Classic Video Thread (pre-2008)

[Ntropolis 596]

Great WGHP open from 1994: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtEs-ZVXV1I

[bixpchiphead 105]

From TServo2049:

"I know, it doesn't make any sense because WLAC was a CBS affiliate. But we don't know the actual origin of the music. It could have been a pre-existing piece that NBC affiliates took to in particular (a la Cool Hand Luke and ABC affiliates). Not sure we'll ever know the answer.."

 

If someone could track down Chris Clark, he might know. (He was News Director/VP for News at Channel 5 for many of the years he also anchored there).

[WWUpdate 1292]

A few '70s and '80s clips from Europe:

 

From 1978, here's the open of TV Aktua, produced by TROS in the Netherlands -- this has to be one of the first newsroom sets in Europe -- and can a news theme get any more '70s than that?

 

 

Here's a master version of the 1975 news open from the station in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, when that country was still a part of Yugoslavia:

 

[WWUpdate 1292]

And a longer clip of the news tease (text only) and open from the station in Ljubljana, Slovenia, then also a part of Yugoslavia:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4MLCoa90jk

[Samantha 2895]

 

Great WGHP open from 1994: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtEs-ZVXV1I

 

That's an incredible image for a station. TVbD graphics, one of the best music packages ever composed, and a really unconventional approach.

 

Given the user and the station this is probably from the Internet Archive. Understandably for the focus of a tobacco repository the Piedmont Triad is one of the more extensive markets available.

[Ntropolis 596]

 

That's an incredible image for a station. TVbD graphics, one of the best music packages ever composed, and a really unconventional approach.

 

Given the user and the station this is probably from the Internet Archive. Understandably for the focus of a tobacco repository the Piedmont Triad is one of the more extensive markets available.

 

Yeah, that user does rip a lot of stuff...

 

Have you seen this?

 

Beautiful filmography that holds up even today. Would look even more spectacular in HD.

[Samantha 2895]

Yes, I have. WGHP had one of the slickest looks in the country up until Fox put the clamp on the traditionalism of its New World stations.

 

A reel from Miami, 1988. There's a semi-major find: apparently WTVJ had a program called "Newswatch" (that is not a misprint!), and even after Tuesday16 (Reel Radio for WCCO-AM) was phased out from the newscasts it persisted there. Listen at 18:40 for the Tuesday16 signature: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_lmp91f00

 

In fact, here's the program from 1985, with a different set and host. Yes, this is WTVJ and not WTVG as the title seems to be trying to indicate: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_epp91f00

 

Also, a full 1994 (ignore the title) WXII newscast with a long open AND long close from the Otis Conner WROC theme, plus about 30 minutes of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_ydy99d00

 

And KPNX's Arizona Today from 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_rnp91f00

 

And WTSP with THE ONE FOR ALL (!!), and I know some of you from Tampa Bay have wanted to see this for a long time: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_xnp91f00

 

There's plenty more, including new themes/theme entries for WFSB, KTVH, KXLF, KKTV, and WFMY.

[sanewsguy 511]

I believe Karen Adams was responsible for the sleekness of WGHP in the early 90's as she was CSD. Of course now she's at WJZY ruining that station...

[Samantha 2895]

The Internet Archive is going crazy with new stuff:

 

WBMG, 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_iox27a00

WCIX, 1992: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_mry27a00

WHTM, 1986: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_arw27a00 (KDFW 1979 Theme)

WGPR, 1986: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_ohx27a00

WTKR, 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_gox27a00

KEYT, 1992: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_wqy27a00

 

The WGPR theme is new and ultra rare. Apparently they had a program named "NewScope".

 

Note the WHTM open. This is interesting because each of the three stations that used this theme were owned by Times-Mirror.

[nicksair 62]

This one is a gem right here. KFMB 4:30 open from '92 and a KGTV 5pm open. https://archive.org/details/tobacco_bry27a00

 

About the KFMB theme, i know it was used for less than a year before NS2K+ came on. Other than that, i have no information regarding it.

