Don Lee (broadcaster)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donald Musgrave Lee (12 August 1880, Michigan [1] – 30 August 1934, Los Angeles, California) was the exclusive west coast distributor of Cadillac automobiles in the early 20th century. In 1919 Lee purchased the Earl Automobile Works of Hollywood, California. Harley Earl, the son of the company's owner, was kept on as manager. Renamed Don Lee Coach and Body Works, the company produced many custom designed Cadillacs for the rich and famous. Harley Earl left the company to become the head of General Motors styling department in 1927. Don Lee died in Los Angeles in 1934, leaving control of his auto and broadcasting empire to his son, Thomas S. "Tommy" Lee (1906–1950).
[edit] Broadcasting
Having amassed a fortune selling automobiles Lee branched out in broadcasting in 1926 when he purchased KFRC in San Francisco and relocated the station to the top floor of his Cadillac dealership at 1000 Van Ness Blvd. In 1927 he purchased KHJ in Los Angeles, Ca.[2]
Beginning in 1929, Lee was a partner with Columbia Broadcasting System chairman William S. Paley who used Lee's 12-station network to distribute CBS radio programs until Paley purchased KNX-AM in 1936 and purchased his own West Coast stations or forged new network alliances independent of Lee. The venture was known as the Don Lee-Columbia Network.
In 1931 Lee was granted a license to begin experimental television broadcasts with station W6XAO in Los Angeles.[3] The station later became KTSL, KNXT and is currently KCBS-TV. The ridge above the Hollywood sign, where Lee established his transmitter, is still known as "Mount Lee."
[edit] Further reading
- "Don Lee's Marriage Surprises," Los Angeles Times, June 16, 1934, p. A1.
- "Lee Rites Set for Tomorrow," Los Angeles Times, September 1, 1934, p. A3
- "Friends to Pay Homage to Don Lee," Los Angeles Times, September 2, 1934, p. 18.
[edit] References
- ^ Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. U.S. Census, April 15, 1910. State of California, County of Los Angeles, enumeration district 112, p. 4-A, family 93.
- ^ "Radio KHJ Is in New Hands," Los Angeles Times, November 12, 1927, p. A1.
- ^ "Don Lee System Given License for Television," Los Angeles Times, June 19, 1931, p. A1. "Los Angeles First With Television Broadcast," Los Angeles Times, December 27, 1931, p. 14.
