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Throwback Thursday: WKYC in 1991

By Frank Macek
@maceknewsnation

Time for another installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at WKYC Studios.

The time machine takes us back to 1991 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC.

February 28, 1991: Jennifer Auther departs WKYC-TV for KPIX-TV/San Francisco.

March 25, 1991: WKYC-TV becomes the first Cleveland station to install robotic cameras and the last to begin accepting “infomercials.” The cameras were nicknamed “Mike, “Bob” and “Louie” (probably after the previous cameramen).

May 1, 1991: WKYC-TV announces the resignation of Vice President and General Manager John Llewellyn and remains with the station through May 31st. Llewellynn guided the station through the ownership transition period from NBC to Multimedia.

May 1991: Linda Carson departs WKYC-TV for WWSB-TV/Sarasota.

June 10, 1991: WKYC-TV names Pat Servodidio as Vice President & General Manager from RKO General/New York where was he was previously president.

June 11, 1991: News Director Paul Beavers departs WKYC-TV.

July 1991: WKYC-TV names Dick Reingold as News Director. He joins the station from WMAQ-TV/Chicago where he was News Director.

June 28, 1991: Allen Davis departs WKYC-TV.

July 12, 1991: Jill Beach leaves WKYC-TV for WTVJ-TV/Miami.

July 10, 1991: Steve Browne departs WKYC-TV and eventually joins KSAT-TV/San Antonio. Station management ordered him “off the air” for brief comments during the "First Report" that followed published reports that TV-3 would not pick up his contract option. Terry Burhans replaces him temporarily 6 nights a week.

August 31, 1991: John Gerard, the primary meteorologist for sister station WLWT-TV/Cincinnati becomes temporary weekend forecaster at WKYC-TV – although he will not return to WLWT once his duties are over as he was replaced. Between the 6 and 11 p.m. broadcast on his first night, Gerard was repeatedly hit over the back of the head with a club or a blackjack while standing in the restroom about 9 p.m. at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel at 777 St. Clair Ave. where he was staying and needed 13 stitches.

September 1, 1991: WKYC-TV airs the final edition of the half hour “Feagler” at 11 a.m. so Dick Feagler can concentrate on a new series of locally produced specials and his nightly commentaries on Channel News at 11.

September 1, 1991: WKYC-TV moves “Sunday Today in Cleveland” to 6:30 a.m. (from 8:30 a.m.) NBC’s “Sunday Today” moves to 8 a.m. (from 9 a.m.) and “Meet the Press” moves to 9:30 a.m. (from 10:30 a.m.)

September 9, 1991: WKYC-TV adds “The Maury Povich Show” to its daily weekday lineup at 4 p.m.

September 9, 1991: WKYC-TV adds “Entertainment Tonight” to its daily weekday lineup at 7:30 p.m. with John Tesh and Mary Hart.

September 16, 1991: WKYC-TV adds “The Jenny Jones Show” to its daily weekday lineup at 9 a.m.

September 16, 1991: WKYC-TV adds “Love Stories” to its daily weekday lineup at noon starring Kristian Alfonso.

September 30, 1991: WKYC-TV adds “The Jerry Springer Show” to its daily weekday lineup at 10 a.m.

November 1991: Leon Bibb goes from the co-anchor slot at 6 & 11 p.m. to a reporter on Channel 3’s “First Report” newscast that triggered protests from the Cleveland chapter of the NAACP.

November 1991: Jim Hooley becomes weeknight anchor of Channel 3 News at 6 p.m.

November 1991: Tom Sweeney goes from the “First Report” as anchor back to general assignment reporting.

November 2, 1991: Larry Cosgrove joins WKYC-TV from WSYX-TV/Columbus (started as a substitute for John Gerard who provided weekend relief for Terry Burhans after Steve Browne’s departure).

November 4, 1991: Nick Cellini joins WKYC-TV from WWWE-AM/Cleveland as sports reporter replacing Allen Davis.

November 9, 1991: Tom Sweeney joins Kim Brattain on the weekend 6 & 11 pm news.

November 11, 1991: Lillian Williams joins WKYC-TV from WMAQ-TV/Chicago and will replace Paul Rae in the Akron Bureau after a few weeks in Cleveland.

November 11, 1991: Dick Feagler becomes weeknight anchor of Channel 3 News at 11 pm until the Fall of 1993 after providing commentary for the station since joining in 1974.


November 22, 1991: Akron Bureau Reporter Paul Rae departs WKYC-TV.

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This timeline is based on station archives and various newspaper stories. If you feel something is in error, please let me know and we'll make any necessary corrections. Email me at fmacek@wkyc.com
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