Pre-empting scheduled broadcasting. A Special View Point Broadcast. 

A report on preparations for the civil rights march on Washington on Wednesday August 28th. Interviews with leaders. 
Sid Davis reports from Washington DC on the scheduled "March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom." He states that there are 19 million negroes living in the United States, and that 200,000 visitors are expected to come to Washington to be a part of this March on Washington. 

A history of past demonstrations in Washington D.C. is reviewed. We hear many brief contemporary statements, pro and con, related to the rally set to take place in two days. 
Voices include A. Philip Randolph, John F. Kennedy, Bayard Rustin, George David Akin, John Bell Williams, Barry Goldwater, WINS correspondent Tom Bryson, Robert Murray, James Baldwin, others.

Special from 1010 WINS radio in New York City. 

Sid Davis anchors.                                                     

   A review of the day's events related to THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON. Many interviews, including A. Philip Randolph, Walter Reuther and Whitney Young. 

NOTE: Special Update Broadcast telecast on NBC TV form 4:30 pm to 5:05 pm.                        

*Highlights 
from ATA #14276 which runs 150 minutes. 
Some of the names notated here may be omitted from this condensed version which runs 46 minutes.

SPECIAL REPORTS RECORDED ARE INTERLACED IN THESE AUDIO AIR CHECKS THROUGHOUT  THE DAY, STATIONS INTERRUPTING REGULAR PROGRAMMING, IN REAL TIME, AS EVENTS OCCUR. BROADCAST HEARD FROM WINS RADIO NEWS, ABC TELEVISION, WNBC RADIO, AND NBC TELEVISION. COVERAGE BEGINS AT 9:30 AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME. 

On the day of this unprecedented extraordinary March on Washington, an estimated  quarter of a million demonstrators planned to gather a the Washington Monument in the nation's capital. People from all walks of life and distances are taking part in a Jobs and Freedom March sponsored by six major civil-rights groups in the country. their goal: "A massive, peaceful and democratic demonstration as evidence of he need for the Federal government to take action on civil rights."

Howard K. Smith and Richard Bates report at the Lincoln Memorial. Ed Silverman reports on the parade march passing the White House, describing different groups who are marching. Jackie Robinson is heard...reports regarding the strength of the crowd now reaching 100,000 people...Eli Abel reports. Robert McCormack reports on Marian Anderson, singer. Advertisements  for Freedom Land and the new Jerry Lewis show, and  The Sunday Night Movie are heard. 

Frank McGee reports on the crowds as they reach the Lincoln Memorial. Ray Scherer at the Lincoln Memorial waiting for leaders to arrive anticipates the program will start at 1:30 pm. He describes details of the program. Martin Agronsky reports and interviews Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party, who praises the March. Richard Bates interviews Burt Lancaster. ABC NEWS journalist Lisa Howard interviews James Baldwin at the Washington Monument. He states that this day is a turning point, and that  "Americans will grow up." Report on the many buses arriving with people who are heard singing, "We Shall Overcome." At 11:20 am an up to the hour report from Jim Groden.

Russ Ward interviews Marlon Brando at the Lincoln Memorial (recorded earlier). Joe Michaels reports observations from a Mobile Unit during drive around the surrounding area of Washington D.C. Dick Gregory speaks to the crowd. Bob Dylan, Joan Biaz sing the spiritual song, "Hold ON." Burt Lancaster at the microphone..."The hour which we came approaches." He reads a scroll consisting of 1,500 supporters of the March. Announcements of the names of the speakers who will preside shortly are stated. Introduction of Harry Belafonte who reads some of the names on the scroll, including Marlon Brando, Tony Franciosa, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Cochran, Robert Ryan, Sidney Poiter, Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, Paul Newman, Charlton Heston, Lena Horne, Ruby Dee, others. Harry 
 Belafonte reads the pledge in its entirety, called "FREEDOM FOR ALL-THE AMERICAN DREAM." Marlon Brando is interviewed and states that "...all of us have been remiss in not voicing out..." On the podium Philip Randolph speaks, and introduces Camilla Williams who sings the National Anthem. Invocation by Patrick O'Doyle who sates, "This is the largest demonstration in the history of this nation." Additional reports from different stations. Miss Daisy Bates gives a special award to Rosa Parks. Walter Reuther speaks, as well as Floyd McKissick, National Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality...speaking for James Farmer who is in prison.

