First appearance of Norm Abram 1979 

Norm Abram: The most famous carpenter since Jesus!

It’s funny how houses that were being built new when “this old house” was starting can now be featured on new episodes of “this old house”...

I’m 43 and spent a good 30 of those years admiring Norms work. Was addicted to watching The New Yankee Workshop!

That scaffolding looked precarious and Bob was hanging off the edge of the ladder with zero fear. It is a great old production with a budget feel. Very cool.

oh wow the old clarinet TOH theme song! Haven't heard that in AGES!

This particular clip is older than me, but just hearing this intro music and "Hi, I'm Bob Vila" takes me back to being a child at my grandparents house as my father and grandfather watched This Old House. Sometimes I'd watch too, because my grandparents didn't have many channels and this was by far the most acceptable thing to watch as a child for the vast majority of the day.

Bob: "I'm going back inside.. It's a little bit too cold for me so I'll let you get back to it". Norm: "Okaaaay...." That sums up Villa's work ethic right there. LOL.

I met Norm at a home show, years ago. He is a really nice , down to earth guy. I miss him and the New Yankee workshop

Norm: be sure to read, follow, and understand the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools correctly will greatly reduce the risk of injury, and remember this, there is no more important rule than to wear these, safety glasses.

Norm if I could have dinner with anyone it would be you. You inspired me to pickup a tool and create with wood. Making furniture for my children and grandchildren has been one of the greatest joys of my life and I owe it to you patient teachings and time proven techniques. You and Tommy are brothers from a another mother but you are carpentry’s super heroes!!

I loved watching this as a kid back in the 80s. I remember checking out a Bob Vila book from the library when I was in 5th grade. His show inspired me to join the building trades as a young adult. I have since rehabbed over 20 homes as side projects. This man is a true inspiration.

1979: We'll cut and patch the brackets and save money on the project. 2020: We'll have Kevin take us on a tour of how a modest old house became a prohibitively expensive and gaudy McMansion.

Amazing. Norm Abrams risking his life on that rickety scaffolding.

Bob: "It's a little bit cool for me out here Norm, so I'll let you get back to it". That says it all. Bob looks ridiculous in his little coordinating outfit.

Bob never let anybody finish a thought without interrupting. Even Richard appears in this season with his brother and dad. Roku has season 1-5 on demand

I love old this old house. $30-$40 each? Well we aren't doing that. Meanwhile, in 2020 If it's not a million dollar home at the end, it's not worth doing.

As a professional carpenter for the past 42 years, I’ve always had the utmost respect for Norm and his trade skills. As for Bob, if he were on one of my job sites, I’d probably just send him for coffee... but apparently Norm wasn’t that comfortable being on camera, so the suits had to find him a sidekick...still a great show, lots of good information for anyone looking to get into the trades.

Obviously OSHA wasn’t as aggressive and well staffed back then. There’s just not enough guys like Norm in this world, rich people with fancy houses are going to learn soon just how valuable skilled craftsmen really were.

In the 80s, remember watching the first TOH episode. I was immediately enthralled and soaked up every episode moving forward. Recently married, we bought our first house, which needed everything, for $65k. I wasn't raised with any experience from my father or other people. 2 years later we "flipped " the house at a profit and moved on from there. 13 years, having become sick of my corporate job in Manhattan and having developed a near obsession with living this type of "lifestyle" that provided freedom, hands on accomplishment, etc and having honed many of skills I quite corporate and invested in a "Remodelers License" and insurance policy. And, oh yes, my first F-150. I have a very understanding wife. I recently retired at 64 having put in over 30 years in the business. It was the best move I've ever made. All of this happened because of my admiration and interest in Vila and Abram's work. I even had the honor of meeting both of them on a couple of occasions. I told them how grateful I was to both of them. Although I went to college, it is not for everyone. A very nice living can be made and the benefits of owning your own business are many.

I don’t know if anyone doesn’t like Norm. I could meet any celebrity in Hollywood and not be as star struck as if I meet Norm.

I always liked Bob, he was the host, stop beating him up for not being a professional tradesman or what ever else you want to hate on him about. He was great and I hated it when he left. He paved the way for many who came after him.

I'm 47, and watched This Old House every week with my Dad all through the 80s. Bob used to irk me as a young kid, and I always felt relieved when Norm would guest host, or at least do more of the talking.

