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CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City of Phoenix. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting this email. Report Suspicious From: Julia Taggart To: Helana Ruter Subject: LC Letter of Support Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 10:03:50 AM Hi Helana, Hi! Here's her letter. ___ To Whom it May Concern: I’m Lynda Carter, here to tell you a little-known story. It’s 1956. A bold, blue-eyed 5yr old girl walked into a small building to be on the famous “Lew King Ranger Show!” Lights, camera, action…well, not quite. But it was a huge deal for me! I was hooked. Inspired. A seed was planted and the mighty oak grew. That is how life works. Now it’s time to preserve this cultural center for the people. It isn’t just a building—it has been shared, cared for, and holds memories in its brick and mortar that give back to you. Help me, as I stand with the organizers to preserve this site. Bring history, love, creativity, and passion along with a few dollars towards this amazing project. Yes, I have my memories…I want you to create your memories there as well! You know? You all may see me when I’m in town ;-) Mighty oaks abound! I can still hear—- “It’s Lewwww King!” Haha. What will your memories be? LC ATTACHMENT F CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City of Phoenix. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting this email. Report Suspicious Dear Sunnyslope, We have been working with the wonderful owners of First Studio (https://www.firststudio.net/ [firststudio.net]) to get their building on the City of Phoenix Historic Property Register. It was the first television station building in the state of Arizona also known as KPHO Studio. This building was the home of KPHO from 1949 to 1971. Inside was where many iconic Arizona shows were created and produced such as "Gold Dust Charlie", "The Wallace and Ladmo Show", "Lew King Ranger Talent Show", "Cookin With Rita" and many more. This meeting is to initiate historic status for the building. How you can help is by submitting a comment of support for this building to historic@phoenix.gov with the agenda item #4. Share any memories, photos, and or thoughts regarding the KPHO Building. A huge thank you to Randy and Theresa Murray for preserving this building and pursuing historic status. It couldn't have happened with out you two! The link to the agenda: chrome- extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mail.go ogle.com/mail/u/1? ui=2&ik=d18cef4846&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg- f:1837109350540197041&th=197eb9388c7f3cb1&view=att&zw&d isp=inline&acrobatPromotionSource=GmailAttachmentCard Page 1 of 4 Email from Sunnyslope Museum Page 2 of 4 Email from Sunnyslope Museum Page 3 of 4 Email from Sunnyslope Museum Exterior of the Building in the 1950's Sunnyslope Historical Society | 737 East Hatcher Road | Phoenix, AZ 85020 US Unsubscribe [visitor.constantcontact.com] | Update Profile [visitor.constantcontact.com] | Constant Contact Data Notice [constantcontact.com] [constantcontact.com] Page 4 of 4 Email from Sunnyslope Museum CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City of Phoenix. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting this email. Report Suspicious From: Julia Taggart To: Helana Ruter Subject: Ladmo Family Letter of Support Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025 1:15:06 PM To Whom It May Concern, The Kwiatkowski family is honored to support the proposal to designate the KPHO building as a historic site on the City of Phoenix Historic Property Register. Recognizing this building as a historic landmark will preserve the legacy of The Wallace and Ladmo Show and the profound impact it had on generations of Arizonans—and on viewers nationwide. The show’s remarkable consistency—with its original cast and crew remaining intact for the entirety of its 36-year run (April 1, 1954 – December 29, 1989)—is a rarity in both U.S. history and television history. It is widely considered the longest-running children’s show with its original cast in place, and its influence continues to resonate with families today. Our family is deeply proud of the recognition the show continues to receive. We know that our father, Ladmo Kwiatkowski, would be honored to see the enduring effect Wallace and Ladmo Show has had on the community. His heart’s desire was always to entertain and uplift the families of Arizona. His motto, “It’s always about the kids,” guided every performance. He truly loved his work—from the first show to the last—and often said he had the best job in the world. He was a humble man and would be amazed by the attention and appreciation the show still garners. We believe that honoring the KPHO building is a fitting tribute to the cultural