After the Crash - Part 1 - Wall Street Week Oct. 23, 1987

[Kodos13]

More than money, markets need confidence and trust to function and grow.

This man inspired CONFIDENCE.

And TRUST.

His guests did the same.

[1981z28camaro]

I want this man to read me a bedtime story.

[TornadoWarning]

I was born in 1976, but I remember this show like it was yesterday. Always was on at my house on Fri night. The music gives me fond memories of the good ole days.

[alartandy]

It took me a day to remember but it was Pete Colhoun who fielded my question about doughnuts. He recommended Dunkin' Donuts which in 1987 might have been far-fetched but with its IPO this past year has made a small fortune for investors.

[alartandy]

Ten months earlier (Jan. 1987) Lou read my question to one of the panelists (can't remember the name, he was balding and always wore bow ties) about investing in doughnut companies. Then Lou punned his response with "Don't let your mind turn to jelly, this is the place to come for the whole truth and make a lot of dough." For the use of my question I was mailed a transcript of that particular show.

Louis Rukeyser was a Friday night fixture in my home for two decades.

[rrockw]

It cut off before John Templeton could speak :(

[irish89055]

@rrockw go to part two.... Lou, we miss ya..

[1977Melville]

I wonder what Rukeyser would think of Wall Street and the Fed today?

[xardas611]

i think it was insider cashing out and moving money into russian bonds as soon as info came out that soviet union was done

[davidlee110]

Dow between July 3, 2002 to July 21, 2002.

1,750 dow points dropped. :O

i almost forgot that one.

[bcbxmn]

Most guys probably bonded with their Dads watching sports on TV.  I bonded with mine every Friday night watching WSW with Louis Rukeyser. I miss them both.

[sodajerksteve]

@bcbxmn

I'm right there with you! I was only 10 yrs old when my dad would watch this show, but I loved being there with my dad when that intro would start. Seeing this now and hearing that intro brings back great memories. I didn't understand anything going on, but I loved spending time with my dad... and the elves on the show. What great memories and a really interesting clip as well. Thanks for posting!

[JohnsParadise]

@bcbxmn You know, I thought I was the only one who couldn't wait to watch WSW with my dad. It got to the point where I would hum along with the beginning jingle. I really miss those days. 

[AaronBruceLadner]

If PBS had a New Weekly Wall Street Show, I want it to be Every Bit as Good as "Wall Street Week".

[johnoconnor51]

I learned more about capitalist economics from LR than I did from any other book, teacher or discussion; with great dry humor too!

[ontariocottager]

How could PBS fire him - HE was the show. I note it didn't last very long without him too.

[bro5b]

he's trying talking people down, but its to late they already JUMPED

[naughtybutnecessary]

Louis was a Class Act, only one that was like him was Paul Kranos on PBS Nightly Business Report & now he has gone as of Dec 2009. No other strong Business reporters out there. Cramer doesn't cut it neither does Kudlow. The PBS show is sponsored by Templeton But the anchors Gharib she is ok but this new guy Hudson doesn't carry enough weight. Still miss Louis; he was da man..

[Ian16545]

@naughtybutnecessary It's Kangas, not Kranos.

[kitarofan87]

do you have any more wsw episodes?

[nardpuncher]

If they ever need to make a "Wall Srteet Week" movie..it seems like Richard Dreyfuss will work well.

[TallVape]

Nice Hairpiece!

[ductraep]

@TallVape and i quote "if your money seems to be hair today and gone tomorrow, we'll try to make it grow back by giving the bald facts on how to get your investments toupee." ~ Louis Rukeyser

[ERROLCUSTERFLYNN4EVR]

what would lou say about our BASTARDS OF THE UNIVERSE?

[alartandy]

I took an 11% hit in my 1987 401-(k) statement. Compared to the bleeding in 2008, my loss that year was the equivalent of a mosquito bite. I remember watching this episode. Rukeyser brought on Sir John Templeton to help calm investor worries, a very good public service on Lou's part.

[ArmedMichigander]

The market found the "large budget deficit intolerable." Whoo hoo! Oh lordy, that's so quaint.

[BlackwoodCompany]

This is one of the biggest business shows of all time and it goes from going to accounting classes. There is no way that Louis could be replaced.

[gerrythrash]

I wonder what his take would be on today's economic situation, and everything that's happened on Wall Street in the past year. hmmmm.....

[RioShooter]

I watched WSW for over 20 years. I still think about the show on Friday nights. I really miss Louis. He was the epitome of class.

[BeeSoe1]

iwas born on this day

[Permaglo]

Does anyone know why in the show's opening there is a shot of a cemetery?

[smithrs]

Pretty sure that's Trinity Church. Hamilton's grave is there.  Part of lower Manhattan's history.

[6283125]

Trinity church sits at the top of wall St.

[smithrs]

I'd love to hear Rukeyser's thoughts on what the f--k is going on these days.

