ABC Promo Campaign 1971 - HQ version

[calvinnme2]

I fondly remember this promo and much more about TV in 1971. A summer replacement show that same year on CBS was "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", a great English-made drama with an episode per wife. What is on TV in the 2010's? People eating bugs on a dare AKA Fear Factor, young women preparing their weddings while behaving like rutting pigs AKA Bridezillas, and the list goes on. . We really are on our way to idiocracy.

[corrupt200]

makes me wish I was alive in 1971. I was -9 when this promo aired

[prestush]

Thank you for posting a quality version. I sought this jingle out for the first time on the web about 10 years ago, and having never fully forgotten it but not having heard it to that point in 30 years, was delighted to --I believe on tvparty.com ... And I tried so hard to clean up the video and audio on that little file :( The video here is wonderfully clear and very full audio-- a real gem. And it's amazing to think how those graphics were done without benefit of computers. I would think-

[zl1vette427]

Notice the 25" color TV -- 'big' for the time ! -- and the knobs on the set (no remote controls)....these promos including the 1/2 hour or hour-long specials featuring the networks own stars (like "BATMAN" in the 1960's) helped bring awareness to the networks Fall lineup. They all started strong in September....no reruns usually until May....1/2 hour comedies had 32-36 1st-run episodes....they would run 25 minutes long (22-23 today)....1-hour long shows ran 50-51 minutes. Wow...40+ years ago.

[GoodguyNYS]

Music and lyrics by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter Where can we get away after the longest day Touch a star for free, so easily? Something is in the air Pull up in the easy chair Leave that turned down day Come fly away A smile can be seconds away from a tear An adventure waiting right here We'll turn it on for you Come this September this is the place to be Hey there remember, this is the place to be This is the place to be with ABC.

[asimov13647]

1971: newly wed and in love. And good TV.

[sitedezynz]

God I wish I were ten again! The ABC Sunday Mystery Movie was my favorite.

[troy19540]

At the time I thought this promo for ABC Television was the most beautiful works of art you could put on your television screen. Even a generation later it holds its value.

[Slohci]

@troy19540 I'd certainly second that!

I don't think it really matters how 'sophisticated' one gets -- the simple, beautiful, and innocent are always welcome when revisiting ones youth.

Television of this era is very much my own 'Rosebud' -- I find myself thinking about it a great deal.

And I'm not embarrassed to admit that I cried when I first heard this (and all the versions/verses) again after all these years.

Truly, it seems like only yesterday. I'll never, ever, forget it.

[Ilikelogoreturns]

Where did you find such a good print of this without a lot of film-o-vision and the colors not being too bright? If possible could you upload the Fall campaign from 1970?

[TServo2049]

As with all great L.A.-recorded session-group stuff from the early 70s, I think John Bahler has the male lead...

[rswilso10]

Looks like this was some high tech wireframe for 1971... very sharp

[lee4hmz]

Do you mean the silhouettes or the ABC logos? Either way, it was all done by hand.

The logos were done with an effect called "slit-scan" (a combination of stop-motion and cel animation); the silhouettes are actual footage run through a high-contrast filter and then tinted; it's too smooth to be rotoscoped, though I could be wrong.

By the way, 2001: A Space Odyssey was a direct influence on these ads, and they did the graphics (including the ending and the monitors) the same way.

[WordUp4Life]

Where can we get away After the longest day Touch a star for free, so easily? Something is in the air Pull up in the easy chair Leave that turned down day Come fly away A smile can be seconds away from a tear An adventure waiting right here We'll turn it on for you Come this September This is the place to be Hey there remember This is the place to be With ABC.

[heebieandjeebie]

I miss those old promos....Take all the crap on todays tv and bring back the good old wholesome fun shows of yesteryear!!! I loathe those reality crap shows.

[LEXICODER]

Amen!!!!!!!!!!

[Juliaflo]

I second that.

[RunikaMori]

It really isn't that hard to find current shows that don't suck, you're just lazy.

[heebieandjeebie]

@RunikaMori -"What are you talking about?????? You're just lazy????? Doe's not make any sense!!!!

[RunikaMori]

Is English not your first language? Do you not understand the concept of searching for shows that fit your preferences?

[VintageTelevision]

Perhaps over time -- but YouTube did not make this clip available in HQ as I expected. I've read that YouTube has had problems with encoding the "high quality" versions.

[mrmatchgame]

will you be making the past video uploads available in HQ?

[jefferyb304]

I wish they still had ads like this. Quite soothing