The technoligy wasnt bad in 1980, it just goes to show how fast it is advancing now. You know most Americans didnt have a CD Player or a PC IN 1980. I remember weather forcasts where they used painters easels and drew the map as the broadcast went along in the 60's and early 70's.
I also was a weather watch for sue mroz for a couple years up until her final day in 1996. I even was allowed to go to the studio a couple of times and watch her do her weathercast from them the chairs off to the side of the set. The green wall she used was huge. She is dearly missed.
Thanks for posting this. I grew up watching Rockford TV and was a weather watcher for Sue Mroz on WIFR from 1991 until she left in 1996. I'd love to see more WIFR stuff from the '80s and '90s... wish I'd thought to tape some of it.
Oh, NO, we did NOT have a helicopter. We were VERY tigt with a dollar. This "open" was shot before my time (1977) and the third party film company they'd hired utiized a rented helicopter. Tbis open was made from a common "template" that was shot all around the country in those days by film companies for local stations to use. "Classical Gas" (the music) was used extensively as the theme.
This was done via a process called chromakey. We had one panel of the box that was green. We'd then set up the camera so it could not SEE that color of green. In the space where green WAS, we'd then insert whatever video or images we wanted. In these days the still images were usually slides.
Guys, I am swimming in this stuff! WIFR 1978-1981 was very, very analog and hands-on! I will post some more stuff soon. I was Promo Director and directed /switched (simultaneously!) the 5PM 1980-81. Before then EFP Director (shot commercials with an Ikegami HL77) and studio camera, Chyron, Audio, etc., etc.. I have more news promos than you (or I) could tolerate to watch. All of which are hilariously bad. Enjoy your time there. I sure did!
This looks like it was patterned closely after the 1976 WBAL open... except that instead of the big gas-guzzling American sedan, WIFR has the News Pacer! That cracked me up.
12:00-12:15 is BRILLIANT
AmericanDSLR 9 months ago
Dig the hair,man
goodoldbill 1 year ago
The technoligy wasnt bad in 1980, it just goes to show how fast it is advancing now. You know most Americans didnt have a CD Player or a PC IN 1980. I remember weather forcasts where they used painters easels and drew the map as the broadcast went along in the 60's and early 70's.
waynemegaman 2 years ago
Those graphics remind me of the graphics CBS News used in the late 1970s!
GateStudios 2 years ago
@GateStudios Probably intentional. WIFR is a CBS affiliate.
drewdane40 1 year ago
I can't believe technology was that bad in 1980
a rotating weather map LOL and how about that bright yellow pacer.
will2dmax 2 years ago
I also was a weather watch for sue mroz for a couple years up until her final day in 1996. I even was allowed to go to the studio a couple of times and watch her do her weathercast from them the chairs off to the side of the set. The green wall she used was huge. She is dearly missed.
cubfn4ever 2 years ago
do they still have a helicoper.lol
rhalld 3 years ago
I seen that too for a second on my first view of the vid... it looked funnily strange. :)
Brianvidsnow 2 years ago
gotta love that little white 'news mobile' they are running to...
buxtehudeboi 3 years ago
when it comes to gathering news -- nothing beats an AMC Pacer :) Must have been real hard to store the microwave mast in there.
joebradio 3 years ago 2
Wow.
guspolly 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this. I grew up watching Rockford TV and was a weather watcher for Sue Mroz on WIFR from 1991 until she left in 1996. I'd love to see more WIFR stuff from the '80s and '90s... wish I'd thought to tape some of it.
insomniac81 3 years ago
Rockford 1980, those were the days, would like to go back and buy some perryville land.
jahovahut 4 years ago
Rod Grams was also a Republican senator from Minnesota in the 1990's. He had also worked at KMSP 9, too.
dgendvil 4 years ago
Rod...he's a great guy. We had a HUGE reunion of WIFR personnel from 1975-1985 era a few years ago (in Rockford)and I caught up with him there.
pbarrett 4 years ago
Oh, NO, we did NOT have a helicopter. We were VERY tigt with a dollar. This "open" was shot before my time (1977) and the third party film company they'd hired utiized a rented helicopter. Tbis open was made from a common "template" that was shot all around the country in those days by film companies for local stations to use. "Classical Gas" (the music) was used extensively as the theme.
pbarrett 4 years ago
This was done via a process called chromakey. We had one panel of the box that was green. We'd then set up the camera so it could not SEE that color of green. In the space where green WAS, we'd then insert whatever video or images we wanted. In these days the still images were usually slides.
pbarrett 4 years ago
Guys, I am swimming in this stuff! WIFR 1978-1981 was very, very analog and hands-on! I will post some more stuff soon. I was Promo Director and directed /switched (simultaneously!) the 5PM 1980-81. Before then EFP Director (shot commercials with an Ikegami HL77) and studio camera, Chyron, Audio, etc., etc.. I have more news promos than you (or I) could tolerate to watch. All of which are hilariously bad. Enjoy your time there. I sure did!
pbarrett 4 years ago
Do you have any other WIFR videos from that era, as well as from the other Rockford stations?
ShawnieMac 4 years ago
Yes I have hours of newscasts from WIFR, during the 1979-81 era. No other stations however since I just worked at WIFR.
pbarrett 4 years ago
Hi, I currently work at WIFR. Things have completely changed since you were here. It looks like you guys had to work much narder than we do now.
champsx51 4 years ago
Champs - looks like we found this on the same exact day. That's pretty freaky.
foodstampdavis 4 years ago
I also currently direct at WIFR. Man... I wish we still had the carpeted news desk and spinning weather wall. I'd love to see more of this stuff.
foodstampdavis 4 years ago
I have no idea. We worked together 1978-1981. She moved to Arizona so I heard....like 20 years ago!
pbarrett 5 years ago
Really cool. Thanx for sharing this. Us TV news geeks are greatful to you!
nagaflas 5 years ago
This looks like it was patterned closely after the 1976 WBAL open... except that instead of the big gas-guzzling American sedan, WIFR has the News Pacer! That cracked me up.
mobilene 5 years ago
I like the version of Classical Gas used here... definitely good to see some old newscasts here on Youtube.
capsgm2002 5 years ago