There was also an orchestral version of this music...the Southern Media news theme site recently added a audio clip from WTAJ Altoona with that track.
At least one cut of this theme had a crazy all-percussion open. You can hear it (barely) in a WOWK open from 1984; search YouTube for "WOWK-TV Huntington, W. Va., reports on a fire at its transmitter site (1984)".
WOWK used this theme for a very long time, from the mid-70s through at least 1985, and maybe a couple of years longer.
This theme was also used by WOWK TV 13 in Huntington, WV back in the 70's as well when it was Channel 13 Action News with Bob Smith. Brings back memories.
@TechnerVideo -MY GOD! I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS THEME SINCE I WAS LITTLE. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL THEME TO ACTION NEWS BEFORE IT WAS WPVI TV PHILADELPHIA! WERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU FIND THIS! THANKS FOR POSTING!
Beautiful!!!! Hey, I remember calling Channel 6 sometime in early 1972 to request this record, and I did receive it too (a friend told me about this!) Brings back great memories! Thanks for posting this!!!
FANTASTIC! I used to hear this on the Gateway Communications stations back in the 80s. WBNG, Binghamton; WLYH, Lancaster-Lebanon, specifically. I used to think it was a MCTYW ripoff. LOL That was before I learned that this was THE original Action News theme!
Is there any surviving video of this theme used on the WFIL news? That would be great to see. I have scoured the internet raw and the earliest channel 6 video that I can find is WPVI 1981.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kick-a** guitar solo included!! I am SO converting this to MP3 AND feeding it to my iPod! Thanxalot!!!!!!!! :^D
WWL-TV Channel 4 also used this theme as its Eyewitness News main title in the early 1970s. 8^B
I noticed that another Triangle property, WNBF-TV (now WBNG-TV) in Binghamton, NY, used this "Action News Theme" long past WPVI replacing it with "Move Closer to Your World"; I also have to presume WNHC-TV (Now WTNH-TV) in New Haven, CT, also used the Sellers "ANT" at the outset of the Triangle stations' adopting "Action News" back in 1970.
@capsgm2002 - Prior to becoming WTAJ, the Altoona, PA-based station was WFBG, owned by (you guessed it) Triangle. As was WLYH. WOWK was the only station in that bunch that wasn't previously owned by Triangle (Cowles Communications ran that station pre-1974).
"Lw" - Ah, I see that the Longwear Stamper Co. made the stampers that produced this record. And believe me, I see a degree of funkiness in this track . . .
Hmm. I just found your 2004 post stating they made metal parts for the industry. Can you tell us please any more about the Longwear Stamping Co. (funkiness?)
The LongWear Stamper Corp. (I found the exact nomenclature from old Billboards) was based in Long Island City, NY, and was one of several companies that provided such a service for the industry (Bronx, NY-based Audio Matrix, whose stamped insignia was on the deadwax of records from many an East Coast label of the 1960's, was another; some labels used both companies). (Columbia Records had their own in-house plating service, Customatrix; as presumably, did the other majors.)
@circusitch, The story on how I got this is amazing. I originally borrowed it from my friend Tom in December 1979 and dubbed it on a cassette. It broke and was discarded. I have been asking Tom to relocate this record for the past 30 years!!! And he did after tearing his house apart. Thanks to Tom for being a life-long friend and sharing it with us.
The label copy typesetting was by Keystone Printed Specialties Co., Inc., in Scranton, PA, which handled these duties for the Specialty Records Corp. plant in Olyphant, PA through 1971, and for Capitol Records' Scranton, PA plant from the 1940's (before Capitol bought the plant) until 1971.
What insignia were on the deadwax? Looks more like a Specialty pressing than a Capitol.
@TechnerVideo - Years of research, checking Billboard International Buyers' Guides (Keystone's typefaces were used in the ads they put in those guides), and a massive record collection.
nice job! I believe Tom Sellers may be the writer of the theme, he was a Temple student in the early-70's and played in a band with John Oates of Hall and Oates fame at the time.
