Last Bob Batsche Color Photo From NBC 8H…The B&W Photos Start Tomorrow
First, does anyone know if this staircase is still there? This photo from January ’69 shows the west wall of 8H (where the SNL permanent sets are now), and stairs that led to the old 9th floor control room. I don’t know what we are seeing here, but suspect the floor markings are for a one time dramatic presentation. This photo was taken from the glassed in bird’s eye studio we saw Huntley and Brinkley using during Apollo 8. Starting tomorrow, we’ll see color pix from 3B and black and white photos of 8H during the taping of ‘Snap Judgement’ with Ed McMahon as MC.
The last time Chet and David were in the studio together, the day before Chet retired… it was here in 8H. Two portable vismo rear projection screens set up and they set next to each (unlike normal when they were in New York and Washington)… and I was privileged to be there that night. That same night Jerry Lewis and Paul Harvey were guests on the Tonight show on the fourth floor and I was also fortunate to witness that and their discussions in the green room (about Jerry’s Family Theater chain).
Didn’t tbd doctors soap come from 8H? I vaguely remember on a tour in the 60s and we were in a room that looked down on a studio and they mentioned the doctors was in there. I wonder if that room described earlier that Chet and David used is the room I was in which the tour used if not in use?
“The Doctors” soap was in 3B for years. It did have a “clients booth” that looked down into the studio space.
If the stairway is where I think it is, no it’s no longer there. That spot is directly behind SNL’s homebase; the door where the guest host comes through at the beginning of the show is under the top of the stairs in this photo. The stairs are not there anymore. There’s just no room:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/13194579125/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/13194869894/
I also remember the viewing window on the 4th floor overlooking 3B. It was part of the tour. I can’t remember what was on the 4th floor that would have also been on the tour. Was master control on that floor in the 60’s? Also, one thing that had an impression on me was looking down from the 9th floor to 8H. I remember thinking it looked like an ice skating rink. No sets in place at the time, and no risers with seats. I’m thinking it was around 1966.
There is now a staircase in the same place, but it is a circular staircase going up the the 9th floor dimmer room.
West wall? That’s where the pin rail is.
i don’t know the answer to the question…we hope you are being richly rewarded for your efforts!