WBBM Channel 2 News Special Report - "Blizzard '79: Public Questions, City Answers" (Part 1, 1979)

Here's Part 1 of a Channel 2 News Special Report, "Blizzard '79: Public Questions, City Answers," a call-in show hosted by Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson on WBBM Channel 2, from five days after the city was socked by a massive snowstorm that went up to 20 inches and brought everything to a standstill (and ultimately cost Michael Bilandic his job as Mayor). Also featuring Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Chairman James McDonough, Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Francis Degnan, Fire Commissioner Richard Albrecht, and Police Superintendent James O'Grady. Includes:

Station ID/Promo for Dinah with a still of a motorcycle stunt (voiceover by ??)

Channel 2 News Special Report bumper slide (voiceover by ??)

Scenes of Chicago and environs after the big blizzard, with Bill Kurtis describing the aftermath (including the closure of O'Hare Airport), and referring to "the winter of Chicago's discontent," as introduction to this special program, "Blizzard '79: Public Questions, City Answers" (with title coming up on screen)

Dissolve to long shot of newsroom-studio (notice, at the bottom right of the screen, the Thomson TTV-1518 camera with Q-TV VPS-100 prompter atop the camera lens) as Walter Jacobson begins the introduction of this program's guests, starting with James McDonough, Chairman of CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and Francis Degnan, Commissioner of the Department of Streets and Sanitation; then Kurtis introduces Fire Commissioner Richard Albrecht and Police Superintendent James O'Grady. As each person is introduced, Jacobson and then Kurtis describe the adverse effect the blizzard had on all services over which these men held authority, with pertinent video clips to illustrate the point.

The first question (from a woman complaining about half-empty buses not stopping for passengers waiting at stops) is posed by Jacobson to McDonough, who claims that the buses are over capacity due to being behind schedule (look for shots of vintage GM and Flxible "New Look" buses that were part of the CTA's rolling stock for years). Kurtis then reads a question from Anne Bangston (sp?) of Hyde Park to Degnan about plowing of city side streets; Degnan insist he's trying to keep the "main arterials" open, and bracing for another blizzard by Friday or Saturday; McDonough interjects about his own experiences at the time of the 1967 blizzard, and comparing the response of city agencies then and in '79. It was mentioned by McDonough, Kurtis, Jacobson and Degnan that the '67 blizzard started on a weekday, as opposed to the weekend start of the '79 blizzard.

Jacobson then moves on to Police and Fire, reading a question from Toby Silverberg of West Rogers Park on the issue of towing double-parked cars on snow-plagued streets; the first answer is by Police Superintendent O'Grady who insists that towing equipment is headed for the streets, followed by posting of "No Parking" signs by Streets and Sanitation. Jacobson then reads a question from Deanna (sp?) Lane of East Rogers Park about whether illegally-parked cars on side streets will be ticketed, and O'Grady explains the procedure of that aspect. Kurtis then questions Albrecht about what people could do to help the Fire Department in terms of fire hydrants and other equipment; Albrecht advises people to help clear lanes. Jacobson reads a critical question from a Mr. Odega (sp?) of the Northwest Side about removal of snow from schoolyards onto fire lanes. Kurtis then signals for a commercial break and invites others to call in.

Commercial: Comfortcale "Royal Family" by Cannon - with a night watchman checking the mattress (and its softness) up close - with 20% more cotton - "One Touch Is Not Enough" - At Wieboldt's

Commercial: Chicago Health & Racquetball Club - Join Now at '78 Rates - Rates increase midnight on January 31st (ending "Last Two Weeks" voiceover tag by Jerry Harper?)

Commercial: H&R Block - "Come to H&R Block This Year, So Next Year You Won't Have to Say 'I Should Have Come Last Year'" - Also in Major Sears Stores

Commercial: Dristan - for all major cold symptoms - more than Contac, Vicks, Sinex or Bayer - "It's Better"

This aired on local Chicago TV on Thursday, January 18th 1979.

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[Bill679]

I vividly remember this storm and its aftermath. I was nine years old, my friends and I had a blast making "forts" by digging large holes in the snow stacked higher than our heads. Thanks for the memories!

[feverspell]

This was three years before I was born, but my parents remember this blizzard quite well; they turned 30 that year. I showed this to them, and they said they remembered watching it, as they were faithful CBS viewers. Thanks so much for uploading these videos -- it was a nice (and cold!) walk down memory lane for them.

[PatchesRips]

Holy crap, I totally spotted Bill Kurtis's voice--from Investigative Reports. :)

[dave11686]

My mom used to work for Wieboldt's.