Julian: I was happy to hear the truck is still out there. How is the restoration coming? I worked as an engineer for KDAL in 1967-1968 and worked the truck with John Harrison. The Rudy you mentioned is Rudy Luukinen, He was assistant chief engineer when I was there. Bob Dettman was the chief.

We used the truck every Sunday to broadcast local Church services. We would set up a Church and do three Sundays before moving to the next one.

It also did special events on occasion. We did special editions of the Town and Country show with Dottie Becker from “Goldfine’s by the Bridge” department store. We also televised an American/Russian hockey game from the Duluth arena auditorium.

I drove the truck sometimes. It had a non synchronized transmission. I learned how to double clutch on that truck.

This is the only picture I have of the truck. It was scanned from a 3 X 5 photo. It will be nice to see some pictures when it is done.

I left KDAL in 68 and went on to start an Industrial electronics corporation. I am semi retired from it these days in Northern Illinois.

Al Holecek

Incredible. This has become one of my all-time favorite threads.

yes - a very kool thread

Too bad there are no pictures of the interior when the truck was
young.

KDAL Truck
 

Hello Everyone!

First I want to thank you Al, for the picture of this van! Do you know about when this picture was taken?

Here is the update of this Dodge. I haven't done much with it yet and a friend of mine who is a good bodyman said he would get into the sheet metal and help with its' restoration. I need to remove all of the equipment inside and clean-clean-clean!! The cameras and cables were not with it when I received it. I do know where they were last seen. Robert Muhich who purchased it from KDAL used it a few times for his broadcasting class at the local college where he taught. He kept the cameras (RCA TK-11's) in storage at the college along with the cables to keep them out of the weather because of infrequent use as it was a bear to "fire up" and use. When he left the college, he forgot about them and no one knows where they went from there.

I have since found two matching RCA TK-11's that I will use with this van. Sure would be nice to have the originals!

When I talked with John Harrison who picked this van up in Chicago from WGN in 1961, it had the original paint job on it which was a mustard yellow color. The paint is fading and some of that yellow is exposing some of the original sign on it and I am hopeful that when we start sanding it down, we will see the original sign! YES, I'll be taking plenty of pictures of it!!!

My only dilimma now is which paint job to use-the existing one which is nice or the ORIGINAL with WGN which has much history?? It was originally used in the '50's to televise the Cubs games from Wrigley Stadium! Most likely it did other shows as there couldn't have been many of these such vans.

What do you people think? Which way should I go here???? Remember, this Dodge van is only one of two vans (all TV vans-not just Dodge) known to exist with all original equipment. It is a 1952 Dodge Route Van and Dodge built very few of such vehicles and finding body parts is very slim. I think it's a neat looking van and it has much promise!

Another thing I found on evilbay was a 1961 book published by WGN of all their history up to that point. With over 200 pages and as many pictures I though surely there would be some reference to this van. There wasn't. To add insult to this injury, I had to pay dearly for this book. Normally they go for well under $20 here and I paid over $50. I just had to know!

Your nut case here, Julian Burke

Tough call. Since it was used at Cubs games, there is a definite draw towards repainting it in the original WGN livery.

Paint one side like KDAL & the other like WGN. Well, you could!

What are the odds to get info from one of the guys that used to broadcast from the van?

That's a tough one which way to go for the restoration. I would probably lean towards WGN since it was the original paint scheme and has the Cubs history to go with it.

Very cool old truck! :thmbsp:

I'd go for WGN. This would keep it as close to 'original' as when it rolled into Chicago for its first day on the job.

Think I'd go back original, because of the rarity of the vehicle. It is, after all, nearly 60 yrs old....

I took that picture in the summer of 1967. During the time KDAL had the van it was parked in a rented garage near the TV studios.

I tried to look at the pictures in your original post Juian, but it says that page is not available.

I'm biased of course, but the KDAL paint is what I'd favor. I did work for WGN for a few months after I left KDAL but then took a job with DEC. If that truck could tell stories you would really hear some good ones.

Al

maybe I'M crazy too, but this doesn't sound like such a bad idea!

I would try to contact WGN for any help. I did try to contact my WGN baseball producer friend and got a "out of office" email saying he is not there anymore. Such is the problem of bankruptcy at the Tribune. I will email him directly to see if he has any ideas.

This truck has to be the beginning of one Arnie Harris, WGN baseball producer/director for as long as I can remember and a long-time friend until his passing.

My vote is WGN. World's Greatest Newspaper.

Dave A

I never thought of doing one side of each but that may not be such a bad idea considering. It would then appeal to all who were associated with it. I want to do the WGN but it has a history of KDAL which is a sister station of the original. I want to do it right and would prefer to do it all on one but since it is an important van, one side of each could possibly do the job and with it on display, I think people would understand. Thank you Bryan for the idea! The other posting telling about radio vans with more than one logo is nothing unusual as well.

Here in Knoxville we have many radio stations and one group owns I think 6 of them and another about 5. Their parking lot (down from my main warehouse) looks like a used car lot for radio vans. Nowadays what is a radio van anyway? Not much more than just a traveling billboard for the station. What can it do besides a good handheld? ---not much! I love this van that I have and besides, it is a 1952 Dodge Route Van! When was the last time you saw one? Or ever saw one? Going into Dodge history reveals that not many were built-some in the 30 or so bracket. Body parts will be hard to find as it is a lonely one. (like us!)

It is interesting and very unusual that I am able to talk to pretty much all of the people who were involved with it on the KDAL side. (so far three, or was it four?) I haven't found anyone yet on the WGN side. In the top of the cab there is a "glove compartment" and hanging in there with a piece of tape was a business card with Harrisons' name on it. (printed, not written!) I was able to contact him and he told me much as well as its' WGN history. I'm sure that this is a first and breaking new ground with old history!! I cannot tell you how disappointed I was when I bought that expensive large book from evilbay on the history of WGN. With over 200 pictures and no reference to this van. I'm sure something will turn up. So far , Al (CCSIAL) is the only one who has come forward with an "original" picture. Thank you again Al!

BTW, my wife had changed all of the picures to a different shell website and I think I got most of them back on the original posting. I didn't know she had done this and I couldn't figure out what happened myself. (clickable URL's)

I was thinking you could do the hood and one side for one station, back and other side for the second.

There is a local radio station group that runs a small remote van painted in 2 schemes, one side is yellow and advertises their country station, the other is black and promotes their oldies outlet. Shows up in all the parades. A few years back we painted a vintage race car for a fellow; he wanted to match the scheme on a car he owned in the 60s, but he never really liked it. So, we painted one side like the old one and the other was done up the way he always wanted it.

That's also a very good idea! I'll keep that one in mind as well.