Search Results

#13079: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1956-11-06, WNBC, 9 min.

Ceasefire in the Middle East, Ray Sherer reports. Report from Washington, (Eisenhower headquarters) election day news, a report from Chicago and Stevenson headquarters, Anglo-French agree tp ceasefire, Egypt will accept ceasefire provided Anglo-French and Israeli troops withdraw from Egypt. Forecast on outcome of the election, a prediction that Eisenhower will be reelected, Hungarian rebels still battle Russians in Budapest, many Hungarians flee into Austria, Moscow calls for aid to Egypt, early election returns put Eisenhower in the lead.

NOTE: Seventh HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT broadcast.

#7484A: THE HONEYMOONERS

1957-10-08, WRCA, 3 min.

The first syndicated reruns of the classic 39 episodes of the "Honeymooners" ran from September 24th, 1957 to September 16th, 1958 on WRCA TV channel 4 in New York. They aired weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 7:30pm, following "The Huntley Brinkley Report" which aired from 6:45 to 7:00pm.

 Subsequently, reruns of "The Honeymooners" have aired on WPIX in New York from October 9th, 1958 to the present, a run of over 60 years. Jack Lescoulie is the voice announcing the opening of these rebroadcasts, as originally announced during its original run on CBS, October 1st, 1955 to September 22nd, 1956. 

However, little known is the fact that Don Pardo announced the opening of "The Honeymooners" VERY FIRST re-runs on WRCA-TV for only one year, September 24th, 1957-September 16th, 1958.
Pardo also includes in his opening introduction the sponsor, Ronzonni. 

Included in this TV audio air check is the ending of "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" ("...Jose Melis last evening spouted poetry about Sputnik on 'The Jack Paar Tonight Show'...") which precedes the opening of this "The Honeymooners" opening episode, "Brother Ralph"  announced by Don Pardo.

#13296: NBC NEWS-HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1958-07-15, NBC, min.

Highlights: the US sends troops to Lebanon to protect its independence to stop indirect outside aggression, attempt to curb Nasser of Egypt, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge at UN talks about Iraqi murders and US commitment, comments from London, Chicago, Jordan, Sergei Sobolev of Russia speaks at UN.

#1: EMMY AWARDS: 11TH ANNUAL

1959-05-06, WRCA, 72 min.

A galaxy of stars salute their own for the 1958-1959 TV season. Raymond Burr, Robert Young, Dennis Weaver, Barbara Hale, Art Carney, Dinah Shore, Tom Poston, Ann B. Davis, Phil Silvers, Don Hewitt, David Brinkley, Elaine May and Mike Nichols, Walter Brennan, Jack Benny, Donna Reed, Fred Astaire, Louis Nye, Dayton Allen, Don Knotts, Mickey Rooney, Judith Anderson, Dick Clark, Bob Hope, Ed Sullivan, Chet Huntley, and Vice President Richard M. Nixon.

#13345: EMMY AWARDS ELEVENTH ANNUAL, THE

1959-05-06, NBC, 18 min.

A continuation from entry # 13344. Further guests include Ann Southern, Mickey Rooney, Shirley Temple, Dame Judith Anderson, Dick Clark, Bob Hope, Ed Sullivan, and Chet Huntley.

Host: Raymond Burr.

#13364: NBC NEWS-HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1959-08-28, NBC, 5 min.

Topics: India braces itself against Chinese communist incursions on India's borders, China communists furious at Khrushchev's visit to the US, and at UN, Eisenhower flies to Scotland.

#13373: KHRUSHCHEV'S VISIT: NBC SPECIAL REPORT WITH CHET HUNTLEY

1959-09-20, NBC, 25 min.

Topics: A further report of Khrushchev's visit to Hollywood, Khrushchev upset because he's not allowed to visit Disneyland due to a security problem, (Khrushchev press conference), comment by Sheila Graham on Khrushchev's visit to Hollywood and the stars, Shirley McLaine with Khrushchev. She speaks to Khrushchev in Russian at movie set.

#13384: NBC NEWS- HUNTLEY -BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1959-10-23, NBC, 15 min.

Charles Van Doren admits to the New York District Attorney that he gave false answers to the committee, Hank Bloomgarden says "Twenty-one" quiz was a hoax, a big fire in Southern California, rocket experts transferred to civilian control, third anniversary of Hungarian revolt, Castro calls for rally to protest plane attacks from the United States.  Two commercials are included in this air check.

#13391: NBC NEWS-HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1959-11-03, NBC, 5 min.

Topics: NBC fires Charles Van Doren from $50,000 job on the network's "Today" show, TV producers say he helped to rig the "$64,000 question" and the "$64,000 Challenge under orders of sponsors and advertising agency, Xavier Cugat admits he was coached, Laos problems, communist infiltration.

#13453: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION CONTINUED

1960-07-12, NBC, min.

Highlights: Conflict on civil rights platform. 

Chet Huntley and David Brinkley.

#8000: 1960 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE

1960-07-13, NBC, min.

Live coverage of the 1960 Democratic National Convention, telecast from Los Angeles, California.   
Many hours are archived. Specific segments monitored as requested.

#38: 1960 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, THE

1960-07-28, WCBS, 121 min.

