Former WFIL staffer Paul Norton (a member of the Board of Directors of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia) believes the person holding the pole on the left is Nat Elkitz, a long-time WFIL engineer. It does say "Nat" on his work shirt. Former WFIL Station Manager George Koehler (also a member of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia) confirms that it is Nat. George says that Nat's "...function at station was as scenic designer, craftsman and all-around 'builder.'"

To the right of Nat is WFIL Station Manager George Koehler (standing) with Dave Skinner, who was the Advertising Manager for Bell Telephone (kneeling). Next to them is an unidentified person with Ned Rogers of Gray & Rogers Advertising (Bell's agency). To his right is Broadcast Pioneers memberMax E. Solomon, WFIL-TV Account Executive (salesman on the Bell account) with Broadcast Pioneers member Dr. Francis Davis kneeling and looking to the left.

(Left to right) Unidentified, Dr. Francis Davis kneeling (on left), WFIL Station Manager George Koehler (center top), WFIL Engineer Nat Elkitz (center bottom) and to their right, (with hand on face) is Ned Rogers of Gray & Rogers Advertising. To Ned's right is the Advertising Manager for Bell, Dave Skinner.

(Left to right) Dr. Francis Davis, WFIL Engineer Nat Elkitz, Ned Rogers of Gray & Rogers Advertising and the Bell Telephone Advertising Manager, Dave Skinner.

(Left to right) Dr. Francis Davis, the Bell Telephone Advertising Manager Dave Skinner, Ned Rogers of Gray & Rogers Advertising and WFIL Station Manager George Koehler.

Any assistance on identifying the unnamed persons would be appreciated.

By the way, the best guess on the date of the four above photos is 1956.

Dr. Francis Davis at additional forecasting equipment. Date is about 1958.

Dr. Francis Davis on the roof measuring rainfall. Date is again about 1958.

We believe the last two pictures were on a roof at Drexel University. William J. Flis, a visitor to our website said: In the bottom photo, he is actually on the roof of a building at Drexel University (then Institute of Technology). The ornate building visible behind him is clearly Drexel's main (original) building (where I occupied offices for several years while an undergrad and grad student there). I can visualize exactly which building he is standing on, but don't remember its name (it's on the NW corner of 32nd & Chestnut; is it Stratton Hall?). In a later e-mail, William Flis confimed that the building was, indeed, Stratton Hall. He also added: Most of the more distant buildings have recently been demolished. It was a bit before my time, but I always understood that the building he's standing on was the original Science building; in the late '60's, the science tower (Disque Hall) was built and Dr. Davis moved his office into that.

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
Photos originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Dr. Francis Davis
Special Thanks to members George Koehler and Paul Norton for their assistance
All Rights Reserved

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