The Original Amateur Hour With Ted Mack
The Original Amateur Hour With Ted Mack: Part 1
Long before ‘American Idol’, ‘Star Search’ and even Arthur Godfrey’s ‘Talent Scout’ came to television, there was this. As you’ll see below in the other 3 parts, this was the granddaddy of them all. Between the radio and television years, the show discovered the likes of Frank Sinatra, Pat Boone, Ann Margret, Gladys Knight, Irene Kara, Tonya Tucker and more.
Not long ago, the longtime television producer of this show, Albert Fisher sent me these photos. I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures and the story that unfolds here as there is REAL HISTORY here!
Before we get to far along though, notice the Dumont Iconoscope camera pedestal. This is the only photo I’ve ever seen where you can clearly see the height adjustment wheel which is just in front of the pan head. I had always wondered how the camera was raised and lowered on what many Dumont cameramen affectionately called this pedestal…”the milk truck”. Enjoy!
Very distinctive ped and camera. BTW, how do you ped up and down with this one?
I swear Dumont made the best looking cameras during the Iconoscope era, very sleek in style and design and also their style of logo as well, great looking camera! 😀