Senator Strom Thurmond from South Carolina voices his opinions...thinks that the March on Washington is unnecessary! 

Howard K. Smith gives a commentary. Richard Bates reports, stating that the rally should wind up at around 4:40 pm. Freedom song is heard, "Freedom is Worth Shouting About." Mahalia Jackson sings a song requested by Dr. Martin Luther King, "I've Been Duped and I've Been Scared." A. Philip Randolph speaks abut the movement and those individuals whom have been devoted to the cause. Introduction of  "moral leader of our nation," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who gives his iconic 16 minute "I Have a Dream" speech.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

SPECIAL REPORTS RECORDED ARE INTERLACED IN THESE AUDIO AIR CHECKS THROUGHOUT  THE DAY, STATIONS INTERRUPTING REGULAR PROGRAMMING, IN REAL TIME, AS EVENTS OCCUR. BROADCAST HEARD FROM WINS RADIO NEWS, ABC TELEVISION, WNBC RADIO, AND NBC TELEVISION. COVERAGE BEGINS AT 9:30 AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME. 

On the day of this unprecedented extraordinary March on Washington, an estimated  quarter of a million demonstrators planned to gather a the Washington Monument in the nation's capital. People from all walks of life and distances are taking part in a Jobs and Freedom March sponsored by six major civil-rights groups in the country. their goal: "A massive, peaceful and democratic demonstration as evidence of he need for the Federal government to take action on civil rights."

Howard K. Smith and Richard Bates report at the Lincoln Memorial. Ed Silverman reports on the parade march passing the White House, describing different groups who are marching. Jackie Robinson is heard...reports regarding the strength of the crowd now reaching 100,000 people...Eli Abel reports. Robert McCormack reports on Marian Anderson, singer. Advertisements  for Freedom Land and the new Jerry Lewis show, and  The Sunday Night Movie are heard. 

Frank McGee reports on the crowds as they reach the Lincoln Memorial. Ray Scherer at the Lincoln Memorial waiting for leaders to arrive anticipates the program will start at 1:30 pm. He describes details of the program. Martin Agronsky reports and interviews Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party, who praises the March. Richard Bates interviews Burt Lancaster. ABC NEWS journalist Lisa Howard interviews James Baldwin at the Washington Monument. He states that this day is a turning point, and that  "Americans will grow up." Report on the many buses arriving with people who are heard singing, "We Shall Overcome." At 11:20 am an up to the hour report from Jim Groden.

Russ Ward interviews Marlon Brando at the Lincoln Memorial (recorded earlier). Joe Michaels reports observations from a Mobile Unit during drive around the surrounding area of Washington D.C. Dick Gregory speaks to the crowd. Bob Dylan, Joan Biaz sing the spiritual song, "Hold ON." Burt Lancaster at the microphone..."The hour which we came approaches." He reads a scroll consisting of 1,500 supporters of the March. Announcements of the names of the speakers who will preside shortly are stated. Introduction of Harry Belafonte who reads some of the names on the scroll, including Marlon Brando, Tony Franciosa, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Cochran, Robert Ryan, Sidney Poiter, Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, Paul Newman, Charlton Heston, Lena Horne, Ruby Dee, others. Harry 
 Belafonte reads the pledge in its entirety, called "FREEDOM FOR ALL-THE AMERICAN DREAM." Marlon Brando is interviewed and states that "...all of us have been remiss in not voicing out..." On the podium Philip Randolph speaks, and introduces Camilla Williams who sings the National Anthem. Invocation by Patrick O'Doyle who sates, "This is the largest demonstration in the history of this nation." Additional reports from different stations. Miss Daisy Bates gives a special award to Rosa Parks. Walter Reuther speaks, as well as Floyd McKissick, National Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality...speaking for James Farmer who is in prison.

Senator Strom Thurmond from South Carolina voices his opinions...thinks that the March on Washington is unnecessary! 

