You know I just noticed something that would be called IRONIC. The 4 in the logo is like the 4 WNBC-TV would use from 1976-1980 as would the other NBC4's (KNBC WRC-TV)
And the 3 used by Cleveland's WKYC-TV in the late 1970's into the 80's.
Wow! Thanks to tapthat for putting this on his channel page! So, was this the original 4:30 Movie intro before the "spinning cameraman?"
The lights DO look like they were used on the Spring Cinema!!!!
I still have a very strong place in my heart for the Spinning Camerman, because I always thought it was a monster with those BIG "reels" for eyes when I was younger (LOL), but it was just used for SO LONG on WABC..... and I'd see it on movies taped off the air when we watched some in school.
@DanZero77 - This was indeed the first open used under "The 4:30 Movie" title. (Up to early 1969, WABC's afternoon movie series was called "The Big Show"; WXYZ's movie series had been known as "The 4:30 Movie" from the moment they moved into that time slot in May 1968.) This open was also used in Chicago, where the movie show title was "The 3:30 Movie"; and (possibly) in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as "The Six-Thirty Movie" in 1971-74.
Now that everybody's seen all the titles associated with "The 4:30 Movie," my question is: Which of the main three do you all prefer - the seated director with the bullhorn; the spinning cameraman whose image looks like a frog; or the 1980-81 title which was derivative of the 1974-81 "ABC Sunday/Friday etc. Night Movie"?
It can be seen how this opening, with its rainbow sherbet colors, plus the films being shown (and Channel 7's successful tightrope walk between being kid-friendly [with their Monster Weeks, Science Fiction Weeks et al.] and appealing to their parents [with weeks devoted to such top actors of the day as Paul Newman, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart et al.]) would have eventually pushed WNBC-TV's "Movie 4" into oblivion (that, and Mike Douglas on WCBS-TV ;) ).
@MSTS1 -- I already did a composite though the music is still off by a few seconds at the end (when it shows the 4:30 movie logo), assuming I did use the right version (I used tapthats 4:30 movie opening), but making a mix is very easy and I can up it later tonight or tomorrow
Thank you, thank you, THANK U. Wonderful clip you brought to us.
Somoe of the elements before the bullhorn guy's "4:30 Movie" title comes out look like a WEWS/Cleveland clip for the intro to their "Million Dollar Movie."
The other thing about this: WXYZ's afternoon movies remained at 4:30 through September 1976, after which it moved down half an hour to 4 P.M. (a start time which that station toyed with as early as mid-1969 for a few months before reverting to 4:30).
Amazin', indeed! Thanks for pointing it out to me, Tap (and thanks to mazinz2 for posting it, of course!)
Boy, that really looks familiar to me, though I hesitate to say with certainty that I remember it outright. Since we had a B&W TV until the early '80s, it's hard to filter these color clips from when I was a preschooler through my memories.
I can say with certainty now that I do remember the director in the chair at the end of this bumper. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether or not this bumper/promo was prior to the opening that we all recall and love or this could be seen simultaneously.
Upon seeing this, it would appear that this would be an alternate cut from that which I remember. But it looks more like it could've been conceived as the opening.
Now if someone could come forward with the open as used in the last years of WNBC's "Movie 4" (with or without sound), I'd be a happy clam . . . ;pD
AWESOME! So M. what's the story on the clip? this is a great find. I'm sure someone has commented about this one on the other 4:30 videos. you know, some one remembering seeing it but not knowing when. Now if somebody could recall the music-------hmmmmm. GREAT!!
This could have been created in around 1968 or '69 . . . I could imagine how the timing was, playing the iconic music in another window. I've also heard that this opening was used (and first) by Detroit's WXYZ-TV, from which the title originated (in May 1968, eight months before it came to WABC). Furthermore, from what I've read WXYZ used this open for a few more years after WABC switched to the "spinning cameraman."
@wmbrown6 -- . The actual logo part held a faint glimmer, but really the crazy colored equipment and people moving around rung a strong bell. I know I have seen parts of that before (which in my case means the 70's to early 80's on ABC NY not an affiliate)
Thanks for posting!
Good TV history here.
mwhite36 1 year ago
What a remarkable piece of footage! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
BrubeckMountain 2 years ago 2
You know I just noticed something that would be called IRONIC. The 4 in the logo is like the 4 WNBC-TV would use from 1976-1980 as would the other NBC4's (KNBC WRC-TV)
And the 3 used by Cleveland's WKYC-TV in the late 1970's into the 80's.
NEPatriot 2 years ago
A LOST PIECE OF NYC TV HISTORY--FOUND! TAP what a way to start the New Year!
NEPatriot 2 years ago
My bad, I thought it was Tap who found this!
NEPatriot 2 years ago
i wish. great clip, isn't it?
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
Wow! Thanks to tapthat for putting this on his channel page! So, was this the original 4:30 Movie intro before the "spinning cameraman?"
The lights DO look like they were used on the Spring Cinema!!!!
I still have a very strong place in my heart for the Spinning Camerman, because I always thought it was a monster with those BIG "reels" for eyes when I was younger (LOL), but it was just used for SO LONG on WABC..... and I'd see it on movies taped off the air when we watched some in school.
