Sunday's Great Movie - Sunday Movie Special

[UltimateDragon709]

Was every graphic in the 70s about Disco?

[mwhite36]

It's GREAT that this is still up!

[retroguy1976]

did that reg tisley guy do the beat for the sunday movie special?? if so whats the name of the track??? sounds hott sounds like it should be in the old nfl films from back in the day

[RustyShunt]

I really want to see the PIX Claymation bumpers from the early 80's, where they used to make Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack sing

[MrRackensack]

great!!! haven't heard the Sunday Movie great in 28 years!! GREAT JOB!!

[mwhite36]

You said it!

Man it was GREAT to see and hear it again after all of these years!

Regarding the intros and closing themes (for both TV and movies)....the presentation, graphics and the **music** was really something back then.

We had it good for a while.

[MrRackensack]

hey do you remember WWOR had one with fireworks going off? I think it was called movie greats but on channel 9. I going back to 78-82. i know it was sometime ago maybe you could help? maybe you have in deep in the archives somewhere?

[mwhite36]

Off hand I don't remember.

I wish I did record stuff back then, but I don't have any TV recordings from that time period.

If I were to see it again I would probably remember it since I used to watch that channel back in the day.

[MrRackensack]

yeah i can't find it on here anywhere. But if maybe somone on here could find it that would be excellent. thanks mwhite36 and again great clip

[wmbrown6]

Only two of Channel 9's movie shows I know of had fireworks in their opening titles: "The Big Preview" and "Monday Movie Classics." "Movie Greats," however, was one of the movie umbrellas of WNEW-TV.

[StukInBuf]

@MrRackensack IIRC, it was called "The Big Preview" in 1977 or 78. It aired about 5 or 6 PM Sundays.

[MSTS1]

cool, thanks )

[fronio89]

@MrRackensack  nobody has of yet posted it,everybody is waiting for that............

[MrRackensack]

@fronio89 Do you know what i am talking about? Dont know where your from but, here it was WWor ch.9. i think it was a local thing, other cities i think had something different

[fronio89]

@MrRackensack no, what happend was I was replying to somebody else and hit your reply instead,mistakes happen. It pertained to Pix, The video call-in game  that was on WPIX back then. Somebody on retro-junk posted the "monday movie classics" with the fire works awhile back........

[Kingcire72x]

@MrRackensack If anybody knows who produced these two songs please please please let me know

I miss this stuff been abot 30 years since I've heard this stuff

[StukInBuf]

The bumper where they say to "stay tuned for 'Solid Gold'": if you listen closely to the music behind that bumper, it sounds like the music Channel 9 used to promote itself("On the Move") within its first year or so after having relocated from Manhattan to Secaucus. Just take out the bouncy elements of the music and you pretty much have it.

[kyree147]

The pre antichrist years.

[Tamaslammer]

oh man the memories that just came flooding back......

[deeriley24]

Yeah, I know, right? Makes you sad how bad WPIX has become. Now it's just bland. No 3 Stooges, no Abbott and Costello, Alfred Hitchcock movies, Little Rascals, Old Couple reruns... No nothing!

[mwhite36]

Well I agree with you on all the shows except one - "The Odd Couple" is still being shown on the cw11/WPIX(?) network. They run it late at night/early mornings.

At least here in New York.

[deeriley24]

Oh, yeah... I forgot about that one. It's just that the Odd Couple comes on so darned late I forget that it's still on, lol.

Do you remember when last year or so it tried doing a "70s" night for a few Saturdays? It would run Welcome Back, Kotter, The Jeffersons, Taxi, and the Odd Couple from 8-10PM. I wonder why it stopped?

[mwhite36]

Yep, I remember. I caught it occasionally.

Why it stopped? I guess that either it was just a "seasonal thing" or maybe it didn't get great ratings. Not sure.

But it was cool while it lasted.

[StukInBuf]

@mwhite36 Before we relocated from Erie, PA to upstate NY, WICU in Erie used to air "The Odd Couple" at 5AM before "12NEWS Today." Not sure if that's the case.

