Title: Tom Luljak Collection of WTMJ Records
Inclusive Dates: circa 1949-circa 1991 (bulk 1976-1991)

Creator:

• Luljak, Tom, compiler

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 232; PH 7083; CD 279-CD 281; FH 459; VAA 105-VAA 109; Audio 1962A

Quantity: 4.4 cubic feet (11 archives boxes and 2 oversize folders), 0.3 cubic feet of photographs (1 archives box and 1 oversize folder), 13 film reels (16 mm) (4 cans), 5 video recordings (2-inch), 14 audio discs (12-inch), and 18 audio discs (16-inch)

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries' Archives Department / Milwaukee Area Research Center and the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTIONS MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry for additional information.

Abstract:

Collection of WTMJ Records, mostly from 1976 to 1991, are materials compiled by Tom Luljak during his tenure working for WTMJ-TV, WTMJ-AM and WKTI-FM as a broadcast journalist as well as news director. The records include station evening news lists of stories and scripts, subject files, procedures and policies of the stations, awards, photographs, news film outtakes and a news feature entitled “Faces: German.” Also includes audio recordings from the 1950s of radio broadcasts. Some of the materials appear to have been created by Luljak, including the subject files.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00232

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The Journal Company, owner of the newspaper The Milwaukee Journal, obtained radio station WKAF in April 1927 and soon changed the call sign to WTMJ, for The Milwaukee Journal. The station's first broadcast was June 25, 1927, with a music format and news programming to complement its newspaper. Then in 1942 a new facility, Milwaukee Journal's Radio City, was built and opened with WTMJ-AM and FM. The AM station, until the early 1990s, featured a mixture of music, news, and local personalities, along with sports play-by-play. The station then switched to a news and talk format. The FM station went through many changes and call signs and even went off the air for a time, since many homes did not have FM radio receivers. It returned as WTMJ-FM on June 1, 1959 running automated music. The FM station changed its call sign twice, first in 1974 to WKTI and then from 2008 to 2015 to WLWK until switching back to WKTI.

The Journal Company was granted its first television license, with the call letters W9XD, in September 1931 until 1938 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) withdrew their license for the experimental television station. A license was granted again in 1941; this time with the call letters WMJT (Milwaukee Journal Television), but unfortunately the war suspended the station's ability to begin broadcasting.

The station's call letters were changed to WTMJ-TV (The Milwaukee Journal) and signed onto the air December 3, 1947. It was the first commercial television station to broadcast in Wisconsin, and the 15th in the United States. WTMJ-TV has been affiliated with NBC since its first broadcast. WTMJ-TV was also one of the first stations to broadcast in color in December 1953. For the 1962 to 1965 seasons WTMJ-TV broadcast the Milwaukee Braves until their move to Atlanta, and then they were the local television outlet for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1970 to 1980. Since the 1990s the station has been the “official” Milwaukee station to broadcast the Green Bay Packers for non-nationally televised pre-season games.

Tom Luljak earned his bachelor's degree in Radio/TV/Film and Speech Education at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He first joined WTMJ as a broadcast journalist, eventually serving as the news director for WTMJ-TV, WTMJ-AM, and WKTI-FM. After leaving journalism, he served as director of corporate communications at Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin. In the spring of 2000, Luljak joined the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) to become the Vice Chancellor of University Relations and Communications. He also serves as an associate lecturer in UWM's Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Tom Luljak Collection of WTMJ Records, mostly from 1976 to 1991, was compiled by Luljak who was a broadcast journalist and eventually news director of WTMJ-TV, WTMJ-AM, and WKTI-FM. Some of the audio and visual materials pre-date Luljak's arrival at WTMJ around 1976, but most of the materials seem to be from his tenure at the stations until about 1991. The records document the news division of the stations with a nearly complete run of a daily news budget and many television news scripts. To complement the paper records there are also some photographs, films and videos, and audio recordings.

The Evening News, 1977-1991, series consists of a “television book,” daily news budget, and television scripts. The television book breaks down stories for the day by subject, with the name of the reporter/anchor, a sentence or two on the story, sometimes with direction, and "time stamps." The daily news budget is very similar to the television book without the time stamps. The television scripts appear to be drafts of the final scripts used on camera for the evening news, sometimes including time stamps and names of reporters. The series also includes scripts for news reporter Chris Bury who served as a political and investigative reporter from around 1979 to around 1980.

