Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then & Now Collection."
STEVE HARMON
Hutch Post Contributor
Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the 1800 block of North Plum on the east side.
In 1952, a group of insightful Hutchinson business men and women applied for (and were given by the federal government) a license to start the first TV station in Kansas.
Led by John P. Harris, who owned the Hutchinson News, and Bess Rickard, who owned KWBW radio, they constructed the KTVH-TV studio at 1800 N. Plum. The first photo shows the original KTVH building (from Roger Cornish).
The station went on the air July 1, 1953. One of the first staff announcers was Dick Cornish, father of Channel 12 announcer Roger, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 66. The second photo shows the interior news desk and camera.
In those days, staff was small and one person did a lot. Like Russell "Ernie" Dade, who played many roles. The third photo shows a contact sheet with many of the roles and commercials he did.
His most famous role was "Sammy Scarecrow," a children's show that ran four years starting in 1954. The fourth photo shows "Sammy" in character.
The fifth photo shows the Sammy Scarecrow club membership card.
In 1983, the station was sold to Ross Beach and Bob Schmidt, who changed the call letters to KWCH-TV and the main broadcasting was done from Wichita. The sixth photo shows the 1800 N. Plum facility today, now owned by Hutchinson Community College and used for HutchCC media productions.
To purchase a photo print, contact: [email protected].
Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum