September 7, 1956…NBC Debuts The Animated Peacock
57 years ago today, this animated film clip rolled at NBC for the first time at the start of ‘Your Hit Parade’ which at the time, was originating live and in living color from NBC Studio 8H. The voice belongs to legendary NBC announcer Ben Grauer. The animation was done by Electra Film Labs in New York City. The man who designed the peacock is John J. Graham.
There will be much more on this in the next post or two, but I wanted you to see this in the clear. Below in the comments section is the original peacock slide that debuted in July of 1956…fourteen months before this historic bird came to life. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug9ndBnWi9A
www.technologynewstimeline.com In 1957, NBC used this to indicate that the following program would be in color. It was the true beginning of the color-TV era.
This is the first use of the peacock logo…a slide which began to be used in July of 1956. There was various live copy read over this and one script read “You could be watching this in color”. More to come.
The peacock animation I always remembered, was the one that came after this one. The version here is used on the first couple of seasons of Bonanza on DVD.
My personal favorite of the “Peacocks.” When NBC rebroadcast the 1960 telecast of “PETER PAN” starring Mary Martin in 1988 or ’89, I taped it. When I watched it later, I didn’t know this version of the Peacock preceded it. It was the first time I had seen it in color!
I remember watching that old peacock at the beginning of Mary Martin’s Peter Pan when NBC rebroadcast that in the early 90s…..and of course that 1962 peacock was much better…..seeing it on Carson’s final show and when NBC brought it out for Conan O’Brien’s first Tonight Show.
I remember the original static peacock at beginning of “The Howdy Doody Show” every afternoon c.1955-56.
My favorite peacock logo was the one and done used by Saturday Night Live after NBC revived the peacock in the early 80s. The slogan was “NBC, smart as a peacock.”
I can’t tell you how much I love your page.
3-2-1- Up the bird, cue announce
I remember they used the slide for “It Could Be You” from LA…12:30 PM EST…
In some desk drawer I still have a 16mm version of the peacock. I remember that NBC Chicago didn’t record the peacock but left a hole for it at the top of a program (it would be rolled in live on film). It didn’t look too good in low band quad videotape.
An iconic moment in TV history.
Also, remember that during the late 50’s, NBC also aired a 5 sec TAG Video to most all programs showing of two boom mics crossing or a B&W camera changing lenses (Racking Over) or a color camera, with the words…”produced in association with the NBC Television Network”…
” the following program is brought to you in living color on NBC”
Wow… I have not heard that theme or seen this version of the Peacock… I do not think the current Peacock though is going anywhere… “It does not have any feet” …
The combination of the bright sounding woodwinds, synchronized with the cheerful colors, swirling and culminating in the unfurling of the tail feathers, and Mel Brandt’s distinctive vocal tone always warmed my heart and made me feel good. <3
1962 NBC Laramie Peacock: http://youtu.be/VE_oHJt_V5M
Thanks Andy Rose for the name correction. Dave Miller, that was one wacky voiceover from 1960! Can’t say I remember that one.
I remember being the TD on the 11 PM News on WBZ where the director (Lynn ?) inevitably ran over and said “kill the peacock” going into The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”. He gained an additional :13 seconds.
And if you remember seeing the peacock before AFL games … Here’s one voiced by Bill Wendell, later to become Letterman’s announcer: http://youtu.be/Fnxgtkqy3qA