[BC] RE: Channel 42 on Mt. Diablo, CA

[Alan H Kline]

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:52:14 -0600
  "Davis, Jack L. (KTXL)" <Jldavis at tribune.com> wrote:
> I worked at KMAX-TV in Sacramento, and for several >years Pappas Broadcasting owned the station.  They >still own channel 42 and have 
>converted it to a TV-Azteca affiliate for the Bay Area.  

OK, I stand corrected on the number of transfers since 
Ronn ran it.  Thanks...

>The Chief Engineer was Norm Wright;
> he was really a great guy and always had a positive 
>attitude.

I worked briefly with Norm, before I left the station in 
1990, and that's exactly how I remember him...

>The studio location was a HUGE building; actually it >was 2 buildings in an industrial park.  The actual stage >area was across the parking lot from master control. 

Right...both buildings were the typical concrete-wall 
"tilt-up" type of industrial building common to the area. 
 The smaller was the original building, going back to 
sign-on in 1983.  42's space in the larger building was 
occupied in 1986, IIRC.  The studio was unfinished 
office/warehouse space--on the "front" wall of the studio 
(the street side) you could see how the window and door 
openings were in the front wall for several different 
potential tenants.  Inside, the space was empty except for 
a functional restroom in the middle of what ended up being 
the studio.  Beyond the studio, heading away from the 
original building to the north, was another large 
warehouse space used as a scene dock/shop, and office 
space in the finished areas.  No soundproofing, at first, 
no air-conditioning, either.  That was lots of fun during 
the summer, in that climate...

The studio control room, as well as MCR, always remained 
in the original building.  The only equipment moved over 
were the studio cameras, lighting, and mics.  Cables for 
the cameras and audio ran through a trench to the old 
building.

>Both 64 and 42 have located their DTV transmitters on >the South peak so after the cut off
> date there will not be any TV on the North side >anymore. 

That makes sense.  I should've read Jack's comments before 
replying to Scott...
  
>The site was owned by a colorful guy named Knox >LaRue and his son Robert used to try and keep things >up but the huggers really had a grip on it. 

Another name I haven't heard in years...ISTR that he 
provided the tower space for one of the ham repeaters on 
North Peak (K6POU?)

>I must say working up there generated a lot of 
>material for bragging rights but I don't think I want to >do it again!  

Sounds like my entire 5 years working for 42!!! ;-)

ak