Here, WUTV and WNYO(same ownership, Sinclair) don't really air the classics(unless it's "Seinfeld" or "Friends"); and WNGS long dropped its RTN(Retro Television Netowrk) association and became "THIS TV," airing old TV shows and movies predominantly from MGM.

[JMFabianoRPL]

They still do better than 5 and 9 do nowadays...at least it FEELS like a NY station still and they still give us little nods to the past.

[deeriley24]

Well, I dunno if WPIX has gotten back to its old self yet. It's been trying ever since the 60th anniversary, but only half-heartedly. It needs to bring back stuff like Chiller Theater on a regular basis, not once in a blue moon.

About Channel 5 and 9-- the reason why they suck so bad is that they're both owned by Fox. :-(

[JMFabianoRPL]

Meh, even "UPN" 9 wasn't that great (first few years maybe, then it got less watchable, mostly coinciding with the intro of the circle logo)

Unfortunately no one can be throwback 24/7, so I just appreciate the little bonuses PIX throw our way from time to time.

[mwhite36]

I know this is really petty, but I would really prefer if they would call themselves "WPIX", not "PIX".

It sounds like their trying to get the youngins' interested using those letters without the W.

It just seems silly to me. Just like when they called themselves the "CW11".

[JMFabianoRPL]

Unfortunately, that's what they do these days. I'll take a cross between then and now over nothing. And if calling it Pix gets said younguns interested in tradition, so be it.

Also, "PIX" is easier for the voiceover announcers to say quickly.

[tapthatt2012]

i'm surprised that they haven't done a nod to the old game they played on ch 11---PIX, PIX, PIX.

[mwhite36]

&%#$@!

You're right!

They just took off the "Odd Couple"....and replaced it with "Scrubs".

Oh well.

[deeriley24]

Aw, man! No way!! :-(

Why oh why can't WPIX just have faith and keep the programming that made it such a joy to watch? What's the big deal?

[mwhite36]

I guess they want to attract the "youth market".

Oh well.

[JMFabianoRPL]

Anyone who has Apollo 15 on MP3, let me know!

[sto59]

Does anyone know who the composer of the "SGM" theme is? Or is there a longer version? It's great.

[benjaminvlz]

Sounds like it was composed by Reg Tilsley.

[TamaSlamma]

Does anyone remember TV PIX???

You played a shooting video game over the phone and won a prize if you hit the targets? You had to shoot stuff by saying "Pix".

[MSTS1]

Yes, I remember that.. I remember hearing WPIX-TV in the background and the people on the phone repeating the word 'pix', over and over again.

[prgvidiot]

I remember it as well and some kids would say it so fast it sounded like "pisspisspiss..."

The games were all from Intellivision. The two I remember were a Space shooter and a Football QB throwing game.

[mwhite36]

I remember.

I can't remember if I ever participated in that though.

[EarlSnohomish]

I remember it, but I never participated.

[OreckBoy1]

I remember that game...it was so cool, like you were part of TV...boy, thatT was a LONG time ago.

[1975tooto]

This Stuff Is oh so Heavenly!

[ThundaLippz]

whoa...the colors.OMFG yes,i remember as a kid every sunday at 11:00 was abott&costello movies.my gini family wood watch it as we ate sunday pasta.

[EarlSnohomish]

I'm half-Italian on my mother's side, so I know how you feel. :-)

The funny thing is that she usually didn't make an Italian meal on Sunday to my recollection. Still doesn't. During the week was and is a different matter, however.

[wmbrown6]

And for those growing up in L.A. around the 1970's/'80's, the likes of Don Stanley, Donald Rickles, Peggy Taylor and Victor Bozeman at KNBC; Len Beardsley and Dean Webber of KABC-TV; Charlie O'Donnell and, later, Harry Newman of KCOP; plus others whose names escape me at this point. Or in Cleveland, Jay Miltner of WKYC; Howard Hoffmann, Andy Hale and John FitzGerald of WJW/WJKW; Court Stanton of WEWS . . .

[EarlSnohomish]

Thanks!

