Cincinnati Television (Images of America: Ohio) (Paperback)

by Jim Friedman (Author) "In February 1947, there were only eight television stations on the air in the United States..." (more)
Key Phrases: cool ghoul, Ruth Lyons, Bob Braun, Paul Dixon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Cincinnati has a distinguished television history. Beginning before WLW-T signed on the air in February 1948, its experimental station W8XCT broadcast from the 46th floor of the Carew Tower. WKRC-TV and WCPO-TV signed on in 1949, WCET in 1954, and WXIX-TV in 1968. Since then, television has become part of the family. Uncle Al, Skipper Ryle, Batty Hattie from Cincinnati, the Cool Ghoul, Peter Grant, Al Schottelkotte, Nick Clooney, Ruth Lyons, Paul Baby, Bob Braun, and Jerry Springer visited Cincinnati living rooms on television. Remember Midwestern Hayride, TV Dance Party, PM Magazine, Juvenile Court, Young People’s Specials, Lilias, Dotty Mack, Bob Shreve, Mr. Hop, Bean’s Clubhouse, The Last Prom, and Ira Joe? They are part of the collective Cincinnati history, part of the Cincinnati culture, and part of the Cincinnati family.

About the Author
Jim Friedman is a Cincinnati native and resident wordsmith who has created television shows since 1979. He has won 56 regional Emmy Awards for writing, directing, and producing television shows for WCPO-TV, WKRC-TV, WLWT, WXIX, and WCET. He created The Celebrate Series, The Dooley Show, Everyday Freedom Heroes, and the Dreambuilder movies. In Cincinnati Television, he shares memories from in front of the camera, behind the scenes, and all over town.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (December 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738551694
• ISBN-13: 978-0738551692
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #616,879 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Photos but Incomplete History, January 11, 2008

By	Sean J. Malloy (Union, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having worked in Cincinnati television for many years, I looked forward to Amazon's prompt shipment of this book.
While the pictures contained in this slim volume are interesting, the book almost completely ignores the 1970s, 80s and 90s in favor of Cincinnati's TV golden age 1950 and 60s celebrities.
Also, mostly ignored, is public TV, broadcast technology and the ground-breaking engineers who built and oversaw that same star-making technology.
But, what prompted me to write this, perhaps, overly picky review, is printed on page 62 of this volume:

"Television news today is careful to separate news content from commercial content. That was not the case in the early days..."

Television news today cares not one wit if commercial content is hidden within newscasts and Federal regulations that once insured that commercial/content separation have either been gutted or are ignored by the small number of giant telecommunications corporations that control today's local and national broadcast media.
Should the author wish I can provide specific examples, in the modern Cincinnati broadcast market, where commercial content is regularly presented within newscasts as news material.
Page 62 requires a rewrite and the author should reconsider photos of File 48, Janie Gardner, Jean Beasley, Irma Lazarus, Gwen Conley & Feelings and Steve Hoffman to name just a few important contributors to the Queen City's amazing broadcast past not included in this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun stroll through the past, January 31, 2008

By	H. Keller (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I lived in the Cincinnati area into the early 60s, then made regular return trips to the area to visit relatives through the mid-70s. Much of Cincinnati TV I saw as a "kid," which means kids programming, Saturday monster movies, and "what the grownups watched."

When I saw the Amazon ad for Cincinnati Television the first run had already sold out, and I ordered two (one for my sister) and Amazon came through after the second print run was made.

Boy, this was fun. It has it all: Uncle Al, Captain Windy (Wanda Lewis rocks), Skipper Ryle, Bob Shreve (who I thought could have had MORE coverage, but you can't please everyone), Paul Dixon (Man, his show wouldn't last five minutes in today's PC environment - Mayor of Kneesville? Can you say lawsuit?), Bob Braun, Ruth Lyons (who was a zen mother for virtually every adult woman in our family), the Bargain City Kid and Willy Thall (and Saturday wrasslin'), Cash D. Amburgy hawking homewares (I still have a Webster's Dictionary - complete with an autograph and rubber stamped company name- his firm was giving away as a promotional item), and of course the newsman's newsman, Al Schottelkotte (I long ago stopped believing Cronkite, but if Al ever came back from the grave, he's still find one loyal viewer).

Like all the Images of America series, this isn't an in-depth historical monograph, but a scrapbook that tells the tale of the development of TV in Cincy. When programming formats were only limited by imagination, and when a crazy bunch of characters could "think it up and do it," providing fun memories decades later.

Let's hope that somebody is working on a history of radio in the Queen City!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Anyone in or from Cincinnati, December 24, 2007

By	Michael A. Banks "http://michaelabanks.com" (Oxford, OH USA) - See all my reviews

It's rare to find a book that you like and can share with just about anyone. For example, I like science fiction, but not everybody reads SF. Ditto for other kinds of reading--biographies, mysteries, etc.

Cincinnati Television is one of those rare books that appeals to just about everyone--even people who aren't frequent readers. Even people who haven't read a book in ten years will like this one.

For those who are more avid readers (or historians) Jim Friedman went to great lengths to make the book more than a simple chronicle of what happened when--which is what most books in this category seem to be. He contacted just about all of the local TV legends still living, and talked with lots of professionals in the business to make sure he got the facts straight. The result is a gratifying chronicle of the development WLWT, WCPO, WKRC, WCET, and WXIX, along with the people and institutions behind them.

Filled with memories of Bob Shreve, the Cool Ghoul, Al Schottelkotte, Uncle Al, Ruth Lyons, Paul Dixon, and so many others, this book is fun. And the author gives the subject a personal touch that is very appealing. That he accomplished that within the framework of Arcadia's format for books in this series (limited text) is impressive. (This is one reason I give it five stars. There's no way one book, no matter what the size or format, can cover everything, so I don't think Cincinnati Television should be faulted for missing a memory or two.)

If you grew up in Cincinnati, as I did, you must get this book. The same is true if you're into broadcast history, especially early television. Do yourself a favor and pick up several copies, because like me you'll want to share this! And it's a great solution when you're looking for a gift. So far, I've bought 7 copies to share with friends and relatives.