That year , an episode of '' What 's My Line ? '' originated from the WBBM studios , airing one day prior to the start of the 1956 Democratic National Convention . Between the late 1940s and early 1970s , Columbia Records housed an office and recording studio in the building . On September 26 , 1960 , WBBM 's McClurg Court studios served as the site of the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon . WBBM-TV also served as production home to the syndicated programs '' Donahue '' ( from 1982 to 1985 ) and '' Siskel & Ebert '' ( from 1986 to the late 1990s , when production migrated to the studios of WLS-TV on State Street )
1956 Democratic National Convention
1956 Democratic National Convention
WBBM-TV