From Sept. 2, 1992, here is a CBS "Up to the Minute" segment on Walter Cronkite's very first "CBS Evening News" from 1963!! (How primitive this looks by today's standards!!!!)
@gymnastix The point I wanted to make was that TV news coverage has come a long way over the years.
In fact, the big three networks probably couldn't have mounted an evening newscast longer than fifteen minutes until the beginning of the sixties because their news gathering infrastructure was so small.
@altfactor "Barbaric" is not the correct adjective to use in a comparison between the technological limitations of network television newscasts of this era (1962) versus those of today (2011).
A better choice of a term would be "archaic" or even "primitive." But "barbaric" implies hostility extending to violence, such as cannibalism.
Kennedy's aides said he desperately wanted Barry Goldwater to get the Republican nomination. JFK felt that Goldwater's extreme conservative views would doom his chances to win. Kennedy was most afraid of Nelson Rockefeller getting the Republican nomination.
Huntley-Brinkley expanded to a half hour the following week. They also had an interview with JFK on their first half hour broadcast. ABC didn't expand their evening news to a half hour until 1967.
Yes, you're absolutely correct, 'altfactor'. "THE CBS EVENING NEWS" was carried live, by most stations, at 6:30pm(et) {and still is}. Some affiliates (eventually, New York's WCBS-TV by mid-1965) preferred scheduling a "delayed edition" at 7pm(et), so they could expand their local newscasts to an hour.
Geritol sponsored Ted Mack's "Amateur Hour" during the 1960's, so it's no surprise he was their corporate spokesman for their commercials, even those on other programs.
In a way, this was barbaric. Black-and-white, reports from the field shot in film (no live minicams yet), no satellites to feed reports from overseas, and smaller news staffs than the networks have today.
It doesn't mean the journalism was worse; it probably was the best that network TV could do given the technical limitations of the time.
and a half century later still going strong
manhbx96 3 months ago
@gymnastix The point I wanted to make was that TV news coverage has come a long way over the years.
In fact, the big three networks probably couldn't have mounted an evening newscast longer than fifteen minutes until the beginning of the sixties because their news gathering infrastructure was so small.
altfactor 3 months ago
@altfactor "Barbaric" is not the correct adjective to use in a comparison between the technological limitations of network television newscasts of this era (1962) versus those of today (2011).
A better choice of a term would be "archaic" or even "primitive." But "barbaric" implies hostility extending to violence, such as cannibalism.
gymnastix 3 months ago
Goodness....when JFK talks, you just have to listen, don't you? Our candidates today are just bor-ing......
Roseantique2003 3 months ago
Kennedy's aides said he desperately wanted Barry Goldwater to get the Republican nomination. JFK felt that Goldwater's extreme conservative views would doom his chances to win. Kennedy was most afraid of Nelson Rockefeller getting the Republican nomination.
observer9670 4 months ago
Huntley-Brinkley expanded to a half hour the following week. They also had an interview with JFK on their first half hour broadcast. ABC didn't expand their evening news to a half hour until 1967.
observer9670 4 months ago
Yes, you're absolutely correct, 'altfactor'. "THE CBS EVENING NEWS" was carried live, by most stations, at 6:30pm(et) {and still is}. Some affiliates (eventually, New York's WCBS-TV by mid-1965) preferred scheduling a "delayed edition" at 7pm(et), so they could expand their local newscasts to an hour.
fromthesidelines 8 months ago
Geritol sponsored Ted Mack's "Amateur Hour" during the 1960's, so it's no surprise he was their corporate spokesman for their commercials, even those on other programs.
altfactor 8 months ago
In a way, this was barbaric. Black-and-white, reports from the field shot in film (no live minicams yet), no satellites to feed reports from overseas, and smaller news staffs than the networks have today.
It doesn't mean the journalism was worse; it probably was the best that network TV could do given the technical limitations of the time.
altfactor 8 months ago
I wouldn't use the word barbaric. It looks more reasoned and calm than the hyperkinetic stuff they put on today.
lcs1956 10 months ago