[Ntropolis 596]

 

The Internet Archive is going crazy with new stuff:

 

WBMG, 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_iox27a00

WCIX, 1992: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_mry27a00

WHTM, 1986: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_arw27a00 (KDFW 1979 Theme)

WGPR, 1986: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_ohx27a00

WTKR, 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_gox27a00

KEYT, 1992: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_wqy27a00

 

The WGPR theme is new and ultra rare. Apparently they had a program named "NewScope".

 

Note the WHTM open. This is interesting because each of the three stations that used this theme were owned by Times-Mirror.

 

Too bad that WTKR from 1989 is Live at Five... still have yet to see the other "Discover the Land of the Three" opens that feature the less jazzy, more conservative version of the theme.

 

 

This one is a gem right here. KFMB 4:30 open from '92 and a KGTV 5pm open. https://archive.org/details/tobacco_bry27a00

 

About the KFMB theme, i know it was used for less than a year before Stimulus came on. Other than that, i have no information regarding it.

 

That's probably production music... seems like I've heard it somewhere else before.

[nicksair 62]

 

That's probably production music... seems like I've heard it somewhere else before.

 

See, now that i think of it, i agree. I was only 5 at the time, and only vividly remember News 88 used on KGTV, and Groove News on KNSD. This scared the hell outta me when it was used on KFMB. Along with the rapid changing of scenes around San Diego.

[Samantha 2895]

It might also be 4:30 only. It's not at all like the Silvertree theme ("KFMB 1992").

[nicksair 62]

 

It might also be 4:30 only. It's not at all like the Silvertree theme ("KFMB 1992").

 

Oh i can tell you it was used across all newscasts. I remember it even so on the 11.

[ChesapeakeTV 311]

 

WBMG, 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_iox27a00

 

I'm beginning to think that WBMG was using this when they restarted their news department in '87. That open screams mid-80s small market/low-budget to me.

[Samantha 2895]

 

I'm beginning to think that WBMG was using this when they restarted their news department in '87. That open screams mid-80s small market/low-budget to me.

 

Me too. The Nightdesk open has Doug Bell with a mic flag featuring a Times New Roman "42", which was what the station

and probably what was on hand when WBMG tried its hand at news in 1987.

 

Seattle news opens from 1996, KSTW included!: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_qyv27a00

 

That sample is further validation of something that makes this special: we have materials from stations that might not be covered (like KSTW as a CBS affiliate, WBMG, WPTF or WGPR) in a more traditional collection. Most of these are high-dial, low-rated UHF outlets with news operations. The original archive's intent to capture any and all news stories about tobacco, regardless of station and reputation, is something critical for its value as one of the country's best sets of news opens. In addition, its timespan — the 1980s and 1990s — opens up many possibilities for news open finds.

 

Here are some of the things we've learned from the Internet Archive:

• The WFTV 1988 theme has an image campaign/sung jingle, "People You Can Count On"
  
• WTVJ used Tuesday16 into 1988
  
• Finds of brand new news themes galore
  

[TServo2049 81]

Note the WHTM open. This is interesting because each of the three stations that used this theme were owned by Times-Mirror.

I noticed this already, because it was used by KDFW, WVTM and KTBC. NMSA doesn't list them, but TexasTVNews had an open on his old YT account. (Hey Dontryl, could you maybe reupload that sometime, please?)

[10Viewer 334]

 

• Finds of brand new news themes galore
  

 

 

We wouldn't have found that WTSP open without your assistance. It's nearly impossible to find any WTSP opens from the 1989-92 era.

[Samantha 2895]

 

We wouldn't have found that WTSP open without your assistance. It's nearly impossible to find any WTSP opens from the 1989-92 era.

 

When I saw "WTSP" and "1988" (it's mis-dated, this is November 1989 judging by the story) I knew it was worth checking out. It's graphically similar to the

and I suspect John Christopher Burns either was an inspiration or partially involved (this piece probably had a 3D animator do most of the work).

[Ntropolis 596]

 

 

That sample is further validation of something that makes this special: we have materials from stations that might not be covered (like KSTW as a CBS affiliate, WBMG, WPTF or WGPR) in a more traditional collection. Most of these are high-dial, low-rated UHF outlets with news operations. The original archive's intent to capture any and all news stories about tobacco, regardless of station and reputation, is something critical for its value as one of the country's best sets of news opens. In addition, its timespan — the 1980s and 1990s — opens up many possibilities for news open finds.

