The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

John B. Roberts
WFIL-TV
1952

(Click on the photo to see a larger version)

By the Presidential Elections of 1952, news was a big thing. Keep in mind that two of the three television stations in Philadelphia were owned by newspapers. WFIL-TV, Channel 6 was owned by the Philadelphia Inquirer and WCAU-TV, Channel 10 was owned by the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.

Professor John Roberts of Temple University started at WFIL-TV in 1952 (and would stay there for 20 years). This photo shows John at the tally board. We don't know for sure the year, but believe it to be 1952. Before joining the TV staff in 1952, Roberts did some free-lance work for the Annenberg owned station.

(Left to right) John Robert and Jim Gallant
WFIL-TV
1949

This picture shows John Roberts & Jim Gallant in what we believe to be a shot from 1949. Note that the coverage was sponsored by Prestone Anti-Freeze.

FYI, Roberts is currently on our Board of Directors and was our President from 1992 until 1994. In 1987, he was elected Person of the Year by the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia and inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1996.

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