A Great True Story From NBC Veteran Frank Gaeta…NBC 1951 – 1988
A Great True Story From NBC Veteran Frank Gaeta…NBC 1951 – 1988
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Gaeta about his 37 years at NBC. In this photo from NBC Brooklyn Studio II, Frank (plaid shirt) is operating the TK41 at the bottom of the picture. This is on the set of ‘Sing Along With Mitch’ in 1962.
He was there for the remarkable early days of color and spent a lot of time at The Colonial Theater and Brooklyn which were NBC’s first two color facilites. In ’75 he moved from cameraman to technical director and was TD for ‘Another World’ till he retired in ’88 and on occasion, also directed.
Here’s a story like none I have ever heard before. One night in the early 60s, he was on one of four color cameras for a live color prime time network show from NBC Brooklyn. They had rehearsed for three long days, and it’s a good thing they did.
About thirty seconds into the show, the intercom line to the control room went dead. None of the studio crew could hear the TD and he couldn’t hear them, but the cameramen could hear each other. So, as the show went on, all of them were talking to each other, feeding each other shots. It sounded something like this…”Frank, you’ve got shot 72 and hold it till Jack can get in place for 73 and then truck left for 74.”
There’s no business like PRO business, and that’s how these guys pulled it off without a hitch. If you have a story like this, we would all love to hear it so please tell us about it! Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Frank was my mentor…. I recently saw him in 2014 and he looks great. I owe him alot.
Humpback Attack!)
Este es el mundo donde crecí
I want to know if Frank sang along.
This was when the Electronic Maintenance people really knew their stuff!
And today, what would happen if the computer lost communication with the robocams?
You are saying that Camera shots had numbers. It is my understanding that camera shots were first numbered at CBS in Hollywood. It was started by an AD named Dave Powers who later directed The Carol Burnett Show”.
That’s the way pros do it. Whatever it takes, get the job done.
I worked with Frank Gaeta at the Brooklyn Studios and if I remember he not only TD but Directed some !! Frank is a true Pro !!
It took those 350 plus pound monsters to bring color to broadcast television.
Amazing. Excellent team work.
Great story! Look for the Union Label!
Amazing!