Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years [Hardcover]

Dick Golembiewski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2008

Milwaukee -not New York, Chicago or Los Angeles-
was the scene of a number of television firsts: Here the very first application for a commercial TV license was filed with the FCC in 1938. The first female program director and news director in a major
market were both at Milwaukee stations. Milwaukee was a major battleground in the VHF vs. UHF war that began in the 1950s. The struggle to put an educational TV station on the air was fought at the national, state and local levels by the Milwaukee Vocational School. WMVS-TV was the first educational TV station to run a regular schedule of colorcasts, and WMVT was the site of the first long-distance test of a digital over-the-air signal.

This detailed story of the rich history of the citys
television stations since 1930 is told through facts, anecdotes, and quotations from the on-air talent, engineers,and managers who conceived, constructed, and put the stations on the air. Included are discussions of the many locally-produced shows often done live that once made up a large part of a station s broadcast day. Through these stories, some told here for the first time, and the books extensive photographic collection of over 470 images, the history of Milwaukee television comes alive again for the reader.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Painstakingly researched, superbly illustrated, and remarkably complete, Milwaukee Television History is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of our local media or, for that matter, Milwaukee history in general. --John Gurda. Milwaukee Historian and Author of The Making of Milwaukee & Cream City Chronicles

For serious and casual Milwaukee TV fans, Dick Golembiewski has whipped up a table-bending buffet of facts, photos and memories. --Mike Drew. Television and Radio Critic and Columnist for the Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (1963-2006)

An outstanding media research effort; painstakingly detailed, flawlessly attributed.

A book to be snapped up by media aficionados, stations, agencies, college and university libraries and anyone with an analog monitor! --Dr. Ruane Hill. General Manager, WUWM (1964-1976), Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Board of Directors (1964-1976), Member, WBA and Milwaukee Press Club Halls of Fame.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 510 pages
• Publisher: Marquette Univ Pr; 1st edition (December 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874620554
• ISBN-13: 978-0874620559
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,314,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Remember Milwaukee TV, It's In Here, December 25, 2008

By 

jednick (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years (Hardcover)

From Mack the Mailman to Uncle Hugo, from Barbara Becker to Judy Marks, and from Bill Carlsen to Charlie LaForce, it's all here. Those names may be a mystery to most people, but they're legends to Milwaukee television fans. Name a personality from the early years of television, and that person is probably in this book. Start by checking out the treasure trove of photos of personalities, studios, tower sites, etc. Then start reading the book. You'll learn how the stations were created and evolved, including the legal battles that took place between competitors. Dick Golembiewski has created a richly detailed book that anyone interested in the history of Milwaukee television will want to own.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Milwaukee Television History, The Analog Years, January 17, 2009

By 

JerryS (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years (Hardcover)

I lived in Milwaukee from 1960 to 1972, and this book provides a great resource for remembering our time in Milwaukee. The author provides pictures and history of about every TV personality I can remember. It was a real pleasure to revisit that period of time through this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All you want to know about television in Milwaukee, February 1, 2009

By 

Ronald L. Sayles "Ron Sayles" (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years (Hardcover)

If you grew up in the 1950s and you are a native of southeastern Wisconsin, this is a book that you should have on your library shelf or coffee table, your choosing. It is a large book, not just in size, but in scope. Except for a three and a half year sojourn in the United States Navy, I have lived in this region of the world for over seventy years. Golembiewski covers things that I never knew before. I am more of an early radio fan than an early television fan, but many radio personalities segued into television during its infancy. They are all covered in this volume. Golembiewski covers it all, from the first ideas of television up to the conversion to digital. And he does it in such a way so that non-technical people, of which I am a charter member, can understand the points that he is making. If you are into television, until you get this book your library is incomplete. Each chapter of the book covers a television station, starting with the oldest and working his way up to stations that were formed just a few years ago. When reading you can pick and choose chapters, for each chapter is complete. You can start with your favorite station and work towards your least favorite station. You would think a book like this would be dry and boring, but the way that Golembiewski presents the material, it is not. He actually makes you thirst for more. After I finished reading about WTMJ-TV I ran to my computer to see what more I could find on the internet. And, there are pictures, lots and lots of pictures. This is a book that is of particular interest to people from the Milwaukee area, but I think it would of interest to anyone who is interested in television.