The Subject Files, circa 1968-circa 1989, series covers a few subjects reported on by WTMJ, the most extensive being the Milwaukee Mayor. The media notes subject files are extensive and cover all aspects of the media including the news and broadcast television from 1984 to 1989. Also includes advertising promotions for the news.

The Policies and Procedures, 1976-1983, series consists of memos sent to staff concerning station policies such as the acceptance of gifts; directions on how to report sports; media and terrorism; and reminders of state and federal laws.

The Contests and Award, 1983-1987, series includes possible submissions of news stories to several local and national newscasting awards.

The Visual Materials, circa 1950s-circa 1980s, series contains a small amount of promotional images such as headshots of the news team going all the way back to the 1950s. The images are mostly unidentified, so headshots may be of news teams from any of the three stations. Of interest may be a promotional shot of former football player Lionel Aldridge who was a sports analyst for WTMJ-TV; shots at a few sporting events including an auto race, Brewers game, and a Marquette Warriors basketball game; and transparencies from the 1968 presidential election.

The Films and Videos, 1976-1977, consists mostly so outtakes such as snow, Halloween, Green Bay Packers, heating tips, and dogs. Also included are promotions and the special news report entitled "Faces: The Germans," which aired in February 1976 (see Subject Files for research on the story).

The Audio Recordings, 1949-1956, consists of original audio disc recordings used for either WTMJ-AM or WTMJ-TV stations. Many of the recordings are reports on the Milwaukee Braves. Also included are the First Wisconsin National Bank Program, the Charlie Grimm Show, and a report on the train wreck in Waukesha on May 7, 1956.

Milwaukee Journal Stations Records, 1922-1997 (Milwaukee Mss 203)

Acquisition Information

Presented by Tom Luljak, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, on June 17, 2010. Accession Number: M2018-035

Processing Information

Processed by Alison E. Bridger and SLIS 875-001 class, March 2018.

