Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

Indiana Broadcast Pioneers We’re archiving the rich history of Indiana broadcasting The Indiana Broadcast Pioneers was organized in 1979, following the lead of several other national and state groups.
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We are dedicated to offering opportunities for fellowship, education, public service, and the preservation of broadcast history. Ongoing projects include a quarterly newsletter, this website, the Richard M. Fairbanks Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame, an exhibit at the Indiana State Museum, and occasional public programs featuring retired broadcasters. It is our hope to grow this website into an interesting digital repository for the rich history of broadcasting in Indiana.

Operating as usual

Indiana Entertainment Foundation - IEF
01/16/2021

Indiana Entertainment Foundation - IEF

Tonight at 6 at WFYI, Kyle Long looks at some amazing Indiana country music pioneers!
Says Long, “Growing up in Hendricks County, it felt like a cultural vacuum. As a kid, it seemed like there was literally nothing happening. So looking back now, it's hard for me to believe that one of the most influential country singers of the mid 20th Century ran a nightclub just a few miles down the road from my former home.

Bobby Helms' Special Angel Club was named for his 1957 hit "My Special Angel."
The club was originally located outside of Mooresville, but around 1980 Helms moved the club to the Plainfield Plaza, a humble strip mall where my mother would take us for our weekly grocery shopping trips.
Today Helms is best remembered for his Christmas hit "Jingle Bell Rock," but the most consequential record he cut was "Fraulein." A number one Billboard hit in 1957, "Fraulein" broke sales records, staying on the country charts for over a year.
Listening to the song today, it might be difficult to understand why it was so impactful at the time. But if you look at the country charts in 1957, you'll see that "Fraulein" was one of the only pure country recordings to break the Billboard top 10 that year.
Other records from that time were either pure rock and roll, or early examples of the "countrypolitan" sound, featuring slick choral arrangements and heavy production. But "Fraulein" was just a fiddle, guitar, piano, and Helms' strong soulful voice.
"Fraulein" would later be covered by alternative/outlaw country artists like Willie Nelson, and Townes Van Zandt. The record was a global hit, and was even translated into Mandarin Chinese during the late '60s.
Bobby Helms started his career as a teenager, performing in the Monroe County area.
He eventually rose to prominence on the Bloomington, Indiana show 'Hayloft Frolic," broadcast on WTTV. Helms spent a few years living in Nashville, Tennessee after his breakout success - but soon returned to Indiana, where he lived until his death in 1997.
Tune in to Cultural Manifesto tonight at 6 on 90.1 WFYI to hear some early recordings of Bobby Helms, and other country music pioneers of Central Indiana.

Adam Hambry shared this.
01/15/2021

Adam Hambry shared this.

Spring 1997.
01/15/2021

Spring 1997.

01/15/2021

Tom Zaenger article on Fort Wayne TV news ratings from March 11, 1986.

A fun find in a file cabinet over here. :) Wil Hampton Dick Rea Mark Patrick
01/15/2021

A fun find in a file cabinet over here. :) Wil Hampton Dick Rea Mark Patrick

A fun find - a newspaper ad for my special report from the USSR from July 24, 1988.
01/15/2021

A fun find - a newspaper ad for my special report from the USSR from July 24, 1988.

What can you tell me about Don Abbott? Can you direct me to a full biography? This links to an interview his nephew did ...
01/14/2021
#11 - Don Abbott

What can you tell me about Don Abbott? Can you direct me to a full biography? This links to an interview his nephew did with him.
https://soundcloud.com/jimmy-kennedy-880502383/don-abbott

Don Abbott a pioneer for radio, television, and advertising discusses his lasting media career including the founding of his own audio-visual company, Abbott Productions.

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Videos

Power Source Videos Christmas 1990
Power Source Videos Christmas 1990

Religion in the News
Religion in the News

Timothy Church Mouse
Timothy Church Mouse

Terri Stacy Hall of Fame Interview
Terri Stacy Hall of Fame Interview

Paul Mendenhall Hall of Fame Interview
Paul Mendenhall Hall of Fame Interview

Linda Jackson Hall of Fame Interview
Linda Jackson Hall of Fame Interview

J Chapman Hall of Fame Interview
J Chapman Hall of Fame Interview

Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame Spotlight
Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame Spotlight

Join us this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. for the first in a series of Facebook Live events featuring IBA Hall of Fame inductees as they reflect on their careers, share their favorite stories, and take your questions. Our first guest of honor is Cris Conner of WNAP-FM. UPDATE: During the broadcast, Cris will be joined by Bruce Munson and Tom Cochrun: a reunion of the original WNAP Morning Team, more than 40 years in the making.

