(+1) 234 567 21

TeleTales #52…NEW, ULTRA RARE! The Kraft Cameraman

•

Eyes Of A Generation.com

TeleTales #52…NEW, ULTRA RARE! The Kraft Cameraman

Before “The Kraft Television Theater” debuted on a regular basis from NBC Studio 8G in May of 1947, it had been done occasionally from Studio 3H in 1945 with their big silver Iconoscope cameras.

I think this super rare picture of the opening shot display was taken in May of ’47 in 8G. We see two men working on the rotation table here, but over the years, the mode of travel changed. This turntable setup was the first arrangement. In the early ’50s, the cameraman was rotated back and forth by a visible stick from underneath. By the mid to late 50s, the cameraman was dollying into the picture and then turning with the invisible help of magnets.

In 1954, Kraft began offering this as a toy for fifty cents with a Velveeta box top. I’ll post the introductory announcement below in the Comment section. Again, thanks to Mike Clark for sharing this. Enjoy and SHARE! -Bobby Ellerbee

Source

8 responses to “TeleTales #52…NEW, ULTRA RARE! The Kraft Cameraman”

  1. Jay Stearns

    I have a few of these toys I bought over the years. I remember my mom sending away for the Kraft Camerman when I was a little kid.

  2. Michael Biel

    Yeah, Robert Barker;s is what mine looks like. I had no idea when these came out — 1954 is very late for an Iconoscope camera, even a toy! 🙂

  3. Mark Tipton

    Yep! Have had one for over 20 years. Had to have it.

  4. Robert Barker

  5. Chris Conway

    I had one of these. Perhaps it is what led to a lifetime working in TV.

  6. Dennis Martin

    Ha. I have that toy!

  7. Steve Byrd

    The Kraft cameraman also “introduced” the final season of “Tom Corbett, Space Cadet” on NBC back in 1955 or so, when it was sponsored by Kraft Caramels.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTd0hkzcDjE

  8. Eyes Of A Generation.com

    March 8, 1954, Kraft Cameraman toy announcement in Broadcasting Magazine.

Leave a Reply