[QuadList] JFK Fifty Years Later--Were any QuadList members working in TV that day?--Have you handled any materials from then?

[Steve White]

Remembering Coverage of the Funeral

- It was smooth, and as sophisticated as coverage of the inauguration 
had been little more than 1,000 days earlier.

- In hours, crews began to converge on DC from across the country.

- In less than three days, dozens of camera platforms were put in place 
across DC and Virginia.

- From Wikipedia:
> Those who watched the funeral on television were the only ones who saw 
> the ceremony in its entirety.  The three networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC, 
> used at least 50 cameras for the joint coverage in order to allow 
> viewers to follow the proceedings in their entirety from the Capitol 
> to Arlington.  In addition, the networks' Washington bureau chiefs 
> (Bob Fleming at ABC, Bill Monroe at NBC, and Bill Small at CBS) moved 
> correspondents and cameras to keep them ahead of the cortège.
- Not so sure about moving cameras, but almost...

- Taylor & Hobson sent a number of new (expensive) zoom lenses addressed 
simply to Pool Coverage (or something similar) to be picked up at DCA.  
The story is there was no paperwork, just a simple phone call...possibly 
originated by T&H.

- Despite this effort, there still were not enough zoom lenses to go 
around.  As soon as the procession passed a camera platform, its zoom 
lens was removed, hustled down to street level, and given police escort 
to another camera along the route.

- Crews literally ran out of coax.  Shelves were emptied across the 
region.  I am told that at least one camera crew had to set up a 
microwave hop down a blocked-off sidewalk to reach their destination.

- My roommate was director at the truck waiting outside the White House 
gate.  He is reported to have called back to the station, "Take me.  I 
got a bunch of Kings headed my way."

It was emotional then.  Even more so now.

Steve


On 11/21/13 2:30 PM, Ted Langdell wrote:
>
>
> It seems hard to believe that the television coverage that had many of 
> us riveted to the screen happened 50 years ago tomorrow.
>
> Some folks on the list could have been working in network or local 
> broadcast settings on that day, and it would be great to learn more 
> about what they did---and thought---as they were doing their jobs.
>
> I know that QuadList member Harold Deppe, Sr. was at CBS in NYC at the 
> time.
>
>     Although not in Videotape, Harold Sr. would have had a unique view
>     of how the network handled the day and those that followed.  (I
>     think this would have been from the Grand Central Station
>     facilities, since the Broadcast Center on W. 57th St. had a 1964
>     debut.  Clarifications about what happened from where would be good.)
>
>
> Perhaps there are others that you know of who are still able to recall 
> details?
>
> If you've handled JFK materials, it would be interesting to know what 
> you observed as you played them, such as technical considerations and 
> logistics of the times.
>
> If any of the materials you've transferred are airing in productions 
> to be seen over the next few days, or are available on-line, please 
> include links.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ted
>
> Ted Langdell
> (530) 301-2931
> ted at quadvideotapegroup.com <mailto:ted at quadvideotapegroup.com>
> Secretary for the _QuadVideotapeGroup.com_ 
> <http://www.quadvideotapegroup.com/>:
> Preserving Tape, Equipment and the Knowledge to use them, in 
> conjunction with the Library of Congress
>
>
>
>
>
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