TV History

October 17, 1958…Video Tape Editing Makes It’s Debut! All week, we have danced around this subject with the Smith Block posts, but it was only this morning that I realized that we are at the 56th Anniversary of video tape editing. The following is excerpted from Richard Wirth’s article from March, which is included…

‘Hollywood Squares’…Unaired Pilot AND How Peter Marshall Won I don’t think Bert Parks was ever really seriously considered for the role of host of this show, but for the pilot pitch to CBS…he’d be an OK choice. Obviously not though. After the pilot sat on Fred Silverman’s desk for six months, Heater & Quigley…

ULTRA RARE! ‘Hollywood Squares’ In Studio Shot…The First And Only Yesterday marked the 48th Anniversary of the debut of ‘Hollywood Squares’ on NBC, which began the long run of the original daytime show from October 17, 1966 – June 20, 1980. Although I have looked high and low, this is the only backstage shot…

This Was Indeed, The Start Of Something BIG! The Roone Arlidge Era This video is from the last episode of ABC’s ‘Wide World Of Sports’ debut season which started April 29, 1961. This clip highlights some firsts in football coverage. This is the first use of a crane camera over the field, microphones on…

Speaking Of NBC Burbank And 1958…Here’s A Drive By In the last post, we saw a 1958 clip of Steve Allen and company singing and strolling the halls inside 3000 West Alameda…here’s the outside. Thanks to David Crosthwait and DC Video for this trip down memory lane. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us2flcoPut0 This…

In Case You Missed This…The Smith Block, Up Close And Personal Earlier in the week, I posted a photo of a 1965 NBC videotape edit session using the Smith Block. Thanks to David Crosthwait at DC Video, here are some awesome close ups of the Smith Block which was created by NBC Burbank editor…

The Great Dennis James…A Video Tribute By Monty Hall Few have had a carrier like this…as you’ll see, even Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope respected the trail he blazed. Dennis James was among the first television announcers and game show hosts, and “made his bones”, partially by cracking chicken bones (on mic) as he…

Another Of Television’s First Game Shows…’Cash And Carry’ This may actually be network television’s first game show. The distinction here is “network television”, as this debuted on June 20, 1946 on Dumont and was broadcast in New York and Washington. Earlier today, we looked at the CBS game show ‘Missus Goes – A -Shopping’…

One Of CBS Television’s First Game Show Hosts…John Reed King Pictured here is John Reed King hosting ‘It’s A Gift’. There’s a good chance this photo was taken the night of the show’s debut, January 29, 1946 in what is probably CBS Studio 42 at Grand Central Terminal. This television story actually starts two…

Rare…CBS Studio 52 Spec Sheets From 1961 At one time, the CBS production office had a big book listing all their studios, complete with diagrams of the stage and all the technical specifications. Thanks to Gady Reinhold, we get to see these pages on Studio 52 from the 1961 edition. Having just seen this…

How’s This For RARE? ‘Tonight’ Show, Debut Ad Thanks to Maureen Caney, here is a print ad that ran Sunday, September 26, 1954 announcing the debut of ‘Tonight’ With Steve Allen, the next night. The first guests to ever appear on ‘Tonight’ were Martha Raye and The Inkspots. On September 27th of this year,…

October 15, 1973…’Tomorrow’ Debuted On NBC The only way to remember this great show is to remember what made it great…Tom Snyder. On the event of his death in 2007, here are remembrances from Brian Williams, Jay Leno and David Letterman. Incidentally, Letterman’s NBC show replaced ‘Tomorrow’. ‘Tomorrow’ followed ‘Tonight’ With Johnny Carson and…

October 15, 1951…’I Love Lucy’ Debuts On CBS, Tribute 3 Of 4 Rare Color Footage…In Context As you saw in the pilot episode post just before this, the script from the pilot was rewritten and was used as Episode 6, Season 1 with the title “The Audition”. In the closing curtain call here, we…

October 15, 1951…’I Love Lucy’ Debuts On CBS, Tribute 1 Of 4 Original Stick Figure Intro And First Episode… This is the a video lesson on the first of television’s most famous shows. In this post, there are a few surprises in this clip with film and photos from  Episode 1, Season 1 and,…

The Peabody Awards…First Season Winners From The Early Years Some shows are so unique and shining that their merit is immediately recognizable. Here is the story of four programs that were awarded The Peabody in their first seasons, and why. Among the winners…’Howdy Doody’ in 1947, ‘Disneyland’ in 1954, ‘Lassie’ in 1955 and ‘Mr.…