As someone who worked on these I.D.'s it is great to see them again. WTOG in the late 70's - it was a great place to work and a super staff...We were the first station in the country to air over 80 baseball games -without a baseball team in the state....we were a cutting edge station with the Rowdies, the Bucs and plenty of fun local programs. I will also never forget DR. Paul - he was one of a kind!
These jingles almost make me teary eyed as it flashes memories back to me of my dad as he was one of the construction crew carpenters that helped build "Morocco Village" in Busch Gardens. He really enjoyed working there and always spoke highly of his coworkers. I miss him and that wonderful time period.
Love the compositing done on these ID's. The electronic re-colors at the end of the ID's is definitive '70's! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I take it the "faces" were cel animated and the graphics and scenery footage were composited through a video mixer. It adds up to a really cool analog look.
I was a kid when those spots aired! I remember when WTOG aired "Soul Train" on Saturdays, and I was very upset when it was removed from the lineup in August of 1979! Bad move, 44!
Who remembers Battle of the Planets on 44? That was an awesome cartoon.... The Rowdies team and the song. Wished I could find that commercial ....I lived in Port Charlotte in 78 and 79.... Good times
Wow, this is amazing!! We went to St. Petersburg every March for family vacation, through the 1970s, with the last year being about 1983 (I remember only one side of the Sunshine Skyway remained because a boat broke it, close to the last year we were there), but to this day I have never forgotten the "As far as the eye can see" song. And 44 was the only channel we watched... it was like they had the best of the best TV shows. Wow this brings back great memories of fun times in Florida...
I worked at 44 from 1978 to 1986. I have so much stuff including video, printed materials and promotional items. I have a wtog display in my home which includes PM Magazine stuff.
I'm not from Tampa/St. Pete,I'm from Chicago and we had a "44" also (WSNS). Those independent stations aired some of the best comedy shows,cartoons,and WRESTLING (R.I.P. The Dean Gordon Solie!). WTOG's "As Far As The Eye Can See" slogan was like another Chicago station's WFLD 32's "The Choice Is Yours" ad campaign during the late 1970's early 80's. Thanks for sharing these clips. No matter where we're from,we all have these little pieces of nostalgia reminding us of the good ol days!!
I pull these up about every 3 months or so for that little trip down memory lane. I makes me feel old & young, all at the same time. I was just a little gal when these came out, so it seems like so long ago. But it reminds me of how much more simple things were, and I feel a little like everything since then is a fraud and someone's gonna figure out someday I'm really still only 4 years old!
Thanks for posting this - wonderful! My Grandparents lived in Port Charlotte for many years and I would visit from NJ every year and I fondly remember this! I used to draw the 'pack-man' faces and the 44 all the time - and this was way before pack man!
Thinking about Hurricane Milton hitting that area and praying for all affected. Having said that, I wonder how many of these beautiful places are still around since these promo id's were made in the 70s.
I grew up in the crappy little town of Wauchula in central Florida back in the 70's and 80's. I really miss watching the old channel 44, especially "Creature Feature" with "Doctor Paul Bearer" on a TV with actual nobs on it to turn the channel. Great memories!
Was hoping to see one from the early 80s, the jingle "Look whos doing more, 44, WTOG..." We always went to Clearwater in grade school forEaster and ALWAYS remembered that. Great memories....!
We still talk about Dr. Paul Bearer! I grew up in Port Charlotte (another crappy little Florida town) and spent a lot of time in front of the TV watching this stuff.
They tried a few years ago with Dick Bennick's (Dr. Paul Bearer's) son, but it didn't last long. BTW, WTOG celebrated their 40th anniversary recently and re-broadcast some of these spots.
It has changed tremendously, sad to say, not for the better. It was such a very clean and quiet town back in the 70s. There are some bright spots, of course, but generally the economy's downfall is quite evident with the number of foreclosed/abandoned homes and the increases in crime. The big parks are still nice, but Ft. Desoto costs $5 to visit! The Pier may be torn down soon for a new "White Elephant" project called "The Lens" ( Google it). Times have changed.
