I worked at the Astrodome from the opening in 1965 until I joined the Marines in 1969. In 1968 and 1969 I was inside the centerfield scoreboard. I operated it. I ran All of the cartoons and slides. The hand clapping was actually my hands as I did that live.
Not true! Those were my Dad’s hands. Paul Keith, he also was the man who did the “rake Dane” at the 7th inning stretch and also a dozen more of the scoreboard vignettes. Thanks for playing.
@@HiddenHillsHilbilly He may have done that recorded film. I did the live “clapping hands” in the 60s. I am sure others did it after I went into the Marine Corp in January 1969.
@@raygold1 My unofficial Uncles growing up were Ed and Frank Henderson. Ed designed the scoreboard for the Astrodome as well did all the animation and worked very closely with Mr. Hoffeinz. Uncle Ed also worked for Disney animating. My Dad was the official EarthMan of the Astrodome and can be seen in this video multiple times as the “EarthMan”doing the “Rake Dance”. Ed Filmed my Dad’s hands and those are the hands you see on the scoreboard during games etc.. The New York Times also did a piece on my Dad and the Scoreboard several years ago. Our family take this information very seriously because it is apart of Houston history. My Dad is still living and we have documented a lot of Astrodome history. So when I see someone take credit for something that my Dad did I have the duty to speak up and set the record straight. I will ask my Dad if he remembers you since he was involved in a lot of the production of what you saw on the scoreboard. Thank you-
@@HiddenHillsHilbilly I am not questioning any of what you are saying except the part about the hand clapping during the games. Those were my hands as we actually did them “live” during the game. There were 2 of us actually inside a control room behind the centerfield board. We had film projectors and a slide projector. We ran all of the slides and films that you are referencing. I know that Ed did all of the work you said he did. I don’t doubt that your dad may filmed “clapping hands” for the scoreboard. I can assure you that as part of my job, I clapped my hands every time we did this live during the game. We turned on the projector with no slide in it. This cast a bright light onto the screen of sensors. I would move my hands casting the shadow onto the sensors. The sensors picked up the shadows and projected on to the centerfield screen. As I said we were in a control room that was directly behind the board. Bill Giles was over the scoreboard control and was on the 5th level (Press Box) behind home plate.
I’m not even old enough to say that I miss the Astrodome. Although I’m longing for what I COULD’VE seen. Older things in general like cartoons and music always fascinated me because my dad raised me on them. Seeing this for the first time made me actually cry happy tears
Grew up going to Astros games in the 70's and 80's, was in Astro Buddies, and liked going to the Astrodome way more than Minutemaid. Much more leg room in the Astrodome.
THANK YOU!! I made a trip from southern Iowa to Houston in 1966 to see some baseball at the dome. What memories this video brings back! Back then, all they had essentially were the "Charges." I especially remember the dancing trumpet and the charging bull. And that scoreboard! The Astros won both games I saw, but just seeing that scoreboard in action was well worth the trip. Thanks a lot for posting this video.
Thanks for posting as It brings back many ,many fond memories indeed! We would travel from San Antonio from 67 to 74 EVERY YEAR ,Stay at the RoadRunner Inn on Kirby(?) and walk to the game then attend AstroWorld when it was open before or after exciting Astro game,Win or Lose .Wow. Thanks
This brings back great memories. If you ever come across a Houston Astro song they had please post it. All I remember is that it started as "We're the Houston Astros".
man...it sucks being born in 1992...i never got to experience this legendary scoreboard...i never got to see Nolan Ryan hit 100, i never got to see Billy Hatchers bomb in the NLCS...i never got to see Jose Cruz, Glenn Davis, Craig Reynolds, Mike Scott, JR Richard, Don Wilson, Dickie Thon, Terry Puhl...but at least i got to go to the Dome in its later years and watch Caminiti, Biggio, and my favorite ball player EVER: Jeff Bagwell...GO ASTROS!!!!
In addition to the Astros, the Houston Oilers, the University of Houston also played occasional college football games and the old Houston Hurricanes of the North American Soccer League made the Astrodome their home, and was the home to the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.
@@larrywt656 Did Joe Spinell pitch for the Astros or something? He didn't actually drown in the shower however. He slipped, didn't realize he had a bad laceration on the back of his head from the fall laid down, and never regained consciousness.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU THANK YOU! Some of my best childhood memories were made here! Can you tell me if there is that video of the shadow man playing the trumpet ( think maybe it was Herb Alpert)? I am desperately trying to find it. It was my favorite scoreboard clip from the 70's.
I wish I could visit the Astrodome when the Astros were there. Did the Astrodome remove the lights from 3:48-4:21 before the Astros left? If I remember correctly, renovation happened in the 80's in the Astrodome but I don't know if it was removed.
The scoreboard was removed when extra seats were added in an attempt to keep the Oilers from moving to Jacksonville, but they moved anyway to Nashville.
@mustbtxn Ed Henderson is my Great Uncle! Shirley Bynum is my grandma and I am the son of Mark Bynum! Please message me I would love to know more about the astros past and history of the score board!