WIRE WIBC
WIRE WIBC

I believe it was Dana Webb who uploaded this a couple of years ago. It has 1970's scenes from WIRE, WIBC and WNAP. Ken Speck or Dan Stevens may be able to verify Dana made the film. I see Jerry Mason in one of the clips. I (Dave White) worked with him at WFMS as part of the new country music staff.

WISH TV Greats
WISH TV Greats

Patty and Stan are in the Hall of Fame. Maybe one of your should nominate Ken Owen? This was from 1989.

Hoosiers movie opens in Indianapolis.
Hoosiers movie opens in Indianapolis.

Patty Spitler's story about the movie "Hoosiers" from 1986.

Josh and I had the honor of working with Howard Caldwell on a couple of projects for the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. There's nothing like sitting at the feet of a master and soaking up wisdom.

Don of Don's guns and Bill Shirk Stunt
Don of Don's guns and Bill Shirk Stunt

Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame member Bill Shirk (a stuntman and radio entrepreneur) challenged Don of Don's Guns to lock him up in the trunk of his Cadillac in a way he couldn't escape. Bill won the challenge but barely under the time limit.

The City-WXIR TV Commercial
The City-WXIR TV Commercial

WXIR-Love 98 was sold to the Walt Disney Company in 2003. Prior to that time it was one of the nation's leading contemporary Christian music stations. The station, which began broadcasting in 1964, is currently owned and operated by iHeartMedia and uses the call lettters WZRL and has an Urban Hip Hop format. It's broadcast license is held by Capstar TX LLC.

The City-WXIR TV Commercial
The City-WXIR TV Commercial

WXIR-Love 98 was sold to the Walt Disney Company in 2003. Prior to that time it was one of the nation's leading contemporary Christian music stations. The station, which began broadcasting in 1964, is currently owned and operated by iHeartMedia and uses the call lettters WZRL and has an Urban Hip Hop format. It's broadcast license is held by Capstar TX LLC.

WIRE Radio TV Commercial
WIRE Radio TV Commercial

Dana Webb sent this video of a commercial for WIRE 1430. This was a fancy Hollywood style film commercial.

WIBC WIRE Radio Indianapolis
WIBC WIRE Radio Indianapolis

Here's behind the scenes material from WIBC and WIRE in 1978. Thanks to Dana Webb for sharing this video. And, yes, the curly haired overnight guy is Jerry Mason. He worked at WFMS when I, Dave White, knew him.

Inside The News WRTV 1979
Inside The News WRTV 1979

Return with us now to the days of Howard Caldwell, Clyde Lee, Barbara Boyd, Reid Duffy, and Bob McClain. Thanks to Jack Rinehart for making this available. This is from 1979.

Bouncin Bill Baker
Bouncin Bill Baker

Lots of us grew up listening to Bouncin: Bill Baker on WIBC. Before WIFE and WNAP, young people listened to Bouncin Bill on WIBC. Back in 2004, Art Baker produced this tribute to his dad with help from Dave White of DreamVision Media Partners.

Stan Wood Hall of Fame Biogrpahy
Stan Wood Hall of Fame Biogrpahy

Stan Wood was the weatherman at WISH TV for decades. Dave Smith was producer and did the voice over for this segment back in 2004. Dave White of DreamVision Media Partners did the video editing.

Joe Picket interviewed by Paul Udell
Joe Picket interviewed by Paul Udell

I found most of an interview/feature about Joe Pickett. It was done by Paul Udell, former WTHR anchor, from long ago.

Larry Battson has long been the go-to guy for TV shows needing an animal expert. Here he is with broadcast hall of famers Bill Shirk and Carolyn Churchman.

Jimmy Mack
Jimmy Mack

Jimmy Mack is known for Bandstand 13, as announcer for the talk/variety Don Melvoin Show, and Brain Game high school quiz bowl.. He also was booth announcer and presenter for countless commercials.

Joe Pickett
Joe Pickett

I found a commercial with Joe Pickett. Joe was familiar to WFBM TV and radio audiences in Indianapolis. Mike Piggott, do you have any other video we can share of your dad?

Howdy Bell Commercial
Howdy Bell Commercial

When things were quiet at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Howdy Bell was busy doing radio and TV hosting and announcing on WFBM now WRTV.

Tom Cochrun Interviews Bill Shirk.
Tom Cochrun Interviews Bill Shirk.

