What some posters either don't realize or aren't reckoning with is the fact this is an "update," deliberately abbreviated sound bites of the top news stories, which were far more common on the networks pre-CNN. Tom was an excellent, professional newscaster, and I think the unfortunate truth is...his success as a personality and interviewer on the "Tomorrow" Show (then considered purely entertainment) helped to kill what might have been his ascendancy in the NBC news division.
76'..the year I was born, most people then just had rabbit ears on their TV and got 3-to-4 channels and were content with just watching ABC,NBC,CBS, and maybe PBS, cable TV didn't start getting popular until around the very end of the late 70s, this old news clip made me think about how far TV and news broadcasting as come since then :/
Most of a half-hour program efficiently tossed out in a minute. Before the safety of teleprompters, I enjoy watching him scan the page, then look at the camera, slide page, scan, look up ... very well prepared.
Wow, how come we didn't realize how weird the news looked back then? I don't remember this, but I do remember the original SNL cast singing "Let's kill Gary Gilmore for Christmas" that same year.
@Millisscott: not sure, other than there are shareholders involved now, GE didn't own them then, oh and all the entertainment and fluff pieces have floated to the top, too, unfortunately....
@soundsfromnothing: I have to believe TS would rock at just about every game, but especially news and interviews.
Cheers, Tom---you are still loved and missed :-( , I'll have my colortini now!!
Please, $137,000 for a home... back in the days! That's the way the news should be read. Just say it and onto the next story. Yes, and I think that Kevin Neeland must've based his character on Tom Snyder. I was born in '76 so obviously don't remember this guy doing news, but wish I did.
I could follow along OK but it's faster than folks were used to at the time. Not a bad story count for 40 seconds of news. Note the sounder at the top, too..."Meet the Press" used it during the close during the Bill Monroe era into the 1980s. The Updates eventually switched to the WNBC-TV/NBC O&O "NewsCenter 4" music.
Which was called "NBC Radio-TV Newspulse," from Fred Weinberg Productions. No relation to Michael Randall's "NewsCenter" theme music which, at one time or another, was used by WMAQ-TV in Chicago; KNBC in Los Angeles; and WRC-TV in Washington.
Wednesday, December 1st, 1976 was the day that Mexico's President Lopez Portillo was sworn in, Angola joined the UN, and Cape Canaveral's Pad 14 was demolished. I still wonder if Tom keeps consulting the script in his lap because he doesn't trust the TelePrompter or if he forgot to wear his glasses!
go tom!! loved him as an interveiwer didnt do comedy routines but had real conversations
ringbolt9 3 days ago
Late breaking news on the sheets of paper, older updates on the teleprompter.
StoneyMcJuicyBuds 1 month ago
Back when the news was serious, no fucking around.
StoneyMcJuicyBuds 1 month ago
What some posters either don't realize or aren't reckoning with is the fact this is an "update," deliberately abbreviated sound bites of the top news stories, which were far more common on the networks pre-CNN. Tom was an excellent, professional newscaster, and I think the unfortunate truth is...his success as a personality and interviewer on the "Tomorrow" Show (then considered purely entertainment) helped to kill what might have been his ascendancy in the NBC news division.
raejeanowl 7 months ago
Incredible how (with the right writing) you can squeeze seven news stories into 40 seconds and still get the gist of what's in the news!
altfactor 8 months ago
RIP Tom Snyder
winyguy 9 months ago
I wonder what Tom would've thought of Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olbermann and other so-called "newscasters" today.
jsrosa1282 1 year ago 2
@jsrosa1282 I don't think Tom would be too pleased at some of these "newscasters" today.
willardlockejr 5 months ago
If memory serves me, Tom was a news caster back in 1966 in KYW TV 3 Philadelphia. Those were the times, my friend.
billace90 1 year ago
Listen to him rattle that off,I was already impressed with him
crocetti46 1 year ago
I wasn't even born. I was born two years later.
jose23msu 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
as a newscaster i guess he was alright. as an interviewer the guy had the IQ of Forrest Gump.
IRcameraman 1 year ago
76'..the year I was born, most people then just had rabbit ears on their TV and got 3-to-4 channels and were content with just watching ABC,NBC,CBS, and maybe PBS, cable TV didn't start getting popular until around the very end of the late 70s, this old news clip made me think about how far TV and news broadcasting as come since then :/
undergroundbasement 1 year ago
Most of a half-hour program efficiently tossed out in a minute. Before the safety of teleprompters, I enjoy watching him scan the page, then look at the camera, slide page, scan, look up ... very well prepared.
jarqq 1 year ago
If he was really just using notes and no TelePrompter, he was one bad man. He could probably report in a hurricane and not freak. Well done sir.
basserase 1 year ago
Damn, that was TIGHT.