Look at that, plaid shirts are still in style! Way to go Norm.

Thank You Russell Morash and BGBH for without you This Old House ,New Yankee Workshop and the French Chef ,the Victory Garden and others would not have happened. I have spent many hours entertained by your shows. People may not want to admit it but without TOH and New Yankee folks would not have gotten involved with taking on the remodeling their own houses and The New Yankee Workshop launched a whole new wave of wood workers that has now morphed into the makers movement.

Bob looks like a garden gnome...😂

This used to be an interesting and useful program. Now that their concentration is on million dollar rehabs and expensive infrastructure subsystems, it is just a curiosity.

This brings me back to my childhood watching the show with my father. He was a big fan of Norm Abrams.

Norm, another one of my childhood heros...again, Norm, you still are. Always loved watching you on pbs 8 in Houston.

Bob look like Al Pacino in the movie Serpico from the 70s with that goofy ass hat on.

The good "ole days. Nice to see these gents in the early days. And they were actually renovating to "old house" standards, instead of upgrading everything to bigger, McMansion standards.

People are going in pretty hard on Bob Vila. Say what you want but he had a made for TV personality that drew viewers in. He was able to articulate to the viewer what the contractors could not.

The memories that this wonderful old episode brings back with that saxophone theme song! I remember it like was yesterday. Bob Vila with his great familiar voice forging into no-mans land by developing what the host of a new genre was even supposed to do and of course, ole Norm Abram who has since retired and is probably the greatest of national treasures. Just so great to see this again. Thanks so much.

Love seeing Norm from back in those days-brings me right back to the beginning.I started in construction right around this time and on all our Job sites the big saying was”Norm would never do it that way-take it apart and start over” yeah-he was and still is --the carpenters Jimi Hendrix😂😂

Bob Vila was the perfect host. The whole notion of a show based on renovations was exciting and fresh and Bob kept it at the level that the average home owner could identify with. The rest of the tradesmen were perfectly in tune to the goal of the show and over the years weve come to think of them as our special Saturday morning family members. Norm and Tommy, Richard, and the rest of the gang are heros of mine for all the things they showed me while i was renovating my home.

I remember building the red barn. I used to record it on VHS to watch it later. Notice in the beginning there was no nail gun. He is definitely a fantastic man.

Norm was one of the first guys I ever saw on TV as a Carpenter and I always enjoyed watching him and Tom. I grew up building homes with my hands and worked my way up to Carpenter and eventually a Leadman and then in 2003 I got my builder contractor license in Alabama. I love to build and love to hear professional builders talk about their knowledge and skillset. Building is a art of its own, from the ground up, you build someone dream, I always say, I build to place my signature on the home I built.

1979: 40 at 40 bucks a piece? well that's out of the question 2020: what's your budget for the counter top? oh around $50,000.

I half-expected Norm to fall into the dumpster..."Home Improvement" style.....

I still can't believe This Old House is still going 40 years later! My favourite show then and now.

We were all a lot younger then!

A joy to watch. Remember it well. I was glad when Bob Villa left the show.

That pump jack setup was scary.

Loved watching New Yankee workshop. Norms cool calming manner, made for a relaxing program. I loved his workshop, I've never seen so many clamps. He had a clamps for every eventuality, I think I had clamp envy.

Bob’s got some Jamiroquai vibes going on with that hat.

The theme song...Wow. Takes me back to my childhood.

I’m 51 and have 33 years working as a carpenter and it began as young lad watching Norm on PBS channel 12 every Saturday.

Can we all take a moment to appreciate the head gear.

Truly the Master Craftsman! Norm is great! I loved The New Yankee Workshop and almost never missed an episode. And of course he's awesome on TOH an Ask TOH as well.

Norm was my mentor , i have over 150 New Yankee workshop show recorded , i had the chance to met him in Toronto , he still appear on TOH ,

You can tell Norm was a bit nervous being on TV. His delivery got much better over time.

Loved watching Norm on the Yankee Workshop. He was and is my Hero when it comes to Carpentry ..... Bob talked a good game....

Geez, Bob looked ridiculous in that hat and complaining about the cold. He climbed the ladders but wouldn't set foot on the scaffolding with Norm.

