June is "Chicago Television Month" at Museum.TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2010

Click for details - Chicago Television: The Online Exhibit
Click for details - Chicago Television: The Salute on June 11th
Click for details - Chicago Television: The Book

In celebration of Chicago Television Month, the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) has launched a special online exhibit at www.Museum.TV that features the most popular shows in local TV history.

Chicago Television: The Online Exhibit has been developed by Steve Jajkowski, Chicago television historian and co-editor of Chicago Television, the new MBC book on local television history.

Later in the month on Friday, June 11th the MBC will honor the Chicago television pioneers included in the exhibit with a major reunion and fan appreciation benefit. A Salute to Chicago Television will be held at the Hilton Chicago and tickets to the once-in-a-lifetime event and copies of Chicago Television are available for sale online at www.Museum.TV.

Chicago Television: The Online Exhibit features 63 programs, 22 clips, 18 news specials from 1953-2008, and 6 newly produced pieces. More items will be added throughout the month, including video highlights from the June 11th reunion benefit.

The MBC dug deep within its massive archives and presents several rare examples of the ground-breaking "Chicago School of Television," including Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, Stud's Place, and Garroway at Large. The historical treasures in the exhibit also include early news programs The Chicagoland Newsreel and Clifton Utley with the News and some of the city's most memorable news stories

For the young at heart, episodes of Bozo, Super Circus, Ding Dong School, and The Blob are sure to delight. Iconic news anchors including Fahey Flynn, Floyd Kalber, Warner Saunders and Bill Kurtis join local stars like Lee Phillip, Jim Conway, Ray Rayner, Jim Conway, Irv Kupcinet and Studs Terkel in the exhibit's hard-to-find selection of clips.

A wide variety of musical choices like Jim Lounsbury's Record Hop, Great Music from Chicago, and The WGN Barn Dance round out the exhibit. Other unique music broadcasts include early appearances of The Weavers, the soon-to-be-blacklisted folk group fronted by Pete Seeger and gospel great Mahalia Jackson on The Hour of Music, foot-stomping polka from Ron Terry's Polka Party, and world music from Rudy Orisek's Folkfest and International Cafe.

The MBC online exhibit also features children's treasures like The Blue Fairy, Princess Mary's Castle (with Mary Hartline), Susan's Show, and Panhandle Pete & Jennifer with Uncle Johnny Coons.

Appearing for the first time are newly produced tributes to three programs aired live from the WBKB (now ABC7/WLS-DT) 190 N. State St. studios: Shock Theatre, The Jobblewocky Place, and Here's Geraldine. All three feature footage not seen or heard since the late 1950s.

Click for details - Chicago Television: The Online Exhibit
Click for details - Chicago Television: The Salute on June 11th
Click for details - Chicago Television: The Book

Media Contact:
Gina Loizzo MBC, 312-822-0512