Highlights, including Richard M. Nixon's entire 52 min. acceptance speech are covered by newsmen Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, John Daly and Martin Agronsky from all three networks. Additional speeches are heard from Henry Cabot Lodge and from Nelson Rockefeller. In a memorable moment of television, we listen to Richard M. Nixon, who chats with shoe shine boy Leon Thompson. They talk about baseball and politics. Nixon introduces his daughter Tricia Nixon to Leon. Back in the NBC studios, Edwin Newman comments with a chuckle and signs off.

#13504: ELECTION RETURNS

1960-11-08, NBC, min.

Election returns, coverage from all three networks, CBS, NBC, and ABC. The Huntley-Brinkley returns on NBC sponsored by Texaco, CBS coverage with Prescott Robinson sitting in for Robert Trout, and ABC coverage with John Daly. Huntley and Brinkley turn over their broadcast to Dave Garroway and Frank Blair at the "Today" show.  
 
The NBC RCA 501 Computer says that the odds are 6.3 to 1 that John F. Kennedy will win the election. However, the ABC computer Univac predicts that Richard M. NIxon will win the election.   For the first time computers are used to predict a Presidential Election via television coverage.

#875: ELECTION COVERAGE NIGHT: 1960

1960-11-08, WNBC, 173 min.

From NBC Network coverage, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley anchor the returns of the 1960 Presidential race between Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy. Richard Harkness brings early projections of the electoral count via a new RCA 501 Computer. Correspondents reporting include Sander Vanocur, Frank McGee, John Chancellor, Merrill Mueller, Ray Scherer, Herb Kaplow, Robert Abernathy, Bill Ryan and Ned Brooks. Herb Klein, press secretary to Richard Nixon is interviewed. From Texas, Lady Bird Johnson is interviewed.

#13509: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE NBC NEWS

1960-12-12, NBC, min.

John Kennedy names some cabinet members, (Dean Rusk, Chester Bowles, Adlai Stevenson), Adlai Stevenson named ambassador to the UN, seventeen-inch snowfall in New York City, Algerian riots against De Gaulle policies, boxer Ike Williams appears before the Senate committee investigating boxing, anti-integration laws are unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court, David Brinkley describes Christmas in Japan.

#13519: INAUGURATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, THE

1961-01-20, NBC, 46 min.

John F. Kennedy is sworn in as the 35th president of the United States. Live coverage from CBS and NBC news. Vice-President Lyndon Johnson is also sworn in. Poet Robert Frost recites a poem. NBC coverage from Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Edwin Newman, and Ray Shearer. CBS coverage by Walter Cronkite and Nancy Hodgeman. 

JFK inaugural, Benediction,, Lyndon Baines Johnson is sworn in, Poem by Robert Frost, President elect John F. Kennedy is sworn in who states that this is not a victory party but a celebration."

Note: President John F. Kennedy held the first presidential news conference to be carried live on radio and television.

#9843: WORLD WIDE 60: THE WAY OF THE CROSS, THE

1961-03-28, ABC, 54 min.

January 23, - July 16, 1960.

A prime time our-long documentary series hosted by Chet Huntley and Frank McGee.

A repeat showing of the special Easter time program first presented on NBC on April 16, 1960; filmed in the Holy Land without actors, it traces the route Jesus took through Jerusalem as he bore the cross to his crucifixion on Calvary. Frank McGee introduces the program. Last years presentation was a part of the World Wide 60 series.  Music conducted by Jacques Belasco.  

Narrated by Alexander Scourby.
Norman Rose contributes the biblical voice.

#13537: HUNTLEY - BRINKLEY REPORT - NBC NEWS

1961-04-13, NBC, min.

The US tries to find out why it lags behind Russia in the space race, Russia venerates Yuri Gagarin, plans for future space flights, Russians refuse to yield on nuclear test ban talk.

#13539: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1961-04-14, NBC, min.

Highlights: Yuri Gagarin receives a hero's welcome in Moscow, he's greeted by Nikita Khrushchev, more anti-Castro sabotage in Cuba, Castro accuses President Kennedy of being an arsonist, a rebel uprising in Angola, UN sends Indian troops to Congo, planes airlift 2100 troops, Senators Alexander Wiley and Estes Kefauver Hassel over electrical price fixing,

#13568: EMMY AWARDS, 13TH PRIMETIME, THE

1961-05-16, NBC, min.

Dick Powell and Joey Bishop are the hosts for the 13th Primetime Emmy Awards held in the Moulin Rogue Nightclub in Los Angeles, California.   

NOTE: Not Complete. Some abrupt continuity at times.

#134: DUPONT SHOW OF THE WEEK: ERNEST HEMINGWAY, THE

1961-10-01, WNBC, 52 min.

The full productive life of Ernest Hemingway, novelist, sportsman and adventurer is examined. Narrated by Chet Huntley.

#13580: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1961-10-27, NBC, min.

Highlights: Berlin crisis, US and Russian tanks face each other at the Berlin border, Chinese communists warn people against fallout from Russian test, Russia explodes H-Bomb, proposes to set off fifty irrigation bombs, the US tests Saturn rocket.

#174: NBC WHITE PAPER: RED CHINA

1962-02-25, WNBC, 50 min.

