@@FredFlix indeed Fred. This was done in the days before the million dollar an episode mini-mogul actors, divas, ego-over-talent musicians, and journalists that put personal feelings over journalistic integrity. even when NBC celebrated its 75th they overempphasized their recent 10 years while ignoring and skipping a lot of their history, that itself was nearly 2 decades ago. after the early 90s as these venerable broadcast institutions became part of giant labyrinthe conglomerates. the protocols changed. Quality took seconds to quantity. The traditional platforms are no longer "the place to be" The flipside is that thanks to technology, you do have things like YT,Netflix and the networks/studios various off broadcast platforms (All Access,Disney+/hulu,Peacock,HBO Max,Crunchyroll,etc) you have independent journalism and independent creators. In their own way they capture the spirit of the old days of TV and movies.
@@thewipsportstalkfan3160 You are absolutely right! Today in 2022 NBC would ban most of its own TV series from the 1940s til the 2000s. Why? Because most of it is not politically correct, Woke Culture, Cancel Culture, Social Justice Warriors and Liberals!
Indeed. Who is left as of September, 2022? As far as I know, Bess Armstrong, Sandy Duncan, Julie Kavner, Linda Lavin, June Lockhart, Dan Rather, Rob Reiner, The Smothers Brothers, Sally Struthers, Adrienne Barbeau, Bill Cosby, Demond Wilson, Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, Loretta Swit, John Amos, Bob Schieffer, Dick Van Dyke, Jimmy Walker, Michael Learned, Kami Cotler, David Harper, Mary Elizabeth McDonough, Judy Norton (Taylor), Eric Scott, Jon Walmsley, Lee Meriwether, Richard Thomas, Bob Barker, Lynda Carter, Bernard Kalb (100 years old!), Lesley Stahl, Barbara Bain, Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Bob Newhart. Actually, 54 years later, that's not half bad. There was one name I couldn't make out just before Valerie Harper, and a face I couldn't recognize, who was young enough then to still be alive now. Please correct any other mistakes I've made. PS Beatrice Arthur looked downright sullen. Did she just have an argument with Lucille Ball?
You're right. All my favorite are from the past. Isis. Shazam. Lucan. Man from Atlantis. Amazing Spider-Man. Bigfoot and Wildboy. California Fever. Bad News Bears. Such a perfect time of life it seemed.
Sad but true..Jessica..there are no real talented performers..like the ones that appeared on ABC's and CBS Tv's 25th and 50th anniversary tv tributes..the recent tv tributes to these two tv network and NBC's 60th and 90th tv tributes are little more than celebrity babble festivals.
The CBS tribute is more organized and impressive. The ABC one seems more impromptu and would have been more exciting I suppose live. But CBS is significant for having all the legends going back to the early days of tv too.
this is when we knew who all the stars were by heart, Today you dont know who the hell is who. Sadly a good chunk of these old schoolers arnt around anymore
Yep. Easily knew who 95% of these people were. I couldnt tell you who 10-15% of the top TV stars are on today. I have better luck identifying cats from YT cat videos than tv and movie people.
We think we are all so important, but these celebrities, many of whom are now dead, are unknown to young people today. Just imagine how quickly we regular folk will be forgotten.
It is with great admiration that we remember those who have passed on and those who continue to grace us with their presence. They are truly the epitome of acting excellence, and their contributions to the industry will never be forgotten.
CBS blew ABC away, but they did have 25 more years of material. I even remember that song they wrote for the occasion (credits said Jerry Herman did it). Thanks Fred!
People are more focused on the ones who have passed on...I'm blown away at many of the survivors as of 2017..like Bill Macy who's like 98. Richard Crenna is the only one I spotted in both specials.
If you know the story of ABC it was really the blue channel that NBC ran on radio but the FCC told them they can't run two stations on radio. NBC radio became what was originally the red channel of NBC. ABC radio became what was the blue channel. ABC joined television later than NBC and CBS. ABC radio at one point was sold to Citadel Broadcasting but they merged with Cumulus. Basically then Cumulus is what is left of the old ABC radio network. ABC entered radio in 1943. They enter TV in 1948. CBS in some shape or form dates back to 1927. Paramount was basically the entity that created CBS. Paramount begin in 1912. 1941 was the first television broadcast of CBS television and that was 2 years before ABC began on radio.
