Sic Transit: </font><font face="ARIAL,VERDANA,HELVETICA" size="4">Stan Chambers: TV Pioneer and Decades Long Broadcast Journalist, Passes at 91; See VIDEO Of His <nobr>Aug. 2010</nobr> Appearance As Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce Honored Him

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Stan Chambers, TV Pioneer and Decades Long Broadcast Journalist, Passes at 91; See VIDEO Of His Aug. 2010 Appearance As Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce Honored Him

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(Feb. 13, 2015) -- LBREPORT.com is deeply saddened to report the passing of veteran broadcast journalist and television pioneer Stan Chambers. KTLA/5 reports that Mr. Chambers passed away at midmorning today (Feb. 13) at the age of 91.

LBREPORT.com provides coverage below -- including VIDEO -- of Mr. Chambers' August 26, 2010 appearance at an event honoring him, organized by the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce a little less than two weeks after his retirement at age 87.

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Among Mr. Chambers' over 22,000 filed stories were reports from the scene of the 1958 Signal Hill Hancock Oil refinery blaze, which burned for days on a site stretching from Willow to Spring Streets and Cherry to Junipero Ave.

LAObserved.com's coverage includes a photo of Mr. Chambers (apparently covering the Signal Hill fire) in its coverage at this link.

KTLA/5 reports Mr. Chambers' passing at this link..

Mr. Chambers' career began with vacuum tubes, tiny black and white screens and test patterns for much of the day...and spanned the entire length of KTLA's history as an analog TV station. (KTLA invited Mr. Chambers to switch off its analog transmitter and switch on its digital transmitter.)

It was a touching moment for us when Signal Tribune publisher Neena Strichart mentioned to Mr. Chambers that LBREPORT.com was recording color video of his appearance on a hand held camera for on-demand viewing, locally or worldwide, on the internet. His only response: "Wow."

For your entire body of work, for quality delivered over decades daily, for gentlemanly behavior in a blistering high pressure field, for classy conduct in ruthlessly competitive business, thank you Stan Chambers.

[LBREPORT.com archival coverage] -- (Aug. 29, 2010) -- A capacity crowd filled the Signal Hill Park Community Center on Aug. 26 as the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce honored veteran broadcast journalist and television pioneer Stan Chambers, who recently retired after 63 years at KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles.

LBReport.com was present and provides extended on-demand video. To launch video, click here or click arrow on image below.

Signal Tribune Newspaper publisher Neena Strichart tells Mr. Chambers, "That fellow with the camera is from LongBeachReport.com."

Mr. Chambers, the recipient of multiple broadcast journalism awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received Certificates of Recognition from the state Assembly (from Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal), the state Senate (from state Senator Alan Lowenthal), the City of Signal Hill (signed by Mayor Ed Wilson) and the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Chambers seemed especially to enjoy the multiple "thank-you's" he received from area residents who said they appreciated his professional reporting through several decades. He received a standing ovation at the start of his remarks and the conclusion.

In 1947, fresh out of college, Mr. Chambers took a job in television when few had seen it and fewer grasped its full powers; Channel 5 had only recently changed from experimental status (as W6XYZ) to become KTLA, the west's first commercial station. In a series of history-making live telecasts, Mr. Chambers and his KTLA colleagues showed the L.A. market (and beyond) what the new medium could do with live telecasts from the 1949 Kathy Fiscus attempted well rescue, the 1951 Nevada A-bomb test (a tour de force making multiple microwave hops using distant mountain peaks and primitive vacuum tube equipment)...and the 1958 Signal Hill Hancock Oil refinery fire.

Mr. Chambers reported from the scene of the Signal Hill blaze (which burned for days on a site stretching from Willow to Spring Streets and Cherry to Junipero Avenues) and said that seeing photos of the event was an emotional experience for him.

In KTLA's early days, Mr. Chambers also hosted some of the station's entertainment fare (including "Frosty Frolics" done on ice skates). He spoke fondly of other KTLA prime time programming at the time including Spade Cooley (country/western music), a newcomer named Lawrence Welk and wrestling and roller derby hosted by Dick Lane ("Whoa, Nellie!").

Mr. Chambers was accompanied at the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce appearance by his son, David (below)...