KPTV’s First Test Pattern

Portland’s local Fox-affiliated television station, KPTV channel 12 signed on the
air Saturday September 20, 1952 on channel 27, as Oregon’s first television
station, as well as the world’s first commercial TV station on the UHF band. The
station was originally owned by Empire Coil and since it was the only TV station
at the time, it carried all four networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, and the now-defunct
DuMont Television Network.

KPTV founder Herbert Mayer (above) delivered the 
inaugural address from Portland’s Benson Hotel.

Italian actress Sophia Loren (Sofia Villani Scicolone) was the first
actress of the talkie era to win an Academy Award for a non-English-
speaking performance, for her portrayal of Cesira in the 1960 film
Two Women.

1957