1978 – cbs celebrates 50 years on the air
The cynical would say when television networks produce anniversary shows it is to prove they are still relevant. While I get that argument, I look at it differently; I see it as a kind of a history lesson.
Maybe it is because I am so fascinated by such things that I found this blog post from the KINESCOPE HD blog so terrific. The post features clips from the 1978 production of CBS-TV (and to a degree, radio) celebrating its first 50 years.
What is so poignant for me watching this was seeing so many of the stars long since passed today shown healthy and vibrant and so duly noted in this 1978 special. I cannot help but imagine how cool it must have been back stage, not because of some past, present or future “celebrity” status but rather to have all those talented people together, mixing, sharing stories…what an amazing experience it must have been. Some egos? Sure…you’ll note the absence of a certain Jackie Gleason in the show. What’s up with that?! Maybe it was a “scheduling” thing.
Can you IMAGINE sitting, chatting and mostly listening to Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, George Burns and on and on – likely pleasant folks with mind-blowing stories and experiences and more than a few great belly laughs. So much to learn!
Also of note were some of the sets in the show which used graphics still on the air today on shows like CBS News Sunday Morning. The designs are classic and timeless, much like the network’s famous eye logo (shown respectfully above).
Look, the songs and the skits are a bit hokey but it was celebration and taken as a whole, a pretty OK one at that.
I hope you enjoy watching these clips as much as I did and kudos to KINESCOPE HD for putting it together. They always do a bang up job and I am a proud subscriber to their blog.