[EarlSnohomish]

What time did the "Sunday's Great Movie" start on WPIX? Was that after the "Sunday Movie Special?" Too many years ago to remember. :-)

[MSTS1]

I can tell you this- the Movie Special on the day of this recording (in late Dec. 1984) followed the Sundays Great Movie, and I believe they both ran in the afternoon. Actual times- unknown to me.

[wmbrown6]

I'm guessing 3 and 5 P.M., respectively. I seem to recall "SGM" following the "Sunday Afternoon Movie" - which aired at 1 P.M. after the "Sunday Morning Movie" (a.k.a. the "Abbott & Costello Theatre").

[Renagade70]

wmbrown you are right.

11am or 11:30am - Sunday Morning Movie

1pm - Sunday Afternoon movie

3pm - Sunday Great Movie

5pm - Sunday Movie Special

But they it wasn't always schuled at those times. Sometimes the movies ran alittle longer. Note the Sunday morning movie mostly played Abbott & Costello movies that ran for 90 minutes.

[cbsfm101]

What about "Sunday's BEST Movie"?

[StukInBuf]

I notice that the "Sunday Afternoon movie" intro is no longer here on YouTube, or at least hasn't been here a while. What happened to it? One of the corporate suits got a fit over it, perhaps?

[StukInBuf]

@StukInBuf It's been back for a while now, thank goodness.

[castillianwagon500]

It distresses me that allot of these announcers have passed on but that's inevitable. Time engulfs everything. :(

But that's life !

[MSTS1]

I've noticed that a lot of comments on my NYC pages indicate that the names of the voice talent in NY are known well by many people who comment here.

Were these v/o guys also known, by name, to the general public around NY as well?

[wmbrown6]

For the most part, yes, especially those (like myself) who stayed up when these voices either signed on or off the station and identified themselves on the slides-only newscasts.

[pjgraves1975]

Ralph Lowenstein is the only one I can identify. He used to anchor the weekend 10pm WPIX News when I was a kid. His voiceovers for certain programming - especially the horror flicks - were about as sinister as it gets. His is one voice I'll never forget.

[wmbrown6]

Bill Biery (RIP) had the warm, friendly baritone voice. One clip on YouTube had him promo'ing an upcoming showing of the "Funny Face" movie over the "Sunday Movie Special" video animation, for example. Roy Whitfield's voice, from my recollection (sharpened by another clip on here), sounded like a cross between Martin Agronsky and a young Jack Webb.

[Buckyears]

Hmmm--Martin Agronsky and Jack Webb. I've heard, before, that I sound like Jack Webb--but, Agronsky--that's a new one. Have to think about that! LOL

Roy Whitfield

[wmbrown6]

A sample of Mr. Agronsky's voice can be heard starting around :45 on this clip:

watch?v=nR7_Oz3Ru2k

[1975tooto]

Well MSTS1 we had a few announcers like Roy Whitfield who did a popular Radio Station 1600,and WPIX.And like the comment below these guys always gave you there names.We identified a lot by their distictive voices also!I lived in NJ and got theses NY stations,because NJ did not have there own Television stations.If you lived in South Jersey you got the Philly stations!

[kikayei]

Dude, you forgot The Sunday Afternoon Movie, wpix. Always an Abott and Costello movie.

[wmbrown6]

Actually, A&C flicks were on the "Sunday Morning Movie."

[1975tooto]

I loved Abbott and Costello! This was real Comedy(SlAPSTICK)at its best!Costello is from my hometown of Paterson NJ! He built a Boys Club,and Swimming Pool for us and named it after himself! True Comedy without the sleaze and cursing!He was a very Honarable human being!!

[Chasmodon]

I've got no complaints against these titles, but I was wondering if the year1984 marked the end of their use by WPIX. With their bombastic horn music, block text, and vibrant color, they look as if they were made in the 1970s.

[mwhite36]

"....they look as if they were made in the 1970s."

Thats because they were. I cannot remember the exact year these intros were first introduced, but I would guesstimate that WPIX NY started using these back in '74(?) or '75(?).

