The Yule Log is Back!

[musicradio77]

From WB11.com

Make Sure you Don't Miss the "Real Thing" Yule Log Which Will Air This Christmas Morning, Saturday - Dec. 25th, 2004 From 8 AM to 12:00 PM (noon)

The beloved Yule Log, a favorite New York holiday tradition, will again burn twice as long as bright this year on Tribune Broadcasting's WB Television Network afiliate, WPIX Channel 11 (The WB11). The Yule Log, The WB11 video Chrstmas card to New York, which returned to televison in 2001, ending a 12-year hiatus, will again be seen for four hours this Christmas instead of the traditional two hours. It will be seen from 8 AM to Noon on Christmas Day (Saturday Dec. 25). The Yule Log was first expanded from two to four hours for Christmas 2003.

For Christmas 2004 The Yule Log will also be seen in High Definition Television (HDTV) on WPIX's digital channel, WPIX-DT Channel 12. The Yule Log in HDTV, as close as TV can be to a real burning fireplace log, will be available to those with HDTV sets who can receive the WPIX-DT signal. Those with standard TV sets will still be able to see the Yule Log in its traditional format from 8 AM to Noon on December 25, Christmas day. Both versions will feature popular Christmas music in high-fidelity stereophonic sound.

In addition, this year, portions of the WPIX Yule Log will be seen nationally on Christmas Eve beginning at 1:30 AM on Superstation WGN, America's only nationwide TV superstation.

The Yule Log, video of a blazing fireplace accompanied by holiday music, was a holiday tradition on Channel 11 from 1966 to 1989. During its hiatus, the many letters and phone calls to Channel 11 requesting its return attested to its undying popularity. The Yule Log has won its time period for WPIX in New York's overnight Neilsen Station Index ratings each year since its return to television.

The Yule Log was the creation of the late Fred Thrower, General Manager of WPIX from 1953 to 1975. "I thought about all the cave dwellers in New York, all the apartments that don't have fireplaces," he remembered in a 1988 interview. "I thought this might be a wonderful way...to let people hear real good Christmas carols and to have their own fireplaces burning."

The first Yule Log was a 17-second film of the fireplace at Gracie Mansion, residence of New York's mayor, shot when John Lindsay was in office. The film was looped to fill a two-hour broadcast. It was re-shot a number of times, always with care that the fireplace should be resemble the original at Gracie Mansion. To bring the Yule Log back to TV in 2001, the film was completely remastered using the latest digital technology to give a very sharp picture. The sound track, however, is the original collection of carols that delighted viewers throughout the 1960's, 70's and 80's.

You should watch this clip for The Yule Log plus 3 Christmas cartoons.

[Jrnygrl]

They are doing the same thing in L.A.

I think I would rather have a test pattern!

[Moonlight Lady]

I miss the Yule Log. Our cable company stopped carrying WPIX a couple years ago. We don't get WGN either.

[musicradio77]

Originally posted by ~*Twist Of Kate*~
I miss the Yule Log. Our cable company stopped carrying WPIX a couple years ago. We don't get WGN either.

I know that, the "Yule Log" already came back since 2001. The last one was 1989 before WPIX went to a 12-year hiatus and came back. I've seen it last year, but now it's back again to do it every year. The website theyulelog.net hasn't been up yet. It will be update it very soon for the holidays.

[musicradio77]

Here is the picture of the "Yule Log". By the way, if you want to watch this special, no fireplace is harmed during the making of this special. I hope you will enjoy it.

[W.B.]

The Yule Log was the creation of the late Fred Thrower, General Manager of WPIX from 1953 to 1975. "I thought about all the cave dwellers in New York, all the apartments that don't have fireplaces," he remembered in a 1988 interview. "I thought this might be a wonderful way...to let people hear real good Christmas carols and to have their own fireplaces burning."

Hate to nitpick but . . . Fred M. Thrower (1910-1999) actually was General Manager at the time he joined WPIX in 1953. By the time he created The Yule Log in 1966, Mr. Thrower was President of what The New York Times called "the WPIX stations" which, by that time, not only consisted of TV/11 but also FM/101.9 (now WQCD, owned by Emmis). Not only that, but at the time Mr. Thrower left WPIX in 1975, the vice president/general manager was one Richard N. Hughes, famous for his editorials which ended with "What's your opinion? We'd like to know" - and who, in 1974, taped a Christmas message which came before The Yule Log for years thereafter.

Oh, and at the time WPIX bought the FM station (heretofore Muzak-owned WBFM) in December 1963, Mr. Thrower was listed in The New York Times as executive vice president of Channel 11. In short, he went up the ranks over the years.