Howard K. Smith gives a commentary. Richard Bates reports, stating that the rally should wind up at around 4:40 pm. Freedom song is heard, "Freedom is Worth Shouting About." Mahalia Jackson sings a song requested by Dr. Martin Luther King, "I've Been Duped and I've Been Scared." A. Philip Randolph speaks abut the movement and those individuals whom have been devoted to the cause. Introduction of  "moral leader of our nation," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who gives his iconic 16 minute "I Have a Dream" speech.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM - 1963 LIVE BROADCAST FROM THE EDUCATIONAL RADIO NETWORK (ERN). 

This 15 hour treasure of archived programming, retained by WGBH, has been processed, refined, improved with continuity (extraneous master material eliminated), by Phil Gries.

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was originally broadcast live across the Educational Radio Network (known as ERN, a precursor to NPR which established itself in 1971) on August 28, 1963. The coverage began at 9am and continued for 15 uninterrupted hours, until Midnight. The live broadcast was heard on 89.7 WGBH Boston Public Radio, a member of the network and an active participant in the broadcast.  

INCLUDED IN THE DAYS EVENTS AND RECORDED:

9am-10am-Introduction by anchor George Geesey, who reports from various locations by ERN staff. Pre-program entertainment from the stage at the Washington Monument grounds.

10am-11am-Interviews with participants, music from the stage Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Odetta. Segment also includes various interviews including with George W. Goodman, clergy from Acton, Mass., and an update from police headquarters.

11am-Noon-Bob Dylan sings. Comments from Bayard Rustin, Jackie Robinson. President John F Kennedy press conference clips, various on-the-spot interviews with marchers. 

Noon to 1:00pm-Reports of the actual March, along with pre-recorded "reflections" on the meaning of the march by Roy Wilkins. Pre-recorded interview with John A. Volpe, former Massachusetts governor. Interview with Norman Thomas. 

1:00pm-2:00pm-Interview with Marlon Brando. Pre-recorded interviews with Senator Paul Douglas (D-IL), Senator Kenneth Keating (R-NY), Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Josephine Baker, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Dr Ralph Bunche, and Dick Gregory. Bob Dylan sings Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Len Chandler and Stuart Scharf sing, "Keep Your Eyes On The Prize." Interviews with Burt Lancaster and Harry Belafonte.    

2:00pm-4:15pm - THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE MARCH:

Camilla Williams sings The National Anthem.
A. Philip Randolph introduction.
Daisy Bates speaks.
Dr. Eugene Carson Blake remarks.
Marion Anderson sings.
John Lewis speaks.
Walter Reuther remarks.
James Farmer (imprisoned) remarks read by Floyd McKissick). 
Eva Jessye Choir perform. 
Whitney Young remarks.
Roy Wilkins speaks
Mahalia Jackson sings.
Rabbi Joachim Prinz remarks.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. introduction by A. Philip Randolph.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks.
Bayard Rustin reads demands.
A. Philip Randolph reads pledge.
Dr. Benjamin E Mays of Morehouse College gives closing benediction.

4:15pm-5:30pm-Demonstrators leaving, clean-up logistics, singing replays of Bayard Rustin reading the list of demands and A. Philip Randolph reading the march pledge, pre-recorded comments by James Farmer, recorded interview with Senator Hubert Humphrey, recorded report with G. Mennen Williams, pre-recorded report form Voice of America reporter Robert Rodden, Isaiah Minkoff interview, follow-up on earlier report of food poisoning pre-recorded statement from Louis Fox. 

5:30pm-6:30pm-Commentaries on the march, problems of dispersal, pre-recorded telephone interview with Arthur Miller, live interview with Thomas Adel Queener (Ghana), discussion with psychiatrists Dr. Frank Abram Hale and Dr. Elizabeth Davis, press conference on White House meeting of top 10 march leaders with President John F. Kennedy.

6:30pm-7;00pm-Myron Spencer reports the news "Backgrounds." Myron Spence, director of the graduate school of business at Northeastern University with guest Dr. William C Kvaraceus, director of youth studies at the Lincoln Filenes Center and professor of education at Tufts University. 

7:00pm-9:00pm-WGBH's Bill Cavness introduces excerpts from the afternoon's official ceremony from the Lincoln Memorial.

