ABC13 turns 70: KTRK-TV launched on November 20, 1954

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — All month long, ABC13 is celebrating 70 years of serving the Houston area. On November 20, 1954, KTRK signed on for the first time. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The station went live at 8:30 p.m. from the University of Houston campus at the school’s Music Hall. The celebration was complete with performances from the Houston Symphony, singers from the Metropolitan Opera and even a ventriloquist.

DEVELOPMENT AT OUR NEW LOCATION

ABC13’S NEW HOME INSPIRED THE ASTRODOME

On October 6, 1960, Judge Roy Hofheinz and Houston architect Herman Lloyd were present at the groundbreaking ceremony for ABC13’s new studios at 3310 Bissonnet, the station’s home to this day. Lloyd was responsible for the design, which has been called “a state-of-the-art television station of tomorrow”.

The building’s lobby and main offices overlooked a landscaped terrace with palm trees and even a swimming pool. But the crème-de-la-creme of the building was its domed roof, which housed two full-sized television studios.

ABC13’s domed design fascinated Judge Hofheinz, who had just secured a professional baseball franchise for Houston and dreamed of building the team a new indoor stadium.

Hofheinz contacted Herman Lloyd to build the new stadium, with a domed roof just like ABC13’s.

ABC13 moved into its domed building four years before the Astrodome. At the time, the station had state-of-the-art equipment for two 15-minute newscasts a day.

NEW KTRK TOUR

ABC13 ICONS

Dave Ward joined the team in 1966 as the first reporter/street photographer. Two years later, he was promoted to anchor.

Ward ended from ABC13 on May 2, 2017. He reached a historic milestone in 2016 when he celebrated 50 years at KTRK. His tenure made him the longest-serving local TV news anchor in the world at the same station, in the same market.

Long known as the “Voice of Houston,” Ward has also won a number of awards throughout his career while also being dedicated to community service.

He was also instrumental in establishing Crime Stoppers in Houston, which served as a model for other Crime Stoppers organizations around the world.

50 YEARS OF DAVE WARD!

Dave was also instrumental in ABC13’s hiring of pioneering consumer reporter Marvin Zindler.

Marvin joined KTRK in 1973, and his blue glasses became a household fixture in Houston for more than three decades.

His team became so well known for the work they were doing for the community that Marvin received hundreds of thousands of letters and answered every one of them.

One of his most notable investigations was uncovering the prostitution Chicken Ranch in La Grange. The story went on to inspire a Broadway musical and the movie “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

Marvin made history when he signed a lifetime contract with KTRK. Marvin died in 2007 after battling pancreatic cancer.

MARVIN ZINDLER…EYEWITNESS NEWS!

CHANNEL 13’S FAVORITE MASCOT

In the early 1950s, when KTRK was assigned the potentially unlucky channel 13, the station owners decided to take it! A black cat was named the station’s mascot and was incorporated into our logo.

All that was left was a name for the soon-to-be children’s television host. The station hosted a contest and a viewer submitted artwork that had KTRK with an I between each letter. Management liked how it incorporated the station’s call letters, so the black cat mascot was named KiTiRiK.

With her cat costume, eyebrow pencil whiskers and winning personality, Bunny Orsak starred as KiTiRiK and became a Houston TV phenomenon still remembered by viewers to this day.

Many Houston children celebrated their birthdays on the live KiTiRiK show, learning valuable lessons with her doll friends.

In 1974, after a run of 16 years, the KiTiRiK show aired its last show.

MEET THE WOMAN BEHIND HOUSTON’S ICONIC KITIRIK!

HOUSTON’S COMMUNITY LEADER

Covering community events is as important to us today as it was back then. Not only is ABC13 Houston’s most trusted news leader, but the station consistently leads the nation in local television production.

We’ve produced everything from children’s shows like KiTiRiK, Cadet Don, and Eyewitness News for Kids, to public affairs programs and weekly sports shows, and of course, daily morning shows like Dealing for Dollars and Good Morning Houston.

Name a big local event like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade, and chances are ABC13 was the first television station to provide complete live coverage.

Our first attempt at collecting televised holiday food was so successful that it became an annual event that continues today. It has inspired many others over the years, including our annual E-cycle Drive and Share Your School Supplies, which benefits Houston teachers.

Serving our community has been and will always be our top priority and we thank you all for supporting us since our first broadcast 70 years ago.