[wmbrown6]

The 1974-75 season, for definite.  The earliest I saw "The Eight O'Clock Movie" opening title was January-February, 1975.

[wmbrown6]

I seem to recall the "Sunday Morning Movie" titles used by 'PIX as late as 1986 if not later.

[pjgraves1975]

Wow. These bring back memories. I remember we used to get WPIX on Channel 6 in Watertown, NY when I was a kid. Ralph Lowenstein's voiceovers for WPIX horror movies used to scare the crap out of me. As did the theme music for Saturday Afternoon Movie and the 8oclock movie for some reason.

[retroguy1976]

retro yo

[sto59]

Reg Tilsley rules!

[dsslave2]

This is stunning!

[sto59]

Does anyone know if SGM is by Reg Tilsley?

Hold the Road rocks.

[wmbrown6]

"Hold the Road" was "The Eight O'Clock Movie's" theme. I'm still curious about the composer of the "SGM" theme, that's my point.

[HomeoftheGoodGuys]

I guess that both the "Suday's Great Movie" and "Sunday Movie Special" are from Dolphin Productions. I remember the first clip and it's a great find. I've seen this since I was a kid, I will put this on Retrojunk.

[wmbrown6]

Oh, believe it, the "Sunday's Great Movie" open/close was done by Dolphin Productions. Why that wasn't on any of the Dolphin demo reels Mr. Glasser has put up, is anyone's guess. And yet, the open for "Sundays[sic] Best Movie," which was on one Dolphin demo reel, is only available on same.

[HomeoftheGoodGuys]

I know, but there was no disclaimer that says "Dolphin Productions Inc. New York" while the "Sunday's Great Movie" animation appeared out of nowhere. I wish Ray did not included this one on the Dolphin demo reel. The "Sunday Afternoon Movie" open/close with slinkies was used by Dolphin Productions did not also included on the demo reel as well.

[wmbrown6]

Quite possible. And it was ABC Sports.

[JMFabianoRPL]

The SMSpecial music ROCKS....

[stevegh2000]

Music for SMSpecial is "Apollo 15" by Bernard Ebbinghouse, on Bosworth Backgrounds - it was released on a CD "Themes" from them circa 1990

[wmbrown6]

Then what's the music for "SGM"? I presume it, too, was a British stock-music piece.

[HomeoftheGoodGuys]

Yep! That other clip I remember that well since I was a kid. The same clip is on one of Ray Glasser's vids under Dolphin Productions demo tape.

[tapthat2012]

nice.

[cbsfm101]

I'd have to say what panedit said above. Excellent find.

[panedit]

Fantastic find! I'd been searching for this one for some time. The jingle is very memorable. Thanks!

[wmbrown6]

Sounds like the "Sunday's Great Movie" theme was from the same composer (Reg Tilsley) and probably the same stock-music disc from which "The Eight O'Clock Movie" theme (a.k.a. "Hold the Road") also originated.

[mwhite36]

I agree!

Particularly the first one 00:00 to 00:24. I remember when this came on WPIX TV (New York) waaaay back when. I appreciated the intro music then, and I certainly love it now!

And I like that you can hear the BASS in it, too (Hopefully the powers that be won't take this video off, i'll enjoy it while I can)!

GREAT POST!!!!

[JIMMASTERSTV]

Remember these well! Keep 'em coming!

JimMastersTV

[wmbrown6]

Two of the classic opening video animation sequences from the late, lamented Dolphin Productions. (Now if someone has Ch. 11's "Sundays[sic] Best Movie" in better audio quality, we're made.)

[MSTS1]

I salvaged this from my erase-tape pile years ago for the animation sequences of 'Sunday's Great Movie'.(The movie that day was "Rebecca") That anim is one of my favorites, and the music makes it. If I ever come across a 'Best Movie' cut, I will put it up..

[wmbrown6]

One of the Dolphin Productions' demo tapes as elsewhere on YouTube had a short animation for another client which used the same music as on the bumper for "Sunday's Great Movie."