KVUE Channel 24 is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Austin, Texas….and is owned by Tegna, Inc……and their studios are located on Steck Avenue just east of Loop 1 in northwest Austin…. with its transmitter being located on the West Austin Antenna Farm just west of downtown Austin (which it shares with KEYE-TV). The station first signed on the air on September 12, 1971….and was originally operated by Center Broadcasting Co. of Center, Texas (owned by Tolbert Foster). The station was the market’s first full-time ABC affiliate….cuz prior to KVUE’s sign-on….the network’s programming had previously been limited to off-hours clearances on KTBC (channel 7)….and though most of the market could pick up San Antonio’s KSAT-TV with a decent antenna. Unlike most network affiliates in the then two-station market…..KHFI-TV (channel 36, now KXAN-TV) did not take on a secondary affiliation with ABC when that station signed on in February 1965.
What kid growing up from 1977 on hasn’t chewed their fair share of Bubblicious Bubble Gum…..cuz next to Bazooka Bubble Gum….it was the best in taste, chewability and bubble blowing ever….with Bubblicious and their varied flavors being dang near as popular. Bubblicious is a brand of bubble gum originally produced by the American Chicle Division of Warner-Lambert. The brand is now part of Cadbury Adams, a division of Mondelez International. It was launched in 1977….in response to the tremendous sales of Bubble Yum, the first soft bubble gum….which was no comparison to Bazooka….and not as good. The brand struggled upon introduction, but sales took off with the advent, in 1978, of the “Ultimate Bubble” advertising campaign.
MCI, Inc. was an American telecommunication corporation…..which currently is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications….with its main office in Ashburn, Virginia. The corporation was formed originally as a result of the merger of WorldCom and MCI Communications corporations….and used the name MCI WorldCom before changing its name to the present version on April 12, 2003, as part of the corporation’s ending of its bankruptcy status. For a time, WorldCom was the United States’s second largest long distance telephone company (after AT&T). WorldCom grew largely by acquiring other telecommunications companies….most notably MCI Communications.
Of greater import….this lil ole chiweenie Sportsphile just loves this MCI commercial….cuz they use Burt Lancaster….Elmer Gantry…..The Birdman of Alcatraz….Jim Thorpe All American….Burt Lancaster….truly one of the all time great male actors….pitching MCI long distance….what a treasure in our chest of vintage memories. Boy, would I have loved to find that man’s shoes under my bed in the morning!!!
