Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Patty Spitler

Patty Spitler was the host and producer for PetPals TV and Great Day TV. She spent more than 40 years in broadcasting, beginning in her hometown, Dayton, Ohio. She went on to have jobs in Cincinnati, Pittsburg and Richmond. In 1982, she got the opportunity to co-host Indianapolis Afternoon with Dick Wolfsie. Spitler did celebrity interviews with icons such as Dolly Parton during her career. She won an Emmy award for her self-titled entertainment show "Patty." She retired from WISH-TV in 2004 and suffered from depression post-retirement. After getting a dog and becoming known as the "dog park lady" she was invited to join PetPals TV in 2009. In 2015 she became the host and executive producer of Boomer TV, renamed Great Day TV two years later. Spitler volunteers her time at animal welfare organizations and is a spokesperson for Hear Indiana due to her own experience with hearing loss, as well as the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Spitler was inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2018.

-Indiana Broadcast Pioneers

Related Items

Title Station Date Aired Description
Debby Knox Wraps Up Final 6PM Indianapolis Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
2023-11-29

Patty Spitler tribute and Debby Knox's family joins her on set. (Ken Owen)

Title
Debby Knox Wraps Up Final 6PM Indianapolis Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2023-11-29
Description

Patty Spitler tribute and Debby Knox's family joins her on set. (Ken Owen)

Ellison
Ken Owen Collection
1993-01-14

Ted Ansani and Mike Zelenko are also seen. This aired during the 5 p.m. WISH-TV news on Thursday, January 14, 1993. Patty Spitler interviews Ellison from The Vogue, where Material Issue performed...

(Read More)

Title
Ellison
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1993-01-14
Description

Ted Ansani and Mike Zelenko are also seen. This aired during the 5 p.m. WISH-TV news on Thursday, January 14, 1993. Patty Spitler interviews Ellison from The Vogue, where Material Issue performed...

(Read More)

We Are The Team-Indiana's Hoedown
Ken Owen Collection
1985

1985 - "We Are the Team" WISH Indianapolis Promo

Mike Ahern (at quarterback), Debby Knox, Ed Harding, Stan Wood are featured in this spot, pulled from an old junked VHS tape.

1985 -...

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Title
We Are The Team-Indiana's Hoedown
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1985
Description

1985 - "We Are the Team" WISH Indianapolis Promo

Mike Ahern (at quarterback), Debby Knox, Ed Harding, Stan Wood are featured in this spot, pulled from an old junked VHS tape.

1985 -...

(Read More)

Patty Spitler Interviews Vince Gill & Reba McEntire Before the Country Music Awards
Ken Owen Collection
1992

Seen on WISH in Indianapolis and pulled from a discarded VHS tape. Joined in progress.

Title
Patty Spitler Interviews Vince Gill & Reba McEntire Before the Country Music Awards
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1992
Description

Seen on WISH in Indianapolis and pulled from a discarded VHS tape. Joined in progress.

News 8 at 5:30
Ken Owen Collection
1990

News segment covering Paul McCartney's concert at Market Square Arena

Title
News 8 at 5:30
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1990
Description

News segment covering Paul McCartney's concert at Market Square Arena

Coverage of Billy Ray Cyrus at the Indiana State Fair
Ken Owen Collection
1992-08-13

Patty Spitler rode in his limo and there are clips of other reports, from a VHS tape I found in the wild. 'Achy Breaky Heart' was a big thing at this moment. (Ken Owen)

Title
Coverage of Billy Ray Cyrus at the Indiana State Fair
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1992-08-13
Description

Patty Spitler rode in his limo and there are clips of other reports, from a VHS tape I found in the wild. 'Achy Breaky Heart' was a big thing at this moment. (Ken Owen)