 

 

Seems like the most common vintage newscasts are 11pm due to people recording past primetime. This archive collection opens the door for rarer newscasts, such as morning/midday/early evening newscasts. This includes a WTKR 5pm open as well as hard-to-find WTKR/WVEC/WAVY morning news clips from 1995 (it's misdated)... https://archive.org/details/tobacco_tep23e00

 

Here's a huge chunk of WFMY Good Morning Show from 1988 (also misdated) https://archive.org/details/tobacco_hmy99d00

[10Viewer 334]

Another vintage Tampa Bay open (Very hard to come by!). It's WTOG-44 circa early 80's:

 

[10Viewer 334]

 

When I saw "WTSP" and "1988" (it's mis-dated, this is November 1989 judging by the story) I knew it was worth checking out. It's graphically similar to the

and I suspect John Christopher Burns either was an inspiration or partially involved (this piece probably had a 3D animator do most of the work).

 

The news director in '89 was Mel Martin, longtime WJXT news director. He was brought in to rescue WTSP after the huge computer scandal, where the former N/D (Terry Cole, now with Sinclair) and asst. N/D broke in to WTVT's newsroom computer system and stole confidential material. Mel Martin brought Frank Gari's theme and the very elaborate 'look', which IMO was WTSP's best looking era.

[Samantha 2895]

 

The news director in '89 was Mel Martin, longtime WJXT news director. He was brought in to rescue WTSP after the huge computer scandal, where the former N/D (Terry Cole, now with Sinclair) and asst. N/D broke in to WTVT's newsroom computer system and stole confidential material. Mel Martin brought Frank Gari's theme and the very elaborate 'look', which IMO was WTSP's best looking era.

 

That certainly explains a lot.

 

WLNS, 1987 (haven't found in Archive yet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5PoGkf-hHM (News 88)

 

KCST, 1983: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_hkw27a00 (Ponderosa)

 

KNXV, 1996: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_cdw27a00 (Look, that set's a spaceship!)

 

WSBT and WNDU, c1986: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_gtw27a00 (Thematic Package for WSBT)

 

KCNC First News, 1992: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_qry27a00 (Image IV Mk II)

 

WTMJ 1987: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_tyw27a00 (Image Leader)

[ChesapeakeTV 311]

 

Another vintage Tampa Bay open (Very hard to come by!). It's WTOG-44 circa early 80's:

 

 

This seems to be inspired by a mix of the early 80s Corinthian look (gradient lines) and the "And You" look (text - do we have a proper name for this?). And it's incredibly well-done.

 

I have some finds of my own (date guesstimation where needed):

 

WHEC using PNP on a wet morning in 1988: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_erw27a00

"Newsight 21" on WHP at about 13:25 with a new theme, dated as 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_iar91f00

Another new WHP theme, along with a WHTM open, probably 1990ish: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_zxx27a00

Cold WCAX open from 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_mqx27a00

WSMV with The Diary and "The Channel 4 News" branding, probably 1994, along with a WTVF open: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_pqy27a00

KTBC talent open with Yours Truly, 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_ynp91f00

WTEN short open with PNP, followed by AM Buffalo on WKBW, dated as 1989: https://archive.org/details/tobacco_mar91f00

 

...wait, it's 11:40? Boy, this is addictive.

[WWUpdate 1292]

This has been mentioned before, but the tobacco archive also includes a portion of KTVK's then-brand-new "Good Morning Arizona" with Jodi Applegate from an interesting period in 1994 when the station was still an ABC affiliate but already preparing for its independence. (KTVK passed ABC's "Good Morning America" on to KNXV a few months early in order to build up its own morning show):

 

https://archive.org/details/tobacco_iny27a00

 

The 8 A.M. portion of "Good Morning Arizona" with the news (but without the 8 A.M. open) begins at 4:28 into the clip.

 

The rest of the clip contains ABC soap operas with some promos and updates from KTVK.