History

KTRK-TV

KTRK-TV

KTRK-TV, channel 13, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Houston, Texas...

 channel 13 was just starting out in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

, and needing a mascot they came up with a black cat

Black cat

A black cat is a feline with black fur. It is not a particular breed of cat and may be mixed or of a specific breed. The Bombay, known for its sleek black fur, is an example of a black cat. The all-black pigmentation is equally prevalent in both male and female cats...

 since they were the unlucky 13.
Bunny answered an ad for the fledgling station in 1954.
"Kitirik" wore a black leotard with black fishnet stockings, and drew whiskers on her face. The show was broadcast live, so she read commercials, hosted station breaks, read mail from viewers and introduced cartoons. A contest won by a viewer gave her the name by putting i's between the station's call letters, KTRK

KTRK-TV

KTRK-TV, channel 13, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Houston, Texas...

. Then came a studio audience, and the bleachers were filled with excited kids on live TV. But the carousel

Carousel

A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...

 was the biggest thrill, reserved for kids having birthdays who also were allowed to stick their hand into a hole in a hollow "tree" on the set & grab a handful of pennies. Kitirik stayed on the air until cancellation in 1971.

video

KiTiRiK on youtube

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF0InneA08k
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73WCvrm3m6s&NR=1