Chet Huntley

Chet Huntley traces the successful efforts of the Chinese Communists to gain power between 1945 and 1949 and explores the means used to consolidate support for the new regime and its "Bamboo Curtain."

#13620: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1962-03-01, NBC, min.

95 killed in jet crash near Idlewild airport in New York City,
Colonel John Glenn received in New York City by four million.

#13650: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1962-04-26, NBC, min.

October 29th, 1956-July 31st, 1970.

The Huntley-Brinkley report replaced the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze on October 29th, 1956. Originally a fifteen-minute news broadcast it was expanded to a half-hour on September 9th, 1963, a week after the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to a half-hour. Chet Huntley was in New York City and David Brinkley was in Washington, DC. 

World reaction on the US resumption of nuclear testing, M.S. Ranger rocket lands on the moon, the US indicts two steel companies.  Five members of negro organization congregate in New Orleans.

#13711: LIVE TELEVISION FROM EUROPE AND THE US VIA "TELSTAR 1"

1962-07-23, NBC, min.

A recap of today's events. Also, a review of the original "Telstar 1" launching on July 13th and TV transmissions. The Future of satellite TV is discussed.  

Host: Chet Huntley. 

Highlights: From all three networks.

"America To Europe."

London To the USA, Walter Cronkite (CBS) 3 PM Eastern time talks to and views England, Niagara Falls, the Rio Grande River, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Chicago, John F. Kennedy press conference. 

Chet Huntley views Mount Rushmore and the Morman Tabernacle Choir in Utah.    

CBS newsman Douglas Edwards mentions Walter Cronkite is receiving the first picture today.

#13871: ELECTION DAY COVERAGE: ABC NEWS

1962-11-06, ABC, min.

Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, and William Scranton run for Governor in their respective states of California, New York, Michigan, and Pennslyvania.

Highlights: Walter Cronkite talks to Governor-Elect Pat Brown, Harry Reasoner, CBS News, local NYC returns with Robert Trout (WCBS-TV), Howard K. Smith, and Lisa Howard reporting for ABC News. 
Edwin Newman, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, and John Chancellor reporting for NBC News.
Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania gives a victory speech.

#13873: ELECTION RETURNS

1962-11-06, NBC, 36 min.

Election day returns with coverage by ABC, NBC, CBS, WOR TV...William Scranton, George Romney, Pat Brown,  Nelson Rockefeller, and Jacob Javits all win elections in their respective states.

#13958: NBC WHITE PAPER: THE DEATH OF STALIN PART 1

1963-01-27, NBC, 53 min.

The life and death of Russian dictator Joseph Stalin are examined by the host and narrator Chet Huntley, in this first of two parts NBC special.  

Narrator: Chet Huntley

#13967: NBC WHITE PAPER: THE RISE OF NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV

1963-02-03, NBC, 51 min.

An NBC White Paper special on the rise of Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev. 

With Joseph Stalin's death in 1953, a struggle for leadership of the Communist world began. Considered best bets at the time: 
Malenkov, Molotov, and a a man little know to the outside world- Nikita Khrushchev. This documentary report, produced by Fred Freed, traces the five year path to power that Khrushchev followed. Chet Huntley narrates this documentary with historical film and accounts from journalists, government officials and both Communist and former Communist observers.

#13973: BEST OF WASHINGTON HUMOR, THE

1963-02-10, NBC, 27 min.

Humorous excerpts from the speeches of Barry Goldwater, Sargent Shriver, John F. Kennedy, Charles Halleck, Adlai Stevenson, and Kenneth Keating.   

Narrated by Chet Huntley.

#924: CHET HUNTLEY REPORTING

1963-02-12, WNBC, 25 min.

Premiere April 1, 1956...beginning Prime Time Jan. 12, 1962 - June 18, 1963. Half Hour Weekly Report hosted by Chet Huntley. 

An NBC half hour documentary series which premiered at 2:30pm on April 1, 1956 under the title OUTLOOK. The program initially featured news headlines, and multiple stories at greater length, including filmed reports. Narration and Commentary by Chet Huntley. Beginning December 22, 1957 the format was changed to provide in-depth exploration of a single subject. From 1959 to 1961 the program was aired on Sunday afternoon at 5:30pm. On January 12, 1962 the series moved to prime-time, Friday nights 10:30pm with the same format, Huntley interviewing news personalities and exploring topical issues in depth. During its seven year run the series had the following titles:
OUTLOOK, CHET HUNTLEY...REPORTING, TIME:PRESENT...CHET HUNTLEY REPORTING, and beginning September 25, 1960, CHET HUNTLEY REPORTING.

Broadcast title: "The Fringe Men...Anglo Saxon Attitudes."

Chet Huntley interviews Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Alan
Bennett, stars of the Broadway hit, "Beyond The Fringe."

#14040: NBC NEWS SPECIAL: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COMMUNISM

1963-04-09, NBC, 24 min.

A documentary on the Soviet-Red Chinese split.
A look at current Communist concepts and conflicts, focusing on the discord be tween the USSR and Red China. Interviewed are Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson and Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.

Narrator: Chet Huntley.

#14241: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1963-07-26, NBC, min.

