> <\/span>station<\/span>\u2026KYW<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>[65]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>According to t<\/span>he Hooper Radio Audience Index<\/span>, <\/span>other <\/span>local<\/span>ly-based<\/span> <\/span>radio <\/span>broadcasters<\/span> such as W<\/span>ERE and <\/span>W<\/span>GAR <\/span>were <\/span>rapidly<\/span> <\/span>losing their edge to <\/span>th<\/span>is <\/span>latest <\/span>r<\/span>iva<\/span>l.[66]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>October 19<\/span>56, a longtime <\/span>radio <\/span>favorite <\/span>of <\/span>many <\/span>Clevelanders <\/span>named <\/span>Bill Meyer <\/span>departed <\/span>KYW-<\/span>Radio <\/span>f<\/span>or <\/span>the bright lights of <\/span>Phil<\/span>adelphia<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Big Wilson <\/span>assumed his <\/span>morning <\/span>duties <\/span>while <\/span>a <\/span>dashing <\/span>young <\/span>freelancer <\/span>named <\/span>Joe Finan <\/span>(1927-2006) <\/span>took over <\/span>Wilson\u2019s <\/span>afternoon<\/span> <\/span>gi<\/span>g.[67]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>After serving in the <\/span>Second <\/span>World War, Finan <\/span>had <\/span>joined the <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing team <\/span>at <\/span>WISR<\/span> in <\/span>Butler, PA. He later <\/span>mov<\/span>ed to Cleveland <\/span>to <\/span>becom<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>Channel 3\u2019s <\/span>part-time <\/span>weatherman<\/span>.<\/span> KYW<\/span>-Radio<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>keen <\/span>interest in <\/span>education <\/span>brought <\/span>it <\/span>together with <\/span>the National Citizens Council for Better Schools <\/span>to <\/span>introduc<\/span>e <\/span>a <\/span>new, <\/span>ten<\/span>–<\/span>minute <\/span>radio <\/span>segment <\/span>called <\/span>\u201cSpotlight on Schools<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>[68]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>Aware <\/span>of the latest breakthroughs in <\/span>radio and television <\/span>broadcasting<\/span> led <\/span>KYW <\/span>cunning <\/span>engineer<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>t<\/span>o <\/span>demand <\/span>the <\/span>latest <\/span>IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Processing Machine. <\/span>That technological <\/span>marvel<\/span> <\/span>permitted <\/span>its <\/span>news t<\/span>eam<\/span> <\/span>to process <\/span>the upcoming <\/span>election results <\/span>faster<\/span> than any<\/span> other station <\/span>in <\/span>Cleveland<\/span>.[69]<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That <\/span>November, <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>President <\/span>McGannon<\/span> delivered a<\/span>n impassioned <\/span>speech <\/span>in front <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>New Jersey <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasters<\/span> Associatio<\/span>n.[70]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>He <\/span>stressed the practical<\/span> <\/span>aspects <\/span>of <\/span>embracing h<\/span>is<\/span> <\/span>network\u2019s new <\/span>combination <\/span>music<\/span> and <\/span>news format. <\/span>McGannon <\/span>firmly <\/span>believed th<\/span>at<\/span> if <\/span>radio <\/span>programmers <\/span>follow<\/span>ed <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>latest <\/span>guidelines<\/span> <\/span>they would <\/span>undoubtedly <\/span>win<\/span>. <\/span>He also<\/span> <\/span>contended <\/span>that independent broadcaster<\/span>s<\/span> should <\/span>leave <\/span>news gathering<\/span>, writing<\/span> and reporting to <\/span>their experts<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Th<\/span>ey <\/span>we<\/span>re <\/span>far <\/span>more <\/span>competent than the many of<\/span> the <\/span>lackluster <\/span>reporters <\/span>broadcast<\/span>ing national<\/span>ly<\/span>. <\/span>He <\/span>further claimed <\/span>that <\/span>today\u2019s radio <\/span>audience <\/span>demand<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>far <\/span>greater <\/span>accountability<\/span> from <\/span>its <\/span>local <\/span>broadcasters <\/span>than had been the case <\/span>in<\/span> years past<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

L<\/span>ocal <\/span>DJs <\/span>helped <\/span>greatly in achieving <\/span>those<\/span> <\/span>ambitious <\/span>goal<\/span>s<\/span>. McGannon <\/span>strongly <\/span>s<\/span>uggest<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>that <\/span>AM outlets <\/span>should <\/span>rely <\/span>more <\/span>on <\/span>\u201cT<\/span>he Block Programming Pattern<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>as <\/span>perfected <\/span>by W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>to<\/span> handle <\/span>their <\/span>many <\/span>daytime <\/span>program<\/span>ming<\/span> <\/span>need<\/span>s.