and historical importance of the show and all those involved in its legacy. Thank you for considering this proposal. We are excited at the prospect of seeing the KPHO building recognized on the City of Phoenix Historic Property Register. Warm regards, The Kwiatkowski Family To Whom It May Concern, As a Center for Creative Endeavor since 1949, First Studio has been significant to my life. As a fourth gen native Arizonan, born in 1955, I, like thousands of kids, grew up watching Wallace and Ladmo, as it was first broadcast from the original KPHO-TV studio in downtown Phoenix. As home to one of Arizona’s pioneer television stations, First Studio’s place in history is indisputable. That First Studio Gallery still functions as an integral player in video production, the arts and the community in general, all these decades later, is proof it deserves to not only be recognized and preserved but to be honored. Thank you for your time and consideration in considering First Studio Gallery for the National Register of Historic Places. Sincerely, Vique Rojas CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City of Phoenix. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting this email. Report Suspicious From: PDD Historic Preservation To: Helana Ruter Subject: FW: KPHO Building should have historic status Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 3:31:01 PM Helana, fyi… From: Ruth McLeod <ruthmcleod@earthlink.net> Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 2:26 PM To: PDD Historic Preservation <historic@phoenix.gov> Subject: KPHO Building should have historic status Agenda #4 KPHO building should be on Phoenix historic property registry. Wallace and Ladmo show was on KPHO. My family and children LOVED it. Cooking with Rita was also a favorite. What wonderful memories from that station. Ruth McLeod 12212 ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd Agenda #4 KPHO building should be on Phoenix historic property registry. Wallace and Ladmo show was on KPHO. My family and children LOVED it. Cooking with Rita was also a favorite. What wonderful memories from that station. Ruth McLeod 12212 N. Paradise Village Pkwy S. #101 Phoenix, AZ 85022 602-505-1462 ruthmcleod@earthlink.net CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City of Phoenix. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting this email. Report Suspicious From: Julia Taggart To: Helana Ruter Subject: Letter of Support Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 5:00:34 PM To Whom it May Concern: I am writing to convey my unwavering support for the First Studio building in Phoenix, the original KPHO television studios, to be granted historic status on the City of Phoenix Historic Property Register. Having lived my entire life in Arizona, I understand deeply the pivotal role the First Studio building has played in our state's history. It served as the site of Arizona's first television station in 1949, launching a new era of communication and entertainment. It also became the original home of "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" in 1954, a program that became a beloved cultural touchstone for generations of Arizonans. This past April, I had the privilege of attending the street sign unveiling ceremony for "The Wallace and Ladmo Show," which included an open house at the First Studio. Walking through the building, I was reminded of its extensive history, hosting countless newscasts, entertainment programs, sports broadcasts, and a multitude of celebrity appearances. Personally, this visit was incredibly moving, as I revisited the very studios where, 57 years ago, I appeared on "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" twice as an 11-year-old bicycle contest winner. My recent experience underscored the enduring impact the First Studio building and its legacy have had on the collective memory and cultural fabric of Arizona. Granting this building historic status would not only recognize its past contributions but also preserve a significant piece of our shared heritage for future generations. Therefore, I urge your favorable consideration in granting the First Studio building historic status on the National Register of Historic Place. Brian Ishikawa bishiwashy@aol.com 06-27-2025 To whom it may concern: My name is Dan Horn, and I grew up in Tempe, Arizona. I think I speak for thousands of Arizonans when I say the effect that the Wallace & Ladmo show had upon my life is incalculable. I was born in 1958, so for me, there was never a time when Wallace & Ladmo was not a major part of my life. While growing up, just like every other kid I knew, I was a fan who watched daily. I envied other classmates who had the opportunity to go to KPHO as winners and appear on the show. I myself had the opportunity to visit the station and be