Khrushchev hails the nuclear test ban treaty, President Kennedy to give a talk on the treaty, earthquake report from Skopje, Yugoslavia, Senate hearings on civil rights, a sharp exchange between Senators such as Strom Thurmond, negroes sing protest in Phoenix, Arizona, a report on Charles De Gaulle news conference,

#14279: ''AMERICAN REVOLUTION OF '63 THE"

1963-09-02, NBC, min.

A three-hour report on the current battle for civil rights and its historical background. Included are interviews with black leaders Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Roy Wilkens, A. Philip Randolph, Harry Belafonte, and Jackie Robinson. Also appearing are Governor George Wallace, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Orval Faubus, Bruce Catton, George Romney, and William Scranton. Also heard is Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett. An Emmy nominee as "Program Of The Year.". 

Heard is a promo for the NBC Huntley-Brinkley report. Promotion of new half-hour report.

#14283: "HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY ADVANCE REPORT, THE"

1963-09-08, NBC, 29 min.

October 29th, 1956-July 31st, 1970.

The Huntley-Brinkley report replaced the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze on October 29th, 1956. Originally a fifteen-minute news broadcast it was expanded to a half-hour on September 9th, 1963, a week after the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to a half-hour. Chet Huntley was in New York City and David Brinkley was in Washington, DC.

What goes into making a TV news show? Chet Huntley and David Brinkley are on hand to guide viewers behind the scenes. They explain the techniques of coordinating communications-satellite pictures, transatlantic cable film, and taped and filmed reports flown in by plane. The two also preview some of the features of their daily half-hour news show which debuts tomorrow.

Ray Shearer is the host.

#14291: NBC ADVANCE REPORT

1963-09-08, NBC, 29 min.

A report on the new NBC TELEVISION 30-minute newscast, and what goes into the making of a TV news show.

Chet Huntley and David Brinkley are on hand to guide viewers behind the scenes. They explain the techniques of coordinating communications, satellite pictures, transatlantic cable film, and taped and filmed reports flown in by plane. The two also preview some of the features of their new daily half-hour news show which will debut tomorrow, September 9, 1963.

#14285: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE: PREMIER BROADCAST

1963-09-09, NBC, 18 min.

October 29th, 1956-July 31st, 1970.

The Huntley-Brinkley report replaced the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze on October 29th, 1956. Originally a fifteen-minute news broadcast it was expanded to a half-hour on September 9th, 1963, a week after the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to a half-hour. Chet Huntley was in New York City and David Brinkley was in Washington, DC.

Topics: An interview with President Kennedy (first 12 minutes), a report on the presidential campaign of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, (Goldwater is interviewed), David Brinkley receives a telegram from CBS evening news anchor Walter Cronkite congratulating Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on the premiere of their first thirty-minute newscast.

The first thirty-minute Huntley-Brinkley newscast.

#14293: "HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE"

1963-09-09, NBC, 18 min.

October 29th, 1956-July 31st, 1970.

The Huntley-Brinkley report replaced the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze on October 29th, 1956. Originally a fifteen-minute news broadcast it was expanded to a half-hour on September 9th, 1963, a week after the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to a half-hour. Chet Huntley was in New York City and David Brinkley was in Washington, DC.

Topics: President Kennedy says the US will not cut aid to South Vietnam, an interview with President Kennedy, Barry Goldwater on a campaign speaking tour, attacks Kennedy as being "far left." Governor Nelson Rockefeller tours conservative areas and attacks Kennedy, an interview with Senator Goldwater.

#14296: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1963-09-12, NBC, 13 min.

October 29th, 1956-July 31st, 1970.

The Huntley-Brinkley report replaced the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze on October 29th, 1956. Originally a fifteen-minute news broadcast it was expanded to a half-hour on September 9th, 1963, a week after the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to a half-hour. Chet Huntley was in New York City and David Brinkley was in Washington, DC. 

A rowdy scene at House hearing-boycotting by bearded leftists "concerning travel to Cuba," student rioters in Birmingham, George Wallace will enter the 1964 presidential primaries, the goal is to defeat President Kennedy, the Arab League is concerned over the Israelis interest in Black African and Asian countries, Jimmy Hoffa attacks Robert Kennedy-says the US is run by his "police force," Britain vetoes in UN on white Rhodesian Government.

#19315: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT

1963-10-20, NBC, 5 min.

A report on the election in Venezuela, Herbert Kaplow reports.

#19303: NBC NEWS: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1963-10-29, NBC, 30 min.

Live coverage of the day's news with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley reporting.

#556: NBC'S FIRST LIVE BULLETINS AND LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

1963-11-22, WNBC, 123 min.

Discussion:
Gries preserved lost NBC coverage of JFK assassination

NBC television recorded over 70 hours and 25 minutes of coverage on
President John F. Kennedy's assassination beginning on November 22nd
and ending on November 25th, 1963.

However, NBC failed to record the first two NBC television
bulletins on Nov. 22, the first a local WNBC (NYC) TV bulletin, voiced by Don Pardo, at 1:45:03 to 1:45:30pm EST (27 seconds) & then an NBC NATIONAL bulletin at 1:46:45 - 1:47:53pm EST (68 seconds), and then subsequently an initial 3 minutes & 53 seconds of continuous coverage by Frank McGee, Chet Huntley and Bill Ryan, commencing at 1:53:12 to 1:57:05pm EST, before NBC TELEVISON began televising picture and sound, and preserving the broadcast, rolling 2" Quad Video Tape, the first Network to do so (Both CBS and ABC began continuous coverage was at 2:00pm EST).