[71]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>News, music and public service <\/span>represented <\/span>the <\/span>leading <\/span>hallmark<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>of this <\/span>new<\/span> <\/span>approach<\/span> towards broadcasting<\/span>. <\/span>McGannon <\/span>concluded <\/span>his speech <\/span>by saying <\/span>that <\/span>news and information junkies <\/span>have <\/span>already seized <\/span>the <\/span>reins<\/span> of <\/span>nighttime <\/span>broadcasting<\/span> <\/span>in <\/span>many<\/span> <\/span>of his <\/span>most <\/span>prized <\/span>radio <\/span>stations <\/span>and that W<\/span>BC <\/span>programmers <\/span>deserved <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>credit for creating such <\/span>thought provoking <\/span>new <\/span>shows<\/span>. <\/span>Those<\/span> <\/span>offerings <\/span>both amuse<\/span>d<\/span> and inform<\/span>ed<\/span> their <\/span>listening<\/span> audiences on <\/span>a host of <\/span>worthwhile topics<\/span>. <\/span>Apparently, <\/span>McGannon<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>convincing <\/span>arguments<\/span> struck a chord<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>those <\/span>broadcasters as <\/span>KYW<\/span>-Cleveland<\/span> <\/span>continu<\/span>ed to achieve <\/span>high <\/span>local <\/span>ratings. Joe Finan<\/span>, for example<\/span>, swept<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>November <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56 <\/span>mid<\/span>-day <\/span>ratings<\/span> <\/span>with <\/span>more than <\/span>30% of <\/span>the <\/span>listen<\/span>ing <\/span>audienc<\/span>e.[72]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Additional fi<\/span>reworks <\/span>were to <\/span>li<\/span>gh<\/span>t up <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>national <\/span>legal skies that December when <\/span>the <\/span>DOJ <\/span>accused <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>Broadcasting<\/span> <\/span>C<\/span>ompany<\/span> <\/span>of <\/span>conspir<\/span>ing <\/span>with other networks <\/span>to gain <\/span>control of <\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>nation<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>five <\/span>bigg<\/span>est<\/span> <\/span>market<\/span>s.[73]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>It <\/span>further <\/span>argued <\/span>that <\/span>NBC\u2019s <\/span>actions <\/span>had <\/span>not only <\/span>weakened <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>compet<\/span>itiv<\/span>e<\/span> edge<\/span> in technology<\/span>; but also, <\/span>consciously <\/span>violated the Sherman <\/span>Antitrust <\/span>Ac<\/span>t<\/span> of 1890<\/span>.[74]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>In particular, <\/span>Westinghouse <\/span>E<\/span>lectric found it <\/span>next to impossible <\/span>to <\/span>satisfy <\/span>large orders <\/span>of <\/span>their <\/span>technical<\/span>ly-advanced<\/span> <\/span>equipment <\/span>so essential <\/span>in transmitting <\/span>clear <\/span>radio and television <\/span>signal<\/span>s.[75]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>NBC <\/span>network <\/span>den<\/span>ied <\/span>all <\/span>those <\/span>a<\/span>llocations <\/span>and more <\/span>by <\/span>argu<\/span>ing that the <\/span>FCC<\/span> had approved the <\/span>\u2018<\/span>56 <\/span>trade <\/span>unconditionally<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>and that the DOJ was <\/span>drumming up false charges<\/span> to make itself look good<\/span> in the public\u2019s eyes<\/span>.[76]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>Meanwhile<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse<\/span> <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting Company <\/span>continued to <\/span>drag <\/span>its feet\u00a0<\/span>throughout <\/span>those pertinent <\/span>discussions. <\/span>In <\/span>r<\/span>espon<\/span>d <\/span>to <\/span>KYW\u2019s <\/span>d<\/span>iscontinuing <\/span>its <\/span>daily <\/span>radio <\/span>program<\/span>ming<\/span>,<\/span> NBC <\/span>announced<\/span> <\/span>that WHK<\/span> <\/span>would<\/span> <\/span>now <\/span>be<\/span> <\/span>carry<\/span>ing <\/span>the<\/span>m.[77]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As p<\/span>art of a<\/span> <\/span>world tour, <\/span>the General Director of the Iranian Ministry of Labor F. Aheiri <\/span>paid <\/span>KYW <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>special <\/span>visit<\/span>. <\/span>He wanted to know more about <\/span>how <\/span>U.S. <\/span>labor relations <\/span>operated <\/span>and how <\/span>it <\/span>influenced <\/span>radio and television <\/span>outlet<\/span>s<\/span> such as KYW<\/span>-Cleveland<\/span>.[78]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