9:00pm-10:30pm-Panel discussion on the implications of the Freedom March on Washington. Moderator Geoffrey Godsell, editorial writer for The Christian Science Monitor, with his guests, Heywood Burns, author of "The Voices of Negro Protest in America", William Higgs, civil rights consultant and representative of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee on the Leadership Conference of Civil Rights, and William Goldsmith, assistant professor of politics at Brandies University. 

10:30pm-11:00pm-Reflections on The March by ERN reporters who covered it. Anchor George Geesey with Malcolm Davis, Arnold Shaw, Al Hulsen, Cal Mositer, Jeff Giley, and David Edwards. Bob Medgar Evers, Charles P. McLean, director of public relations for the E.O. Elks, and Massachusetts Attorney General, Edward Brook.

11:00-Midnight- One hour WGBH News retrospective. 

NOTE: The original archived complete 15 hour broadcast was recorded on 10 reels of 1/4" tape.  WGBH took the lead related to coverage, though it was basically hosted out of Washington, D.C. This affiliate station was more stable than many of  the others which were run mostly by college students. 

There are many compromised audio issues in the archived reels. Performances on stage in many cases were recorded at much lower volumes and many speeches were recorded "off mike." Similar issues related to the volume exist when reporters at the scene are talking and then vast changes in volume are heard when switching to anchors who would report on follow up details and the dissemination of events that were happening and scheduled to occur. 

The original recordings in some cases were poorly recorded in the first place at the time of the live broadcast. Whomever was controlling the sound mix of the varied broadcast audio feeds allowed, at times, for the ambiance of the crowd to overpower a performer on stage. 

There existed at the time during transfers, dubbing, etc. other recording issues related to the archived tapes themselves which created level inconsistencies. Also, it must be remembered that THE EDUCATIONAL RADIO NETWORK at that time were comprised of NOT seasoned and experienced professionals like some of the other personnel employees working at the major networks.

Many of the above issues, related above, have been improved by Phil Gries after many hours of  equalizing and remastering the entire broadcast. What now exists as archived at Archival Television Audio, Inc.is the best version known to exist.  
                                                                                                

A recap on today's March on Washington.

Eli Abel reports.                         

A report on today's civil rights march on Washington which has now ended.            

A three-hour report on the current battle for civil rights and its historical background. Included are interviews with black leaders Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Roy Wilkens, A. Philip Randolph, Harry Belafonte, and Jackie Robinson. Also appearing are Governor George Wallace, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Orval Faubus, Bruce Catton, George Romney, and William Scranton. Also heard is Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett. An Emmy nominee as "Program Of The Year.". 

Heard is a promo for the NBC Huntley-Brinkley report. Promotion of new half-hour report.                                                  

First extended broadcast of the CBS EVENING NEWS. It is now thirty minutes, extended from fifteen minutes.

Host: Walter Cronkite. 

Topic: Animal nudity. The Society For Decency For Naked Animals,
a society that believes every animal should be clothed.

Featured song: "Wings Of Decency."
            

October 29th, 1956-July 31st, 1970.

The Huntley-Brinkley report replaced the Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze on October 29th, 1956. Originally a fifteen-minute news broadcast it was expanded to a half-hour on September 9th, 1963, a week after the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded to a half-hour. Chet Huntley was in New York City and David Brinkley was in Washington, DC.

What goes into making a TV news show? Chet Huntley and David Brinkley are on hand to guide viewers behind the scenes. They explain the techniques of coordinating communications-satellite pictures, transatlantic cable film, and taped and filmed reports flown in by plane. The two also preview some of the features of their daily half-hour news show which debuts tomorrow.

Ray Shearer is the host.

                                                                                                                                              

A tribute to former Brooklyn Dodgers and current New York Mets, Duke Snider at the Polo Grounds with Ralph Kiner, Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, Abe Stark, Dick Young, Miss Rheingold of 1963, Gil Hodges, and M. Donald Grant. Duke Snider speaks to all his fans at the microphone. Following is a fitting tribute to the N.Y. Giants who used to play at the Polo Grounds. Miss Martha Wright sings "Auld Lang Syne" and the "National Anthem" and asks the fans to join in... "for the Duke!" On Kiner's Korner, Ralph Kiner interviews Snider who reflects on his illustrious career year by year.                                       

President John F.Kennedy speaks to the nation about the nuclear test ban treaty and other matters such as unemployment and economics.             