There was also an orchestral version of this music...the Southern Media news theme site recently added a audio clip from WTAJ Altoona with that track.
TR1968 1 month ago
You could obtain this (one sided) record, maybe the the Philadelphia Inquirer for about $.25. I very much enjoyed it! Thanks!
genuineuni 5 months ago
Wow that is Epic!!! I think I might love this more than the "move closer to your world" intro.
Aestros909 7 months ago
As good as "MCTYW" is,this theme is better IMO.
UNCJerry77 1 year ago
At least one cut of this theme had a crazy all-percussion open. You can hear it (barely) in a WOWK open from 1984; search YouTube for "WOWK-TV Huntington, W. Va., reports on a fire at its transmitter site (1984)".
WOWK used this theme for a very long time, from the mid-70s through at least 1985, and maybe a couple of years longer.
Bloodybunny 1 year ago
This theme was also used by WOWK TV 13 in Huntington, WV back in the 70's as well when it was Channel 13 Action News with Bob Smith. Brings back memories.
jv41653 1 year ago
This news theme, although originated at WFIL/WPVI, would be used at quite a few stations in the early and middle 1970's.
I thought WNAC also used this theme around 1970 or 1971.
altfactor 1 year ago
IIRC they used this on WSTM-TV (NBC, Channel 3) in Syracuse, NY as well,
BobWXXI 1 year ago
When I hear this song, I want to party like its 1970!!!
TheHarber2010 1 year ago
What instrument are the ones at the beginning?
judenihal 1 year ago
It was also used on KTSP-TV's Channel 5 Eyewitness News during the 70s (when Ron Magers, now at WLS ABC 7Chicago, was the anchor there).
tyrese3745 1 year ago
@TechnerVideo -MY GOD! I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS THEME SINCE I WAS LITTLE. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL THEME TO ACTION NEWS BEFORE IT WAS WPVI TV PHILADELPHIA! WERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU FIND THIS! THANKS FOR POSTING!
VirgilB01 1 year ago
Beautiful!!!! Hey, I remember calling Channel 6 sometime in early 1972 to request this record, and I did receive it too (a friend told me about this!) Brings back great memories! Thanks for posting this!!!
BeagleRAK55 1 year ago
KSTP in Minneapolis-St Paul used this theme into the 1980's
saturnday 1 year ago
FANTASTIC! I used to hear this on the Gateway Communications stations back in the 80s. WBNG, Binghamton; WLYH, Lancaster-Lebanon, specifically. I used to think it was a MCTYW ripoff. LOL That was before I learned that this was THE original Action News theme!
BruTube 1 year ago
Is there any surviving video of this theme used on the WFIL news? That would be great to see. I have scoured the internet raw and the earliest channel 6 video that I can find is WPVI 1981.
mlh53057 1 year ago
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kick-a** guitar solo included!! I am SO converting this to MP3 AND feeding it to my iPod! Thanxalot!!!!!!!! :^D
WWL-TV Channel 4 also used this theme as its Eyewitness News main title in the early 1970s. 8^B
AarHan3 1 year ago
This kicks! I like it! But Al Ham is the king. The vocals on MCTYW make me tingle.
KeepMyMusicAlive 1 year ago
Oh, my Gosh!
That's a great theme!
djwash5 2 years ago
Comment removed
capsgm2002 2 years ago
Exton, PA, I believe.
capsgm2002 2 years ago
This theme music was also used in the 1970's by KSTP (Channel 5) in Minneapolis, MN for their "Eyewitness News."
wmbrown6 2 years ago
Don't forget WWL-TV in New Orleans.
kresblain 2 years ago
@wmbrown6 Also KTLA's George Putnam News in Los Angeles, CA. What groovy music!
TerryT1976 2 years ago
I noticed that another Triangle property, WNBF-TV (now WBNG-TV) in Binghamton, NY, used this "Action News Theme" long past WPVI replacing it with "Move Closer to Your World"; I also have to presume WNHC-TV (Now WTNH-TV) in New Haven, CT, also used the Sellers "ANT" at the outset of the Triangle stations' adopting "Action News" back in 1970.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
WTNH did use the theme in its early days. Gateway Communications stations (WBNG, WOWK, WLYH and WTAJ) also did as well.
As for Mr. Sellers, he sadly passed away in a fire in 1988 at the age of 38.
capsgm2002 2 years ago
@capsgm2002 - Prior to becoming WTAJ, the Altoona, PA-based station was WFBG, owned by (you guessed it) Triangle. As was WLYH. WOWK was the only station in that bunch that wasn't previously owned by Triangle (Cowles Communications ran that station pre-1974).
wmbrown6 2 years ago
@capsgm2002 Yes I remember this in the 90s when I went to Penn State but it was more updated.
MisterB2eternity 2 years ago
This is Tom Parker. The deadwax has "WFIL ACTION 1" and also the initials "Lw" in cursive. I hope everybody enjoy's this recording.
n3rzy 2 years ago
Thanks Tom!
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
"Lw" - Ah, I see that the Longwear Stamper Co. made the stampers that produced this record. And believe me, I see a degree of funkiness in this track . . .
wmbrown6 2 years ago
Hmm. I just found your 2004 post stating they made metal parts for the industry. Can you tell us please any more about the Longwear Stamping Co. (funkiness?)
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
The LongWear Stamper Corp. (I found the exact nomenclature from old Billboards) was based in Long Island City, NY, and was one of several companies that provided such a service for the industry (Bronx, NY-based Audio Matrix, whose stamped insignia was on the deadwax of records from many an East Coast label of the 1960's, was another; some labels used both companies). (Columbia Records had their own in-house plating service, Customatrix; as presumably, did the other majors.)
wmbrown6 2 years ago
@wmbrown6 funky it is !
ateball1 1 year ago
THIS is the REAL theme song. Thank you Techner.
circusitch 2 years ago
@circusitch, The story on how I got this is amazing. I originally borrowed it from my friend Tom in December 1979 and dubbed it on a cassette. It broke and was discarded. I have been asking Tom to relocate this record for the past 30 years!!! And he did after tearing his house apart. Thanks to Tom for being a life-long friend and sharing it with us.
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
The label copy typesetting was by Keystone Printed Specialties Co., Inc., in Scranton, PA, which handled these duties for the Specialty Records Corp. plant in Olyphant, PA through 1971, and for Capitol Records' Scranton, PA plant from the 1940's (before Capitol bought the plant) until 1971.
What insignia were on the deadwax? Looks more like a Specialty pressing than a Capitol.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
I will have to ask Tom Parker to find out. Thanks for the info.
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
No problem, it was in the BMI repertoire and the info does seems to add up that Tom Sellers is the mystery Temple student.
capsgm2002 2 years ago
Yes. I found the song registered to T. Sellers as early as 3-31-71.
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
How in the world did you know about the typesetting, etc?
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
@TechnerVideo - Years of research, checking Billboard International Buyers' Guides (Keystone's typefaces were used in the ads they put in those guides), and a massive record collection.
wmbrown6 2 years ago
Tom Parker has replied with info. about the deadwax.
TechnerVideo 2 years ago
nice job! I believe Tom Sellers may be the writer of the theme, he was a Temple student in the early-70's and played in a band with John Oates of Hall and Oates fame at the time.
capsgm2002 2 years ago
It was also used at KSTP in Minneapolis prior to 1982.
kresblain 2 years ago
Man, you've just made my day! Thank you for posting this.
JHand04 2 years ago
This theme was later used on KTLA's newscasts during George Putnam's second anchoring stint there.
bhayes06 2 years ago