Bob Hope Special Shot With RCA TK60s, Excellent Crisp Video
Just For Fun…Bob Hope Special Shot With RCA TK60s, Excellent Crisp Video
Above is a Hope special from September 25, 1964. Although it was shot in black and white, it looks spectacular! This was also done in Studio 1 at NBC Burbank, like the first color special he did there as seen in the post just before this.
Below are some rare photos of the TK60s in Studio 1. This camera used the new 4.5 inch Image Orthicon tube. The TK60 actually debuted in 1960 as the TK12, but had a few issues. By ’63, RCA had fixed the problems and re-released it as the TK60. By this time though, color was making great headway and broadcasters were reluctant to buy monochrome cameras, but many did.
It was an excellent camera and it’s only rival was the Marconi Mark IV which used the same tube. By the way, Milton Berle, Phyllis Diller, Dean Martin, and Jack Benny are Bob’s guests on the special which is quite good. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Why was NBC still doing b/w specials in 1964?
Hidden away behind our news set, is an old, long abandoned I/O panel. Most of the labels have fallen off or faded, but one large opening still retains a label reading “TK-60 #3”.