January 14, 1952…’Today’ Debuts On NBC…First In More Than One Way
Posted on
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.
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 […]
STOP THE PRESSES! WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? A UNICORN? Now THIS, is INTERESTING! Behind RCA’s Dr. Paul Weimer, with his Tri-Color camera (foreground), there is something behind him I have never seen before. UPDATE: January 2021, new photos shed new light on this camera at this link https://eyesofageneration.com/a-primer-on-rcas-earliest-compatable-color-cameras/ It is similar to the first […]
Picture Parade #1…WCBW TV, New York, 1946 This is a rare picture of the RCA A500 Iconoscope cameras at CBS Grand Central Terminal, but this is not a network show and it may surprise you to know that there was no CBS Television Network till 1948. This looks like a game show, but what ever […]
From the early 1970s, here a copy the 31 page Norelco PC 70 catalog. This was television’s “new kid on the block” camera…the one that gave the big kid on the block (RCA) a run for the money and brought the Plumbicon tube to the forefront. Thanks to our friend Scott Baker for the use […]