That theme song always brings me back to when I was a kid and my dad would watch this old house.

Wonderful! I watched This Old House from the beginning till about 2010. In fact, I have at least 10 years of the show recorded. The cast were like friends to me. John

I used to watch this show as a kid, and have ever since. I learned so much from all these guys, and not just about constuction. Could never thank them enough.

Ah, those we're the good ol days. Worked a few years for the now long gone Woodworkers Warehouse. Met Norm once at a meet and greet we did at the Middleton store. The man is a legend!

Watched from the beginning. I remember how excited Norm was when he got his ShopSmith - like a woodworker’s Transformer. He worked hard to ultimately be able to build his New Yankee Workshop.

Longest running home improvement program that i can ever remember.

Im literally making the same repairs in 2022. Great to see one of my carpentry heroes do the same!

Never really watched the show but you can tell Norm is a warm, friendly down to earth hard working soul. He is a man of integrity. Bob? I can take him or leave him. It would have been nice if he was a little into carpentry and rehabbing than just to make money. It's obvious his heart and soul is not into it and he has absolutely no background in it at all. Even his wife was annoyed that he would not fix little simple things around the house. Bob is an opportunist who became mega rich and not in the most honest way.

In 1979 I had just became a journeymen carpenter. We all stopped to watch this old house on public television. Saturday I believe. Was great then as it is now. Now retired construction superintendent. My years flew by I loved my work so much many great memories of a lot good men over the years. Thanks

When I think childhood television shows with the old man on weekends this was always a favorite

2 men that've inspired me over the years to do carpentry and struggle to stay in the trades. We have many houses in Cleveland that need repairs exactly like this but more often than not these pieces are removed and never put back. Its a shame how nice these homes can look when they're restored properly. They're more like works of art rather than a home. Bob Villa, Norm Abraham and Tom Silva were amazing through the late 80s and 90s. I'd watch every Saturday if they were all still together.

I watched all of these episodes, loved the show, Bob Vila - is - This Old House, I learned so much from these guys, Thank You.

Thanks for posting this. I didn't start watching This Old House until it was already a couple of years underway, and it's great to see how it all started.

I watched this, when it first aired. I was baptized in the church next to this house...and I mentioned this to Bob, when I met him, decades later in (of all places) the Toronto suburbs.

So glad that Bob Vila was replaced...ego was huge in that one.

He sure has come so far over the years. What a treat to watch and learn from one of the great ones! Long live Norm!

I grew up watching Norm and Bob. I remember being so jealous of Norm's worship and I still am. I remember Bob as walking up, taking over for whoever the actual craftsman was so he could put the last nail in on camera.

Wow. He was repairing roofs before I was even born. Big fan of his work and mastery, have learnt a lot from watching him on different outlets, New Yankee Workshop probably my favorite.

wow i cant believe i have been watching this old house for 41 years

I guess safety wasn't as important back in the early days but Norm was wearing safety glasses.

Watched all of The New Yankee Workshop videos, Norm is the best teacher, I have made many of his projects.

Plaid pattern jacket coat with a tuque!! No wonder Canadians love this guy and the show. Never missed a show with Bob and Norm.

Norm Abrams is the Chuck Norris of wood working

There are MANY DIY'rs on the web. But there is NONE that can rise to what Norm Abram did so effortlessly. He never over talked the video; he never waited until the end of the video to show you what the item was; he never wasted words or time, etc, etc and ETC! Mr Morash (Norm's producer and director) was Norm's mentor; and he often complimented Mr Morash. The pair were far above ANY other DIY video's. There will probably never be another team like Norm and Mr Morash. Yes Morash taught others who were ALL good in other videos like "This Old House", etc;; some among the greatest. But not one could carry Norm's case. For he was THE greatest. Not to mention that he was one of THE nicest and personable any one would want. And one of the greatest things he did; was to build a complex item in less than 25 minutes in a single video. Compare that to MOST other DIY'rs; that will take an hour talk nothing but gibberish; before ever showing us what it was. Sad indeed. But NOT Norm. From the moment his videos started; it was interesting and it stayed that way until the end of the video. I have every one and cherish what he did. Some I have watched several times and they NEVER bore me. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting him thrice. And he was JUST the same as in his videos. I thank Jesus for giving us the "Norm Abram's" in this world. For "THEY" are what makes this world a better place.