  1. \u201cPhiladelphia Story Again,\u201d<\/span><\/span> Broadcasting Telecasting, The Business Weekly of Radio & Television<\/span><\/span><\/em>, January 17, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  2. \u201cDumont\u2019s<\/span> McGannon Joins Westinghouse,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> January 17, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  3. \u201cNo Selling Without,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>January 17, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  4. \u201cDay & Night More People Listen to KYW than any other radio station in the Philadelphia area\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 28, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  5. \u201cHistory of Philadelphia Radio Station 1060 KYW,\u201d http:\/\/www.phillyradioarchives.com\/history\/kyw<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  6. \u201cTwo WBC Executives Names to New Offices,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> May 16, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  7. \u201cNBC, WBC Trade Properties in Cleveland, Philadelphia,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting <\/span><\/em>Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> May 23, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  8. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  9. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  10. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  11. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  12. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  13. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  14. \u201cNBC, Westinghouse Seek Approval of Cleveland-Philadelphia Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcast<\/em>ing<\/em> Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> <\/span>June 20, 1955<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  15. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  16. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  17. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  18. \u201cWGR Asks Hearing on NBC UHF Buys and NBC-Westinghouse Station Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, June 27, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  19. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  20. \u201cNBC Owned Stations<\/span> Report Spot and Local Gains for May,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, <\/span>June 27, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  21. Tom O\u2019Connell, \u201cThose Whiting Girls to Play Themselves in C.B.S. Series,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 3, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  22. \u201cNo Duress in NBC Exchange, Westinghouse Tells FCC,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>July 4, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  23. \u201cSensational Gains Cited for Westinghouse Radio,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 25, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  24. \u201cPrinceton KYW Hottest Football Package in the East!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>August 29, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  25. \u201cKYW Names Teter General Manager,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 3, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  26. \u201cFCC Wants Hearing on NBC-WBC Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 24, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  27. \u201cNBC-WBC Swap Hangs Fire,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 25, 1955.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  28. \u201cWestinghouse Stations, Esso Mark \u2018Reporter\u2019 Anniversary,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 31, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  29. \u201cWBC is busting its buttons-On,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 7, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  30. \u201cChris J. Witting, Donald H. McGannon Appointed to New Westinghouse Posts,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 14, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  31. \u201cWBC Plans Heavy Coverage of White House Educ. Meet,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 14, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  32. \u201cNBC, Westinghouse Ask FCC to Approve Station Exchange,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 21, 1955.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  33. \u201cNBC-Westinghouse Swap Approved; FCC Stirs Justice Dept. Interest,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>January 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  34. \u201cNBC, Westinghouse Ask FCC to Approve Station Exchange.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  35. \u201cFCC Broadcast Ownership,\u201d January 17, 2020, <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/www.fcc.gov<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  36. \u201cWBC Radio Gross Up 5%; TV, 13.5%,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>November 28, 1953.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  37. \u201cWTAM Host to R&B Clinic,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 5, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  38. \u201cWTAM Airing Show for Veterans,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 5, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  39. \u201cBeep-Beep,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, <\/span>February 21, 1955. \u201c100 Answer Radio Blood Appeal,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>September 5, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  40. \u201cDavis Named Gen. Mgr. for KYW Philadelphia,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>, <\/span><\/span>December 19, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  41. George E. Condon, \u201cNBC Pioneers Join Mass Exodus in Weekend Management Shift,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> January 21, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  42. George E. Condon, \u201cWestinghouse Co. Will Release 10,000 Balloons Next Week, Moscow Papers Please Copy,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  43. George E. Condon, \u201cHistorical KYW Call Letters Make Bow on Monday,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 11, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  44. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  45. \u201cThe Highlights and Sidelights of Radio-TV\u2019s Past 25 Years,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 15, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  46. \u201cWBZ-WBZA Boston, Aims Best Wishes to KYW Radio 1100 Television Channel 3,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 14, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  47. George E. Condon, \u201cSteve Allen Plays Himself in TV Comedy But He Wasn\u2019t Meant To,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> February 17, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  48. George E. Condon, \u201cBill Gordon, Warren Guthrie Lead Top Broadcasters of 1955 at Annual Awards Luncheon,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  49. \u201cYour Market is Moving!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 19, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  50. George E. Condon, \u201cProducer Defends \u2018Crossroads\u2019 as Carefully Checked, Approved by Subject,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> April 6, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  51. \u201cIt\u2019s Sales, King-Size, as Mr. Big comes to KYW!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> May 14, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  52. \u201cNow KYW Broadcasts all <\/span>Nite<\/span> Long 1100 Club <\/span>Mid<\/span>night to 6:00 A.M.,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  53. \u201c<\/span>Celler<\/span> Committee Probes NBC-Westinghouse Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/span><\/span><\/em>, July 2, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  54. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  55. George E. Condon, \u201cKYW to Drop All Daytime NBC Radio Programs at End of Week,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 11, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  56. \u201cKYW Radio Declares Saturday, August 11<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span> Independence Day,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  57. \u201cWeekday on the NBC Radio Network,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 7, 1955.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  58. \u201cKYW\u2019s Kooler Kruises,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> July 18, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  59. \u201cCampus Headlines for fall in SLD\u2019s College Shops, Sterling Lindner Davis,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 5, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  60. \u201cJoin the Celebration KYW Radio-1100 on Your Dial,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  61. \u201cKYW, Cleveland\u2019s Newest Independent Radio Station Celebrates the Spirit of \u201956,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 12, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  62. George E. Condon, \u201c<\/span>Korny<\/span> KYW Kooler <\/span>Kampaign<\/span> Proves <\/span>Kwite<\/span> a <\/span>Komedy<\/span> to <\/span>Klevelanders<\/span>,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> September 9, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  63. \u201cTime to Wake up to Independent KYW\u2019s Bigger Programming! Bigger Signal! Bigger Listenership!\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> August 13, 1956.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  64. \u201cNielsen Reports KYW Again Breaks the Sound Barrier as Cleveland\u2019s Top Radio Station,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 1, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  65. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  66. Hooper Radio Audience Index, City Zone, Cleveland, Ohio<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  67. \u201cBill Mayer Going to Philadelphia; Finan Joins KYW,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 4, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  68. \u201cWBC Begins Education Series,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 8, 1956. \u201cAnother Trail-blazing Public Service Program from WBC,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> March 4, 1957.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  69. Tom O\u2019Connell, \u201cBob Hope Not Happy About Gag on Indians,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> October 21, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  70. \u201cDefense of Music-News Made Before N.J. Assn,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> <\/span>November 12, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  71. \u201cBellwether Breakaway: What Happens to Westinghouse?\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 26, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  72. \u201cEveryone Loves Joe Finan: Noon to 4 p.m.