Being a White Sox fan,I got to say,...cool!Plus,you guys have other teams' games too!It was a great time in those days,and you Tampa/St. Pete folks are lucky to experence that!
Blank77 - We made a deal with MLB to air teams that trained in our area. We had the Reds, Cards, Phils Pirates, White Sox, Red Sox, Tigers and Mets. We did our own pregame shows and baseball specials. It was quite a time in those days...
James Williams As an under 10 year old kid, I remember watching and the intro music to those games was the Midnight Express theme by Giorgio Moroder in the late 70s and very early 80s, though I did not know that at the time. I just loved the music under the highlights of all the different teams. Remember it like it was yesterday. The best memories.
3:24 - This film of downtown Tampa as viewed from Bayshore Blvd. looks like it was shot in 1972 because the First Financial Tower appeared to be under construction.
I was surprised to find out this station was owned by Hubbard Broadcasting at the time of these ID's. They're based in my home state of Minnesota (the "frozen north"), and own KSTP-AM/FM/TV. I didn't know they owned stations down in Florida.
@wlpupo My little friends and I used to do the "4 & 4" thing to each other while singing the jingle. We'd put that little "whine" at the end, over-exaggerating it until it irritated our parents.
1:28...I realize my mom has a picture of my (at the time) step brother and posing under these tusks. Would have had to have been '76, as she wan't married to my step dad for very long. I believe there is also a picture of us taking the elephant ride. I don't think they brought in the camel, yet.
What is the background in 0:32. Is that Busch Gardens in the beginning of the video? If it is, then that's the former look of the Crown Colony House that has a land of it's own.
+Jonathan Hernandez (TheNESTLEH2) The 1970s was a very different, much calmer time period. Tampa was a much cleaner and overall friendly city. Back then, Busch Gardens was a Florida attraction hot spot, 2nd only to Disney world. Naturally Channel 44 was doing its part in promoting Busch Gardens, which in turned promoted the Tampa Bay area. Was a very smart move on the station's management. There were no "Playstations", cellphones, or internet back then so many adults and children alike were loyal customers to Busch Gardens.
My wife and I lived in Lakeland from Aug. 1982 to October 1983, and remember when 44's jingle was "We're 44. We show you the good life." Any chance that can be put on You Tube? I also remember Dr. Paul Bearer. Thanks for sharing these 1970's 44 jingles.
I got to ask,80 baseball games,and the Rays didn't excist until 1998.Was it MLB or minor league games that WTOG aired? BTW:Love the ID's from the 70's!And i'm from Chicago!
Does anyone have any old logos/jingles/promos from the early days we can use here at WTOG for our 50th anniversary? Shoot me an email if you do. ericahab at the gmail. Thanks!
As someone who worked on these I.D.'s it is great to see them again. WTOG in the late 70's - it was a great place to work and a super staff...We were the first station in the country to air over 80 baseball games -without a baseball team in the state....we were a cutting edge station with the Rowdies, the Bucs and plenty of fun local programs. I will also never forget DR. Paul - he was one of a kind!
Hey do you remember when Close Encounters came out and WTOG did its own version of a Close Encounters station ID commercial?
Yeah, I grew up watching WTOG as a kid from the 70s through late 80s. I had a lot of fond memories of programming from those eras.
Legend, you just made my day. I grew up in Central Florida and we got WTOG. Those ID's bring back SO MANY great memories. I get chills. Thanks.
These jingles almost make me teary eyed as it flashes memories back to me of my dad as he was one of the construction crew carpenters that helped build "Morocco Village" in Busch Gardens. He really enjoyed working there and always spoke highly of his coworkers. I miss him and that wonderful time period.
Love the compositing done on these ID's. The electronic re-colors at the end of the ID's is definitive '70's!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I take it the "faces" were cel animated and the graphics and scenery footage were composited through a video mixer. It adds up to a really cool analog look.