Also, the footage of 80's lower Mantattan in the intro, haunting.

[phonedial9]

This show was full of insight and substance, unlike shows today such as "Fast money" which is just plain annoying to watch.

[sonofaglitch2]

Agreed completely.

It seems that nearly all television shows on network news channels consist of shouting matches and gotcha-games. Sadly, with little or no intelligent, respectable discussion of the issues at hand.

[raiders1967]

Thanks for posting.

[albear972]

The Jim Cramer of the old days, Eek, ouch, LOL!

[TornadoWarning]

I loved this show, loved the intro music. I miss Louis and old school PBS. AM Weather is another I miss.

[walker51735]

I know exactly what you're talking about. Living in LA I remember watching great PBS shows on KCET-TV such as Wall Street Week, AM Weather, and MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour. Unfortunately, we don't have quality shows on PBS today as we used to have them in the 1980's.

[tommycarstensen]

John Templeton is a legend!

[marshmallowinnards]

I remember when this aired! Used to watch WSW all the time and had such a crush on Mr. Rukeyser, a funny thing for a 17 year old girl.

[Similie]

friday nights just aren't the same without Louis.

[walker51735]

Amen, to that. Let's face it, there will never be another financial journalist who had wisdom, flair, and common sense like Louis. Today's financial journalists couldn't pull his bootstraps, much less be universally respected and loved like he was. RIP Louis Rukeyser and thanks for getting me interested in the world of finance and the stock market.

[Yoetah]

Mar 09 DJ @ -20 for the day

Will the team keep it from falling below 6000

Is the team still intact:

"It has been no secret that Bill Clinton's former treasury secretary, Robert Rubin, created a system to use federal resources to intervene any time the stock market dropped below certain fixed points. Rubin's market monitoring team was nicknamed the "plunge protection team"

[Similie]

i miss him too. i loved the elves.:-)

[MishuTaste]

I miss Louis Rukeyser's witty commentaries. I looked forward to watching WSW every Friday night.

[NiftyNataliePollock]

very handsome man...we dated when he came to Wiinipeg Canada...

[johnnyafairbanks]

No Maryland Public Television logo (which also opened MotorWeek)?

[martincruz1988]

the behavior of the stock market in 1987 was somewhat reminisent of what is happening in 2008. giant point swings have become the norm and were the norm then too. a couple of days after the crash on black monday 1987 the dow went up something like 10% in one day.

[colmc21]

It happened again and again and will happen again. Greed and Fear are the only 2 things that drive the financial markets.

[traveller2524]

As much as I respect and miss Louis' commentary, then was then and this is now. As Louis said "temporarily insane". Unfortunately, this year America has record deficits and near-crisis conditions. The current situation isn't temporary. Something fundamental is under way. Despite its usefulness, who can say that the Dollar will remain the world currency? That's in the end what it's about for fiat currency - Trust. Which has been lost. Solution? Gold? Maybe not, but what is it, tell me?

[fox20012]

I agree, I listen to the Jim Plaplava fortnightly radio Podcasts and this is definitely a long term bear market due to America being the largest debtor nation in history and its strong currency hindering its exports.

After this de-leveraging stint runs out of steam the only real assets class which will recover its true value quickly are things of real value and that is commodities. Like gold, silver, rice and oil. The fundamentals for them are improving every day.

[Ian16545]

Even now, I can still hear it: each and every broker, analyst, financial reporter and trader on Wall Street singing, "I Can't Go On This Way" (Beanie Sigel) over all those losses...

[GWBushissubhuman]

Where are the Rukeysers of the world? Why must we deal with subhumans like Cramer?

[Ian16545]

It was during this time even CRAMER was a Rukeyser.

[furmountain21]

There will never be another. Now we have scumbags like Jim Cramer...

[Rodimus78]

Don't be illogical my friend. Clones will do us no good but nourish our stomachs.

There's only one Louis Rukeyser. Nothing more, nothing less.

-R78

[palmercomm]

Larry Kudlow would make a great Rukeyser.

[Rodimus78]

That's absurd....there's only ONE Louis Rukeyser.

Mr. Kudlow is nowhere close on Mr. Rukeyser's level of economical expertise. Worst of all...he's not as charming and charismatic as Rukeyeser was.

Larry Kudlow? er....whaat?....YUCK!

-R78

[itzspairme]

After this week, watching this and remembering helps :)

[sfk1066]

I agree. He really put a lot of intelligence, wit and class into the show. It's hard to find another show like this.

[atarian2049]

It's times like these that I reeeeally miss Lou.

[Davidt33]

If Louis Rukeyser were still living today and still doing this show. I'm sure he would have a lot to say about the Stock Market Crash this week. Maryland Public Television should have never let him get away.

[stabilpa]

We're not there yet. :-)

"Ouch! Eek! Medic!"