TV6 Tower of Light

[Talos4]

While sitting around the coffee maker the other day some co-workers and myself were being a bit nostalgic when someone brought up the energy crisis in the 70's.  

I mentioned that's when the TV6 tower of light went out.  I got a few goofy looks with that comment from some of the younger (30 and younger) pups.

I seem to remember something about the FAA using the energy crunch as an excuse to get the tower shut off for air traffic safety.

Am I right?  

Also on the same subject, there used to a be a factoid sign at the base of the tower.  Was it, or is it, the tallest self supported broadcast tower in the country, world, universe?

[Gregg Lengling]

The turning off the lights had nothing to do with the FAA it was just the energy crunch that caused that.  Also remember that the tower on the Shroeder Hotel (now the Hilton I think) was also all lit up in the 80's.

Yes Channel 6's tower was the tallest freestanding tower at one point.  Then Russia (formerly the USSR) built a taller one, and then a taller one was built in Canada.  The one is Canada to date is still the tallest self-supporter in existance.

But here's a good one...do you remember Channel 6's first tower and where it was.  Hwy 141 (now I43) and Donges Bay Road in Mequon....yep now there's some history.

[Dick Nitelinger]

You can see it lit up at:

http://www.retrocom.com/retromilw/milwmemories1.htm

I've been told that the late Roger LeGrand coined the name: "Milwaukee's Tower of Light".

The station received permission from the Shorewood village board to install the lights in October of 1963. Shortly thereafter, approximately 2000, 25 Watt lights were installed. An architect who lived 1400 ft. north of the tower filed an objection, citing Shorewood's illuminated sign ordinance, which prohibited such signs over fifty square feet. He also argued that the lighted tower was an infringement on the "aesthetic rights" of Shorewood residents who lived nearby.

It took the "energy crisis" of 1973-74 to kill them!

Who alive then can forget the helicopter shots of the tower, and the announcer intoning, "From Milwaukee's tower of light, the TV6 Late Show. Tonight:....."  

- Dick   :wave:

http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com

[Talos4]

Oh Man, What a time warp:D

Dick, I really appreciate the web link.

Yep Every time I think of the lights on the tower that voice over automatically enters my mind.

If memory serves me right, I think the "6" on the tower just disappeared a few years ago.

Greg, In my younger days, I really didn't venture out to the "boonies" too much so I don't remember the original tower.

Although, after getting my DL we drove "all the way out" to the bluemound drive in.

After all 68th and Oklahoma was where all the farmers were!

And for all you lurkers that know me (you know who you are) The barracks at Pulaski were already gone!

[Matt Heebner]

I enjoy reading about the history Milwaukee, since at age 30 I am too young for most of these things. I remember hearing my grandparents talking about when they built their house way out in the country and how there weren't even streets there back then....in Fox Point off of Seneca and Good Hope Rd. Almost hard to believe and there must have been alot of development that must have taken place between the 50's to early 70's.

Matt

[foxeng]

If you will allow a true outsider (I have never even been to Wisconsin) to stick a toe in. I was talking to someone in the Engineering department at WITI a couple of weeks ago and they mentioned they were beefing up the tower for digital TV and they made a reference about "the lights on the tower were the first things to go to lighten the load." When they said this, it really didn't mean anything to me. I had assumed the tower must have have the call letters in lights like so many stations did in the 50's and 60's and I didn't think much about it. But when I looked at the picture at the above link, HOLY COW! I understand what they were talking about!

Broadcastings second hey day, the 50's and 60's! Then it was run by BROADCASTERS. Now it is run by BEAN COUNTERS.

Thanks for allowing me to share.

[midwesterntv]

Originally posted by Talos4
Oh Man, What a time warp:D

After all 68th and Oklahoma was where all the farmers were!

 

Ouch .. what makes you say that?

(It's where I currently live...  )

[Talos4]

Ok let me clarify, I mispoke, it was west of 76th street where the farmers were, The cows would gather behind Krogers on the corner to be milked for the day.    

That's wher blockbuster and checker auto parts are now

I lived in the area back in the early to mid sixties. My parents bought one of the GI houses North of Oklahoma.

and I'll be darned, I'm back in the area again.

Hey neighbor:wave:

[Tom Snyder]

Amen on the 76th Street "end of cvilization as we know it" boundary!

I spent the first years of my life at 54th and Garfield. When my aunt and uncle moved from next door to us to "all the way out in the country" (83rd and Villard), we thought we'd hardly ever see them again.

A few years later when we moved to Menomonee Falls, it was like we had moved to Iowa!

[John L]

76th & Edgerton...   Where you find the strip mall and where old Fuddruckers Hamburgers used to be...  we now have ChiChi's, Olive Garden, etc.....  

BUT 35 years ago on that land was a big field and housed the WOKY 920 kc. AM transmitter site and its towers. That land immediately north of Southridge Mall.

-John L.

[Dick Nitelinger]

I made some updates to my website yesterday. One of which was to add a pic of the WITI tower - lit up - from spring of 1964 to the Milwaukee TV history page. It's courtesy of a friend and former colleague who took it 41 years ago.

Enjoy!

- Dick

   http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com

[tazman]

I hate saying this but I remember living on 51st street just north of hampton as a child when it was 2 lane asphalt with ditches. :eek: