Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Bob McLain was born and raised in Chicago where he watched his hero Harry Volkman on television. Volkman is known for being the first weatherman to issue a tornado warning. McLain majored in meteorology and minored in Radio/TV at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he did a weekly weather program on the campus TV station. Graduating in 1967, he became a weather officer in the Navy. His first TV weather job was at WKZO-TV in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In May 1972, he became a TV meteorologist at WFBM-FM/TV (now WRTV-TV), staying until 2002. McLain is remembered for making swooping gestures while talking about weather fronts.

McLain was inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2011.

-Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

Related Items

Title Station Date Aired Description
WRTV News at 6
Karen Rariden Collection
1990-11-23

Report on "Celebration of Lights," shopping for holidays, and local news

Title
WRTV News at 6
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Karen Rariden Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1990-11-23
Description

Report on "Celebration of Lights," shopping for holidays, and local news

Local news and Oprah Winfrey's 9/11 reports
Indiana Journalism Collection
2001

Indianapolis local news, with Oprah Winfrey's report on the attacks on 9/11

Title
Local news and Oprah Winfrey's 9/11 reports
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Indiana Journalism Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001
Description

Indianapolis local news, with Oprah Winfrey's report on the attacks on 9/11

Bob McLain Receives Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Gov Orr
Ken Owen Collection
1985-12
Title
Bob McLain Receives Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Gov Orr
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Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1985-12
The News
Ken Beckley Collection
1976
Title
The News
Collection
Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1976
The News
Ken Beckley Collection
1976

Early 1976 Newscast and pieces of others, pre 1976

Title
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Ken Beckley Collection
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Date Aired
1976
Description

Early 1976 Newscast and pieces of others, pre 1976

Career Highlights; Interview with Bobby Knight
Ken Beckley Collection
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WRTV Opening of Channel 6 Final Report with Howard Caldwell and Ken Beckley;
Scenes from another newscast. Channel 6 Early Report;
Howard Caldwell introduces Ken Beckley for a field...

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Title
Career Highlights; Interview with Bobby Knight
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Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
197x
Description

WRTV Opening of Channel 6 Final Report with Howard Caldwell and Ken Beckley;
Scenes from another newscast. Channel 6 Early Report;
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Bits and Pieces of Ken Beckley's Career
Ken Beckley Collection
1960/1979

Cued to good starting point of Ken on WRTV newscast early 1976 (including Bob McLain);
John Chancellor does promo of Channel 6 News (circa 1972), but mispronounces Dave Piontek's name so the...

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Title
Bits and Pieces of Ken Beckley's Career
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Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1960/1979
Description

Cued to good starting point of Ken on WRTV newscast early 1976 (including Bob McLain);
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St. Patrick's Day Parade
Kurt Swadener Collection
2001-03-16

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Indianapolis, with contributions from Governor Frank O'Bannon, & Mayor Bart Peterson. Also includes evening news.

Title
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Collection
Kurt Swadener Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-16
Description

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Indianapolis, with contributions from Governor Frank O'Bannon, & Mayor Bart Peterson. Also includes evening news.

50 Years Together
Kurt Swadener Collection
1999

50 years of television history, hosted by Howard Caldwell. Includes contributions from:

John Guion, former Director of Engineering;
Earl Townsend, former TV Announcer;
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Title
50 Years Together
Collection
Kurt Swadener Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999
Description

50 years of television history, hosted by Howard Caldwell. Includes contributions from:

John Guion, former Director of Engineering;
Earl Townsend, former TV Announcer;
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Bob McLain's Indianapolis Weather Forecast
Ken Owen Collection
1989-09-14
Title
Bob McLain's Indianapolis Weather Forecast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-09-14
TheNews broadcasts
Ken Beckley Collection
1976

TheNews segments from 1976

Title
TheNews broadcasts
Collection
Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1976
Description

TheNews segments from 1976

Career Highlights
Ken Beckley Collection
197x

WRTV news segments with Ken Beckley from the 1970s. Ends with an interview with Bobby Knight

Title
Career Highlights
Collection
Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
197x
Description

WRTV news segments with Ken Beckley from the 1970s. Ends with an interview with Bobby Knight

Late News Headlines
Ken Owen Collection
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Howard Caldwell, Tracey Horth, Bob McLain, Brian Hammons and Clyde Lee are seen. This was recorded at the end of baseball's All-Star Game. (Ken Owen)

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Late News Headlines
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1986-07-15
Description

Howard Caldwell, Tracey Horth, Bob McLain, Brian Hammons and Clyde Lee are seen. This was recorded at the end of baseball's All-Star Game. (Ken Owen)

5PM Indianapolis Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
1985-07-23

Howard Caldwell, Tracey Horth and Clyde Lee deliver the news, with Bob McLain on weather and Ed Sorensen sports. The day's top story is the crash of a church bus in a construction zone on I-65...

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Title
5PM Indianapolis Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1985-07-23
Description

Howard Caldwell, Tracey Horth and Clyde Lee deliver the news, with Bob McLain on weather and Ed Sorensen sports. The day's top story is the crash of a church bus in a construction zone on I-65...

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Bob Dotson Reports and WRTV Evening News
Ken Owen Collection
1987

Bob Dotson, NBC reports:
Segment 1: NBC, Bob Dotson report on tornado damage in North & South Carolina;
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Title
Bob Dotson Reports and WRTV Evening News
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1987
Description

Bob Dotson, NBC reports:
Segment 1: NBC, Bob Dotson report on tornado damage in North & South Carolina;
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Bob McLain's Hall of Fame Video Bio
Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Collection
2011

Video bio of Bob "Swoop" McLain, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2011.

Producer/Voice-over: Reid Duffy;
Post-production: DreamVision Media Partners;

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Title
Bob McLain's Hall of Fame Video Bio
Collection
Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2011
Description

Video bio of Bob "Swoop" McLain, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2011.

Producer/Voice-over: Reid Duffy;
Post-production: DreamVision Media Partners;

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WRTV 6 News at 5:30
Howard Caldwell Collection
1995

Evening news cast, including Richard Lugar's decision to run for president in the 1996 election; Includes Howard Caldwell's Perspective about the way people misuse the English language

WRTV...

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Title
WRTV 6 News at 5:30
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1995
Description

Evening news cast, including Richard Lugar's decision to run for president in the 1996 election; Includes Howard Caldwell's Perspective about the way people misuse the English language

WRTV...

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WRTV 6 News at 5:00pm
Howard Caldwell Collection
1988-11-24

Thanksgiving Newscast

WRTV 6 News at 5:00pm

5pm 11/24/1988 Thanksgiving newscast. Features stories on Feeding the Hungry volunteers, house explosion, Cholesterol, etc. Caldwell has...

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Title
WRTV 6 News at 5:00pm
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1988-11-24
Description

Thanksgiving Newscast

WRTV 6 News at 5:00pm

5pm 11/24/1988 Thanksgiving newscast. Features stories on Feeding the Hungry volunteers, house explosion, Cholesterol, etc. Caldwell has...

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WRTV 6 News
Howard Caldwell Collection
1983

Partial news clip covering a controversial plan for a new expansion on a corrections program, local Chess Championship Rally, and the weather report with Bob McLain. Includes a segment called,...

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Title
WRTV 6 News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1983
Description

Partial news clip covering a controversial plan for a new expansion on a corrections program, local Chess Championship Rally, and the weather report with Bob McLain. Includes a segment called,...

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WRTV 6 News
Howard Caldwell Collection
1983

Partial news clip covering a controversial site of new landfill, Richard Lugar's input on local forrest management, a banned film about Muncie, Indiana, and the weather report with Bob McLain

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WRTV 6 News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1983
Description

Partial news clip covering a controversial site of new landfill, Richard Lugar's input on local forrest management, a banned film about Muncie, Indiana, and the weather report with Bob McLain

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Howard Caldwell Collection
1983-11

Early newscast with Howard Caldwell, Clyde Lee and weatherman, Bob McLain;
1983-11-14 Jack Edwards in Marion;
1983-11-07 "Howard's Indiana" about Gus Grissom

Title
WRTV 6 News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1983-11
Description

Early newscast with Howard Caldwell, Clyde Lee and weatherman, Bob McLain;
1983-11-14 Jack Edwards in Marion;
1983-11-07 "Howard's Indiana" about Gus Grissom

WRTV 6 News
Howard Caldwell Collection
1994-01-25

Nightly news cast

Title
WRTV 6 News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1994-01-25
Description

Nightly news cast

WRTV 6 News
Howard Caldwell Collection
1996-07-03

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WRTV 6 News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1996-07-03
Description

Nightly newscast

WRTV 6 News
Howard Caldwell Collection
1999-05

WRTV News celebrating 50 years. Howard Caldwell sits in for Diane Willis to report local news and current events.

Title
WRTV 6 News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999-05
Description

WRTV News celebrating 50 years. Howard Caldwell sits in for Diane Willis to report local news and current events.

Newscast and celebration of Howard's 25th year at The News
Howard Caldwell Collection
1984-05-01

News Director: Bob Gamble;
Executive Producer: Bill Skroko;
Producers: Lyn Letsinger-Miller, Roger Manning, Jim Bowdon, Bill Gladish & Teresa Metal;
Directors: Don Baker, Kurt...

(Read More)

Title
Newscast and celebration of Howard's 25th year at The News
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1984-05-01
Description

News Director: Bob Gamble;
Executive Producer: Bill Skroko;
Producers: Lyn Letsinger-Miller, Roger Manning, Jim Bowdon, Bill Gladish & Teresa Metal;
Directors: Don Baker, Kurt...

(Read More)

Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame Banquet and Last Broadcast
Howard Caldwell Collection
1991

Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame Banquet; Howard Caldwell's last news broadcast before his retirement; Howard Caldwell's Retirement Special: 35 years of making a difference

Indiana...

(Read More)

Title
Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame Banquet and Last Broadcast
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Date Aired
1991
Description

Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame Banquet; Howard Caldwell's last news broadcast before his retirement; Howard Caldwell's Retirement Special: 35 years of making a difference

Indiana...

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Howard's Perspective Retirement Series
Howard Caldwell Collection
1994

Notes by Amani Gates. J470 Broadcast Media Analysis 

Howard’s Perspective Retirement Series 

Video: S1 (2:01) & S2(1:15:00) 

Other:...

(Read More)

Title
Howard's Perspective Retirement Series
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1994
Description

Notes by Amani Gates. J470 Broadcast Media Analysis 

Howard’s Perspective Retirement Series 

Video: S1 (2:01) & S2(1:15:00) 

Other:...

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Howard Caldwell Retirement Special: 35 Years of Making a Difference
Howard Caldwell Collection
1994

Howard Caldwell's 1994 Retirement Special, celebrating 35 years with Channel 6.
Producers: Augusta Brennan, Judy Carbone, Shiree Woody
Executive Producer: Jim Bowden
Director:...

(Read More)

Title
Howard Caldwell Retirement Special: 35 Years of Making a Difference
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1994
Description

Howard Caldwell's 1994 Retirement Special, celebrating 35 years with Channel 6.
Producers: Augusta Brennan, Judy Carbone, Shiree Woody
Executive Producer: Jim Bowden
Director:...

(Read More)

Channel 6 History
Howard Caldwell Collection
1966/1990

Broadcast History; Channel 6 History

Channel 6 History  

Video (3:24:34)  

Notes by Marisol Sanchez, J450 History of Journalism, Fall 2021 

-First Section of...

(Read More)

Title
Channel 6 History
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Date Aired
1966/1990
Description

Broadcast History; Channel 6 History

Channel 6 History  

Video (3:24:34)  

Notes by Marisol Sanchez, J450 History of Journalism, Fall 2021 

-First Section of...

(Read More)

50 Years Together
Howard Caldwell Collection
1999

Howard Caldwell hosts a news special celebrating 50 years of news on Channel 6

Executive Producer: Kurt Swadener;
Writer: Kurt Swadener;
Photographers: Mike Jensen & Steve...

(Read More)

Title
50 Years Together
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999
Description

Howard Caldwell hosts a news special celebrating 50 years of news on Channel 6

Executive Producer: Kurt Swadener;
Writer: Kurt Swadener;
Photographers: Mike Jensen & Steve...

(Read More)

50 years on the air with Channel 6
Howard Caldwell Collection
1995

Howard Caldwell narrates this documentary of Channel 6 celebrating 50 years on TV. It includes a newscast with Clyde Lee and Howard Caldwell and ends with an episode of "Howard's...

(Read More)

Title
50 years on the air with Channel 6
Collection
Howard Caldwell Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1995
Description

Howard Caldwell narrates this documentary of Channel 6 celebrating 50 years on TV. It includes a newscast with Clyde Lee and Howard Caldwell and ends with an episode of "Howard's...

(Read More)