Former California Senator William Knowland addresses the Young Republicans Convention. He attacks President Kennedy and administration, he also discusses the 1964 GOP presidential prospects.                                      

The US Sub-Committee under Arkansas Senator John McClellan investigates organized crime in the United States such as the "Cosa Nostra."
Comments by Attorney General Robert Kennedy. 
A special report broadcast on CBS Radio, AND NBC (Ray Scherer) .
Joseph Valachi testifies.

Roger Mudd narrates.                                                                                                      

A variety show presented as monthly specials on NBC.

Bob's guest is Dean Martin. This is the premiere of Bob's 14th season of monthly specials.

                                                                                                    

The Young Republicans Convention, live from California.             

An NBC special report on Project Apollo: "Journey To The Moon." 

Host: Merrill Muller            

Live coverage of the Joseph Valachi crime hearings run by Arkansas Senator John McClellan. Valachi testifies.   

Host: Bill Ryan reports.                                     

A speech by Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett.            

Governor Ross Barnett of Mississippi speaks at Princeton University, Also civil rights group protests.

A special presentation of WRVR-FM radio in New York City.            

NBC newswoman Nancy Dickerson looks at celebrities in Washington.                         

ABC coverage of the Joseph Valachi testimony on organized crime before a Senate investigating Sub-Committee.             

Live NBC coverage of Joseph Valachi testifying before the Senate investigating sub-committee on organized crime in America. Robert McNeil reports.           

ABC newsman Bob Young takes a look at South Vietnam in this ABC special report. 

Host: Bob Young.       

Comments on the effect of the Joseph Valachi hearings. 

The final ten minutes of this ABC radio news special, written and produced by Ted Koppel.                        

The current drought is discussed.             

CBS special presentation. A look at the American funeral. Based on the book "The American Way Of Death" by Jessica Mitford. 

Host: Robert Trout.                         

Documentary nominated for an Academy Award, about the American involvement in World War 1. Produced by David Wolper.

Narrated by Richard Basehart.                          

President Kennedy records his concerns concerning a military coup in South Vietnam that ousted President Diem. It was a precursor to the US-Vietnam war.                

Buddy Ebsen, Andre Previn, Caterina Valente, and the Young Americans join Bing Crosby for the first of his four 1963-64 specials.

Bing and Caterina get together for a medley of International hits ("Never On Sunday", "Quando, Quando, Quando", "Language Of Love") and join Buddy to recall songs from his career ("Davy Crockett " "Easy To Love", "Broadway Rhythm"). Pianist Andre Previn, who doubles as musical director, plays "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."  

Highlights:

"Doodlin Song" "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"- Bing
Folk Medley- Young Americans 
"In The Summertime"- Bing, Buddy
"Never, Never Will I Marry"- Caterina
"Shenandoah"- Bing, Young Americans 
"Yankee Doodle"- Young Americans 
"Danke Schoen"- All 

Duplicate of 934.

Classical Guitarist Andres Sergovia in concert.           

Richard Boone narrates. Robert Russell Bennett composed and conducted the score for this look back at what Americans experienced during the early 1950's in war torn Korea. Produced and directed by Donald B. Hyatt and written by Richard Hanser.  

Duplicate of #554.           

 
Discussion:
Gries preserved lost NBC coverage of JFK assassination

NBC television recorded over 70 hours and 25 minutes of coverage on
President John F. Kennedy's assassination beginning on November 22nd
and ending on November 25th, 1963.

However, NBC failed to record the first two NBC television
bulletins on Nov. 22, the first a local WNBC (NYC) TV bulletin, voiced by Don Pardo, at 1:45:03 to 1:45:30pm EST (27 seconds) & then an NBC NATIONAL bulletin at 1:46:45 - 1:47:53pm EST (68 seconds), and then subsequently an initial 3 minutes & 53 seconds of continuous coverage by Frank McGee, Chet Huntley and Bill Ryan, commencing at 1:53:12 to 1:57:05pm EST, before NBC TELEVISON began televising picture and sound, and  preserving the broadcast, rolling 2" Quad Video Tape, the first Network to do so (Both CBS and ABC began continuous coverage was at 2:00pm EST). 
 