Tom Cochrun was one of the hosts of the nationally syndicated program PM Magazine. Here he interviews stuntman and radio entrepreneur Bill Shirk.

Don Hein, Hall of Fame Broadcaster
Don Hein, Hall of Fame Broadcaster

Don Hein is a member of The Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. Here's a brief sample of his work from the early 1990's.

Indianapolis Coliseum Explostion
Indianapolis Coliseum Explostion

Rick Dawson did this retrospective feature about the tragic 1963 explosion at The Indianapolis Coliseum. This is one of the worst disasters ever in our city. I wish they had Rick on the set with Ken Owen to introduce it.

Bob Donaldson profiles Bill Shirk of WHHH.
Bob Donaldson profiles Bill Shirk of WHHH.

Here's a very youthful Bob Donaldson doing a profile of one of our Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame Member, Bill Shirk. This would have been around 1993 I think.

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Comments

This report from Russ Dodge came yesterday: Another WTLC Air Force member gone but not forgotten. Fred Moore died today in Memphis from Covid complications. He was PD when I came to WTLC in 77. Always fun to work with. He actually let me fill in a few times as "The Unknown Disc Jockey". I did visit with him when he was at WDIA Memphis. RIP to a friend and class act. Prayers to his family.
Indy radio veteran Steve Cooper passed away today at his Indianapolis home at age 72 after an extended illness. Steve came to Indy to work on-air at WNDE shortly after their call letter change from WFBM in 1973. He later moved over to WIFE-am near the end of that station's top 40 days and stayed on as they switched to news-talk. Steve also did mornings at WFBQ in the early 80s prior to the arrival of Bob & Tom. He's probably most remembered for his 21 years doing mornings on WTPI (107.9), from 1984 until the format and calls were changed in 2005. In a 2005 interview, Steve told Nuvo's Marc Allan: "I love radio because it's a real personal, real one-on-one medium. I'm going to miss that. But if I never get behind a microphone again, I will consider that I had a good career."
We lost WTHI's Wayne Jenkins (left) earlier this year and December 2 would have been his 94th birthday. He was one of the first TV weathermen in Terre Haute as well as farm director. In the '80s, he created the syndicated farm show, "Ag Day." I had the privilege of working with Wayne early in my career. In this picture from '81, he's with reporter Bob Sabo and sports reporter/anchor Bob Ramsey at Ambrosini's, a favorite WTHI spot. Bonus: on the wall behind them are framed personality sketches from WTHI artist Pete Johnson.
Happy 71st Anniversary to WTTV! What will you do when you hit 75 in 4 years?
Click the Dropbox link to view the interview. Thanks to Ann Craig-Cinnamon for interviewing 2020 Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee Linda Jackson. The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during the IBA Spectrum Awards and Hall of Fame virtual program on Thursday, October 22nd at Noon ET. You can watch it premiere at IndianaBroadcasters.org and parts of these interviews will be used during the program. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/18d7fbetgpxvyxx/AABMXQVzW_ejY_o6LjDrx2sHa?dl=0&preview=IBA_HoF_LindaJackson_FULL_Interview_2020_V1.mp4
Hi, this is Len Clark, longtime Indiana broadcaster/educator. My colleague, Mike Castellucci and I have created a global mobile journalism initiative called CREATE WITH MOBILE. Here's a story from journalism,co.uk - https://www.journalism.co.uk/…/new-smartphone-j…/s2/a759883/
Photos and story from The Elkhart Truth reviewing media coverage of the Palm Sunday tornadoes, April 11, 1965, which killed more than 138 people in Indiana (62 in Elkhart County near Elkhart and Goshen).
https://youtu.be/m02_UWG2TXE
Thanks Blaine Thompson for permission to share this. Please subscribe to and support thi valueable resource.
https://app.box.com/s/1oytp727w4qab7hbswvi37lyfshyh596?fbclid=IwAR3givY_G2QrUgnEd4tDThbBZ34V2RMYf6QlFbygsd33JUk7XdjapOKMtqE
Good morning. I would like to wish a belated Happy 71st anniversary to Channel 6 (WRTV), who incidentally on this day in 1979 switched network affiliates with WTHR (Channel 13). WRTV (formerly WFBM) became an affiliate of the ABC Television Network after many years with NBC, and WTHR (formerly WLWI) became an NBC affiliate after 22 years with ABC. And as recent history has shown, this would not be the last time two local stations would switch to different networks.
really enjoyed Chris Connors and Bruce and Tom on the broadcast today.great memories of the great days in Indy radio.