The WDEF building wasn’t always a TV station – Then and Now

This building at 3300 Broad Street has been the home of WDEF TV for almost 70 years, but this isn’t where we started our operations. We actually first launched our broadcast in 1954 from the Volunteer Life Building’s fourth floor. Its address is listed in historical documents as being at Georgia Avenue and 9th street.

Before 3300 Broad Street was the home of WDEF, it was the location of the Interstate Glass House restaurant. This was part of a chain of restaurants owned by the Interstate company based in Chicago. The Interstate highway system had not yet been built, so Broad Street, which is part of highway 41, was a main route of travel through the United States.

The restaurants thrived on tourist travel, which wound down due to fuel rationing during WWII. At some point either during or post-war, the Interstate Glass House restaurant closed down.

WDEF TV purchased the building in 1957, and began converting it into a studio, with major additions built out of brick, to house both our TV Studio A and B, and the upstairs radio studio, manned by the legendary Luther Masengill.

The distinctive outline of the Interstate Glass House can still be seen in our building’s exterior, although the distinctive glass windows have been plastered over. The large metal structure at the top now proudly displays our call letters.

The southside has gone through many changes over the last 75 years, but for the foreseeable future, this old building still stands proud.