DanZero77 2 years ago
@DanZero77 - This was indeed the first open used under "The 4:30 Movie" title. (Up to early 1969, WABC's afternoon movie series was called "The Big Show"; WXYZ's movie series had been known as "The 4:30 Movie" from the moment they moved into that time slot in May 1968.) This open was also used in Chicago, where the movie show title was "The 3:30 Movie"; and (possibly) in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as "The Six-Thirty Movie" in 1971-74.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
Now that I've seen this, I think I noticed the lights as shown at 0:41, later used for the 1983 "Spring Cinema" open.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
I picked up on that, too... the "Spring Cinema" open seems to have been a pastiche of two or three different movie opens.
tkaye2 2 years ago
@tkaye2 - Three, definitely. At the very least.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
Now that everybody's seen all the titles associated with "The 4:30 Movie," my question is: Which of the main three do you all prefer - the seated director with the bullhorn; the spinning cameraman whose image looks like a frog; or the 1980-81 title which was derivative of the 1974-81 "ABC Sunday/Friday etc. Night Movie"?
wmbrown6 2 years ago
"Spinning Cameraman," hands down!
StukInBuf 2 years ago
@wmbrown6
The rotating cameraman!!!! I remember it even during the mid 80's
NEPatriot 2 years ago
Very cool..
MSTS1 2 years ago
indeed. happy new year.
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
And also to you.
MSTS1 2 years ago
It can be seen how this opening, with its rainbow sherbet colors, plus the films being shown (and Channel 7's successful tightrope walk between being kid-friendly [with their Monster Weeks, Science Fiction Weeks et al.] and appealing to their parents [with weeks devoted to such top actors of the day as Paul Newman, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart et al.]) would have eventually pushed WNBC-TV's "Movie 4" into oblivion (that, and Mike Douglas on WCBS-TV ;) ).
wmbrown6 2 years ago
any idea what the music might've been on this?
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
@tapthatt2012 - The exact same music that would later become associated with the "spinning cameraman."
wmbrown6 2 years ago
i opened the other one in anothr window and it works. good to know. someone's gotta add music to it now-- a 'recreation"
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
@tapthatt2012 - Of course, it's all in the timing. ;)
wmbrown6 2 years ago
For what it's worth, with the ok of the author, and with a way to transfer the vid file- I'd try it..
MSTS1 2 years ago
@MSTS1 -- I already did a composite though the music is still off by a few seconds at the end (when it shows the 4:30 movie logo), assuming I did use the right version (I used tapthats 4:30 movie opening), but making a mix is very easy and I can up it later tonight or tomorrow
mazinz2 2 years ago
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
Cool.. Look forward to seeing it
MSTS1 2 years ago
Thank you, thank you, THANK U. Wonderful clip you brought to us.
Somoe of the elements before the bullhorn guy's "4:30 Movie" title comes out look like a WEWS/Cleveland clip for the intro to their "Million Dollar Movie."
Thanks again. Great clip.
StukInBuf 2 years ago
The other thing about this: WXYZ's afternoon movies remained at 4:30 through September 1976, after which it moved down half an hour to 4 P.M. (a start time which that station toyed with as early as mid-1969 for a few months before reverting to 4:30).
wmbrown6 2 years ago
Wonderful clip
RealAgentOfSHIELD 2 years ago
aMAZIN!!!
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
Amazin', indeed! Thanks for pointing it out to me, Tap (and thanks to mazinz2 for posting it, of course!)
Boy, that really looks familiar to me, though I hesitate to say with certainty that I remember it outright. Since we had a B&W TV until the early '80s, it's hard to filter these color clips from when I was a preschooler through my memories.
EarlSnohomish 2 years ago
I can say with certainty now that I do remember the director in the chair at the end of this bumper. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether or not this bumper/promo was prior to the opening that we all recall and love or this could be seen simultaneously.
EarlSnohomish 2 years ago
Upon seeing this, it would appear that this would be an alternate cut from that which I remember. But it looks more like it could've been conceived as the opening.
Now if someone could come forward with the open as used in the last years of WNBC's "Movie 4" (with or without sound), I'd be a happy clam . . . ;pD
wmbrown6 2 years ago
"Now if someone could come forward with the open as used in the last years of WNBC's "Movie 4" (with or without sound), I'd be a happy clam"
Same here!
EarlSnohomish 2 years ago
AWESOME! So M. what's the story on the clip? this is a great find. I'm sure someone has commented about this one on the other 4:30 videos. you know, some one remembering seeing it but not knowing when. Now if somebody could recall the music-------hmmmmm. GREAT!!
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
This could have been created in around 1968 or '69 . . . I could imagine how the timing was, playing the iconic music in another window. I've also heard that this opening was used (and first) by Detroit's WXYZ-TV, from which the title originated (in May 1968, eight months before it came to WABC). Furthermore, from what I've read WXYZ used this open for a few more years after WABC switched to the "spinning cameraman."
wmbrown6 2 years ago
@wmbrown6 -- . The actual logo part held a faint glimmer, but really the crazy colored equipment and people moving around rung a strong bell. I know I have seen parts of that before (which in my case means the 70's to early 80's on ABC NY not an affiliate)
mazinz2 2 years ago