Having worked in television, many years ago ,I can still hear the director in the mobile unit say "The Bird is Flying"as the opening of a Hockey game began .
Having worked in television many, many years ago , I can stiil hear the Director in the mobile unit say "the Bird is flying " on the opening of a hockey game .
This "bumper", known to afficionados as "the 'Laramie' peacock", was used, as 'wm' mentioned, from 1962 through 1968, before the start of virtually every NBC color program [the exceptions were news and sports programming]. In the fall of '68, it was shortened a bit, and used through 1970-'71, but not on every program after the fall of '70.
i really miss this Peacock,i wish NBC would bring it back,its much better than that piece of crap they have now,which looks more like a pigeon with balloons tied to its tail!!!!
And then you had the one-time 'Penguin' variation used when NBC broadcast the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" which was in black and white...the movie was filmed in black and white, while "Help!" is in color.
Sorry, but . . . this variation was used from 1962 up until November 1968, after which the opening was shortened by a few seconds, the pitch of the music was brought down by 4%, and two variations - Mel Brandt's regular V/O and one by Jerry Damon indicating "a special program in living color" - took effect.
But Disco2009 is partly correct. Although this isn't the Peacock used in 1974 (you are correct there wmbrown6), I do remember the softer Mel Brandt version of the Peacock was used in the 1974 1st episode of "Little House On The Priarie" (only time "Little House" had the Peacock opening) -- I know I remember that from when I was 10 years old, because I clearly remember the fascinating & unique cut NBC did from the Peacock to the girls running down the hill (someone needs to find that vid.)
Yes, I do think I remember (yes, from when I was 10) it does sound like it was Mr. Damon's V/O that was used for the Peacock that was used right before the opening of the premiere of "Little House On The Priarie" back on September 11, 1974 (I turned 11 years in November 1974; & I remember that we were told watch "Little House" premiere by my sixth grade teacher). NBC must have used Mr. Damon & the Peacock to open new shows up until that fall season.
And I think the reason why they might have used Mr. Damon's "special" V/O peacock for the premiere of "Little House" is because many schools were teaching Laura Ingalls Wilder's books at the time (in advance of the show) plus "Little House" which aired on Mondays bumped the long time NBC series "Adam-12" to Tuesdays that fall. I also clearly remember Mr. Damon's voiced Peacock almost seeeming like it was urging Melissa Gilbert & the other two little girls to go to Michael Landon & the mom.
What now, did the NBC AM station decide to open their own TV station so were going to see years of refused seconds and watch the channel struggle and die slowly trying in vain to keep at least a secondary ABC schedule??
Having worked in television, many years ago ,I can still hear the director in the mobile unit say "The Bird is Flying"as the opening of a Hockey game began .
TK42CCU 1 year ago
Having worked in television many, many years ago , I can stiil hear the Director in the mobile unit say "the Bird is flying " on the opening of a hockey game .
TK42CCU 1 year ago
This "bumper", known to afficionados as "the 'Laramie' peacock", was used, as 'wm' mentioned, from 1962 through 1968, before the start of virtually every NBC color program [the exceptions were news and sports programming]. In the fall of '68, it was shortened a bit, and used through 1970-'71, but not on every program after the fall of '70.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
i really miss this Peacock,i wish NBC would bring it back,its much better than that piece of crap they have now,which looks more like a pigeon with balloons tied to its tail!!!!
saml760 1 year ago
@saml760 Why did NBC dump the old peacock for the letter "N" in the first place?
Chicago10281 1 year ago
@Chicago10281 To make themselves look edgy in a new era full of people who didn't like the 1950s as much as they could have.
JohnFordDanceTroupe 1 year ago
Bonitinho!!!. Hein?.
nsrbr 2 years ago 2
This reminds me of the yearly Wizard of Oz tv showings when I was a kid........ this would come on before the movie started.
ozboy39 2 years ago
Believe so.
kxx46 2 years ago
Oh, so Mel Brandt was that glorious colorful voice!