Can anyone do that, today?
zekeulrey 1 year ago
No one read those "Update" reports better than Snyder - concise and all business. Very nice.
dumont1957 1 year ago 2
nice quick no nonsense ......all the waste of time chatting .......fake smiles. I like this style better
ringbolt9 2 years ago 3
@ringbolt9 I loved him...Tom was great--his delivery couldn't be beat.
calalilygirl 1 year ago
But there was a pool...
sycamorenick 2 years ago 5
Why don't they do news like that anymore? Because the newscast would last as long as this update.
hkfreak 2 years ago 3
Wow, how come we didn't realize how weird the news looked back then? I don't remember this, but I do remember the original SNL cast singing "Let's kill Gary Gilmore for Christmas" that same year.
bunnasoo2 2 years ago
somebody tell tom to sit up on his jacket!!!
wiedep 2 years ago
The world seemed a lot simpler then, no? But then, in 35 years, when Iran has The Bomb and the world is melting, 2009 will look a lot simpler.
thishereguitar 2 years ago
"...but there is a pool." LOLOL
@Millisscott: not sure, other than there are shareholders involved now, GE didn't own them then, oh and all the entertainment and fluff pieces have floated to the top, too, unfortunately....
@soundsfromnothing: I have to believe TS would rock at just about every game, but especially news and interviews.
Cheers, Tom---you are still loved and missed :-( , I'll have my colortini now!!
awtribute 2 years ago
Why don't they do news like that anymore?
Millisscott 2 years ago 5
Damn, Tom...that was pretty slick. You can tell this dude rocked at Kim's game, when he was younger.
soundsfromnothing 2 years ago
What an awesome clip. He was one of the greats, that's for sure.
I'm pretty amazed at how fast he went. That's a lot of headlines for people to digest back then.
nakamichiguy 2 years ago 2
So Gerald Ford got a free *national* ad for selling his house, huh? Hahahaha! That's slick.
murielsartre 3 years ago
Yes I think Kevin Neeland=Tom Snyder.
Muffy2314 3 years ago
what an excellent speaker and delivery of the News. i'm also sorry he is no longer with us. I always enjoyed listening to him.
Muffy2314 3 years ago 3
$34,000 for a home...back in the days
KROGERSGROUP 3 years ago 4
Please, $137,000 for a home... back in the days! That's the way the news should be read. Just say it and onto the next story. Yes, and I think that Kevin Neeland must've based his character on Tom Snyder. I was born in '76 so obviously don't remember this guy doing news, but wish I did.
reymatt76 2 years ago
Seven stories in 41 seconds!
jgbennie 3 years ago 6
Concurring with everyone.. makes me a little bit lump-in-the-throat-y >> god Bless you and glad you are out of pain Tom.. but we terribly miss you.
austinfeet 3 years ago 5
One of a kind. RIP
TheBobcatChannel 3 years ago 8
tom snyder was going too fast!!!! :)
katmusic2006 3 years ago
I could follow along OK but it's faster than folks were used to at the time. Not a bad story count for 40 seconds of news. Note the sounder at the top, too..."Meet the Press" used it during the close during the Bill Monroe era into the 1980s. The Updates eventually switched to the WNBC-TV/NBC O&O "NewsCenter 4" music.
davemock 3 years ago
Which was called "NBC Radio-TV Newspulse," from Fred Weinberg Productions. No relation to Michael Randall's "NewsCenter" theme music which, at one time or another, was used by WMAQ-TV in Chicago; KNBC in Los Angeles; and WRC-TV in Washington.
wmbrown6 3 years ago
Gary Gilmore -- takes me back. I remember that year very well.
chrisman737 4 years ago
Tom Snyder was one of a kind in the news world. A Solid 5!! Deliberate And Concise!! Say No More!! Rest In Peace!!
Green18600 4 years ago 11
Is it just me or does it seem like Kevin Neeland modeled his weekend update after this? Just the way he talks and sounds reminds me of that.
olivemike81 4 years ago
The announcer on this clip was Bill McCord, yet another in a long list of NBC staffers from New York.
wmbrown6 4 years ago
P.S. McCord was the father of Billy Vera (of Billy Vera & The Beaters).
wmbrown6 4 years ago
I always got a kick out of Joe Pispico's impersonation of Snyder on SNL during the early 80's. RIP, Tom. You were da man. That news set was the best.
Captmiloman 4 years ago 3
Ah,the perfect chaser to a 90-minute Ellery Queen...
noahf67 4 years ago 2
"...But there is a pool" Classic...
misterspiffy 4 years ago
I used to watch his show after Johnny Carson... I miss both of them.
cubantoro 4 years ago 3
Seven stories in 50 seconds!
fossefan 4 years ago 2
WOW!!! That's more stories in a short amount of time than your typical Cable News outlet does all day!
Funky770 4 years ago 4
Wednesday, December 1st, 1976 was the day that Mexico's President Lopez Portillo was sworn in, Angola joined the UN, and Cape Canaveral's Pad 14 was demolished. I still wonder if Tom keeps consulting the script in his lap because he doesn't trust the TelePrompter or if he forgot to wear his glasses!
kaptainkidshow 4 years ago
Tom was smooth. We'll miss him.
PeerlessPaavo 4 years ago 4