The Norelco Era: Before we talk about the cameras, let’s talk about Ed’s “personal cameraman”, Mr. George Moses who whe see above shooting the boss with a new Norelco PC71. Stage Manager Eddie Brinkman was with Ed from the first show till the last one and George was there for 21 of the 23 years!

This will be a short but INFORMATIVE section as we deal with the first color in Studio 50, so be sure to see the video clip at the end of this article! In August, Seprember and some of October of 1965, Ed’s show moved to Los Angeles to air new shows as Studi0 50 was outfitted for color with new lights, sets and Norelco PC71 cameras. The cameras were specially outfitted with mu-metal to protect the electronics from the mamoth magnetic field that plagued the theater since day one. Most people never knew that just behind the backstage wall is Transit Substation 13 on West 53rd Street that had huge 600 volt rotary converters used to generate DC from AC. I have included actual photos of these “humming devils” below.

The reason I bring this up is because even thought the Norelcos were great cameras, they just did not quite hit the mark there at Studio 50 where great color was critical for all the shows that came from here. On October 31, 1965, the Norelco PC71s took the Sullivan show to color at Studio 50. BUT, one year later, CBS announced it had just bought 39 new Marconi Mark VII color cameras and by the summer of 1967, they were in Studio 50 with NO modifications needed to “fight the power” behind the wall.

These historical images are from the CBS Photo Archives available through Getty Images and are presented here to assist researchers and television historians in identifying the television equipment in use over the decades and is offered here in a purely educational/instructional forum.

American television host Ed Sullivan (1902 – 1974) (left) shakes hands with Soul singer James Brown (1933 – 2006) on the set of ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ where Brown was the musical guest, New York, New York, October 30, 1966. A camera and boom microphone are visible. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

NEW YORK – MAY 14: Music group The Turtles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, May 14, 1967. The Turtles are led by Mark Volman (at left with tambourine) and Howard Kaylan (wearing dark suit, center). Also seen: John Barbata (on drums); Al Nichol (guitar, second from right) and Jim Tucker (guitar, far right). (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: The Rolling Stones are photographed during a rehearsal for “The Ed Sullivan Show” in New York, New York on February 13, 1966. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

This is the machinery that wreaked havock since the days of radio at The Sullivan Theater.  These rotalry converters (from AC to DC) generated thousands of volts of electricity for the subways below but blew up huge magnetic fields that went through the brick wall behind the stage, like water through bread. 

THIS IS THE SUBSTATION IN ACTION! TAKE A LOOK!