Operation Big Shot

KTLA makes the first telecast of an atomic bomb detonation. Klaus Landsberg led the engineering feat on short notice that established microwave links that had previously been considered impossible with existing technology. The station fed the coverage to the nation. The broadcast, fed to all three networks, was also notable in that it was fed via a 140 mile link - the longest ever attempted at that time.

Directed by Klaus Landsberg, Operation Big Shot leans on a strong ensemble — Stan Chambers, Grant Holcomb, Bill Welsh — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1952.