Episode #1.3
- Episode aired Jan 16, 1952
- TV-G
- 2h
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Thanks to Mark Evanier, I got to see what the first "Today" show was like
Just watched on Hulu as linked from Mark Evanier's News from Me site this, the very first episode of "Today" from January 14, 1952. The first words were spoken by announcer Jack Lescoulie before segueing to the host, or communicator as he would be called then, Dave Garroway. I should note that what was shown was the first 30 minutes before going to the last 15. During those segments, we see a bunch of newspapers from several U.S. cities on display on a wall as Lescoulie and Garroway point to whatever headline happens to be on them. There were also remotes from Washington, D.C., New York's Grand Central Station, and Chicago which happens to be Dave's, and yours truly, former hometown. An unusual sight on the initial program was seeing these men have long, still, mics on their bodies. I guess these were the precursor to the small, cord ones more common today. Also, a filmed commercial went on without audio which Dave acknowledged. After the program ended, we then go 25 years later when then-anchor Tom Brokaw interviews these men. When he asks Dave if he thinks the show has gotten better, Dave says no then later corrects himself that he thought the decline wasn't until after the late '50s. It was during this later segment that we then get an interview with Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, actress Sigourney's father, who maintains that his creation of "Today" was always a success even though not enough people watched for the first year or so. This was quite a fascinating document to watch and, despite many boring stretches, I'm glad I saw it. So in the spirit of the late Mr. Garroway, I end this review with his sign-off line: Peace.
helpful•00
- tavm
- Jan 26, 2012
Details
- Runtime2 hours
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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