The Daily Tribune du lieu suivant : Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin • Page 13

W15CUNS1N RAPIDS DAILY TRlBunr. Wednesday, January 28, 1959 Page 13 I A I' tr, -V 13 Behind the Scenes View Of WSAU-TV The picture seen on the televi sion screen is the product of a vast ly complex combination of technology and human talent. To give its readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a live television production, the Tribune recently sent a reporter-photographer team io WSAU-TV in Wausau. The pictures on this were taken for this purpose during the "Mid-Diiy Mcrry-Go-Round" program. WSAU-TV, channel seven, employs approximately 50 persons, many of whom work for both the television station and WSAli radio.

The station utilizes the services oi three major networks, CBS, NBC and ABC. In gathering the news, Waller John Chilscn, the station's news director, uses the facilities of the Associated Tress, United Press International, Photofax and the networks. it i i Local programs originate i 111' IT ''1' 1 ,1 Li ART WORK Sid kylor, It fl. and Dave Johnson are the designers of the "Sir Seven" station hreak eards, the trademark of WSAl'-TV. The pair also designs and prints many of the advertisements and other announcements seen over the television station.

THE MANSION WSAU-TV is housed in this three-story granite and brick mansion only a few blocks from downtown VVausau. The building was built in about 1900 by the late D. I. i'lumnier, a pioneer lumberman in Central Wisconsin. Here is where all local programs and movies teleeast by the station originate.

They are sent to the WSAU-TV transmitter on Rib Mountain via the microwave antenna seen in the upper right above the building. The wood structure at the side of the mansion is an addition put up by the station to house more studio space and property storage. (Tribune Staff Fhotos) one of the two large studios on irst floor of the "mansion." These sUidios consist mostly of working space lor the cameras, limits, mi crophones and the spaghetti-like network of wires to operate this equipment. The 649-foot transmitter tower, which gives WSAl'-TV a ranye o( over 85 miles, is located high atop Kib Mountain on a less than hall acre tract of land which the Wisconsin Valley Television Corp. leases from the state (or $100 a year.

In return for this 15 year lease, the television corporation deeded 100 acres of land near the top of liib Mountain to the stale. In addition, the corporation deeded an other 10 adjacent aires lo the state with a clause that the land could revert to the television group if the lease on the one hall acre expires and is not renewed When it erected the lower, the television corporation donated a new KM radio antenna to the Stale Radio Council to transmit programs for WHIlM, the council's Central Wisconsin FM outlet. Thi? antenna was installed on tlu WSAl'-TV tower and Council officials say that the newer and higher apparatus enables them lo reach nint larger audiences with their valuable educational programs. Other public service broadcasting outlets are also invited to put their antennas on the tower. RIH MOUNTAIN TOWER The transmitting tower for WSAl'-TV.

located high atop Rib Mountain, soars 619 feet above the ground and t.519 feet above sea level, and provides television reception for people over an 85-mile radius. Its 131.100 pounds of steel are held up by over a mile and a hull of steel cable. The beacon light at the top of the tower requires changing every six months, and an alarm Is designed to alert engineers whenever a beacon burns out. The awesome structure Is viewed here by George T. Frechette, Wisconsin Rapids, president of the Wisconsin Valley Television led, and William J.

Sprvarrk, a Tribune reporter. An antenna for WHUM, the Stnle Radio Council FM outlet In Central Wisconsin, was donated lo the Council and placed on the tower by the television corporation. Other public service broadcasting outlets may slso place their antennas on the tow er. 1) T-T- I 1 NERVE CENTER The engineer's control room is the heart of the entire telecasting operation. Here the director sits with three different monitor screens, two for the studio cameras and one showing the network program.

The director chooses which picture the station will transmit. He also directs the cameramen, and operates the projectors which sliow the movies and slides. In the background is seen WSAU-TV's popular weatherman, Howard Gernetke, as he presents one of his three daily reports. 1 JT I i I r-3 ur: 5 it OS THE AIR One camera swings in for a close-up after Master of Ceremonies Rudy Topin-ka's introduction of the Kurth Trio, while the camera on the left is focusing on the trio. The trio, consisting of Gene Chellherg, accordion; Arnle Kurth, bass, and Larry Lnnd, guitar, is a regular feature of the program.

When the picture from one camera is not being transmitted over the air, the cameraman keeps his machine constantly panning back and forth to prevent the burning of an image into the camera's sensitive screen. HMskilM I TAKING A BREATHER Master of Ceremonies Rudy Topinka takes a short rest as the earners switches to another set to pick up Chuck Summers with the market reports. Topinka and Summers, along ith most of the television announcers In Wausau, also do regular radio broadcasting over WSAU radio. Some of them make several trips, a day between the television studio and radio station a few blocks away. ff lit: a far i k- TRANSMITTER Norman Walker, formerly an engineer with Wf'HR In Wisconsin Rapids, Is one of three engineers responsible for keeping WSAl'-TV's quarter-million dollar transmitter In operating shape.

The engineers have approximately 100 different meters to watch and around 300 lubes to keep in condition. He also switches, upon Instructions from the director in the downtown studio, from the network to local telecasting and hack. By Hatching four separate television screens he can quickly spot any trouble in the station's transmission. "You are so right, Mr. Appearing on a panel at the National Retail Furniture Association's Chicago Market meeting recently, Budd Gore, retail advertising manager of the Chicago Daily News, is credited with the shortest speech of his Speaking career.

Mr. Gore was asked to speak on the question of "What's Needed to Get Furniture Store Advertising in Proper Focus to Produce Over the Long Pull?" His one-word answer was: HONESTY! This aptly describes tho merchandising policy at the Wisconsin Rapids Furnitur Co. of one, low, original prica instead of a lot of "fictitious deals" based on big markups and phony values. We talutt Mr. Gore who, in one word, has defined our retail customer philosophy.

OPEN TUESDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHTS 'Til 9 i PROJECTION ROOM Four different projectors are beamed into one television camera located in this projection room. From here are telecast movies, filmed commercials and the various slides. Above, Don Lochart, chief studio engineer for the station threads a commercial Into one of the projectors. All four machines are operated from a panel In the control room. 'If ft WORLD NEWS REPORT Walter John fhllsen, news director at WSAL'-TV, is a veteran newsman whose father Is publisher of the Merrill Daily News Herald.

Nearly all of the announcers and performers on Channel 7 are from Central Wisconsin and most got their early training on radio in Wausau. Similarly, most of the technical staff hail from the area around Wausau. While four or five technicians have come to WSAl'-TV from other television stations, about 60 per rent of them have had their only television experience on the local station. 1 0 Tel. 313 "Your Credit Is Always Good Here" 130-4 2nd St.

N. FILM DEPARTMENT Viewing, editing and cleaning (he miles of film used by WSAl'-TV each week Is a full-time Job for Roger Schurtt, left, and Jark Hammer. Commercials and the late movies rompri.se only a portion of the film they handle. Many programs carried by the networks, for example the "Tennessee Ernie Ford Show" and "Wagon Train," conflict with programs carried by the station from another network at the same time. Consequently they must be presented by film a week or more Inter.

22.