WABC Eyewitness News open 1979

[tom01757]

i could go for some colt 45

[TOTIARO]

"Elllo Rogair Greemsbeeee!"

[dustincrops]

Roger Grimsby and Bill Buetel were my introduction great anchormen. I remember my parents loved to watch this station and I grew up with them. Typical of the 70s, did any of you notice the cigarette smoke coming from behind Bill Buetel's shoulder?

[lianlaspinas]

Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence by Lalo Schifrin (July 14, 1969–September 2, 1983, March 3, 1986–October 6, 1989 as main theme)

[Afroxec]

wow everything still relevant now! wall st occupied and now the world in default

[lianlaspinas]

The Cool Hand Luke theme (or the 1969 WABC-TV Eyewitness News Theme) used for RPN-9's NewsWatch in 1969 to 1983 and again 1986 to 1989

[mbsjrcc06]

@lianlaspinas WJKS (now WCWJ) in Jacksonville, Florida used Cool Hand Luke in the mid-to-late 1980's, as did WFTV in Orlando, Florida in the early 1990's.

[spacepatrolman]

@lianlaspinas mission impossible by lalo shiffren is the biggest ringtone who can it be now is number 2

[PREGO1966]

Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel were my first 2 child heroes when I was 3. The next time I am back in New York, I am going to take a walk over to the studio and have a moment of silence for 2 men who always told me the truth.

[Tonia682]

I used to watch the 4:30 movie after homework.....this theme song to the news brings back memories!

[musicom67]

Surprised they STILL were using film for the reports in 1979. 

[fromthesidelines]

AHA! Frank Gari's company, eh? That's why "EYEWITNESS NEWS" used the instrumental version of ABC's Fall 1979 "Still the One!" jingle {he co-wrote it} at the end of their newscasts through the mid-'80s.

[UncleMikeNJ]

Listening to Roger Grimsby, occasionally you needed a little Colt .45. Like Billy Dee Williams taught us, "It works every time." (Sure, Billy Dee, it helped you get women, what about us mere mortals?)

[Lolabelle59]

Roger Grimsby reminds me of my Dad...

: )

[recto89]

Grimsby is the best.

[ThenewPopsensation]

The soundtrack for the News Opening was played in "Cool Hand Luke" which is why I started looking for this opening.

[wdejesus1955]

he die to young. I remember when he did the new drunk and then didn't see him again, he was a cool Kat .rest in peace ......................

[Kartoonkid95]

This was recorded on October 29, 1979 (50 years after the start of the Great Depression).

[wmbrown6]

At the 1:10 mark, that was (I.I.N.M.) Bob Miller sitting at the far right end of the newsroom.

[BreezesofConey]

God this city was so friggin great in those days, I so long for it. Crazy hippies protesting and getting dragged off like dogs... damn why aren't people willing to fight for their rights like that anymore?? lol I used to love WRFM. Why can't commercials still have disco music? lmfao i love the guy running around in the back ground on stilts. NO NUKES!!

[Zickcermacity]

And what the HECK was THAT around 1:22 ??

[ukendcx2000]

@Zickcermacity I think someone's video tape messed up ...

[chem100]

@Zickcermacity Someone got bored and was turning the dial? What were our choices then?: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13. I think we had HBO too back then. Ah for the good old days. I also miss the city in the 1970s. It looked "lived in and comfortable" like a worn out shoe...

[Zickcermacity]

"Good evening, I'm Roger Grimsby, here now the news . . ." NO intro before or since has contained such clout, conveyed such authority, nor made you take notice that, HERE NOW, was the NEWS. Period.

[Zickcermacity]

@lianlaspinas

Are you saying "Hoping your news is good news" in Tagalog? :)

[wendythev]

Great memories!

[dinfg6]

Wow at 3:47 I miss these old ABC7 mic flags. on ABC O&O's like KGO and WABC. Now the old style ABC7 ic flags are on KATV and on WXYZ.

[bjroberts65]

Awesome post........ took me back to 1979....Billy Martin....RIP

[efrem1]

I didn't know that drinking malt liquor was so sexy.

[dinfg6]

Roger Grimsby the best anchor in NY and SF

[TRKoneAD2]

Good clip!

[lianlaspinas]

The TV Patrol theme was "Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence" by Lalo Schifrin from September 1, 1969 to August 13, 1993. It was replaced by "News Series 2000" by Gari Communications, Inc. from August 16, 1993 to October 14, 2005.

[recto89]

When did TFC aired TV Patrol with News Series 2000. I like to see it . I only remember ABS-CBN using KPIX's old theme called Allegro.

[sukmacack365]

i always loved the music in the background!!! Great stuff, thanks!!

[glamslamcam]

This is way cool here. I was 7 months old when this aired. Thanks for sharing this.

[UTAOUB]

I've always wondered: WHAT was the title of that theme music....and WHO wrote it???? Anyone know????

Also....is there a DVD of various Eyewitness News broadcasts with Roger Grimsby & Bill Beutel?

[wmbrown6]

That theme was an edited version of the "Tar Sequence" cue, written by Lalo Schifrin, from the 1967 "Cool Hand Luke" film (which, ironically, played on WNBC-TV during this period; by the early 1990's "CHL" was on WPIX within the final years of "The Eight O'Clock Movie"). At one time all original ABC O&O's EXCEPT Los Angeles' KABC used this particular edit (KABC fashioned their own).

B.T.W., ironically, "CHL" appeared occasionally on WXYZ Detroit's "4:30 Movie."

[UTAOUB]

Oh....WHY don't they have news-people like this any more? Roger Grimbsby was THE best! He was the VERY classic of "a comedian with a straight face"! He made every story an engrossing piece of high comedy....or high tragedy -- the impotant athing is, WE PAID ATTENTION! Was APPALLED when he was fired! Still am! Bill Beutel had THE secret 4 eternal youth!

I NEVER saw him as a "senior reporter"! Wondr if at least Bill B. ever got to see YouTube! THANX SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!!!

[ajaugenti]

Yep, just before 1980 came along.

[ajaugenti]

Wow! I can't believe it's 30 years ago, I was 3 years old when this had happened. Thank god the world didn't blown to pieces!!!!!

[pjvalisnochannel]

1:55 drink modernery

[kaplanr]

2:25, that's what I remember, "I'm Roger Grimsby, hear now the news."

[StukInBuf]

WRFM... I never knew of that station, but my folks used to listen to "beautiful music" on WPAT, Easy 93. It would likely be called "Music of Your Life" nowadays.

As far as I understand, WPAT is a Latino station now.

[wmbrown6]

The V/O of the WRFM ad was Jim Branch, who was newscaster there for years. In 1969, he did 5-minute news updates for WABC 77 in the overnight hours - but from what I read, despite working alongside such greats as Bruce Morrow and Charlie Greer, Branch simply considered working there "just a job."

[wmbrown6]

And WRFM, after several call letter and format changes (i.e. WNSR "Soft Rock 105," WTJM "Jammin' 105"), is today hip-hop station WWPR "Power 105.1."

[StukInBuf]

Didn't someone else have this clip beforehand?

[robatsea2009]

yes, it was on my previous account

[spacepatrolman]

@StukInBuf what was the 4:30 movie the bridge on the river kwaii

[wmbrown6]

The airdate of this newscast was Oct. 29, 1979.

[lindseycom]

Grimsby was the man especially towards the end, Damn I'm old!