Lew Klein, Philadelphia TV Pioneer And Longtime Temple U. Communications Professor, Dies At 91

Klein (Photo: PA Ass'n of Broadcasters)

LEW KLEIN, the longtime PHILADELPHIA television executive who played a role in launching DICK CLARK's career and taught many future radio and TV luminaries at the TEMPLE UNIVERSITY communications program that ultimately bore his name, died YESTERDAY (6/12) at 91.

KLEIN joined ABC affiliate WFIL-TV (now ABC O&O WPVI-TV)/PHILADELPHIA in 1950 and served as Executive Producer of CLARK's "AMERICAN BANDSTAND" (originally the local "BANDSTAND" with BOB HORN, and later the national version hosted by CLARK on ABC), local shows like the long-running "CAPTAIN NOAH AND HIS MAGICAL ARK," and, in the 1950s and 1960s, PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES baseball. KLEIN was among the partners in GATEWAY COMMUNICATIONS, who bought WFIL-TV and three other stations owned by PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER and DAILY NEWS owner WALTER ANNENBERG's TRIANGLE BROADCASTING in 1970, and served as GATEWAY's President.

Beginning in 1952, KLEIN taught at TEMPLE UNIVERSITY's School of Media and Communication; the school was renamed the LEW KLEIN COLLEGE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION in MARCH 2017.

“Through the decades of his remarkable career as a pioneer of television, LEW KLEIN taught part-time at TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, starting in 1952,” said Dean DAVID BOARDMAN. “He did that not for money, but as a way to serve his community and his profession by helping shape the journalists and broadcasters of the future. Over his 67 years at TEMPLE, LEW had a profound impact on thousands of careers, including my own. I could not be more proud to have our college graced with the name of this creative, generous and honorable man. We will miss him deeply."

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