Snippet of Ken Owen & Patty Spitler Indianapolis Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
1992
Title
Snippet of Ken Owen & Patty Spitler Indianapolis Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1992
Singer Jon Secada Visits Indianapolis TV Station
Ken Owen Collection
1994-07-21
Title
Singer Jon Secada Visits Indianapolis TV Station
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1994-07-21
Promo for 5PM Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
1999-04-30
Title
Promo for 5PM Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999-04-30
News Bumper; Promo for 'That's Life'
Ken Owen Collection
2000-09-12
Title
News Bumper; Promo for 'That's Life'
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2000-09-12
2PM News Update
Ken Owen Collection
1999-04-30
Title
2PM News Update
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999-04-30
5PM Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
1994-07-21
Title
5PM Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1994-07-21
Bumpers for Patty Spitler Indy News & Soap Opera
Ken Owen Collection
1999-04-30
Title
Bumpers for Patty Spitler Indy News & Soap Opera
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999-04-30
Bumpers for Indianapolis News & 'Walker, Texas Ranger'
Ken Owen Collection
1999-04-29
Title
Bumpers for Indianapolis News & 'Walker, Texas Ranger'
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1999-04-29
2 PM Indianapolis News Update with Patty Spitler
Ken Owen Collection
2000-09-12
Title
2 PM Indianapolis News Update with Patty Spitler
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2000-09-12
Christmas Special
Ken Beckley Collection
1997-12-08

Feature of Ken Beckley and Patty Spitler Christmas Special

Title
Christmas Special
Collection
Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1997-12-08
Description

Feature of Ken Beckley and Patty Spitler Christmas Special

Newsbreak with Patty Spitler
Ken Owen Collection
2001-03-27
Title
Newsbreak with Patty Spitler
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-27
News Update
Ken Owen Collection
2001-03-14
Title
News Update
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-14
2PM News Update
Ken Owen Collection
2001-03-20
Title
2PM News Update
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-20
Adam Herbert Named Indiana University President News Update
Ken Owen Collection
2003-06-04
Title
Adam Herbert Named Indiana University President News Update
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2003-06-04
5PM Indianapolis News Promo with Patty Spitler
Ken Owen Collection
2001-03-21
Title
5PM Indianapolis News Promo with Patty Spitler
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-21
2PM Indianapolis News Update with Patty Spitler
Ken Owen Collection
2001-03-14
Title
2PM Indianapolis News Update with Patty Spitler
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-14
1PM Indianapolis News Update with Patty Spitler
Ken Owen Collection
2001-03-20
Title
1PM Indianapolis News Update with Patty Spitler
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2001-03-20
Indianapolis 6 PM Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
1988-11-01
Title
Indianapolis 6 PM Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1988-11-01
5:30PM News Open
Ken Owen Collection
1989-09-11
Title
5:30PM News Open
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-09-11
5:30PM Newscast (Joined in Progress, With Ads)
Ken Owen Collection
1989-09-12
Title
5:30PM Newscast (Joined in Progress, With Ads)
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-09-12
5:30PM Newscast for Indianapolis
Ken Owen Collection
1989-09-13
Title
5:30PM Newscast for Indianapolis
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-09-13
5:30PM Indianapolis Newscast
Ken Owen Collection
1989-09-18
Title
5:30PM Indianapolis Newscast
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-09-18
5:30 Newscast with ads
Ken Owen Collection
1989-09-12
Title
5:30 Newscast with ads
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-09-12
Patty Spitler Christmas Special
Ken Beckley Collection
198x

Patty Spitler interviews Ken Beckley about his career in news broadcasting and time with H.H. Gregg

Title
Patty Spitler Christmas Special
Collection
Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
198x
Description

Patty Spitler interviews Ken Beckley about his career in news broadcasting and time with H.H. Gregg

H.H. Gregg commercial to "Takin' Care of Business"
Ken Beckley Collection
198x

Ken Beckley's H.H. Gregg commercials. Segment one includes commercials to the song "Takin' Care of Business." Section two contain several commercial outtakes. Segment three is an interview with...

