When someone mentions “WTCN Channel 11″, what do you think of first? Casey Jones and Roundhouse Rodney? Reruns? Twin Cities Newspapers? Chris-Craft? Mel Jass’ midday movie matinee? Calhoun Beach Hotel studios on Dean Boulevard? Many of us immediately recall the funky “Metro-Media Television 11-11-11″ jingle, accompanied by it’s “dancing” MM11 logo. By sheer coincidence, this jingle opens and closes the WTCN composite heard here 
Besides the MetroMedia jingle, you will hear WTCN’s booth announcers who promoted the current and upcoming programs. “The Childrens’ Weather Forecast” was specifically targeted to kids like myself who were getting ready for school at this time and wished to know what the weather would be like on that day. And who could forget the “Good Grief!” commercial for the Snoopy Toothbrush? A live read for Bill Boyer Ford is also included here.
Since I was only 9 years old when I recorded this, the basic “microphone in front of the speaker” technique is employed here. Fortunately, most clips were taped off of our 23″ Packard Bell color set instead of the 9″ Wards Airline black & white portable that I had in my room. For some reason, I didn’t get that annoying video signal “buzz” on the Packard Bell.  The original tape was made using a Spartan-Atlantic “shoebox” recorder and an Audio Magnetics 60 minute “bag” cassette.
#1 by JC on December 28, 2009 - 7:19 pm
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That Metromedia 11 jingle is just as infectious now as it was 36 years ago.
#2 by Drew on December 28, 2009 - 10:43 pm
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Whomever thought that one up was a genius! I had two instances on this tape but flubbed them both up. Clipped the beginning on cut #1 and shut the tape off early on cut #2. So, I pieced them together to create the version heard here. It’s great how digital editing can fix the mistakes you made when you were 9!
BTW, Metromedia used the same jingle & logo for KTTV-11 in Los Angeles.
#3 by Howard Luloff on December 31, 2009 - 9:46 am
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This brings back memories of growing up in Bloomington in the early 70s with the “Metromedia Television. 11 11 11″ jingle and the opening from “Popeye and Porky”, the show that replaced Casey and Roundhouse. I also remember the Children’s Weather Report music, which was also used on Casey and Roundhouse.
#4 by Drew on January 1, 2010 - 8:20 am
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We must have grown up during the same time. I had 11 on in the morning when I was getting ready for school. Just by habit after Casey & Roundhouse left the air. I also remember most of the daytime lineup (for the days I stayed home “sick” from school:)
7:30-8:30 – Popeye & Friends
8:30-9:00 – Mr. Ed.
9:00-9:30 – The Flintstones
9:30-10:00 – I Dream of Jeannie
10:00-10:30 – Father Knows Best
Wasn’t there a show called “What’s New?” in the midday somewhere? I think the Mel Jass matinee started at 1:00. Not sure about the 3-4:00 hour.
Flintstones were back on at 4, then Gilligan’s Island at 4:30.