I remember this episode from back then. Off work for 3 months from mononucleosis. Got it from drinking from nephew's Coke can. Didn't know I had it, felt weird, but kept going till I ran myself into the ground, finally collapsed. Watched a LOT of TV in those days. Love Norm!!!

Next to the Yankee Wood Shop Norm was the guy that could get it done spectacularly and had that demeanor that invited you in to learn.

Norm is THE MAN!!! He is the John Wayne of woodworking.

Norms always been great, it's a minor miracle he's made as long as he has with scaffolding like that.

Norm probably heard Bob chatting on his way up and was thinking "Oh great now I have to deal with this clown." xD

In the 80s this used to air in NY on ch. 13 back to back with The Frugal Gourmet. I've never had any particular interest in either home repair or cooking and yet I watched both regularly, which I suppose is a testament to how important presentation and utilizing the right people is to television.

The very early episodes are the best! With Bob. Basic carpentry, and how to do it yourself. He will show you how to use a plumb bob. And tell you to use 8 penny nails for toenailing so as not to split the wood. How to install a door so it's straight, and closes as it should. How to frame for a window opening, the header, jack studs, etc. This was the first place I heard of making a header by taking two 2 by 6's and sandwiching a piece of 1/2 inch plywood between them to get you the 3.5 inches of thickness.

Gotta love Norm. I watched him on the New Yankee Workshop for many years. Much respect for his work.

Whoa! That is some old-time scaffolding that Norm is standing on.

Wow that plank looks dangerous. Times must have been tough to not spring for another plank. Norm was a real construction worker not just making furniture.

Bob , norm and tommy started it all on the home Reno scene 🤠👍

I wonder if Norm was as annoyed with Bob Vila as the rest of us were. The best move TOH ever made was dumping Bob. I always remember the episode in Thomas Edison's workshop where Bob was leaning on the work benches and putting his feet on the bottom shelves of a bench that was a national archive.

I watched it all the time until the 1987 Weatherbee Farm. That is when it went from a cool show with tons of DIY tips to excess where the homeowners didn’t help. I still remember the end of renovation when the home owners did not even make an appearance. Things must have went south. When I do occasionally watch an episode or so Norm is always cool, helpful with tons of class

Amazing. I am sorry i didn't watch the show back then. When this aired in 1979 I was in High School. Wow the original host Bob Villa & Norm Abram. Great show then & of course later. What memories of these clips.I have learned so much watching both but mostly Norm Abram. He's inspired me so many years as a woodworker & many projects I have built. I truly appreciate watching Norm's work on" This Old House" & especially "The New Yankee Workshop". Excellent job.on both shows. 👍

"Hi Bowab." Love it.

"Well Bob we're going to rebuild this entire roof line. If you look over here I've put together a scale replica of the house for reference..."

"Little bit cold for ME to be out here Norm.." Always the humble host that Bob Villa.

....and 41 years later..... he's still going strong! HUGS to Norm and all the crew!

ENJOY RETIREMENT but don't stop playing in the shop. Did you ever think in your life when this Aired that you would be on the show 40 years as well as your own show, and bassicly changed America. Insted of tearing down old homes saving them for future generations to see. Thats what you guys have done. A whole industry owes its existence to your show, we wouldn't have all the big box stores had it not been for This Old House and Ask this old house as well as Thr New Yankee workshop. Not only did you jump start DIY improvements but you inspired a lot of people to do woodworking at home. And gave that industry a leg up like stores that sell machines. The industry owes you a thank uou.

Loved watching Norm when I was younger. I still do actually.

I've watched TOH since it began when I was in 8th grade! Now I'm an old man. I miss the original opening theme!

Loved fiirst watching this series when i finally got Diamond cable tv back in the day, uk shows had people putting mdf shelves up and this show was replacing walls, so much more interesting for the diy enthusiasts like myself

Wow! A young Norm. Haven't seen this video in years. I collected several VHS tapes of this old house. Still have them somewhere around here. Usually VHS doesn't stand the test of time well and they're probably garbage by now.

Memory lane. What struck me, though, was the minimalist scaffolding and lack of any safety precautions. Back then was not so long ago.