The WFIL "Hitch Horse Sense" Campaign
(Left to right) Chief Halftown, Dick Clark
Dr. Francis Davis, Sally Starr
Bill "Wee Willie" Webber & a U.S. Navy sailor
circa 1957

(Click on the image to see a larger version)

In 1948, WFIL-TV moved from their downtown location in the Widener Building to its famous facilities at 46th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia. Four years later, WFIL (AM) & WFIL-FM also moved to the 46th Street installation.

It was in this year that WFIL instituted a traffic safety campaign for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania called "Hitch Horse Sense to Horsepower." This crusade two years later, in 1954, was adopted by the National Safety Council for the entire United States. The WFIL stations ran this public service drive for many years beginning in 1952.

For almost a century, The National Safety Council has had considerable impact on safety in the workplace, in our homes and communities, and on our roads and highways.

This 1957 picture shows five WFIL air personalities signing their pledges; all are members of our Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia' "Hall of Fame." They are:

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photo originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Francis Davis
© 2005, All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com