Amazingly, when there existed over 50 million television sets  in the USA, ONLY Phil Gries, from his Brooklyn New York home, was in a position to audio tape record first NBC television coverage of these initial world changing historic broadcast events off the air, at the moment when the television generation came of age. 

The Kennedy Assassination coverage on television set a new standard for how breaking national stories could be delivered on TV. It was only in September 1963, that networks expanded their nightly news programs from 15 minutes to half-hour long broadcasts. Within an hour of the shooting, 68 percent of Americans had heard the news; within two hours, 92 percent had heard, and half of them found out from TV or radio.
NBC TV clocked the most on air hours (70 hours 25 minutes) during its four day coverage, followed by ABC TV (60 hours), and CBS TV (55 hours). CBS used 600 employees, ABC used 500 employees, and NBC used 400 employees to televise their coverage all at an estimated cost of $225 million by todays value. 

Since 1963 the Television industry has greatly refined and expanded its abilities to deliver big and breaking stories, but with competition from the internet and social media, it will unlikely ever again hold a nation's attention the way it did that November weekend in 1963, when the first NBC TV bulletins broadcast by Don Pardo were to be the only historic  recordings extant in broadcast history, recorded by one individual recording those historic moments on a tape recorder at his home in Brooklyn, New York.


Phil Gries, founder and owner of Archival Television Audio Inc. used "American" Brand 1/4" reel to reel audio tape, recording, direct line, on his 1959 WEBCOR Stereo 1/4" reel to reel audiotape recorder (speed 3&3/4" IPS) which was connected to a 1949 ANDREA television set during the actual live NBC television broadcast. 

These historic soundtracks were donated by Phil Gries to the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, MA, in 1995 (through archivist Bill Mackey), to Sam Brylawski representing The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. in 1997, and to archivist Ron Simon representing The Paley Center for Media in 2006.
  
In addition, Archival Television Audio, Inc. duplicated a copy 
of these peerless bulletins and initial coverage to a stunned Don Pardo in 1998 on his 80th birthday...now confirming by ear and believing that a broadcast recording of his bulletins exist and not just as a memory. His May 1998 phone conversation with Phil Gries, recounting his memories announcing the first NBC TV bulletins can be heard on You Tube and on the ATA website (www.atvaudio.com) 

http://www.atvaudio.com/jfk.php

Page at URL above contains letter from Gries describing how he taped
the first four minutes of the NBC coverage. NBC did not archive this
portion of its coverage, but Gries taped it and preserved it.

In November 2013 these peerless recordings were donated by Phil Gries to Andrew K. Franklin, Senior Producer of NBC NIGHTLY NEWS for use on their 50th anniversary telecast, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS (November 22, 2013). 

David Von Pein was given these recordings to be used on his definitive JFK website (http://dvp-video-audio-archive.blogspot.com) and uploaded to you tube in 2013.  

These first live NBC News Bulletins by Don Pardo would precede regular program cancellations and continuous NBC live coverage of this 20th century tragedy (the assassination of President John F. Kennedy) for the next three and a half days. The first two bulletins are heard. Bulletin number one (Local in NYC) is broadcast at 1:45:03 PM EST and airs for 27 seconds. Bulletin number two (National) is broadcast at 1:46:45 and airs for 68 seconds, followed by the first two hours of uninterrupted News coverage with NBC anchors Bill Ryan, Chet Huntley and Frank McGee.  Seventy-one hours and twenty-seven minutes of continuous coverage begins with voice only on NBC at 1:53:12 PM, developing into picture and voice at 1:57:05 PM with CBS and ABC both starting their live continuous live on air person coverage at 2:00pm EST. The American Broadcasting Company was the first to go on air (RADIO) at 1:36:50pm EST voicing a bulletin by Don Gardiner. Like CBS TV, ABC TV came on with their first on air TV bulletin  with logo slide being shown at 1:40 PM, and 1:41pm respectively. ABC would further have three more Bulletins all four voiced by Ed Silverman between 1:41 and 2:00pm before going live with video and tape rolling at 2:00pm.  NBC TV actually went live with video and audio at 1:57:05 pm and as confirmed on Phil Gries' audio air check recorded off the air on to his television set with adjoining tape recorder, we hear a station identification BEEP at 2:00 pm (further provenance of this tape's authentic origin) which is NOT heard on the extant NBC TV recorded direct feed video tape that we are all familiar with and which resides in the National Archives. Furthermore, the Gries original audio tape has additional recorded audio material NOT originally duplicated and given as donations detailed above, or ever distributed or shared by anyone.   

