January 14, 1952…’Today’ Debuts On NBC…First In More Than One Way
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January 14, 1952…’Today’ Debuts On NBC…First In More Than One Way
Today, was network television’s first ever morning show, and is where some of the state of the art technology was first used.
First, I am sure this is the first time the new Houston Fearless TD 3 counter-weighted pedestals were ever used. There are no photos of them before this day in 1952, and I think there are two prototypes on the set. All the other peds are the old TD 1 crank up peds.
Second, I think this is also the first use of the new RCA camera mounted teleprompter. There appear to be two in use on the debut…one on a camera with the new TD 3 ped and one on a camera on a TD 1 ped. Notice they are strapped to the cameras and not permanently attached. I think these two prototypes had come in a week or two before and were tested on The Martha Ray Show.
Happy Birthday ‘Today’! Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
I think this is Harry Katzman, who after a couple of years on camera, worked as senior video man for 16 years on ‘Today’.Here’s the new RCA Electa Zoom and the new teleprompter. I’m not sure if that is an RCA logo on the prompter or not. Could that be the TelePrompter logo? Notice the great magnifying lens. It seems that cameramen were taking turns operating the cameras with the prompter.With is his back to us on the right is our friend Frank Merklein who was a part of the debut broadcast.The ramp lead down to the control room.Here’s the second teleprompter on a TK30 mounted on the old TD 1 pedestal. That sure looks like the RCA logo on the prompter in this photo.Here’s a shot of the studio from across the street at 30 Rock. Notice the hi position camera against the window.Here’s that lonely perch, but with a great shot of the whole studio using the Zoomar Field lens.Dave Garroway at the two minute capsule news board. In the foreground, new new RCA teleprompter and Houston Fearless TD 3 prototype pedestal.
Picture Parade 2….1960 Election Coverage, NBC Studio 8H Here’s the great team of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley covering the race between Nixon and Kennedy. I think this was the first time they used this “crows nest” set up with the anchors on the 9th floor balcony. It’s still odd to me to the the […]
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The RCA Orthicon Tube Harley Ambrose Iams and Albert Rose of RCA developed the tube in 1938. Although it was a simpler design than the Iconoscope, building this tube was much more difficult. This 4 Inch RCA Orthicon tube was 18 inches long. Source
The NBC Mini Cameras… Earlier in the week, I posted a video that showed rare footage of ABC’s and CBS’s first self designed, black and white portable cameras. Here are a couple of NBC’s self designed cameras. The photo in front of the Democratic Convention sign is from 1964 and shows a small camera head […]
