CBS Color At Television City & The Bob Crosby Show (1953-57)
CBS Color At Television City & The Bob Crosby Show (1953-57)
In the mid to late 50’s and even in the early 60s, there seems to be no particular rhyme or reason as to when CBS shows from Television City would be done in color,as none were colorcast on a regular basis, but once or maybe even a couple of times a month, they would do a single day or maybe even a whole week in color and here’s how it was done. This was taken in Studio 33 but the cameras are from Studio 41 (across the hall) and are being controlled from 41. Studios 31 and 33 were color cabled to the control rooms in 41 and 43. Studio 43 had RCA TK40s and Studio 41 had TK41s, but neither 43 or 41 had this type of permanent seating (originally Studio 31 had this seating too, but not now). Even though 41 and 43 were designated color studios, many black and white shows, like ‘Art Linkletter’s House Party’, ‘Climax’, ‘General Electric Theater’ and ‘Life With Father’ were done in 41 and 43. Interestingly, ‘Playhouse 90’ was usually done in Studio 33 which is half the size of the stages in 41 and 43.
This swapping of cameras was (and is) pretty common. Even today at NBC, Studio 1A’s control room (in the basement below Studio 1A) controls the cameras for Nightly News which are in Studio 3B across the street from the control room. Also, the 3rd and 4th hours of the Today Show in Studio 1A are controlled from the 7A control room. The only time Studio 1A controls its own cameras is during the first 2 hours of the Today Show!
One from Column A; one from Column B – wait! What camera? What studio? (Great information — thanks.)
Bill Cullen was Jack’s onetime brother-in-law; his widow and Jack’s first wife are sisters.
Tom Kennedy’s real name? Jim Narz. Yes, Jim..er, Tom and Jack were brothers, as well as great TV personalities, each in their own right.