There are live telephone reports from correspondent Robert MacNeil in Dallas, Texas. There are additional reports from Charles Murphy, David Brinkley and Marvin Agronsky. There is live coverage from the United Nations where the Secretary General expresses sorrow to all members of the Kennedy Family and to all the people in the United States. One minute of silence is observed by all delegates from the 111 member nations. There is continuing NBC coverage from station WBAP, the affiliate in Fort Worth, Texas with Newsman Tom Whalen. Eyewitness Charles Brehm recounts what he saw. There is the first live overseas report from Irving R. Levine from Rome and live coverage from outside the NBC building at Rockefeller Center, with its Mobile Unit searching out reactions from New Yorkers with reporter Jeff Pond. Correspondent Richard Valeriani reports live from the White House. There are statements from Senator Barry Goldwater and from former President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It took an incident of this proportion to catapult television into the forefront as the world's number one communicator of news and special events. Television had come of age.

NOTE: 

"FOUR DAYS: THE HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY" compiled by The United Press International (Published by American Heritage Publishing Company, copyright 1964) details (reproductions of his teletype bulletins) United Press International's Merriman Smith, dean of the White House correspondents, description of his frantic rush to call the Dallas UPI bureau and communicate first reports of the JFK shooting. It was his UPI copy that came off an NBC Teletype machine in a newsroom in NYC that was read by Don Pardo. 

Because in 1963 it took an NBC camera 11 minutes to become "active," transmitting a visual signal, an NBC Bulletin Card was viewed  at first by those tuning in to this station. It was chaotic on NBC where staff announcer Don Pardo made the first mention of the shooting. News reporter Frank McGee was pressed into service and was receiving his information over the phone from correspondent Robert McNeil in Dallas.

TRIVIA NOTE: NBC's staff announcer Don Pardo's first local WNBC-TV bulletin interrupted the telecast of a Bachelor Father re-run which originally aired on May 26, 1960)  Season 3, Episode 35 titled 'Bentley and the Beach Bum.' Also, interesting to note that on this day only three television programs broadcast LIVE prior to the assassination, none at the time when the shooting occurred. They were THE TODAY SHOW (NBC 7:00-9:00am, THE JOE FRANLKIN SHOW (WOR 12:15-1:30pm), and TELL US MORE (WNBC 1:00-1:30pm). 


NBC's television coverage, although informative, did not match the gravitas of Walter Cronkite at his desk at CBS Television, who would be visually seen on the air beginning at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time, informing the country of the death of the president as he removed his glasses and struggled with his emotions. 

Surprisingly, in the end, more people tuned into NBC’s coverage, anchored by Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, than Walter Cronkite and the CBS crew. It would be several years before Cronkite was able to overtake NBC’s popular anchor duo in the ratings.

NOTE: 
The first two NBC Television Bulletins (the first local WNBC, and the second National NBC) and the initial 3:53 seconds of continuous NATIONAL coverage commencing at 1:53:05pm EST was never recorded by NBC or by any other known broadcasting station or broadcasting archive. Amazingly, the only existing broadcast recording in the world of NBC'S TV historic television transmission was audio recorded  off the air by Phil Gries, founder of Archival Television Audio, Inc., viewing his 1949 Andrea television at that moment, and fortuitously pushing the  record button on his Webcor Stereophonic 1/4" reel to reel audio tape recorder during the actual live Television Broadcast. 

To date, no other audio or video has ever surfaced documenting these moments, an incredible fact since 50 million American homes approximating 200 million viewers were tuned in to their television set comprehending that the President of the United States was shot in Dallas. In today's digital world where every minutia event is recorded and preserved, it is mind boggling to this archivist that I uniquely recorded a television broadcast related to an assassination of an American President, at a time in 1963, when there were over 55 million television sets in the homes of people living in the United States.  