Amazingly, when there existed over 50 million television sets in the USA, ONLY Phil Gries, from his Brooklyn New York home, was in a position to audio tape record first NBC television coverage of these initial world changing historic broadcast events off the air, at the moment when the television generation came of age.

The Kennedy Assassination coverage on television set a new standard for how breaking national stories could be delivered on TV. It was only in September 1963, that networks expanded their nightly news programs from 15 minutes to half-hour long broadcasts. Within an hour of the shooting, 68 percent of Americans had heard the news; within two hours, 92 percent had heard, and half of them found out from TV or radio.
NBC TV clocked the most on air hours (70 hours 25 minutes) during its four day coverage, followed by ABC TV (60 hours), and CBS TV (55 hours). CBS used 600 employees, ABC used 500 employees, and NBC used 400 employees to televise their coverage all at an estimated cost of $225 million by todays value.

Since 1963 the Television industry has greatly refined and expanded its abilities to deliver big and breaking stories, but with competition from the internet and social media, it will unlikely ever again hold a nation's attention the way it did that November weekend in 1963, when the first NBC TV bulletins broadcast by Don Pardo were to be the only historic recordings extant in broadcast history, recorded by one individual recording those historic moments on a tape recorder at his home in Brooklyn, New York.

Phil Gries, founder and owner of Archival Television Audio Inc. used "American" Brand 1/4" reel to reel audio tape, recording, direct line, on his 1959 WEBCOR Stereo 1/4" reel to reel audiotape recorder (speed 3&3/4" IPS) which was connected to a 1949 ANDREA television set during the actual live NBC television broadcast.

These historic soundtracks were donated by Phil Gries to the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, MA, in 1995 (through archivist Bill Mackey), to Sam Brylawski representing The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. in 1997, and to archivist Ron Simon representing The Paley Center for Media in 2006.

In addition, Archival Television Audio, Inc. duplicated a copy
of these peerless bulletins and initial coverage to a stunned Don Pardo in 1998 on his 80th birthday...now confirming by ear and believing that a broadcast recording of his bulletins exist and not just as a memory. His May 1998 phone conversation with Phil Gries, recounting his memories announcing the first NBC TV bulletins can be heard on You Tube and on the ATA website (www.atvaudio.com)

http://www.atvaudio.com/jfk.php

Page at URL above contains letter from Gries describing how he taped
the first four minutes of the NBC coverage. NBC did not archive this
portion of its coverage, but Gries taped it and preserved it.

In November 2013 these peerless recordings were donated by Phil Gries to Andrew K. Franklin, Senior Producer of NBC NIGHTLY NEWS for use on their 50th anniversary telecast, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS (November 22, 2013).

David Von Pein was given these recordings to be used on his definitive JFK website (http://dvp-video-audio-archive.blogspot.com) and uploaded to you tube in 2013.

These first live NBC News Bulletins by Don Pardo would precede regular program cancellations and continuous NBC live coverage of this 20th century tragedy (the assassination of President John F. Kennedy) for the next three and a half days. The first two bulletins are heard. Bulletin number one (Local in NYC) is broadcast at 1:45:03 PM EST and airs for 27 seconds. Bulletin number two (National) is broadcast at 1:46:45 and airs for 68 seconds, followed by the first two hours of uninterrupted News coverage with NBC anchors Bill Ryan, Chet Huntley and Frank McGee. Seventy-one hours and twenty-seven minutes of continuous coverage begins with voice only on NBC at 1:53:12 PM, developing into picture and voice at 1:57:05 PM with CBS and ABC both starting their live continuous live on air person coverage at 2:00pm EST. The American Broadcasting Company was the first to go on air (RADIO) at 1:36:50pm EST voicing a bulletin by Don Gardiner. Like CBS TV, ABC TV came on with their first on air TV bulletin with logo slide being shown at 1:40 PM, and 1:41pm respectively. ABC would further have three more Bulletins all four voiced by Ed Silverman between 1:41 and 2:00pm before going live with video and tape rolling at 2:00pm. NBC TV actually went live with video and audio at 1:57:05 pm and as confirmed on Phil Gries' audio air check recorded off the air on to his television set with adjoining tape recorder, we hear a station identification BEEP at 2:00 pm (further provenance of this tape's authentic origin) which is NOT heard on the extant NBC TV recorded direct feed video tape that we are all familiar with and which resides in the National Archives. Furthermore, the Gries original audio tape has additional recorded audio material NOT originally duplicated and given as donations detailed above, or ever distributed or shared by anyone.