on the show in 1969, and the experience engraved lasting, cherished memories. Ten years later, in August 1979, I made my first appearance on the show as a performer, that in time led to joining it and spending eight years as a featured cast member and writer in the 1980s. After leaving the show, I spent more than three decades as a highly successful, award-winning entertainer in a fulfilling career that literally took me all over the world…a career that most likely would not have happened without the examples of Wallace, Ladmo and Pat that early on shaped my sense of humor. Today, I am still immersed in the world of Wallace & Ladmo… I am the admin of a Fan Page on Facebook with nearly 42,000 followers and spend time daily preserving and sharing the show’s legacy on the Internet for posterity. The overwhelming amount of positive responses—from multiple generations of past viewers and from new fans who only know the show from social media sites like mine—demonstrates that what the show had was something completely unique, inimitable…and timeless. To use a well-worn metaphor, this local TV show was lightning in a bottle…and the ‘bottle’ that sparked the lightning—and its continued admiration and reverence more than 70 years since first going on the air—was a cramped studio in a small television station in—of all places—Phoenix, Arizona, KPHO. The birthplace of such a beloved singularity in Arizona’s story, that launched a thousand laughs daily for more than 35 years and counting (as well as the lifelong career of at least one Arizona ventriloquist comedian)…in my opinion surely warrants historical landmark status. Sincerely, Dan Horn. 1 Helana Ruter From: Julia Taggart <jtaggartjenkins@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2025 11:58 AM To: Helana Ruter Subject: Letter of Support Attachments: To Whom It May Concern.docx CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City of Phoenix. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting this email. Report Suspicious To Whom it may concern: This letter is to support the old KPHO building (currently called First Studio Gallery) to status on the National Register of Historic Places. KPHO, being Arizona's first Television station back in 1949 and next to the then glamorous Westward Ho visited by political figures and celebrities, holds special meaning for me. I was born in April 1954, the year and month that the Wallace and Ladmo show began .. And my Father Is Bill Thompson aka Wallace. I have many exciting memories of going to the studio and sitting in the audience with all the kids for the live airing of the Wallace and Ladmo TV show. I was also lucky enough to meet many celebrities that came on the set, including Eddie Munster (Butch Patrick child actor) who was my age at the time. Many celebrities were on the show as it was very popular and lasted 35 years: Mohammad Ali, Joe E. Brown, Art Linkletter, Don Rickles, Jonathan Winters, Erma Bombeck .. to name a few. Some of them likely stayed at the Westward Ho, where a 268-foot metal tower was added for KPHO's broadcast site. Years later, I landed a job in the very same building working for KJJJ radio, the Number 1 Country Radio Station at the time. Recently I visited an event at the old KPHO studio for a street renaming to 'Wallace and Ladmo Way'. What a wonderful Commemoration of a Legacy that was the longest running children's show in television history. I was delighted to visit the old studio and find that the original studio had not changed. So many people with history in Phoenix have memories of this building. Preserving the original KPHO building would be honoring Phoenix History. Thank You Annie Thompson Lowry annielowry@msn.com Thomas Mihalchick House of Broadcasting Webmaster / VP 7534 North 7th Street Phoenix, AZ 85020 6/19/2025 To Whom It May Concern, I’m writing to relate my story regarding the former KPHO Building, 631 North First Avenue, in Phoenix, and to support historic status for the building. In 1981 I was hired as a part-time on-air announcer at radio station KJJJ-AM/FM, by Program Director, Erik Foxx, who gave me the radio name Tom Jennings. At that time the stations (both AM & FM) were located in the former KPHO building on First Avenue. The FM studios were on the second floor at the front of the building, facing First Avenue, while the AM studios were located on the ground floor towards the back of the building. Over the fourteen months I worked for KJJJ-AM/FM I spent a lot of time in that building. Between 4:00 p.m. Friday afternoon and Sunday at midnight, I spent thirty-four hours each weekend at the station for fourteen months. The radio stations occupied the entire building, which contained all of the administrative offices and production studios. The building also had a basement. On one particular day, after completing