Gothamist: Channel 11 Marks 60 Years On the Air

Spiritof76

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:44:49 -0500

I'll always miss the old independent stations WPIX, WNEW and WOR. It's just not the same since they became affiliates. Actually, TV in general is not the same, with talk shows taking the place of 60s sitcom reruns and soaps on weekday mornings and afternoons (okay, I don't actually miss the soaps, although who can forget that voice intoning "The Edge of Night"). Not to mention the old movies after the 11 p.m. news. I'd love it if they did a TV Land-style time warp with one day filled with the same programming as way back when.

BongoBoy

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:17:23 -0500

No tribute to the old WPIX wouldn't be complete without mention of the old kiddie cartoon show hosts, "Officer" Joe Bolton and "Captain" Jack McCarthy. Bolton heightened the discussion when it concerned the Three Stooges ... and McCarthy was Popeye's best friend. Both were old sons of Ireland who were at the station from the very beginning ... McCarthy also hosted the annual St. Patrick's parade telecast, in later years with what seemed to be half-a-load on. Plus, of course, the life and times of Phil Rizzuto in his "Money Store" prime.

JenChungsBra

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:30:53 -0500

That PIX thing was great. When I was a kid I used to get so pissed at people who couldn't do it well. But WPIX's greatest contribution to TV is still the yule log.

Bluealways

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:10:17 -0500

What about the thing where they had old Atari games on the screen and kids would call in and say "PIX" when they wanted the guy playing it to hit the button? That needs its own article it was so weird.