There are live telephone reports from correspondent Robert MacNeil in Dallas, Texas. There are additional reports from Charles Murphy, David Brinkley and Marvin Agronsky. There is live coverage from the United Nations where the Secretary General expresses sorrow to all members of the Kennedy Family and to all the people in the United States. One minute of silence is observed by all delegates from the 111 member nations. There is continuing NBC coverage from station WBAP, the affiliate in Fort Worth, Texas with Newsman Tom Whalen. Eyewitness Charles Brehm recounts what he saw. There is the first live overseas report from Irving R. Levine from Rome and live coverage from outside the NBC building at Rockefeller Center, with its Mobile Unit searching out reactions from New Yorkers with reporter Jeff Pond. Correspondent Richard Valeriani reports live from the White House. There are statements from Senator Barry Goldwater and from former President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It took an incident of this proportion to catapult television into the forefront as the world's number one communicator of news and special events. Television had come of age.

NOTE:

"FOUR DAYS: THE HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY" compiled by The United Press International (Published by American Heritage Publishing Company, copyright 1964) details (reproductions of his teletype bulletins) United Press International's Merriman Smith, dean of the White House correspondents, description of his frantic rush to call the Dallas UPI bureau and communicate first reports of the JFK shooting. It was his UPI copy that came off an NBC Teletype machine in a newsroom in NYC that was read by Don Pardo.

Because in 1963 it took an NBC camera 11 minutes to become "active," transmitting a visual signal, an NBC Bulletin Card was viewed at first by those tuning in to this station. It was chaotic on NBC where staff announcer Don Pardo made the first mention of the shooting. News reporter Frank McGee was pressed into service and was receiving his information over the phone from correspondent Robert McNeil in Dallas.

TRIVIA NOTE: NBC's staff announcer Don Pardo's first local WNBC-TV bulletin interrupted the telecast of a Bachelor Father re-run which originally aired on May 26, 1960) Season 3, Episode 35 titled 'Bentley and the Beach Bum.' Also, interesting to note that on this day only three television programs broadcast LIVE prior to the assassination, none at the time when the shooting occurred. They were THE TODAY SHOW (NBC 7:00-9:00am, THE JOE FRANLKIN SHOW (WOR 12:15-1:30pm), and TELL US MORE (WNBC 1:00-1:30pm).

NBC's television coverage, although informative, did not match the gravitas of Walter Cronkite at his desk at CBS Television, who would be visually seen on the air beginning at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time, informing the country of the death of the president as he removed his glasses and struggled with his emotions.

Surprisingly, in the end, more people tuned into NBC’s coverage, anchored by Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, than Walter Cronkite and the CBS crew. It would be several years before Cronkite was able to overtake NBC’s popular anchor duo in the ratings.

NOTE:
The first two NBC Television Bulletins (the first local WNBC, and the second National NBC) and the initial 3:53 seconds of continuous NATIONAL coverage commencing at 1:53:05pm EST was never recorded by NBC or by any other known broadcasting station or broadcasting archive. Amazingly, the only existing broadcast recording in the world of NBC'S TV historic television transmission was audio recorded off the air by Phil Gries, founder of Archival Television Audio, Inc., viewing his 1949 Andrea television at that moment, and fortuitously pushing the record button on his Webcor Stereophonic 1/4" reel to reel audio tape recorder during the actual live Television Broadcast.

To date, no other audio or video has ever surfaced documenting these moments, an incredible fact since 50 million American homes approximating 200 million viewers were tuned in to their television set comprehending that the President of the United States was shot in Dallas. In today's digital world where every minutia event is recorded and preserved, it is mind boggling to this archivist that I uniquely recorded a television broadcast related to an assassination of an American President, at a time in 1963, when there were over 55 million television sets in the homes of people living in the United States.

These historic sound tracks have been donated to the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, MA, The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and The Paley Center for Media in NY and LA. The November 22, 1963 John F. Kennedy NBC-TV assassination bulletins and the initial lost 3:53 seconds of NBC live coverage are the most significant treasure in our archive. They personify just a part of the many thousands of other Archival Television Audio original, off the air, television soundtracks which represent the only record of a specific TV broadcast known to exist. Archival Television Audio, Inc. is the largest repository in the world collecting, preserving and archiving "lost" vintage TELEVISION BROADCASTS surviving as AUDIO ONLY, focusing and representing the years 1946 thru 1982. The ATA website (www.atvaudio.com) initiated in 2002 offers the public access to searching for tens of thousands of programs by title, performer, and date.

TIMELINE of the John F. Kennedy assassination
Television and Radio Coverage
(from 1:36 p.m. EST - 2:00 p.m. EST)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NATIONALLY
The first national news bulletin of the shooting came over the ABC Radio Network at 12:36:50pm CST/1:36:50pm EST.[183] The most complete recording of the initial ABC bulletins came from WRUL, a New York-based station transmitting to Latin America and Europe on shortwave, which was featuring a program of MOR album music when the shooting took place. At the time, Doris Day's recording of "Hooray for Hollywood", from the 1937 musical film Hollywood Hotel, was playing, when newscaster Don Gardiner broke in with the developments:

We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from ABC Radio. [Takes a short pause] Here is a special bulletin from Dallas, Texas: (Reading UPI bulletin) 'THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED AT PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S MOTORCADE TODAY IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, TEXAS.'[184] This is ABC Radio. To repeat: 'in Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade today.' The president now making a two-day speaking tour of Texas. We're going to stand by for more details on the incident in Dallas. Stay tuned to your ABC station for further details. Now, we return you to your regular program.[183]

