In this photo published in the Brookville Star, Bonnie Lou, WLW-TV star, looks over the clock-radio that was awarded to the Star’s contest winner.
Submitted photo
BROOKVILLE — In March 1953, a brand new contest was arranged by the Brookville Star and the WLW-Television stations in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus in an effort to plan an all-star television show featuring their fans favorite star or stars.
The contest cost no money or box tops or anything else to get into it. The Star obtained a new clock-radio that was to be awarded to the winning suggestion made by their readers. There was no competition with the readers of other newspapers. The clock-radio went to the winning reader of the Star.
After the winner of the Star‘s contest was selected, the first place suggestion was forwarded to WLW-Television officials in Cincinnati and there along with other suggestions, a second contest was to be held. That winner could possibly be one of the Star readers and would get a 21-inch television set.
The clock-radio was the newest of its kind and was offered to the general public late that spring after it came from the Crosley production lines. It had a slumber control which turned the set off should the owner forget it.
The contest rules were simple. All you had to do was tell the Star in 50 words or less which WLW-Television star or stars—folks like Ruth Lyons, Neal Van Ells, Willie Thall or Spooks Beckman, who you would like to see in an all-star one hour telecast and what you would like to have them do. You also had to give your reasons.
Readers could send as many entries as they wished. A special form was provided in the Star but you could also submit an entry on a postal card or letter and it was to be sent to the newspaper.
The response was tremendous and WLW-Television officials in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus reported that editors in all parts of the area had been swamped with entries. The program was scheduled for early May.
All information and the photo for this Look at Brookville article were supplied by the Brookville Historical Society. Do you have a photo or historical information to share or add? Please contact the Brookville Historical Society at 937-833-0285 or email to [email protected].