(Read More)

Title
H.H. Gregg commercial to "Takin' Care of Business"
Collection
Ken Beckley Collection
Stations
Date Aired
198x
Description

Ken Beckley's H.H. Gregg commercials. Segment one includes commercials to the song "Takin' Care of Business." Section two contain several commercial outtakes. Segment three is an interview with...

(Read More)

Televote (promo)
Ken Owen Collection
1988-07-24

Mike Ahern, Debby Knox, Eric Halvorson and Patty Spitler are seen in this Indianapolis spot. (Ken Owen)

Title
Televote (promo)
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1988-07-24
Description

Mike Ahern, Debby Knox, Eric Halvorson and Patty Spitler are seen in this Indianapolis spot. (Ken Owen)

Patty Spitler Previews the Grammy Awards, Interview with Vanessa Williams
Ken Owen Collection
1989-02-22

This aired during the 5:30 p.m. news in Indianapolis. Mike Ahern and Debby Knox are the anchors. (Ken Owen)

Title
Patty Spitler Previews the Grammy Awards, Interview with Vanessa Williams
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989-02-22
Description

This aired during the 5:30 p.m. news in Indianapolis. Mike Ahern and Debby Knox are the anchors. (Ken Owen)

Promo New 5:30 p.m. Newscast Debuts
Ken Owen Collection
1989

A :30 spot promoting a new 5:30 p.m. newscast featuring Ken Owen and Patty Spitler from September 1989. Mike Ahern, Debby Knox, Fred Kalil, Stan Wood and Lis Daily are among the others who...

(Read More)

Title
Promo New 5:30 p.m. Newscast Debuts
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989
Description

A :30 spot promoting a new 5:30 p.m. newscast featuring Ken Owen and Patty Spitler from September 1989. Mike Ahern, Debby Knox, Fred Kalil, Stan Wood and Lis Daily are among the others who...

(Read More)

Early Newscast (Joined in Progress)
Ken Owen Collection
1987-08-04

Mike Ahern, Patty Spitler, Stan Wood and Ed Harding are the anchors. From the personal archives of Dick Rea. (Ken Owen)

Title
Early Newscast (Joined in Progress)
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1987-08-04
Description

Mike Ahern, Patty Spitler, Stan Wood and Ed Harding are the anchors. From the personal archives of Dick Rea. (Ken Owen)

DePauw Student & 'Hoosiers' Star Steve Hollar Talks with Patty Spitler
Ken Owen Collection
1986-08-27

As seen on Indianapolis television just before the movie's release. Includes footage from behind the scenes of the making of the film.

Title
DePauw Student & 'Hoosiers' Star Steve Hollar Talks with Patty Spitler
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1986-08-27
Description

As seen on Indianapolis television just before the movie's release. Includes footage from behind the scenes of the making of the film.

WISH-TV Promo, New 5:30 p.m. Newscast Debuts
Ken Owen Collection
1989

A :30 spot promoting a new 5:30 p.m. newscast featuring Ken Owen and Patty Spitler from September 1989. Mike Ahern, Debby Knox, Fred Kalil, Stan Wood and Lis Daily are among the others who...

(Read More)

Title
WISH-TV Promo, New 5:30 p.m. Newscast Debuts
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
1989
Description

A :30 spot promoting a new 5:30 p.m. newscast featuring Ken Owen and Patty Spitler from September 1989. Mike Ahern, Debby Knox, Fred Kalil, Stan Wood and Lis Daily are among the others who...

(Read More)

Great Day TV
Ken Owen Collection
199x

Radio spot which aired on Indianapolis TV on October 23, 1986. (Ken Owen)

Title
Great Day TV
Collection
Ken Owen Collection
Stations
Date Aired
199x
Description

Radio spot which aired on Indianapolis TV on October 23, 1986. (Ken Owen)

Patty Spitler's Hall of Fame Video Bio
Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Collection
2018

Video bio of Patty Spitler, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2018

Title
Patty Spitler's Hall of Fame Video Bio
Collection
Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Collection
Stations
Date Aired
2018
Description

Video bio of Patty Spitler, inducted to Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2018