WUSA Sign On 1988

[zjc92]

I'm a very unpatriotic person, for the most part, but you know what? This strays into "solitary manly year while saluting the giant waving flag behind me and flying a bald eagle" territory. God bless the USA! (Or what it was. Or what people tend to think it was. Whatever.)

[pancakeman22]

How excellent of a sign-in you did!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jumpondees]

I miss Mike Lewis' voice, especially when doing the intro the 4pm news.

[wmbrown6]

The Flag Evolution "SSB" was produced in 1971 by Saxton Graphic Associates, Ltd., a New York graphics firm. Their copyright notice was shown at the end following the final shot of the flag on the moon. Alas, most stations, including WTOP/WDVM/WUSA, WRAL, WTAF/WTXF, WAVE et al., cut off that notice, but WNEW-TV in New York (to 1978) and WITI in Milwaukee showed the copyright at the end.

[krystlerita]

Mike Lewis- what a voice

Him, as well as other TV announcers like Charlie Van Dyke, and of course the voice of God, Don LaFontaine, are what inspired me to study to become a voice-over artist

[EncoreEnterprisesLLC]

What was WUSA's test pattern like? (Im guessing color bars)

[wmbrown6]

By this time, I'm sure they'd have color bars. Way back when it was WTOP-TV, they had the exact same "CBS style" test pattern used at one time or another by WCBS-TV in New York (albeit with the same font layout in WTOP's case), WBBM-TV in Chicago, etc. I'm wondering what the station used in WDVM-TV days.

[eyeontv]

Just color bars is correct! I don't think there was ever a WDVM test pattern. I'll have to see if I can find any WDVM bars anywhere.

[angelapleasant2007]

Was That Mike Lewis?

[eyeontv]

Yes it is Mike, he was the voice of the station just under 20 years!

[angelapleasant2007]

Where is Mike Lewis after working as a voiceover at WUSA?

[tam0165]

I think he's over at WABC-TV (Ch. 7) in New York.

[waltlantz]

Nice Sign On, Fitting for what was once the top station in the area.

[vrk3315]

Thanks for adding this. I've been looking for this for years

[dxtrfn80]

I assume this was on early Saturday or Sunday Morning due to WUSA airing Nightwatch during the week.

[southerngentleman82]

Thanks for the sign on for WUSA. Do you have the sign on for WJLA-tv circa 1980s-to the early 90's? I remember watching it as late as 1992. It had a very jazzy and disco sound to the music, and it had a montage of the different sites in Washington D.C.

[txnwinterbride]

I do not live in DC, but the first time I saw this I fell in love with it. This is probably the best sign-on I have seen.

[mca1218]

Thank you, eyeonTV. I remember this fondly. I always enjoyed the local TV stations' sign-offs and sigh-on's-- something that is literally out of date now in this 24/7 world of on-air TV. Do you also have the video of Massinet's 'Meditation' played on Channel 9 of the rolling surf and the crashing waves with the sun on the horizon? Always wondered what happened to that, and when it came out. Looks like something from 1966 or so.

[eyeontv]

yes I do have that along with High Flight!

[CelesteK]

I wonder whose idea it was to put the confederate flag in that video montage?

[NEPatriot]

Not to get political, but it was and still is a part of our history--dark part yes, but to not allow the confederate flag is like revising history--as if the thing never even existed at all.

[waltlantz]

Liberal Black Man here, I agree with what NEPatriot said.

[NEPatriot]

Thanks.

[sean163686]

I recognize this particular rendition; there's a WNEW sign-off video on here that uses this same one, sandwiched in between some cool little 70's tune.

[wmbrown6]

Actually, from 1971 until 1978 or thereabouts WNEW used the original, unfutzed Flag Evolution "SSB" as on here. (And also after the station became Fox 5 WNYW in 1986.)

[sean163686]

I meant the music itself; the sign-off I saw was from 1983. It's actually noy on YouTube anymore.

[Tuberboy104]

Before 1971 or 72, did'nt WNEW TV use the

US Marine Corps SSB Film to sign off and on the air?

[NEPatriot]

And "Flag Evolution" looks in fine shape--it better for a station to after all be called WUSA in Washington.

[bigdan1985]

Nice! :D