Texas Museum of Broadcasting & Communications — Attraction in Kilgore

This place is fabulous! Went there as a birthday surprise trip. Many of the exhibits are functional, unlike many other museums. Many displays, and stories to go with them, that are of interest to those who work in the broadcasting industry. For those who haven't, there is plenty to see. Old timey radios dating back to the late 1800s, best display of the stylish Philco tvs I have ever seen, period authentic shows playing on them. You can see Howdy Doody playing on a round screen, just like it looked back then. Fully working news desk, 2 cameras, green screen, you can stand there and see yourself just like the tv weather people do. Want to run a camera just like the news people do? There is a real one live that you can shoulder and run. Two working remote trucks, and another huge one in the works. Old radio control rooms, many tv cameras with some of their famous footage playing. Telephones that our younger generation doesn't know how to use. Real Superman phone booth. Hope I haven't said so much I take the surprises away. Just go see it! I'm sure you will enjoy. Very...

Who would think you would find a Smithsonian-quality museum in the small east Texas town of Kilgore?! Rick Rowe of KTBS TV did, and he took me there on a recent visit.

OUTSTANDING!

No need to have ever worked in TV or even have an interest in it to truly enjoy this amazing place. It is an incredible walk-back-in-time... re-living memories, and discovering things you maybe never even knew about: The actual camera that was right there when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV. The cameras used on the original Jackie Gleason Show (with a FILM camera attached to it!) The first remote truck from ESPN, and the first remote "bus" (an amazing, perfect restoration) that covered the Kennedy assassination. And the first TV sets... first projection TVs (from the 40s!), first radios... Victrolas... Edisons...

All this and tons more, plus an extremely friendly, accommodating, and super-knowledgeable staff that love sharing the great history in those rooms.

DEFINITELY worth driving to...

If you love technology and/or broadcasting, this is THE place to be in East Texas! They have historic equipment that were integral to bringing entertainment & news to the masses here - from the early days of the 20's and 30's up through the 80's and 90's. From behind the scenes, to what we had in our homes.. such as TV sets, radios, phonographs, video cameras, and so much more.

They even have a mobile camera that was on-site during what would be Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination by Jack Ruby, from KRLD-TV in Dallas. Also on site is a former ESPN mobile truck, complete with production equipment.

Easily the best $10 you can spend in Gregg County..!

They are open Friday and Saturday at 10am, with all other days by...