my on-air shift, I went exploring the building and found myself in the basement. By this time, KPHO Radio and TV had been moved out of the building for a number of years, so I was surprised and delighted at what I found in the basement … the Wallace and Ladmo Show set. I recognized it immediately as a long-time viewer of the show. I believe it is the same set that is displayed in a local museum. The basement is apparently where the TV studio was located. This experience reminded me of the significance of the building. As long-time location of KPHO TV, and radio station KPHO (910 AM). The history of the building goes back to 1949, according to Wikipedia. It housed the first television station in the state. From Wikipedia: Local programming of the time included, at one point, three different live variety shows, as well as a show hosted by a young Marty Robbins.[12] Other shows catered to women, kids, and sports fans.[13] In the station's last year as a network affiliate, another major event occurred in station history. Ken Kennedy had created a character called "Gold Dust Charlie" to host Western movies. A sidekick was added when Bill Thompson, a 23-year-old artist, joined Charlie in the role of Wallace Sneed, Charlie's eastern cousin. Wallace soon became so popular that he received his own show of comedy sketches, It's Wallace. A studio cameraman, Ladimir Kwiatkowski, joined the show with his character Ladmo, and what would become known as The Wallace and Ladmo Show—a KPHO-TV fixture for decades—was born.[13] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPHO-TV) In 1955, It was also one of the few such TV stations of the time with a functioning news department. It aired a noon and early evening newscast and a late news brief. The station, located in the building at 631 North First Avenue, was innovative and history-making, not only at a local level, but nationally as well. I strongly support awarding the former KPHO building at 631 North First Avenue historic building status. As a six-decade resident of The Valley and former broadcaster, I would like to see the importance of this building recognized by the City of Phoenix. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Thomas Mihalchick To Whom It May Concern, I’m writing in support of granting the former KPHO (First Studio Gallery) on First Avenue historic status on the City of Phoenix Historic Property Register. The building enjoys a special place for many Phoenicians, including me. KPHO was the city’s independent TV station. It went on the air in 1949 as Phoenix’s first television station. Its most popular show was “It’s Wallace,” of “Wallace and Ladmo,” the brainchild of Bill Thompson, heir of a wealthy New York City family. His great-uncle, William Boyce Thompson, founded the arboretum near Superior that bears his name. Thompson struck out on his own in the new medium of television. “Wallace and Ladmo” or the show’s other names was among the longest running “children’s show” in America. And it wasn’t the ordinary clown show inflicted on so many children elsewhere. Instead, it offered very adult humor, poking fun at local politicians and the Phoenix scene. Among the legendary broadcaster Pat McMahon’s many characters were Aunt Maud, who lived in Sun City; Gerald, ostensibly the spoiled nephew of the station manager; Boffo the clown, who disliked children; the “superhero” Captain Super, and Marshal Goode a New Jersey “cowboy” who wanted money from children, among many others. Along with Mike Condello, McMahon was part of the band, Hub Kapp and the Wheels, which recorded singles and appeared on national television. Ladmo was born Ladimir Kwiatkowski in Cleveland and played baseball for the future Arizona State University. Scouts from the Cleveland Indians were interested in him, but he took a job as KPHO cameraman. Soon, he developed the Ladmo character, that every child in Phoenix loved. His signature gift was the Ladmo Bag, although I never received one. The closest I came to Ladmo was watching him play in an exhibition baseball game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Those of us who grew up with this show will never forget it. I attended Kenilworth School north of downtown Phoenix in the 1960s in the future Willo Historic Neighborhood. I often rode my bike to KPHO, where the producers would give me reels of old advertisements and NASA Facts films. As with so many, KPHO is special to me and Phoenix. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions. Jon Jon Talton Historian (MA in American history of the Progressive Era to the Great Depression from Miami University), journalist, Business and Economics Columnist for the Seattle Times and former columnist for the Arizona Republic. You may read my Times columns here: https://www.seattletimes.com/author/jon-talton/ 206-795-5676