"Big 13"

A historical 
TV web site
dedicated to
WTVT,
Channel 13
Tampa, Florida

 

From 1955 to 1994, WTVT was Tampa Bay's CBS Television Affiliate. 
Serving the community with talented personalities, a top-notch production team,
and Florida's most professional news, sports, and weather,
Channel 13 is one of most distinguished television stations in the country
with a wonderful history.

 
This site covers WTVT's 39 years of CBS affiliation,
 before "Big 13" became "Fox 13."

See behind-the-scenes & historical photos and read about those who worked there.
 

Created & Managed by Mike Clark, 
WTVT Employee 1972-1977

"Big 13" is maintained by a former employee of WTVT.
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the current owners of WTVT.

 

FOX 13 has its own history page!
Included are classic promos and rare videos
PLUS the WTVT 50th Anniversary Tribute
produced by the BIG 13 site for the 2005 Employee Reunion.

CLICK HERE to visit the Fox 13 History Page

 

A Major Television Event!!

BIG 13 WEBMASTER, MIKE CLARK, (seen as a youngster in his WTVT portrait) WILL
BE GUESTING ON THE TAMPA NATIVES SHOW THIS THURSDAY, MAY 17,
STARTING AT 6:30PM.  THE TOPIC?  BIG 13, OF COURSE, BUT THERE'S MORE!
MIKE IS SHOWING A PREVIOUSLY UN-AIRED INTERVIEW WITH MARY ELLEN.
AND THERE'S A SPECIAL LIVE INTERVIEW VIA TELEPHONE WITH WFLA'S
"UNCLE BRUCE" RODRICK FROM HIS HOME IN MINNESOTA.

SUBSCRIBERS TO BRIGHTHOUSE CABLE IN TAMPA CAN WATCH THE PROGRAM
LIVE AT 6:30 ON CHANNEL 950. 
VERIZON CUSTOMERS CAN WATCH ON CHANNEL 30.
COMCAST USERS CAN WATCH ON CHANNEL 20

IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN TAMPA YOU CAN WATCH ON THE INTERNET!
GOT TO http://www.tampanativesshow.com
ON THE HOMEPAGE YOU'LL SEE A "WATCH US" LINK TO THE SHOW.

YOU CAN ALSO CALL IN LIVE WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
JOIN THE FUN THURSDAY, MAY 17th AT 6:30PM!

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS
DUANE MARTIN!

WTVT uber-engineer Duane Martin retired this month after 41 years of service to the station.

 

 

Duane helped Channel 13 usher in the age of ENG back in 1975 with the design and construction of ENG-1, the first Tampa Bay area newsvan equipped for live video (via microwave) capabilities. 

In March of 1976 Duane was running camera in a helicopter hovering 500 feet over Tampa as Hugh Smith made the historic live announcement that WTVT could cover the news live...anywhere...anytime!

Duane was always on the cutting edge and part of WTVT's expansion into satellite news coverage...but that's just a small part of his enormous impact at the station.  Here's some comments from WTVT veterans Lloyd Sower and Jule McGee:

I've worked with Duane for more than 25 years. He is one of the most capable and versatile people I have ever worked with. He is a technical genius. During one hurricane, we were in Naples. The roof of our satellite truck developed a severe leak and flooded the main electronics panel. All of the lights were either flashing or out. All of the meters were pegged. I was sure that it was the end for us. But Duane found the truck's schematics and was able to rewire or bypass damaged components. He had us back on the air in 90 minutes.

Beneath his battle-hardened exterior is a soft , personable side. He cared a lot about his co-workers and the station he served with such distinction for so long. We're going to miss him. -- LLOYD SOWERS
                                 *                      *                           *                       *
Duane Martin will be missed in Tampa Bay broadcast community. I know of no other remote field engineer with the smarts and skills of Duane. He was also a cunning and a very competitive newsperson which is rare for a news photographer and engineer. He was our area's first ENG photographer and live truck operator.

Any major news event we covered in Tampa area in the last 40 years had Duane's finger prints all over it.  When the Sunshine Skyway fell, his feeds of that accident were seen around the world.  I also will remember when WFLA TV lost AC power after a main electric feed line was cut, Martin took our satellite truck and big generator, provided power and got them back on the air.

Hopefully he can now be free to enjoy some of his other great loves. Like our oceans, wild rivers, peaceful lakes and meandering trout streams.

Thank you Duane -- you always cast a tall shadow! – JULE McGEE


Duane Martin (in red sweater) surrounded by WTVT veterans in 2008.
(Standing) Mak Makinen, Howard Shapiro, Jule McGee, Mike Clark
(Sitting) Duane Martin, Jim Benedict


ONLY THE BIG 13 SITE:
A Mary Ellen Adventure!

See Mary Ellen and The Pirate in this exclusive 16mm digital transfer.
CLICK HERE

 

 

Comments? Questions?
  Email me at 

mecnow@yahoo.com

 


Dedication/Thanks

Credits

 

Facilities/
Engineering
Lots of photos and information

on cameras, studios, remotes

Graphics & Logos
 
Photo of the Week
Archive

Pre-Air History 

The Early Years

Year One Employee
Profiles

Tommy Eure's Photo Studio

Ernie Lee:
Glad To Meet You

The Ernie
List Of Honorees


WTVT NEWS

Wayne Fariss
WTVT's
First Anchor

 

Dick John
News Dir.
1956-58
 

History of WTVT News
from the 50's to the 90's
 

John Evans
First Tallahassee
Bureau Chief
 

Ray Blush
Anchor, News Dir.
& Producer/Host
of Project 13

Larry Elliston
"Down Home Florida"
Producer/Host
 

Scott Shuster
First Anchor
of Pulse Plus!

 

Crawford Rice
Anchor/News Director/
General Manager
 

Hugh Smith
Reporter/Anchor/
News Director
 

Jule McGee
Veteran Reporter/
Cinematographer

John Ferrugia
Project 13
Reporter
 

Don Harris
Host of Pulse Extra
and later NBC
Reporter

Jim West
Reporter/News Director
on the Satellite Era
 

Jim West
Reporter/News Director
on the Co-Anchors
 

Jim West
Reporter/News Director
on a Spy In The Newsroom
 

Other WTVT Personalities

TV Tease
Vintage Employee
Newsletters

 

Sports
From the 50's to the 90's

Salty Sol Fleischman, Andy Hardy,
and more!
--------------
Pete Johnson's Sports Memories 

Weather
History of WTVT Weather Service


The  Roy Leep Story

The Howard Shapiro Story

Rewinding The Past:
Preserving WTVT
Film & Tape

2003 Get Together
 

WTVT Posters

2005 Employee Reunion

2008 Retirements

Mary Ellen's Playhouse

Capt. Mac and Other
Tampa Bay Area
Kids' Hosts


Shock Armstrong's

Haunted House

 

3-D Danny 
+ Buggsie & Muggsie
+ 'Windy West' + Romper Room

Ed and Peg Scott

Where Are They Now?

In Memoriam
Revised October 2011

Meet the Staff of WTVT 

Jim Benedict
A Legacy of Excellence

WFLA Section

Arch Deal:
The Ups and Downs of a Tampa News Legend

Uncle Bruce Story

History of NBC Peacock

THE JACK HARRIS STORY
A profile and bio of a veteran
Tampa Bay broadcaster and former
Co-Host of PULSE PLUS!

"Jerry Krumbholz
Speaking of Ch. 13"

The Joe Wiezycki Story

Bob Gilbert:
A Guy with Something Extra

Links to other TV Historical 
Web Sites

A review of the feature film "Anchorman"

TAMPA REMEMBERS
 John F. Kennedy

A section devoted to the day over 40 years ago
that our 35th President visited Tampa...
Nov. 18, 1963

 

Mike Clark's Corner

A 2002 Visit 
to WTVT

'TVT & Me
by Mike Clark

A Tribute to 'Mr. Television' Milton Berle

Visitors Since November, 2001
We passed 10,000 hits in October, 2002,
20,000 hits in June, 2003
 30,000 hits in January, 2004,
40,000 hits by September, 2004,
and 50,000 hits in March, 2005.
Thanks to all those who have spread the word! 

PREVIEW