Yet More Classic Letterman…13 Cameras In The Studio

This show presented some interesting technical challenges. Back in 1988 the engineering/wiring of the studios was very different than it is today. The way the studios were wired was that the Video switchers control panels were in the studio control rooms yet the actual “guts” or frames containing the electronics were all in a central equipment room on the 5th floor @ 30 Rock. In addition to this, there was a separate room on the 5th floor where all of the cross connections for the Talley (Red lights on each camera indicating that that camera was “On Air”) & the (PL “private line” headphone & microphone worn by each camera person to communicate with the control room) for all of our studios were located. The Video switcher generates the Talley signal for the cameras when they are in an “On Air” status. Studio 6A where Letterman was done could not accommodate all 13 cameras so we “borrowed” cameras along with Talley & PL from studios 8G & 8H by running the camera cables down 2 flights of stairs and making the appropriate cross connects on the 5th floor. Lots of extra work went into doing this show but we had fun doing it and the outcome was excellent.Dave was pleased.

This was when Letterman was at his most creative. He did some funny stuff back then. I would to see a highlights video of it all.

Letterman’s show used to be so much more creative.

This should have been the night he introduced the monkey cam.