I'm going to be hearing this in my sleep! I love it though because I'm a Seventies fanatic.
I was a kid when those spots aired! I remember when WTOG aired "Soul Train" on Saturdays, and I was very upset when it was removed from the lineup in August of 1979! Bad move, 44!
Michael Williams as far as the eye can see
Who remembers Battle of the Planets on 44? That was an awesome cartoon.... The Rowdies team and the song. Wished I could find that commercial ....I lived in Port Charlotte in 78 and 79.... Good times
Wow, this is amazing!! We went to St. Petersburg every March for family vacation, through the 1970s, with the last year being about 1983 (I remember only one side of the Sunshine Skyway remained because a boat broke it, close to the last year we were there), but to this day I have never forgotten the "As far as the eye can see" song. And 44 was the only channel we watched... it was like they had the best of the best TV shows. Wow this brings back great memories of fun times in Florida...
I worked at 44 from 1978 to 1986. I have so much stuff including video, printed materials and promotional items. I have a wtog display in my home which includes PM Magazine stuff.
I'm not from Tampa/St. Pete,I'm from Chicago and we had a "44" also (WSNS). Those independent stations aired some of the best comedy shows,cartoons,and WRESTLING (R.I.P. The Dean Gordon Solie!). WTOG's "As Far As The Eye Can See" slogan was like another Chicago station's WFLD 32's "The Choice Is Yours" ad campaign during the late 1970's early 80's. Thanks for sharing these clips. No matter where we're from,we all have these little pieces of nostalgia reminding us of the good ol days!!
I chuckle every time I think of this jingle with the eyes smiling looking upward turning into the top of the 4s.
I pull these up about every 3 months or so for that little trip down memory lane. I makes me feel old & young, all at the same time. I was just a little gal when these came out, so it seems like so long ago. But it reminds me of how much more simple things were, and I feel a little like everything since then is a fraud and someone's gonna figure out someday I'm really still only 4 years old!
Thanks for posting this - wonderful! My Grandparents lived in Port Charlotte for many years and I would visit from NJ every year and I fondly remember this! I used to draw the 'pack-man' faces and the 44 all the time - and this was way before pack man!
I saw these jingles during an hollyday week in Saint Petersbourg Beach in August 1980.
Lived in Tampa from 72 to 92. Great memories.
I'm sure they were (or simply cut-outs manipulated under the camera). It certainly was a very analog deal here!
Another amazing WTOG intro!
OHMYGOD!!!! I totally remember these. I grew up in Port Charlotte, FL. I think that we got 4 channels and this was the only one on UHF.
Thinking about Hurricane Milton hitting that area and praying for all affected. Having said that, I wonder how many of these beautiful places are still around since these promo id's were made in the 70s.
I grew up in the crappy little town of Wauchula in central Florida back in the 70's and 80's. I really miss watching the old channel 44, especially "Creature Feature" with "Doctor Paul Bearer" on a TV with actual nobs on it to turn the channel. Great memories!
The orangutan promo at 2:14 was always a favorite. Miss those days.
Was hoping to see one from the early 80s, the jingle "Look whos doing more, 44, WTOG..." We always went to Clearwater in grade school forEaster and ALWAYS remembered that. Great memories....!
We still talk about Dr. Paul Bearer! I grew up in Port Charlotte (another crappy little Florida town) and spent a lot of time in front of the TV watching this stuff.
It's interesting to see what Tampa and St.Pete looked like in the 70s.
They tried a few years ago with Dick Bennick's (Dr. Paul Bearer's) son, but it didn't last long.
BTW, WTOG celebrated their 40th anniversary recently and re-broadcast some of these spots.
Hey, I don't remember the Pac Men turning into 4s! Oh wait, Pac Man wasn't invented yet. UGH I'm sooo old!
WTOG...As far as the eye can see.
Love the two smiling eyes gazing upward turning into the two 4s.
