We're all so used to television stations remaining on the air 24 hours a day that for many, it is hard to remember when TV stations signed late at night. Philadelphia didn't have its first all night television until 1981 with KYW-TV leading the way with all night movies. WFIL-TV did experiment with 24 hour programming in the late fifties but threw in the towel after a few months. KYW-TV was the first to start 24 hour programming and stay with it.
In 1971, Philadelphia TV stations were signing off the air between 1 and 2 am and signing on shortly before 6 am.
The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia are lucky to have audio of a KYW-TV sign on in their archives. It dates from Saturday, February 6, 1971 with booth announcer Harry "Bud" Smith reading the copy live.
From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Audio originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Gerry Wilkinson
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The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com