Well, 'wm', Channel 4 DID have a "package" of Warner Bros. films from the '60s, including "Brainstorm" (1965). But their rights to it expired around the same time the "MGM/7" package did....
@fromthesidelines - I remember the 1965 "Brainstorm." Especially since WPIX ran it one night on "The Eight O'Clock Movie" in 1985, after running ads in TV Guide promising the 1983 Natalie Wood film of the same name. I bet many 'PIX viewers were as upset as anything . . .
Also . . . that Warners' package with "Brainstorm" was different from the package WNBC had from 1966 to 1973 (which featured such flicks as "Ocean's 11," "Susan Slade," "Sunrise at Campobello" and "John Paul Jones"), and after their rights expired those pics went right to WABC where many of the titles played for years on "The 4:30 Movie." That group was packaged as "Warner Bros. Two." ("Warner Bros. One" was leased by WCBS from 1963 to 1970, and those also later went to WABC.)
Among the titles in the "MGM/7" package leased by WNBC, were "Interrupted Melody" (1955), "Ride the High Country" (1962) and "The Chapman Report" (1962). When that batch of films became unavailable, Channel 4 leased "other" [and cheaper] movie packages for "Cinema 4" through the early '80s. After 1980, the "CINEMA 4" bumpers featured the NBC "Proud As A Peacock" jingle (minus the singers).
@fromthesidelines - Meanwhile, those titles in 'MGM/7' that WOR got, besides "Viva Las Vegas," included "The Loved One" (1965), "Battleground" (1949), "The V.I.P.'s" (1963), "Because You're Mine" (1952), "The Gazebo" (1959), "Cry Terror!" (1958), and "The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1962). Ironically, years after WNBC's share of 'MGM/7' expired, WOR ran "Singin' in the Rain" on "Million Dollar Movie."
Incidentally, I read "The Chapman Report" was actually released by Warner Bros.
Yes, you're right, 'wm'. I read the Red Bank "DAILY/SUNDAY REGISTER" (they never published on Saturdays, though). And I certainly remember "Movie 4" on weekends- especially when they presented MGM's "High Society" {in standard frame "scan and pan"} one Sunday afternoon...WNBC-TV still leased a "package" of MGM's '50s and early '60s movies at the time. By the time "CINEMA 4" was established, they dropped it. I wasn't aware the "SUNDAY FILM FESTIVAL" was still on as late as 1977...
@fromthesidelines - WNBC's lease on part of the 'MGM/7' package (which included "High Society") expired in 1978. That package, when introduced in 1968, was split between WNBC and WOR-TV (which got roughly less than half the films therein, including the Elvis film "Viva Las Vegas"). WNBC's lease of the MGM films in question may well have been winding down when the "Cinema 4" title was first put into use.
For those who didn't know this, the 90 minute "MOVIE 4" [4:30-6pm] ended in April 1974 when WNBC-TV began their [5-7pm] "LIVE AT FIVE" newscast. "THE GREAT GREAT SHOW" ended in September 1976, when they began carrying "DON KIRSHNER'S ROCK CONCERT" locally, after "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE". "THE SUNDAY FILM FESTIVAL" ended in the early '70s when they shifted "THE WEEKEND TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON" (repeats) from Saturday to Sunday.
According to contemporary TV listings of the Sunday Register of Monmouth County, NJ, the "Sunday Film Festival" title was still used as late as early 1977 (albeit starting at 1 A.M. after "Sammy & Company" before the "NBC Late Night Movie" premiered), ditto for the weeknight editions of "The Great Great Show." And also the "Movie 4" title was used irregularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, again as late as 1976-77.
And of course, in fall 1975 weekend "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" repeats were jettisoned (at Carson's insistence), leading to the premiere of a weekly sketch comedy show that remains on the air today - a show that started as "NBC's Saturday Night" but since 1977 has been known as "Saturday Night Live."
WNBC-TV began using the "CINEMA 4" title in 1978, through 1982 (at least). Jerry Carroll, veteran New York radio/TV announcer and DJ, was "Crazy Eddie" in their commercials during the '70s and '80s.
The adoption of the "Cinema 4" title was essentially a folding of all of their remaining movie shows under one big umbrella, whereas they all previously went by the following: "Movie 4" (once their main franchise [a la "The Late Show" on WCBS and "Million Dollar Movie" on WOR], now relegated to irregular weekend afternoon screenings), "The Great Great Show" (late night weeknights), and "Sunday Film Festival" (Sunday nights).
Well, 'wm', Channel 4 DID have a "package" of Warner Bros. films from the '60s, including "Brainstorm" (1965). But their rights to it expired around the same time the "MGM/7" package did....
