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PHILLY...Back Then
   
Somerton, Sewell Rd. and Beyond...
 
As I mentioned earlier, TV was a staple of our childhood, and I'm gonna devote a page or two to this amazing invention. I remember some adults claimed it was a fad, and that nothing could replace radio as the broadcast medium of choice. We knew better. Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Chester Reilly, Ralph Kramden, Major Seth Adams, Matt Dillon...these were and are the stuff of legends. Local or network, innocent and naive, TV was pretty darn good. The tube and I grew up together and we've remained friends to this day.
 Call Letters for Channel 3  Call Letters for Channel 6
I remember getting up on Saturday mornings,very early, and turning on the TV. I was facinated by the Indian on the test pattern, and would stare at the darned thing until the words "PLEASE STAND BY" would come on. I knew it was only a matter of minutes before the good stuff started. We only had 4 channels back then, WRCV3, WFIL6, WCAU10, and WHYY12. Later, came WPHL17, WTAF29, and WKBS48. I still recall WFIL's early morning show, OPERATION ALPHABET. This was directed at new arrivals to our shores. It was ostensibly there to teach literacy, but the content was a very conservative civics lesson. Didn't want any immigrants to become Commies.
Call Letters for Channels 10 & 12
From what I understand, the Philly TV channels are all discumbobulated, and I have no idea what's where now.
So many shows came and went in the mid-50's, but I remember most of them. The western series were my favorites, though most of the early half-hour ones didn't enjoy the success of Wagon Train and Gunsmoke. Range Rider, Kit Carson, Annie Oakley, Broken Arrow, Law of the Plainsman...I absolutely loved these shows. The next page or pages will deal with my memories of the old series that still burn bright inside me.
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E-Mail: cornnubbin@webtv.net
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