The New WOC Radio Television Broadcast Centre Under Construction 1962
Below is an incredible shot of the Ryan mansion which was the location of WOC up until 1963. Notice the microwave tower just visible in the background. The Ryan mansion no longer exists today.
The Ryan building from the north looking to the south during construction of the new WOC building which we know today as the home of KWQC. Taken by WOC's very own Max Roth, photo provided by the Max Roth family. Note the TV microwave tower in the background.
- Legendary WOC engineer Jon Book
You bet, I can point out where the offices were very easily. On the top floor was the newsroom, with a small firescape landing at the rear where we could go out and have a cig or breath of air. The second floor was composed of offices. Traffic was on the west side of the building and I think the Managers office and sales were all on the north side. Best I can remember there, didn't go there very much only running between three and one. First floor consisted of the small tv studio where news, weather and sports originated (blanked out windows in the photo).
If my memory serves, the news desk was on the west end of the studio, weather was next, backed up to one of the windows, and then on the east end, the sports desk. TV control is to the left, and I believe that small part jutting out just before getting to the large studio was the announce booth and possibly stairwell to the basement. The basement had a small dark room and a room for storing and editing films. I guess the rest was heating, cooling (ha) and such.
- Veteran WOC Newscastor Max Lindberg
Max Lindberg mentioned the basement containing a dark room, film storage and editing room. I recall those rooms on the north side of the basement. The editing room was also where the kinescope and film projection equipment was located and operated. I recall Russ Wingo, Gus Wendt and Bob Elliot working many hours in there. My dad had a room across the hall on the south side where he did all of the his art work for the station. He later had an office on the second floor of the concrete block building above the big studio.
- Ken Wagner Jr.
Notice the Circular object which will be imbedded into the concrete floor. This is the 18 foot diameter turntable which is located in Studio A. This turntable was used for many things including automobile advertisements and was the location of the risers for Captain Ernie's Showboat! Today the turntable is located underneath the Paula Sands Live set.
A shot courtesy of legendary WOC engineer Jon Book of the turntable as it appears today on PSL. Watch for it on Paula's show and you may just get a peek of it!
Above, another angle of the turntable as the construction progresses. Below, a shot of the new WOC Centre with a view of the college in the background.
Atop the building above, was the old 1/2 of the WOC Radio tower that they used way back in the 20's. The other tower is missing on the right building behind the clock tower.
The tower that is shown, only the base, used to have neon sign lettering on it (both sides) half way up, and they would flash W O C vertically. Perhaps that was yesteryears tower lights. Now those towers are gone and just red beacons and sidelights on currently on broadcast towers today.
What an exciting time for the WOC family as the new Centre was being built. Today it is hard to believe that Channel 6 broadcasting was once held in the old Ryan mansion!
Special thanks to the Max Roth family for providing these pictures. These pictures were taken by Max in 1962 on slides. They were stored away for four and one-half decades only now to be seen! Special thanks to legendary WOC engineer Jon Book for the scans!
Some current shots from Jon Book