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines - I remember the 1965 "Brainstorm." Especially since WPIX ran it one night on "The Eight O'Clock Movie" in 1985, after running ads in TV Guide promising the 1983 Natalie Wood film of the same name. I bet many 'PIX viewers were as upset as anything . . .
wmbrown6 1 year ago
Also . . . that Warners' package with "Brainstorm" was different from the package WNBC had from 1966 to 1973 (which featured such flicks as "Ocean's 11," "Susan Slade," "Sunrise at Campobello" and "John Paul Jones"), and after their rights expired those pics went right to WABC where many of the titles played for years on "The 4:30 Movie." That group was packaged as "Warner Bros. Two." ("Warner Bros. One" was leased by WCBS from 1963 to 1970, and those also later went to WABC.)
wmbrown6 1 year ago
Among the titles in the "MGM/7" package leased by WNBC, were "Interrupted Melody" (1955), "Ride the High Country" (1962) and "The Chapman Report" (1962). When that batch of films became unavailable, Channel 4 leased "other" [and cheaper] movie packages for "Cinema 4" through the early '80s. After 1980, the "CINEMA 4" bumpers featured the NBC "Proud As A Peacock" jingle (minus the singers).
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines - Meanwhile, those titles in 'MGM/7' that WOR got, besides "Viva Las Vegas," included "The Loved One" (1965), "Battleground" (1949), "The V.I.P.'s" (1963), "Because You're Mine" (1952), "The Gazebo" (1959), "Cry Terror!" (1958), and "The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1962). Ironically, years after WNBC's share of 'MGM/7' expired, WOR ran "Singin' in the Rain" on "Million Dollar Movie."
Incidentally, I read "The Chapman Report" was actually released by Warner Bros.
wmbrown6 1 year ago
The irony in WOR's airing "Singin' in the Rain" in the mid-'80's was that it had been a WNBC staple through the 1968-78 period.
wmbrown6 1 year ago
Yes, you're right, 'wm'. I read the Red Bank "DAILY/SUNDAY REGISTER" (they never published on Saturdays, though). And I certainly remember "Movie 4" on weekends- especially when they presented MGM's "High Society" {in standard frame "scan and pan"} one Sunday afternoon...WNBC-TV still leased a "package" of MGM's '50s and early '60s movies at the time. By the time "CINEMA 4" was established, they dropped it. I wasn't aware the "SUNDAY FILM FESTIVAL" was still on as late as 1977...
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines - WNBC's lease on part of the 'MGM/7' package (which included "High Society") expired in 1978. That package, when introduced in 1968, was split between WNBC and WOR-TV (which got roughly less than half the films therein, including the Elvis film "Viva Las Vegas"). WNBC's lease of the MGM films in question may well have been winding down when the "Cinema 4" title was first put into use.
wmbrown6 1 year ago
For those who didn't know this, the 90 minute "MOVIE 4" [4:30-6pm] ended in April 1974 when WNBC-TV began their [5-7pm] "LIVE AT FIVE" newscast. "THE GREAT GREAT SHOW" ended in September 1976, when they began carrying "DON KIRSHNER'S ROCK CONCERT" locally, after "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE". "THE SUNDAY FILM FESTIVAL" ended in the early '70s when they shifted "THE WEEKEND TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON" (repeats) from Saturday to Sunday.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
According to contemporary TV listings of the Sunday Register of Monmouth County, NJ, the "Sunday Film Festival" title was still used as late as early 1977 (albeit starting at 1 A.M. after "Sammy & Company" before the "NBC Late Night Movie" premiered), ditto for the weeknight editions of "The Great Great Show." And also the "Movie 4" title was used irregularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, again as late as 1976-77.
wmbrown6 1 year ago
And of course, in fall 1975 weekend "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" repeats were jettisoned (at Carson's insistence), leading to the premiere of a weekly sketch comedy show that remains on the air today - a show that started as "NBC's Saturday Night" but since 1977 has been known as "Saturday Night Live."
wmbrown6 1 year ago
WNBC-TV began using the "CINEMA 4" title in 1978, through 1982 (at least). Jerry Carroll, veteran New York radio/TV announcer and DJ, was "Crazy Eddie" in their commercials during the '70s and '80s.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
The adoption of the "Cinema 4" title was essentially a folding of all of their remaining movie shows under one big umbrella, whereas they all previously went by the following: "Movie 4" (once their main franchise [a la "The Late Show" on WCBS and "Million Dollar Movie" on WOR], now relegated to irregular weekend afternoon screenings), "The Great Great Show" (late night weeknights), and "Sunday Film Festival" (Sunday nights).
wmbrown6 1 year ago
Lincoln, Washington and Crazy Eddie...now *that's* objectionable for sensitive viewers!
640wqbr 2 years ago