It has changed tremendously, sad to say, not for the better. It was such a very clean and quiet town back in the 70s. There are some bright spots, of course, but generally the economy's downfall is quite evident with the number of foreclosed/abandoned homes and the increases in crime. The big parks are still nice, but Ft. Desoto costs $5 to visit! The Pier may be torn down soon for a new "White Elephant" project called "The Lens" ( Google it). Times have changed.
God I wish that I did. WTOG needs to bring back Creature Feature from the dead so to speak.
Being a White Sox fan,I got to say,...cool!Plus,you guys have other teams' games too!It was a great time in those days,and you Tampa/St. Pete folks are lucky to experence that!
Blank77 - We made a deal with MLB to air teams that trained in our area. We had the Reds, Cards, Phils Pirates, White Sox, Red Sox, Tigers and Mets. We did our own pregame shows and baseball specials. It was quite a time in those days...
James Williams As an under 10 year old kid, I remember watching and the intro music to those games was the Midnight Express theme by Giorgio Moroder in the late 70s and very early 80s, though I did not know that at the time. I just loved the music under the highlights of all the different teams. Remember it like it was yesterday. The best memories.
3:24 - This film of downtown Tampa as viewed from Bayshore Blvd. looks like it was shot in 1972 because the First Financial Tower appeared to be under construction.
I was surprised to find out this station was owned by Hubbard Broadcasting at the time of these ID's. They're based in my home state of Minnesota (the "frozen north"), and own KSTP-AM/FM/TV. I didn't know they owned stations down in Florida.
@wlpupo My little friends and I used to do the "4 & 4" thing to each other while singing the jingle. We'd put that little "whine" at the end, over-exaggerating it until it irritated our parents.
My brother and I did the same thing!LOL!!!!!!the 70s!I miss it it!😄
1:28...I realize my mom has a picture of my (at the time) step brother and posing under these tusks. Would have had to have been '76, as she wan't married to my step dad for very long. I believe there is also a picture of us taking the elephant ride. I don't think they brought in the camel, yet.
WTOG being was independent UPN and now CW
What is the background in 0:32. Is that Busch Gardens in the beginning of the video? If it is, then that's the former look of the Crown Colony House that has a land of it's own.
Too much Busch Gardens... ugh.
+Jonathan Hernandez (TheNESTLEH2) The 1970s was a very different, much calmer time period. Tampa was a much cleaner and overall friendly city. Back then, Busch Gardens was a Florida attraction hot spot, 2nd only to Disney world. Naturally Channel 44 was doing its part in promoting Busch Gardens, which in turned promoted the Tampa Bay area. Was a very smart move on the station's management. There were no "Playstations", cellphones, or internet back then so many adults and children alike were loyal customers to Busch Gardens.
My wife and I lived in Lakeland from Aug. 1982 to October 1983, and remember when 44's jingle was "We're 44. We show you the good life." Any chance that can be put on You Tube? I also remember Dr. Paul Bearer. Thanks for sharing these 1970's 44 jingles.
+Legend813a, what year was that from? Are those WTOG-TV jingles from what company?
They sound like Pepper-Tanner jingles. Recorded in Memphis.
It has been a long time and I was a kid then but If I remember correctly these ran from about 1975 thru 78. Am I in the ballpark?
What was with those floating heads that morphed into the "44"? Looks kind of odd.
if i am right wtog as well also carried the Jerry Lewis telethon for many years
It was hosted by WTOG’s Jane Johnson and radio host jack harris.
I got to ask,80 baseball games,and the Rays didn't excist until 1998.Was it MLB or minor league games that WTOG aired?
BTW:Love the ID's from the 70's!And i'm from Chicago!
blank77 I grew up in the Tampa viewing area back then. It was MLB games that aired. From a variety of teams.
pacman this was independent til 93
Does anyone have any old logos/jingles/promos from the early days we can use here at WTOG for our 50th anniversary? Shoot me an email if you do. ericahab at the gmail. Thanks!