WCBS-TV 2 Sign-Off 1964 Re-creation

A video re-creation of a 1964 sign-off for WCBS-TV 2 in New York City as announced by Norm Stevens, who also did the voice-over for The CBS Late Movie from 1972 to the mid-1980s. The audio is from the collection of recordings by DXer Jeff Kadet "K1MOD" featured on my site, TV-Signoffs.com. My thanks goes to William Brown of New York City for the 1964-vintage WCBS-TV ID slide as well as identifying the announcer.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• WCBS-TV
• New
• York
• CBS
• sign-off
• sign-on
• 1964

[vraydio]

Yes, TV used to sign off at night.  This makes me feel old. .

[duncombepat]

Nice work on this! :)

[nanlisa]

I remember when these TV stations used to sign off either at midnight or after that/. Nowadays, TV is 24/7; especially with all these infomercials.

[bluewolverine40]

@OlegKostoglatov they stay on because of these infomercial brings in money

[OlegKostoglatov]

I don't know why stations don't sign off anymore, one would think that in an age where the TV news meade is trying to drill environmentalism and energy conservation into everyone's head that the TV stations would lead by example and actually shut down. But I guess it's a case of one rule for me but not for thee.

[chip64c]

'The programs of WCBS-TV are broadcast for viewing by the public without charge...'

Hmm...guess I never should have fed the VCR that half-dollar...

[troyboy7962]

i liked these sign offs on TV stations years ago. i used to stay up late nights to see them

[LandondeeL]

:42, Geez!  I hope whoever recorded this got permission from channel 2!!

[MrMatt8204]

Great stuff. I'm 28 and have vague memories of sign-offs from the late 80's/early 90's, right before most networks went to 24/7 programming. I remember falling asleep on the couch one night and waking up at around 3:30 AM to the test pattern noise and that weird graphic on the screen. I still remember how it kind of freaked me out.

[wmbrown6]

@143AC - From my understanding, Mr. Stevens is now deceased, having died around 1988.

[monkeeman1966]

A lot of radio stations, also, still signed off in 1965-66. WAYS in Charlotte, NC had one of the most upbeat shows on overnight due to the fact that the DJ was Jackson Armstrong! Great post because I love these things.