The Night RFK Was Shot…Inside The Ambassador Hotel, Part 2 of 3
Rare Photos Of The Television Coverage…June 4, 1968
I have had several request to repost these photos, so here is the second of three sets of photos taken the afternoon that Senator Robert Kennedy was killed at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. There is more on the orignal post text, quite a bit of detail on the photos, as well as some instructive comments from the first posting, so be sure and click on each image. -Bobby Ellerbee
This is in the Max Rafferty for Senate HQ in one of three ballrooms that were active that night with election activity. The camera on the left is from ABC and I think it is a black and white…maybe a TK30. CBS is in the middle with what looks like a Marconi Mark VII. The right cam is an NBC Norelco. I can see this at a different angle in another picture.
Here you can see both NBC trucks behind the hotel wth KTLA’s unit in the background.
This is the KTLA unit behind the hotel. They were using black and white RCA TK30 cameras.
Also behind the hotel, the ABC truck and KTTV’s utility truck, ABC was broadcasting in black and white. KTTV was using Norelco color and we’ll see their big trucks with CBS at the front of the building in a click or two.
I’m not sure where this is, maybe the Allan Cranston for Senate ballroom, but it is not The Embassy Room where the RFK HQ was that night as the ceiling is quite different. The camera on the far left is a Norelco from CBS and on the right is a KTLA TK30 and behind it, a Norelco PC60 from KTTV.
This the front of the Ambassador Hotel with two CBS trucks on the left and I think the trucks on the right belong to KTTV as they were covering this with Norelco color just like NBC and CBS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYLelmN6BA&ab_channel=ABCNews
I have added the ABC coverage from the next day with Frank Reynolds reporting. In it, you can see ABC’s video from the night before was shot in black and white. Also included in this clip is the voice of the Mutual reporter, Andy West who had live audio in the kitchen. It is quite chilling.
Today’s images include the network and local trucks from KTLA and KTTV and more photos from inside The Ambassador. I think it is best if I include the details of this set of photos on the pictures themselves, so please make sure you click on them individually. This is the only time and place these have been seen with any narration, so remember to share these. -Bobby Ellerbee
Many thanks to Martin Perry for finding these photos taken by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Six more pictures coming tomorrow!