4 minutes after ABC's radio bulletin, CBS was the first to break the news over television at 12:40pm CST/1:40pm EST. The network interrupted its live production broadcast of "As the World Turns" with a "CBS News Bulletin" bumper slide and Walter Cronkite, reporting from the CBS Radio flash booth, filed an audio-only report. Immediate live video of Cronkite wasn't possible at that time, as no camera in the CBS newsroom was active and ready. TV cameras of that era used image orthicon tubes which took approximately 20 minutes to warm up.[185]

"Here is a bulletin from CBS News. In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas.' The first reports say that President Kennedy has been seriously wounded by this shooting. More details just arrived. These details about the same as previously: President Kennedy shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy jumped up and grabbed Mr. Kennedy, she called 'Oh, no!' The motorcade sped on. United Press says that the wounds for President Kennedy perhaps could be fatal. Repeating, a bulletin from CBS News: 'President Kennedy has been shot by a would-be assassin in Dallas, Texas.' Stay tuned to CBS News for further details."

Initially, the live broadcast of "As the World Turns," which included commercials, continued, with the actors unaware of the earlier pre-emption for the bulletin. Cronkite later filed two bonus audio-only bulletins to interrupt programming, the last of which interrupted a Friskies dog food commercial and pre-empted the remaining running time of As the World Turns. Only the bulletin bumper remained on screen while a television camera warmed up, until 2:00 p.m. EST. Cronkite stated in a later interview that this event was responsible for a new CBS network policy of always having a "hot camera" available to the newsroom to avoid this difficulty in the future.[186]

At that time, As the World Turns was the runaway top-rated daytime show, and ABC and NBC made no concerted effort to compete with CBS in the time slot; as a result, the other television networks weren't on the air in the Eastern and Central Time Zones. Various programs were being broadcast through their affiliate stations.[187] From their main headquarters in New York, WABC-TV's first bulletin came from Ed Silverman at 1:41 p.m. EST, interrupting reruns of The Ann Sothern Show on the East Coast and Father Knows Best in the Mountain Time Zone. ABC-TV was not feeding programming to its affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone at that hour. At the same time of ABC-TV's first bulletin, NBC Radio reported the first of three "Hotline Bulletins", each preceded by a "talk-up alert" which gave all NBC-affiliated stations 30 seconds to join their parent network.

Three minutes later, at 1:45:03pm EST Don Pardo broke into WNBC-TV's local rerun of "Bachelor Father" with the news, saying (reading AP bulletin) 'PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS SHOT TODAY JUST AS HIS MOTORCADE LEFT DOWNTOWN DALLAS. MRS. KENNEDY JUMPED UP AND GRABBED MR. KENNEDY. SHE CRIED 'OH NO!' THE MOTORCADE SPED ON.'[166][188][189] (Videotape of the NBC bulletins have been assumed "lost" as they did not start recording coverage until minutes later. However, audio engineer Phil Gries rolled tape on a set of audio recordings on a 1/4" reel to reel audiotape recorder. These have been donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.[190] However, NBC, in its book on the coverage of the assassination, mentioned the bulletins, as stated on the Associated Press wire report from which Don Pardo read.)[189] At 1:53:12pm (EST), NBC broke into programming with an NBC Network bumper slide and Chet Huntley and Bill Ryan began informing the viewers what was going on as it happened.[189] However, NBC's camera was not ready and the coverage was limited to audio-only reports as recorded by Phil Gries (3 minutes & 53 seconds), as CBS' coverage had been to that point. Other than for two audio-only bulletins (one following the initial report), ABC TV did not break into its stations' programming at all, instead waiting until the network was to return to broadcasting at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time to begin its coverage.

At 1:57:05pm EST, just as Frank McGee joined the reporting, NBC began broadcasting the report as their camera was ready and working.[190] Three minutes later, at 2:00pm EST, CBS' camera was finally ready and Cronkite appeared on the air after a brief station break, with ABC beginning its coverage at the same time. Radio coverage was reported by Don Gardiner (ABC), Allan Jackson (CBS), and (after a top-of-the-hour newscast) by Peter Hackes and Edwin Neuman (NBC).

#19391: NBC NEWS WITH CHET HUNTLEY

1963-12-27, NBC, min.

Chet Huntley

The latest news.

Host: Chet Huntley.

#14400: NBC PANEL: WORLD OUTLOOK FOR 1964, THE

1964-01-09, NBC, min.

An outlook for 1964. Castro's Cuba by Wilson Hall Indonesia and South Vietnam by James Robinson. 

Moderator: Chet Huntley.

#19132: NBC WHITE PAPER

1964-02-04, NBC, 60 min.

Chet Huntley

The Bay Of Pigs is the focus of tonight's program.

Chet Huntley narrates.

#19133: NBC WHITE PAPER

1964-02-09, NBC, 60 min.

Chet Huntley

The Cuban Missile Crises is profiled.     

Chet Huntley narrates.

#14481: CHET HUNTLEY

1964-03-30, NBC, min.

Comments on the Chinese rift with Khrushchev, Reds assail Molotov, Khrushchev in trouble.

#952: EMMY AWARDS:16TH ANNUAL

1964-05-25, WNBC, 94 min.

