‘Today’…Then And Now

The photo above was taken January 14, 1952. This was the debut of ‘Today’ and on camera is our friend Frank Merklein, who’s now 96. Also on camera that day (not shown) was Harry Katzman who’s now 95. Harry later moved to video and stayed on the show for 15 years.

Many crew’s have come and gone, but the team on duty Tuesday morning included David Chesney, Jim Corgan, Mason Gunch (jib), Thomas Hogan, Robert “Rope” Jaeger, Robert Lieberman, John Montalbano (stedicam) and Jimmy Mott.

At the bottom is a photo from 1958, just before the move inside to color studio 3K. I’ve always wondered why they never made use of RCA’s fantastic little portable mini cameras. NBC used them at the political conventions in 1952 and Steve Allen used one occasionally for his “man on the street” segments on ‘Tonight’ in 1954.

I guess they were comfortable sending Dave Garroway outside with a mic and shooting him through the window. Except for their four years in 3K, ‘Today’ has spent it’s whole life on 49th Street. First at the RCA Exhibition Hall which is now Christie’s, then in The Florida Showcase which is across 49th Street from Christie’s and now Studio 1A. I’m sure the show’s creator, Pat Weaver, is proud…maybe even proud as a peacock!

Thanks to our friend, ‘Tonight’ cameraman, Kurt Decker for his help with the crew names.

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