I've got to give the edge to CBS, too. ABC was still riding high in 1977-78 (having won the Nielsen prime-time crown for a second straight season, but CBS was top dog for two full decades before that. ABC's anniversary opening had the sheer energy...but CBS really showed its prestige during the network's own anniversary opening. I remember watching all seven installments of CBS' celebration. I got goosebumps seeing all those CBS stars walk out on stage...and I got 'em again watching here on RU-vid. FredFlix, thanks for posting those great, great memories!
the ABC one was fun and vibrant (considering it was the number 1 network then) though kinda cheesy using the then recent Rocky theme and having the Capt.and Tenille sing lead. The CBS one however was pure class from beginning to end. CBS won handily!
I could never understand why ABC has never recognized their roots as the NBC Blue Network. Back in 1978, ABC was actually celebrating the 25th anniversary of when the nearly moribund ABC merged with the super-rich Paramount Theatres. But ABC had existed a full 10 years before that. In 1943, it separated from NBC under FCC orders, and in 1945, changed its name from the Blue Network to ABC.
Yes! ABC considers February 9, 1953 as the date that the network was "born". It was not: that was the day the FCC allowed United Paramount Theaters to acquire the network for $25 million in shares. The ACTUAL date the network came into its own was October 12, 1943, when NBC sold its "Blue Network" radio division to Edward J. Noble; he officially renamed it the "American Broadcasting Company" in June 1945.
ABC was a lot more culturally diverse and reflected a younger audience. CBS was Mom and Dad's channel, although they had their share of "must watch" for the younger generation. I think the two anniversaries show the differences perfectly: ABC was young and brash while CBS was staid and respectable.
The only problem with the A.B.C. special is they omitted several other of their science fiction series (:"One Step Beyond", "The Outer Limits" and "The Invaders") and Cheryl Ladd erred on the date of the final episode of "The Fugitive".
Man, what a who's who of stars. So many are gone now. Poor ol' Hitchcock looked in pain walking out there. Hope they got him a chair at some point because he wasn't in the encore.
I know so many on here see this as korny, stupid etc., but some of us would soon turn 18 in the early 80s graduate high school and become adults somewhere in Panama or Grenada and did not come home to re watch these great memories. So many of us grew up with all these fine people every night for over 15 years 7 days a week 360 and remember the good times of Scooby, Cannon, Happy days and so many more. They were like family to a lot of people. Oh well we cant go back but we can remember how life was so much more...........fill in the blank
cbs is the best there was the best there is and best they will forever be by far the greatest television network ever the greatest of all time hands down.
@@stewartlynch7859 Alfred Hitchcock was from NBC, and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" premiered on NBC on Sunday Nights @ 8:30PM/7:30PM CT/MT, following "Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories" effective September 29, 1985.
@@stewartlynch7859 Also, NBC scored the highest ratings in the 1984-1985 TV season with the made-for-television movie "The Burning Bed", which received high ratings on the night of it's premiere and rebroadcast!
I missed "CBS: ON THE AIR" because my grandfather died the morning of its premiere {March 26, 1978}. There was no television in our house during the entire week of mourning after the funeral. I heard it was VERY GOOD.
Since these specials aired in 1978 ,a lot these great artist have moved on to continue to have their careers and inspiration shine in heaven,the other-side,the life that continues...smile world:):):):) it's good to know they still continue to live and be alive as we all will :):):):):....no end !
A.B.C. also omitted "One Step Beyond", "The Outer Limits", "The Time Tunnel" and "Land Of The Giants" from the segment on science fiction series hosted by Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd (who also erred when she gave the wrong airdate for the final episode of "The Fugitive").
How did they edit the dog's bark out so well at the end of the CBS one? I could see it but not hear it. Prerecorded song I guess and no miss on the people?