Milwaukee Mss 232	Series: Evening News
	Television book
Box   1 Folder   1	1979 November 10-1981 February 7
	Daily news budget
Box   1 Folder   2-3	1983 April-December
Box   1 Folder   4-6	1984 January-December
Box   1 Folder   7-8	1985 April-December
Box   2 Folder   1	1985 January-March
Box   2 Folder   2-5	1986 January-December
	[no files for 1987]
Box   2 Folder   6-9	1988 January-December
Box   3 Folder   1-4	1989 January-December
Box   3 Folder   5-7	1990 January-December
Box   3 Folder   8-9	1991 January-May
	Television scripts
Box   3 Folder   10	1977-1979
Box   4 Folder   1-4	1980
Box   4 Folder   5-8	1981 January-November 19
Box   4 Folder   9	1981 November 23-1982 January 21
Box   5 Folder   1-9	1982 January 25-December 24
Box   5 Folder   10-11	1983 January 3-April 15
Box   5 Folder   12	1983 June 17
	Chris Bury, news reporter
Box   5 Folder   13	Scripts, 1979-1980
	Series: Subject Files	⇧
Box   9 Folder   3	Marian Anderson, 1979-1980 Note: See Audio 1962A/23.
Box   6 Folder   1	“Black Thursday Shakes Oshkosh,” Oshkosh Advance-Titan, 1968 December 5
Box   6 Folder   2	Broadcasting, news reviews/articles
Box   6 Folder   3-6	Critics, 1987
Box   9 Folder   4-5	President Eisenhower, 1953 Note: See Audio 1962A/18.
Box   6 Folder   7	Electronic news gathering, 1974-1979
Box   6 Folder   8-9	“Faces German”
Box   7 Folder   1-5	Mayor, 1981-1986
Box   7 Folder   6	Mayor's race, 1984 election
Box   7 Folder   7-8	Media notes, circa 1984-1985
Box   8 Folder   1-3	Media notes, circa 1984-1985 (continued)
Box   8 Folder   4-8	Media notes, circa 1986-1989
Box   9 Folder   5	Milwaukee Braves, undated Note: See Audio 1962A/19, 26, 28 or 29.
Box   9 Folder   5	Frederick C. Miller plane crash, circa 1954 December 17, undated Note: See Audio 1962A/21.
Box   9 Folder   1	Promotions, 1977-1982
Oversize Folder   1	Newspaper promotions
Oversize Folder   2	Advertising story board for Channel 4
Box   9 Folder   2	Unemployed, 1983 January
	Series: Policies and Procedures	⇧
Box   10 Folder   1	Severe weather broadcast procedure, 1976 June
Box   10 Folder   2-4	Policies, 1977
Box   10 Folder   5	Wayne Godsey, Vice President and General Manager, WTMJ-TV, memos, 1980-1983
	Series: Contests and Awards	⇧
Box   10 Folder   6-10	1983-1987
Box   11 Folder   1-8	1983-1987 (continued)
PH 7083	Series: Visual Materials	⇧
Box   1 Folder   1-2	Headshots of WTMJ Newscasters, circa 1960s-1980s
Box   1 Folder   3	Headshots, Tom Luljak, circa 1970s-1980s
Box   1 Folder   4	Anchors/Reporters at the mic on set, circa 1950s-circa 1970s
Box   1 Folder   5	In the news room, circa 1970s
Box   1 Folder   6	Channel 4 newsroom promotion shot of News Team, 1978
Box   1 Folder   7	Reporters out in the field, circa 1970s
Box   1 Folder   8	Rolling film, undated
Oversize Folder   1	Promotion and story shots, undated
Box   1 Folder   9	Election transparencies, 1968
Box   1 Folder   10	WTMJ coverage map
Box   1 Folder   11	Bumper stickers
	Series: Films and Videos	⇧
FH   459 Reel   1	Big pumpkin outtakes, 1976
FH   459 Reel   2	Packer film, 1976
FH   459 Reel   3	Politic, never used, 1976
FH   459 Reel   4	Tall corn outtakes, 1976
FH   459 Reel   5	Simeon Viet outtakes, 1976
FH   459 Reel   6-7	Snow outtakes, 1976
FH   459 Reel   8	Wendy / Jane, Houston, 1977 March
FH   459 Reel   9	Standups, 1977 April 4 Note: Label on reverse: Antigo B.
CD   279 Reel   1	Viet outtakes, 1976
CD   279 Reel   2	Germans / map outtakes, 1976
CD   280-281	“Faces: The Germans” promotion, circa 1976 February
VAA   105	“Faces: The Germans,” 1976 February 26
VAA   106	Dogs, 1976 September 20
VAA   107	On set stuff, 1976 December
VAA   108	“3 stories; Save/Save/Save,” 1976 December
VAA   109	“Heating Tips” / WLUK-TV, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1977 January
	Series: Audio Recordings	⇧
Audio   1962A/1	First Wisconsin National Bank Program, 1950 October 24
Audio   1962A/2	George Comte narration, First Wisconsin Program, “Songs & Stories,” 1952 April 15
Audio   1962A/3	Platter “C,” 1952 July 22
Audio   1962A/4	TV sports pix; TV News, 1953 April 8
Audio   1962A/4 (side 2)	Braves opening day ceremonies, 1953 April 14
Audio   1962A/5	Cut arrival of Braves at Station, 1953 April 8
Audio   1962A/6	Braves opener, 1953 April 14
Audio   1962A/7	Train wreck, Waukesha, 1956 May 7
Audio   1962A/8	Laura Pilarski; Joe Adcock, 1950s
Audio   1962A/8 (side 2)	Charlie Grimm Show, 1950s May 20
