Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Charles Edward Haines was one of the first (if not the first) African-Americans to be employed full-time at a U.S. television station. He started with WTTS radio, then went into TV when WTTV, Bloomington-Indianapolis, signed on in November of 1949. He was the station’s artist. Later he joined WLWI/WTHR, Indianapolis, in the same capacity. Charles was in the business fifty-three years before his retirement in 2001. Charlie was a highly respected professional who enhanced on-air production values at both stations. 

Haines died September 29, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. He was 93. 

Indiana Broadcast Pioneers