In the weeks before WBTV signed on in the summer of '49, people stood for long moments in front of store windows looking at that new- fangled device called television. They kept hoping they'd see something besides that Indian-head test pattern.

Photos | Galleries

JPC Employees Luncheon - 4/18/17

Attendance was greater than usual at this semi-annual get-together. About 200 former Jefferson-Pilot Communications employees, some with spouses, enjoyed the catered lunch at the headquarters of Behakal Communications in Charlotte. Bahakel excutives Jim Babb and John Hutchinson (formerly of JPC) hosted the event. Here are about 100 photos of some of the folks who were there.

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Don's '50s and '60s

Don McDaniel had a long tenure at WBTV and Jefferson Productions. After a hitch in the Navy, in the early '50s he joined Channel 3's production staff. Before long he became a director, for about a dozen years at WBTV, then, for more than a decade, at JP. We have 145 great photos from those early decades of his career.

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Boy's Town Auction

Once a year (for a number of them in the Seventies) WBTV produced a huge event that involved nearly everyone at the station, with Michael Nabicht leading the effort. Here are a few dozen scenes from the 1982 telecast. Thanks to Michael for contributing the images.

Reminisce »

Hank Warren's Archives

In his long career as a photographer, Hank made thousands of pictures at home and at work. His son Roy allowed us to scan all those we could find that were BT related. There were thousands of them, along with news clippings and promotional pieces. We've chosen over 270 of these vintage photos, which fit neatly into 14 separate galleries.

Diane's Scrapbook

Diane Kirby Robinson, daughter of Fred Kirby, allowed us to scan a scrapbook containing her Dad's show business memorabilia. Included are photos of Fred early in his career (he joined WBT in 1931) and later. Fred was a prolific song writer, as well as a singer, and his sheet music and song books were sold nationwide. The lyrics of only two of dozens of his songs are included here, one being his biggest hit, "Atomic Power."

Hank's Proofs

One day in the early '80s Jerry Wilson was approached by Hank Warren, the station's long-time photographer, who said, "Hey, Jerry, would you like to have these old photos? I was cleaning out the files, and am about to throw them away." Thank goodness, Jerry said yes. What he saved was a box of some 130 proofs of photos Hank had taken of people, places and things at WBT/WBTV over 20 years—from 1940 to 1960.

Unbelievable »

Jerry Wilson's Road Trips

“Production stills” are photos taken (by anyone who happens to have a camera) during the filming or taping of a commercial, video or movie. JP's Jerry Wilson sent us these old shots from a few of the many productions he “enjoyed” back in the '70s.

Camera, Action »

Faces: 1979-1981

We pored over three years worth of old Jeffcasters and found a lot of faces we had temporarily forgotten. Not everyone is here, just 130 of you who had birthdays, anniversaries or did something notable over that period, causing you to "make" the newsletter. You won't be forgotten again. (Just think: If you were 25 then, you're about 50 now. Try hard not to weep.)

Through the Years at JP

Jefferson Productions, a subsidiary of the broadcasting company, was created in the 1960s to produce programs and commercials, and to provide mobile production facilities to producers all over the country. Here are photos from JP's early days (and some more recent) provided by Ken Helms and Jim Rogers.

George Reynolds' Collection

He worked many years as an engineer at the WBTV transmitter and studios. George's daughter Debbie Reavis has shared a batch of her late father's photos from the 1970s.

Pictures Worth 1000 Words

Every so often a photo emerges that just flat says it all. Whenever our discerning eye spots one, we'll add it to our growing list of exceptional pictures. Sometimes they may be worth only, oh, 875 words, but you can't always have everything. Check this page often to see if there's something new.

Extraordinary Pics »

The late, great Tom Desio, a Monroe boy, was on and off the air at WBT. A time salesman for the station, he made Saturday mornings a treat for loyal listeners.