Audio   1962A/9	Bob Heiss, Allis Chalmers Baseball Report, circa 1956
Audio   1962A/9 (side 2)	News cuts, Packers, Billy Houston, 1956 October 14
Audio   1962A/10	Report on the Braves / Bechtel, undated
Audio   1962A/11	“Badger Home and Garden” / University Extension Information Service, 1972 January
Audio   1962A/12	“NASA Special Report #82: Reusable Shuttle: Space Workhorse of the Future,” circa 1972
Audio   1962A/13	“National Association of Progressive Radio Announcers : '72 Vote P.S.A.'s,” circa 1972
Audio   1962A/14	“Campus Radio Voice” / reporter: Dennis McCabe; producer: John D. Orr, undated
Audio   1962A/15	Around the Town, 1949 March 28 Note: Side 2 blank.
Audio   1962A/16	Morning Invocations Father Hent[--]n of St. Francis Minor Seminary, 1951 June 18-23
Audio   1962A/16 (side 2)	Wage price controls; Winnie Krug? [or King?], circa 1951
Audio   1962A/17	News clips, 1951-1952 Scope and Content Note: Side 1 Cut 1: Howard Thompson, 1951 January 29 Cut 2: Gaylord Samuel, Lone Rock, 1951 January 30 Cut 3: Robert Owens, Wisconsin Manufacturing Association, 1951 February 5 Cut 4: Joe Deglman, Red Cross, 1951 March 1 Cut 5: Colonel E.R. Needles of New York, Road Builders Convention, 1951 March 13 Cut 6: [Major] General Courtney Whitney, 1951 April 18 Cut 7: Lawrence Eklund, Journal, Washington Bureau correspondent, 1951 April 19 Cut 8: L.L. Wahl, Bank Manager, 1951 November 7 Cut 9: Deputy Frank Valenta, Lake County, [Illinois], 1951 November 11 Cut 10: William Taylor, Bank President, 1951 November 7 Side 2 Cut 1: Jim Spaulding, Journal reporter, 1951 December 12 Cut 2: Mrs. Nagil (POW story), 1951 December 19, 2019 Cut 3: Warrant Officer Mehan, Racine Coast Guard, 1952 January 6 Cut 4: Commander Hagg love of Sandew, 1952 January 6 Cut 5: Clarence Manion of Notre Dame Law School (Dean), 1952 January 14 Cut 6: Secretary of the Navy Dan Kimball, 1952 January 23 Cut 7: Cudahy Officer Lathrop, 1952 February 24 Cut 8: Paul O'Brien, [burglar?], 1952 March 11 Cut 9: Robert Murphy, FBI, [burglary?], 1952 March 11 Cut 10: Senkea Hauuer, 1952 April 3 Cut 11: William Grede, WMA address, 1952 May 20 Cut 12: Mr. Salisbury, State Traffic, 1952 July 3 Cut 13: Hig Murray and Don McDowell, 1952 August 2 Cut 14: Conrad Hailpann, St. Louis, 1952 August 21 Cut 15: Robert Jacob Northshore wash, 1952 August 23 Cut 16: Sargent James Anderson, 1952 August Cut 17: [“bad” clip?] Cut 18: Hailpann Conrad, 1952 August Cut 19: Len Schmitl, 1952 September 10
Audio   1962A/18	First Wisconsin National Bank Program, “Songs and Stories,” circa 1956
Audio   1962A/18 (side 2)	6:00 PM News 10:00 News, State of the Union, President Eisenhower, 1953 February Note: See Milwaukee Mss 232, Box 9, Folder 4-5.
Audio   1962A/19	Braves Train, 1953 April 8 Note: Side 2 unlabeled.
Audio   1962A/20	State Fair, beginning 1954 August 2
Audio   1962A/20 (side 2)	Dr. Cambell Radio News 1, 10 pm Joe Friday: Future, 1954 December 14, 17
Audio   1962A/21	Frederick C. Miller plane crash: eye witness telephone recording, 1954 December 17 Note: See Milwaukee Mss 232, Box 9, Folder 6.
Audio   1962A/21 (side 2)	First Wisconsin National Bank Songs and Stories, Tuesdays 6:00 to 6:15 PM, circa 1954
Audio   1962A/22	Chesterfield 20 Second Jingle, 1955 January 25
Audio   1962A/22 (side 2)	5:30-6:00 Fire, circa 1955
Audio   1962A/23	Marian Anderson radio, circa 1955 Note: See Milwaukee Mss 232, Box 9, Folder 3.
Audio   1962A/23 (side 2)	Esther Holton, 1955 September 19
Audio   1962A/24	#16 into big cut / What's New in the Kitchen, part 1, 1956 May 22
Audio   1962A/25	Today's Events; Wade Mosby, 1956 July 26
Audio   1962A/25 (side 2)	Dr. Pick and Bride Mrs. Davidson, circa 1956
Audio   1962A/26	Report on the Braves, circa 1956
Audio   1962A/26 (side 2)	6 p.m. News UWM Official Reception, Social Labor Candidates for President 1956 July
Audio   1962A/27	Eberley, Harvey, [Pafko?] 1956 September 30 Note: Side 2 unlabeled.
Audio   1962A/28	Braves' Series Celebration, 1957 October 10 Note: Side 2 blank.
Audio   1962A/29	Morning Invocations Reverend W.S. Wadland of North Presbyterian Church / Sam Long on Braves, undated
Audio   1962A/30	Lone Ranger : for standby, undated / Laura Pilarski's Report from Poland, undated
Audio   1962A/31	Wilbur Rent, Bernard Gettleman, Mrs. Eisenhower, Mrs. Blanche Hoy[t?], H.V. Kaltenbor[n?] undated Note: Side 2 unlabeled.
Audio   1962A/32	1-3-4, undated Note: Side 2 blank.