Fred, CBS wins without a doubt, with Hitchcock, Skelton, Danny Kaye, Uncle Walter (the Cronkitengale) and Lassie, the combination can't be beaten. (However, it was nice of ABC to include Olivia Newton-John in their lineup.) Thanks for making the video.
Another difference, there were no news people at ABC's bash. Even lesser known CBS News people were there, like Richard C. Hottelet (sp) and Hughes Rudd.
Oh my goodness ... 3/4ths of them are all gone now, here, on Fri May 28th, in 2021 ... 43 years ago now. Yayyy, I see Olivia Newton-John made it, nice!
This is a hard question. Both Networks were doing wonderful in the 1970’s. However, CBS had a longer and better history of classic shows. It’s hard to think of a pre-1964 ABC Network TV show. I have to go with CBS for the win.
I watched all of ABC's 25th anniversary show and a good part of CBS' shows, which ran over a full week. NBC's 50th anniversary show had appeared in Nov. 1976, and I have that on tape & (now) DVD, along w/ ABC's anniversary here.
CBS announced each actor as they appeared plus last segment the camera moved slowly over each. NBC did such a rush job. It looked sloppy and the camera didn’t capture each actor
Toni Tennille masterfully managed that huge ABC throng, who seemed genuinely to be having a spontaneously wonderful time. CBS had more high-powered stars and showcased a bunch of their news staff (back when you wanted to be known for serious news ), but they didn't do anything but march onto the stage. The advantage to that was that each star was clearly identified. The Rocky theme was much more exciting than the blah theme written for the CBS show (sorry Jerry Herman but this theme couldn't match the joy of the Rocky theme), so the ABC segment seemed like a party. I guess it depends on what atmosphere you prefer for such a celebration. CBS was venerable, and showed it, and ABC younger and more adventurous.
Ahhh the good ole days when Network TV was like a Scientology convention! I hope the 5 people left in the ABC audience enjoyed it! Sadly I remember these network tributes and loved these people more than my own family! Mostly I am reminded of SCTV tho!!!!!!!!
Another great post! It's interesting how several of them were in both of them, Danny Thomas for one. I agree - the stars of today couldn't hold a candle to those stars. I loved Steve Allen, but couldn't figure out what CBS show he had. Oh well, a great lineup for both - not withstanding the ABC song :).
Yes, because ABC didn't want the expense of converting to color. CBS didn't mind and I started watching the show regularly on CBS as soon as Tina Cole signed on. She was a doll.
It was said best in the rolling statements: "Quality over quantity." No contest. CBS: the first to be, and the first to do - in so many ways that mattered to so many people...
It's sad seeing Jack Soo & John Wayne here knowing they'd be dead by the next year. On CBS Vivian Vance died the next year, and Will Geer died just about 3 weeks after this program aired. It's funny that Valerie Harper & David Groh were seen on different nights when they were on the same show together. MASH had moved from Tuesday to Monday nights not long before the CBS anniversary special aired.
David Groh was starring in a brand new CBS show that they were promoting heavily at the time so that’s probably why they broke he and Valerie apart onto different nights.
Friday, April 13, 2018--7:21 pm CST I like the CBS special better, because they introduced the stars and what days their shows were on. The ABC Special didn't. Ane the names of the stars were in Alphabeticl order, it was easier to see who the stars of their TV shows. Terry Marvin (Dallas, Texas)
This was the period,when the once powerful big 3 networks ABC, CBS, And NBC, were at the height Of There TV ratings monopoly, before vcrs,dvd,cable ,the internet, etc. Came along. I watched all 3 of the network specials "NBC:The First 50 Years",from November 21st, 1976,"ABC Silver Anniversary From February 5th, 1978 And "CBS on the air from March 26th to April 1st, 1978. I await your answer.
I think he had an exclusive deal with ABC to show his movies on their network. I think that’s the only connection aside from him hosting an anniversary special previous to this.
I notice Ron Howard didn't make an appearance on the CBS special, probably because the show he was on at that time was on ABC (I did spot him in the giant crowd that amassed on stage in that special).