Hosts for the sixteenth annual Emmy Awards are Joey Bishop in Hollywood and E.G. Marshall in New York. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore introduce this special telecast. Humorous excerpts from past Emmy Award telecasts are played. A galaxy of celebrities appear including Danny Kaye, Hugh Downs, Chet Huntley, Rod
Serling, Patty Duke, Jane Wyatt, Carl Reiner, David Janssen, Jerry Paris, James Franciscus, Dean Jagger, David Frost, John Daly, Don Defore, Shirley Booth, Tom Gries, James Drury, Roberta Shore, Polly Bergen, and Mel Brooks who with Reiner does a "2000 Year Old Man" skit. Other personalities appearing include Inger Stevens, Richard Deacon, Gene Barry, Ruth White, Zina Bethune, Shirl Conway, Garry Moore, Jack Klugman, Vince Edwards, Shelley Winters, Nat King Cole, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Lorne Greene. The cast from "That Was The Week That Was," Elliot Reid, Nancy Ames, Pat Englund, and David Frost satirize the 1963-64 television season. Jack Benny presents the Emmy Award for Program of the Year, "The Making of the President." Mel Stuart and David L. Wolper accept the award.

#14574: NBC NEWS, HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1964-06-22, NBC, 13 min.

Racial disturbances at a beach in Florida, in Mississippi a civil rights group train northern whites to aid negroes in the south-trainees learn to protect themselves from hostile mobs, three civil rights workers (two from the north) are missing in Mississippi, Senator Edward Kennedy is doing OK in the hospital following plane crash, President Johnson greets Turkish Premier Ismet Inonu-they discuss the Turkish-Cyprus problem.

131 records found for Chet Huntley

#13079: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1956-11-06, WNBC, 9 min.

#7484A: THE HONEYMOONERS

1957-10-08, WRCA, 3 min.

#13296: NBC NEWS-HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1958-07-15, NBC, min.

#1: EMMY AWARDS: 11TH ANNUAL

1959-05-06, WRCA, 72 min.

#13345: EMMY AWARDS ELEVENTH ANNUAL, THE

1959-05-06, NBC, 18 min.

#13364: NBC NEWS-HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1959-08-28, NBC, 5 min.

#13373: KHRUSHCHEV'S VISIT: NBC SPECIAL REPORT WITH CHET HUNTLEY

1959-09-20, NBC, 25 min.

#13384: NBC NEWS- HUNTLEY -BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1959-10-23, NBC, 15 min.

#13391: NBC NEWS-HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1959-11-03, NBC, 5 min.

#13453: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION CONTINUED

1960-07-12, NBC, min.

#8000: 1960 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE

1960-07-13, NBC, min.

#38: 1960 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, THE

1960-07-28, WCBS, 121 min.

#13504: ELECTION RETURNS

1960-11-08, NBC, min.

#875: ELECTION COVERAGE NIGHT: 1960

1960-11-08, WNBC, 173 min.

#13509: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE NBC NEWS

1960-12-12, NBC, min.

#13519: INAUGURATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, THE

1961-01-20, NBC, 46 min.

#9843: WORLD WIDE 60: THE WAY OF THE CROSS, THE

1961-03-28, ABC, 54 min.

#13537: HUNTLEY - BRINKLEY REPORT - NBC NEWS

1961-04-13, NBC, min.

#13539: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1961-04-14, NBC, min.

#13568: EMMY AWARDS, 13TH PRIMETIME, THE

1961-05-16, NBC, min.

#134: DUPONT SHOW OF THE WEEK: ERNEST HEMINGWAY, THE

1961-10-01, WNBC, 52 min.

#13580: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1961-10-27, NBC, min.

#174: NBC WHITE PAPER: RED CHINA

1962-02-25, WNBC, 50 min.

#13620: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1962-03-01, NBC, min.

#13650: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1962-04-26, NBC, min.

#13711: LIVE TELEVISION FROM EUROPE AND THE US VIA "TELSTAR 1"

1962-07-23, NBC, min.

#13871: ELECTION DAY COVERAGE: ABC NEWS

1962-11-06, ABC, min.

#13873: ELECTION RETURNS

1962-11-06, NBC, 36 min.

#13958: NBC WHITE PAPER: THE DEATH OF STALIN PART 1

1963-01-27, NBC, 53 min.

#13967: NBC WHITE PAPER: THE RISE OF NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV

1963-02-03, NBC, 51 min.

#13973: BEST OF WASHINGTON HUMOR, THE

1963-02-10, NBC, 27 min.

#924: CHET HUNTLEY REPORTING

1963-02-12, WNBC, 25 min.

#14040: NBC NEWS SPECIAL: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COMMUNISM

1963-04-09, NBC, 24 min.

#14241: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE

1963-07-26, NBC, min.

#14279: ''AMERICAN REVOLUTION OF '63 THE"

1963-09-02, NBC, min.

#14283: "HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY ADVANCE REPORT, THE"

1963-09-08, NBC, 29 min.

#14291: NBC ADVANCE REPORT

1963-09-08, NBC, 29 min.

#14285: HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE: PREMIER BROADCAST

1963-09-09, NBC, 18 min.

#14293: "HUNTLEY-BRINKLEY REPORT, THE"

1963-09-09, NBC, 18 min.