WXXI Celebrates 50 Years!

This year marks WXXI’s 50^th anniversary serving the essential, life-long educational public media resource for the greater Rochester area.

On September 6, 1966 WXXI-TV 21 launched its first broadcast, Julia Child’s The French Chef. WXXI’s “Founding Father” Harold Hacker introduced the program after telling viewers they were about to witness something Rochester had never seen or heard before – educational broadcasting on Channel 21. He gave his word that WXXI would always provide a choice. His word still holds true today as WXXI continues to bring you quality programming that inspiring, engaging, and entertaining. 

In celebration of our 50th anniversary on Tuesday, September 6 at 8 p.m. WXXI-TV will air the very same Julia Child program that aired in 1966! We’ll continue down memory lane that evening with an archival episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, followed by two programs celebrating the 60s – Eye on the Sixties and Rock Rewind 1965-1967.

Our radio stations and the Little Theatre are also joining in the celebration September 6! Throughout the day, Classical 91.5 hosts Brenda Tremblay, Julia Figueras and Mona Seghatoleslami will play music inspired by what was going on in the country in 1966, while on WRUR, Open Tunings host Scott Regan and Road to Joy’s Maureen Rich will select songs from that era. The Little Theatre presents Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child followed by The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (which was selected by viewers as their favorite film from 1966.) In the café there will be a 60’s band and a 60’s costume contest. 

We'll continue the celebration on Saturday, September 24 at a special Open House. There you’ll have the opportunity to tour our facility, meet our news reporters and on-air hosts, engage with PBS characters, plus so much more.