Lamond Riggs in Northeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
WOOK-TV Building
5321 First Place, NE
— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2017
1. WOOK-TV Building Marker
Marker on the West side of the building.
WOOK-TV, on the air from 1963 to 1972, was the first "all-Negro" television station in the nation. White founder Richard Eaton also started its predecessor, WOOK-Radio, in 1947 in the nation's first "Negro-oriented" radio station. Viewers fondly remember Teenarama Dance Party, DC's first black teen dance show. Hosted by Bob King, Teenarama aired from 5 to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, from 1963 to 1971 (and before that on WOOK-Radio). It featured hand dancing, DC's unique form of swing. The Temptations, Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and many other performers often dropped by Teenarama while in town to appear at the Howard Theatre.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Communications • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1963.
Location. 38° 57.306′ N, 77° 0.257′ W. Marker is in Northeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Lamond Riggs. Marker is on
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Marlon Francisco Morales (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives on June 22, 2009 (approx. ¼ mile away); Legacy Memorial Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Civil War Defenses of Washington (approx. 0.4 miles away); June 22, 2009 Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Rock Creek Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Totten (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Totten (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northeast Washington.
More about this marker. The building is currently called Lighthouse Center for Healing. It was formerly the Rape Crisis Center.
Caption from image on marker:
Teenarama Dance Party, 1963.
Courtesy of Beverly Lindsey-Johnson
Also see . . .
1. WOOK-TV Building, African American Heritage Trail. Cultural Tourism DC website entry (Submitted on October 13, 2017.)
2. WOOK-TV (Washington D.C.). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 11, 2021.)
via History of UHF Television, unknown
3. WOOK-TV advertisers' promotion
"America's First Negro TV Station"
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 635 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on January 23, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on October 13, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on November 30, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 11, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
