Here’s where it all started for WCTV...as part of the town’s 1986 cable license renewal.

          
     These pictures are from the opening of our facility in the old Swain School on Middlesex Avenue. Note the “WELCOME TO WCTV!” banner and the early equipment racks in the Control Room.
                          

          
     Here are some shots of our early election coverage live at Wilmington Town Hall. These were taken before the days of the self-contained portable studio rack that we now use. The portable video switcher seen in the above left photo is still being used by WCTV, more than a decade and a half after these pictures were taken.
                                

            
     Here’s a look at some WCTV’s early equipment, from editing systems to Control Room apparatus to one of the cameras taken out for shoot in the field.        

           
     Over the course of its 20 years of keeping you in touch with your community, the local media has helped WCTV keep in touch with you. WCTV has gotten its share of “ink” over this time, and here are some of our favorite clippings.
         
     If you look closely, you can see a some shots of a young Chris Cassidy, who currently sits on our Board of Directors. And the young man with the headset is Shaun Neville, who took what he learned in his early days at WCTV and used it to embark on a career in broadcast television. Shaun’s dad is Chris Neville, a Wilmington Police Lieutenant and current WCTV President.
           
Another face you may recognize is that of long-time WCTV member and former Executive Director Ruth Kennedy. Ruth’s father, Jim Durkee, is still quite active at WCTV and produces, among other things, the taped coverage of the monthly meetings of the Elder Services Commissioners.
You may also recognize WCTV veteran Don Leard, now best known for being part of the “Don and Ron” tandem that covers the Board of Selectmen and School Committee meetings. Here he is in another role, in front of the camera.
           

          
     Here are some production photos from WCTV’s Sports Forum program. Over the years, Sports Forum’s Paul Cardello has played host to an incredible array of guests from local luminaries such as Gil Santos and Lou Gorman to most of Boston’s top TV sports talent such as Bob Lobel, Mike Dowling, Mike Lynch and Gene LaVanchy.
The show has also featured sports legends, local guests, and offbeat personalities
such as the beloved wrestling icon Killer Kowalsky.

                
Let’s see more photos from the early days at WCTV!