If only these walls could talk. In TV production, walls are called "flats," heavy canvas stretched over lightweight 2" x 2" wooden frames that are eight or 10 or 12 feet wide. They are painted—and repainted—to the desired color of their next incarnation. In the old Wilder Building studio in the first years of WBTV, the prop room was down two flights of stairs that had a 180° turn. Luckily, those early flats were made of muslin and were only about four feet wide. Flats are braced in an upright position and clamped together to create corners and ells.

In the "new" building on Julian Price Place the prop room was conveniently located just outside the studio doors. Sometimes a set would require a different look than could be effected by painted canvas, so Floyd Grass, our woodworking wizard would build a new flat using some other material, such as wood paneling or simulated brick or stucco. Hopefully, any new set piece would be so generic that it could be used over and over.

In the photo, Joe Young is on the left, Bob Crocker is in the center, and Doug McDaniel is clutching a fake parrot, perhaps a prop for some kids' show. Joe Young went on to head the company's research department, where, among other things, they analyzed ratings data and audience trends.

Photo courtesy Don McDaniel

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