KTLA Innovations

On November 7, 2013 - TV History

KTLA Innovations


July 4, 1958 KTLA became the first station anywhere to broadcast live from a helicopter. The chopper was called the “Telecopter” and not only did it shoot live pictures, it also was used to bounce live shots from the “Telemobile” to Mount Wilson. The Special Coverage Unit was a self contained Ford station wagon with extra suspension, a live camera on top, CCUs in the back and it pulled a generator with a microwave dish and could broadcast while moving, as it often did, when pressed into coverage service on the Rose Bowl Parades. The link is to a clip of the Bel Air fires in 1961 where both are in service. In the photo we see cameraman Dick Watson with a TK30 in 1959 but in the clip, there is a new Marconi Mark IV on the roof. Thanks to Judy Watson, (former secretary to KTLA’s John Silva and Dick’s wife) for the photo.

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11 Comments

  1. JM Roberts November 8, 2013

    Thanks. I’ve always wanted to know more about the Telemobiles. Please bring up more.

  2. Phil Mastman November 8, 2013

    Bell 47.

  3. Phil Oakley November 7, 2013

    How did they track the receive antenna with the portable transmission antenna as they drove and bumped along, Craig?

  4. Don Whittaker November 7, 2013

    Here’s another shot of the early KTLA live station wagon equipment in action.

  5. Judy Watson November 7, 2013

    I asked him how he created the Telecopter. He said it came to him as he was driving on the L.A. freeway. He literally had an epiphany that it would be wonderful to have a camera mounted in a telecopter and went home, designed it and KTLA created his vision. This picture is now part of a Tribute from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

  6. Judy Watson November 7, 2013

    Silva gave me a DVD of his tribute. I saw John, a few years before he died. We went to the Autry Museum and he gave the curator a copy of the DVD and we watched it. He was still bitter about his life, however, had come to terms with it. KTLA had him on TV but those young people did not do their homework and knew little or nothing of this man in the five minutes they gave him. Sometimes,people become recognized for their greatness after death and I believe this will be John’s legacy.

  7. Jacki Watson November 7, 2013

    Great photo!

  8. Craig Harper November 7, 2013

    The great Marty Haag named our helicopter at WFAA, Dallas Telecopter 8. He worked at KTTV and loved the name.

  9. Steve Finkelmeyer November 7, 2013

    Sure the insurance company loved that car.

  10. Maureen Carney November 7, 2013

    Was Bill Stout taking one last drag in the open? Those were the days!

  11. Albert J. McGilvray November 7, 2013

    What an exciting time to be in television.