-KYW-Radio, Cleveland,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> November 26, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  73. \u201cU.S. Fights RCA & NBC in Air Swap,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 5, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  74. \u201cNetwork Revenues in 1955,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  75. \u201cThe Government\u2019s Charges against RCA-NBC,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  76. \u201cThe RCA-NBC Answer to the Charges,\u201d <\/span><\/span>Broadcasting Telecasting<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 10, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  77. Tom O\u2019Connell<\/span>, \u201cWHK Ties into new NBC News Network,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 8, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  78. \u201cIranian Labor Chief Eyes Conditions Here,\u201d <\/span><\/span>The Cleveland Plain Dealer<\/em>,<\/span><\/span> December 18, 1956.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":3,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-23","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/23","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/23\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":273,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/23\/revisions\/273"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/23\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=23"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=23"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/kyw-radio-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=23"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

In <\/span>early <\/span>19<\/span>54<\/span>, <\/span>the <\/span>N<\/span>ational <\/span>B<\/span>roadcasting <\/span>C<\/span>ompany <\/span>first <\/span>approach<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse <\/span>Broadcast<\/span>ing Company <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>possibility of <\/span>exchanging stations<\/span>. <\/span>Under this<\/span> <\/span>agreement<\/span>, <\/span>NBC<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>current <\/span>broadcasting arm <\/span>in Cleveland <\/span>WTAM <\/span>would <\/span>relocate <\/span>to Phil<\/span>adelphia <\/span>while <\/span>Westinghouse<\/span>\u2019s moneymak<\/span>er <\/span>KYW <\/span>would <\/span>leave Philly <\/span>for <\/span>the Lake Erie<\/span> shores<\/span>. <\/span>What s<\/span>hould have been <\/span>a <\/span>simple <\/span>transfer <\/span>rapidly <\/span>became <\/span>a <\/span>complicate<\/span> mess<\/span>. <\/span>W<\/span>e will <\/span>soon <\/span>see how that<\/span> <\/span>controversial <\/span>trade <\/span>not only <\/span>affect<\/span>ed<\/span> <\/span>both <\/span>NBC<\/span> and <\/span>W<\/span>BC<\/span>; but also, <\/span>altered <\/span>the <\/span>U.S.<\/span> <\/span>radio<\/span> <\/span>industry<\/span> forever<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Rumors <\/span>of <\/span>a<\/span> <\/span>two city <\/span>station swap first <\/span>surfaced <\/span>in <\/span>January 19<\/span>55<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Supposedly<\/span>, <\/span>NBC<\/span> and WBC were <\/span>about to <\/span>reach<\/span> a<\/span>n <\/span>agreement <\/span>that<\/span> would <\/span>lead to <\/span>them <\/span>exchang<\/span>ing<\/span> <\/span>th<\/span>ose <\/span>two <\/span>outlets<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However, th<\/span>os<\/span>e <\/span>recent <\/span>action<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>taken <\/span>by <\/span>W<\/span>estinghouse\u2019s <\/span>higher ups <\/span>seemed<\/span> <\/span>somewhat <\/span>strange<\/span>. <\/span>After all, <\/span>it had <\/span>recently <\/span>bought Philco\u2019s profitable Philly affiliate WPTZ-TV<\/span> <\/span>for <\/span>a whopping <\/span>$8<\/span>.<\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> <\/span>and <\/span>was <\/span>about to <\/span>shell<\/span> out<\/span> <\/span>an<\/span> additional <\/span>$9<\/span>.<\/span>75<\/span> <\/span>million<\/span> for <\/span>Dumont\u2019s<\/span> <\/span>Pittsburgh outlet <\/span>WDT<\/span>V.[1]<\/sup><\/a> <\/span>Why <\/span>would Westinghouse <\/span>want to <\/span>move <\/span>its <\/span>Philly station <\/span>to Cleveland <\/span>at th<\/span>at<\/span> <\/span>moment?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Had WBC bigger fish to <\/span>fry who knew? But <\/span>everyone <\/span>in the radio industry <\/span>recognized <\/span>that something was <\/span>afoot<\/span>. <\/span>The a<\/span>ppoint<\/span>ment <\/span>that summer <\/span>of <\/span>Donald H. McGannon <\/span>(1920-1984) <\/span>as <\/span>Westinghouse\u2019s <\/span>latest <\/span>GE and <\/span>V<\/span>P<\/span> <\/span>meant that something major was <\/span>about to<\/span> happen<\/span>. A <\/span>top <\/span>ranking <\/span>member <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Dumont<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>elevision<\/span> network<\/span>, <\/span>McGannon <\/span>was known <\/span>as <\/span>a tough <\/span>negotiato<\/span>r<\/span> <\/span>prepared <\/span>to <\/span>fight<\/span> at any moment<\/span>.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n