Vintage broadcast video camera on display

[stuny]

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In 30 Rockefeller Center is a store called The NBC Experience where they hawk all manner of souvenirs related to NBC TV shows, from current to many decades off the air. It's almost always packed with tourists, but for me, I see it since it's next door to La Maison du Chocolat. Tthis is an early broadcast TV camera, before the acceptance of zoom lenses to replace the turret of three to six lenses of different focal lengths. Focus is by motors controlled by buttons at the back of the camera. Notice the RCA logo on the front of the camera. RCA used to own NBC, but sold it to GE. 30 Rockefeller Center is the RCA Building to us long-time locals, but its official name is the GE Building.

[pauledell]

Stuart,

 

I'll bet that camera was used for "Today" with Dave Garroway. Remember him?

Where you able to restock your supply of fine chocolate that day?

 

Paul

[Hank Taylor]

Stuart, When going to USC I use to push one of these around and as I remember the turret lenses were 35mm Angenieux's

 

Hank

[Hank Taylor]

Stuart, When going to USC I use to push one of these around and as I remember the turret lenses were 35mm Angenieux's

 

Hank

That was in the early 60's

[stuny]

Paul - Thank you, and I do remember Dave Garroway, a very bright and thoughtful newsman (there is a severe shortage of those on TV now), who was also a pretty good SCCA driver in a Triumph TR, among others. He revealed to me the very first thing that Neal Armstrong said when stepping onto the moon, and it wasn't what we all think. Other people in that show which premiered in 1952 (Garroway left the show in 1961, replaced if I recall, by Hugh Downs, who was a fine, bright successor, but who unfortunately went to ABC for a weak, sensationalist show in which he seemed dumbed down by the venue) included their sports commentator Jack Lescoulie, and a mascot young male chimpanzee called J. Fred Muggs (they came to our elementary school to film J. Fred in football uniform playing on our team). The show’s theme music, at least while Garroway was host, was the Les Brown instrumental recording of Sentimental Journey.

 

Hank - Thank you. A lot of the early broadcast quality video lenses were 35mm Angenieuxs.

[Sailronin]

Stuart,

Nice shot of some serious glass on the front of that monster.

 

So...what were the real first words??

[stuny]

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Almost under his breath, "It's dust. I can kick it with my boots" Then came his famous words.

[Sailronin]

Thank you Stuart, that's a bit of real history!

Dave