SteveCarras 3 years ago
That would be so cool if AD had used that!
SteveCarras 3 years ago
Does anyone remember the broadcast premiere to the first episode of "American Dreams"?
Did they use this logo?
I'll bet they did.
solmonhut 3 years ago
I'm sure they did.
"ER" had a "live" episode once and NBC used this to announce it.
kxx46 2 years ago
Did the Peacock have a name?
harpersferry59 3 years ago
They just called it "The Bird."
batterymaker 3 years ago
O pavão desta vinheta ficou conhecido como "Laramie Peacock".
sfl662006 3 years ago
Translation:
The pavão of this vignette was known as "Laramie Peacock".
Chowchillah 3 years ago 2
Of course, the V/O for the "regular" Peacock bumpers was always Mel Brandt, had been from 1962 to '75.
wmbrown6 3 years ago
And then you had the one-time 'Penguin' variation used when NBC broadcast the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" which was in black and white...the movie was filmed in black and white, while "Help!" is in color.
kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE 3 years ago 2
NBC Peacock Will Have Just Gonna More Remake Until 2012?
Hoskins1942 4 years ago
That's nice for a "Laramie" Peacock.
Retroman58 4 years ago 2
This was used on a 1974 brodcast, I think.
Disco2009 4 years ago
Sorry, but . . . this variation was used from 1962 up until November 1968, after which the opening was shortened by a few seconds, the pitch of the music was brought down by 4%, and two variations - Mel Brandt's regular V/O and one by Jerry Damon indicating "a special program in living color" - took effect.
wmbrown6 4 years ago
I could tell the voice was different on the 'special program' Peacock, and that NBC used 'the bird' less and less once color TV really got popular.
kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE 3 years ago
But Disco2009 is partly correct. Although this isn't the Peacock used in 1974 (you are correct there wmbrown6), I do remember the softer Mel Brandt version of the Peacock was used in the 1974 1st episode of "Little House On The Priarie" (only time "Little House" had the Peacock opening) -- I know I remember that from when I was 10 years old, because I clearly remember the fascinating & unique cut NBC did from the Peacock to the girls running down the hill (someone needs to find that vid.)
Yesimustbestupid2 3 years ago
I have my own correction, though: The "Now, a special program in living color . . . " Peacock opening was voiced by Vic Roby, as per the start of:
watch?v=WZOewXSehww
Also, hear a bumper from Mr. Roby on:
watch?v=Gk0GNybCRjw
(To hear how Mr. Damon sounded, click on:
watch?v=OKflH0TC8sw )
wmbrown6 3 years ago
Yes, I do think I remember (yes, from when I was 10) it does sound like it was Mr. Damon's V/O that was used for the Peacock that was used right before the opening of the premiere of "Little House On The Priarie" back on September 11, 1974 (I turned 11 years in November 1974; & I remember that we were told watch "Little House" premiere by my sixth grade teacher). NBC must have used Mr. Damon & the Peacock to open new shows up until that fall season.
Yesimustbestupid2 3 years ago
And I think the reason why they might have used Mr. Damon's "special" V/O peacock for the premiere of "Little House" is because many schools were teaching Laura Ingalls Wilder's books at the time (in advance of the show) plus "Little House" which aired on Mondays bumped the long time NBC series "Adam-12" to Tuesdays that fall. I also clearly remember Mr. Damon's voiced Peacock almost seeeming like it was urging Melissa Gilbert & the other two little girls to go to Michael Landon & the mom.
Yesimustbestupid2 3 years ago
No Bonanza???
What now, did the NBC AM station decide to open their own TV station so were going to see years of refused seconds and watch the channel struggle and die slowly trying in vain to keep at least a secondary ABC schedule??
Hey, it's happened!
steadfastcoward 4 years ago
It's a niceful peacock
andresmalagreca 4 years ago 2