Happy Birthday Channel 5!

Channel 5 won't make a big deal out of this, but I will: WLWT-TV turns 60 years old on Saturday. Happy Birthday!

The city's first TV station began commercial operation on Feb. 9, 1948, when experimental W8XCT became WLWT-TV (then Channel 4). Six days later, on Feb. 15, WLWT-TV celebrated "T Day," inaugurating the new "Mount Olympus" telecomunications studios beneath the new TV tower on Chickasaw Street in University Heights. (The aging historic building still owned by Channel 5 is slated for demolition soon.)

I'm told that Channel 5 newscasts will mention the birthday Saturday, but hold off making a big deal until April 19, the 60th anniversary of WLWT-TV becoming the first NBC affiliate, says Richard Dyer, Channel 5 president and general manager.

But I won' wait to celebrate Cincinnati’s TV pioneers. (WKRC-TV and WCPO-TV would not sign on until more than a year later.) By Feb. 9, 1948, Crosley Broadcasting already had many TV broadcasting achievements: the first variety show, Reds telecast, UC football game, and Harlem Globetrotters game.

Here's a list TV history list I've compiled over the years from interviews, publications and old WLWT press releases:

April, 1937: Crosley Radio Corp. starts experimental TV station, W8XCT, which becomes WLWT (Channel 4) in 1948.

April 26, 1939: Crosley demonstrates "modern television"’ for reporters on the roof of Carew Tower. A Crosley iconoscope camera was used in New York World's Fair TV demonstration.

June 4, 1946: W8XCT resumes broadcasts, which had been suspended in 1942 due to World War II.

Jan. 20, 1947: Construction permit issued by FCC for WLWT.

July 31, 1947: W8XCT broadcasts first regular program, a variety show, from Carew Tower studio.

Sept. 21, 1947: First Cincinnati Reds telecast on W8XCT from Crosley Field.

Oct. 11, 1947: First W8XCT football game, UC vs. Dayton from Nippert Stadium.

Nov. 30, 1947: First W8XCT professional basketball telecast from Music Hall, Harlem Globetrotters vs. New York Celtics.

Feb. 9, 1948: W8XCT becomes WLWT on first day of commercial operation. Before then, W8XCT was averaging 20 hours of broadcasting per week. That number steadily increased to 35 hours a week by the end of 1948.

If you were producing a 60th anniversary special for WLWT-TV, what would you include in the show other than Ruth Lyons, Paul Dixon and "Midwestern Hayride?" What favorite moments/personalities would you like to see again?

Help me compile a list.