These historic sound tracks have been donated to the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, MA, The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and The Paley Center for Media in NY and LA. The November 22, 1963 John F. Kennedy NBC-TV assassination bulletins and the initial lost 3:53 seconds of NBC live coverage are the most significant treasure in our archive. They personify just a part of the many thousands of other Archival Television Audio original, off the air, television soundtracks which represent the only record of a specific TV broadcast known to exist. Archival Television Audio, Inc. is the largest repository in the world collecting, preserving and archiving "lost" vintage TELEVISION BROADCASTS surviving as AUDIO ONLY, focusing and representing the years 1946 thru 1982. The ATA website (www.atvaudio.com) initiated in 2002 offers the public access to searching for tens of thousands of programs by title, performer, and date.  

          TIMELINE of the John F. Kennedy assassination 
                 Television and Radio Coverage 
              (from 1:36 p.m. EST - 2:00 p.m. EST)
 
              From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
                            NATIONALLY
The first national news bulletin of the shooting came over the ABC Radio Network at 12:36:50pm CST/1:36:50pm EST.[183] The most complete recording of the initial ABC bulletins came from WRUL, a New York-based station transmitting to Latin America and Europe on shortwave, which was featuring a program of MOR album music when the shooting took place. At the time, Doris Day's recording of "Hooray for Hollywood", from the 1937 musical film Hollywood Hotel, was playing, when newscaster Don Gardiner broke in with the developments:

We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin from ABC Radio. [Takes a short pause] Here is a special bulletin from Dallas, Texas: (Reading UPI bulletin) 'THREE SHOTS WERE FIRED AT PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S MOTORCADE TODAY IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, TEXAS.'[184] This is ABC Radio. To repeat: 'in Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade today.' The president now making a two-day speaking tour of Texas. We're going to stand by for more details on the incident in Dallas. Stay tuned to your ABC station for further details. Now, we return you to your regular program.[183]

4 minutes after ABC's radio bulletin, CBS was the first to break the news over television at 12:40pm CST/1:40pm EST. The network interrupted its live production broadcast of "As the World Turns" with a "CBS News Bulletin" bumper slide and Walter Cronkite, reporting from the CBS Radio flash booth, filed an audio-only report. Immediate live video of Cronkite wasn't possible at that time, as no camera in the CBS newsroom was active and ready. TV cameras of that era used image orthicon tubes which took approximately 20 minutes to warm up.[185]

"Here is a bulletin from CBS News. In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas.' The first reports say that President Kennedy has been seriously wounded by this shooting. More details just arrived. These details about the same as previously: President Kennedy shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy jumped up and grabbed Mr. Kennedy, she called 'Oh, no!' The motorcade sped on. United Press says that the wounds for President Kennedy perhaps could be fatal. Repeating, a bulletin from CBS News: 'President Kennedy has been shot by a would-be assassin in Dallas, Texas.' Stay tuned to CBS News for further details."

Initially, the live broadcast of "As the World Turns," which included commercials, continued, with the actors unaware of the earlier pre-emption for the bulletin. Cronkite later filed two bonus audio-only bulletins to interrupt programming, the last of which interrupted a Friskies dog food commercial and pre-empted the remaining running time of As the World Turns. Only the bulletin bumper remained on screen while a television camera warmed up, until 2:00 p.m. EST. Cronkite stated in a later interview that this event was responsible for a new CBS network policy of always having a "hot camera" available to the newsroom to avoid this difficulty in the future.[186]

At that time, As the World Turns was the runaway top-rated daytime show, and ABC and NBC made no concerted effort to compete with CBS in the time slot; as a result, the other television networks weren't on the air in the Eastern and Central Time Zones. Various programs were being broadcast through their affiliate stations.[187] From their main headquarters in New York, WABC-TV's first bulletin came from Ed Silverman at 1:41 p.m. EST, interrupting reruns of The Ann Sothern Show on the East Coast and Father Knows Best in the Mountain Time Zone. ABC-TV was not feeding programming to its affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone at that hour. At the same time of ABC-TV's first bulletin, NBC Radio reported the first of three "Hotline Bulletins", each preceded by a "talk-up alert" which gave all NBC-affiliated stations 30 seconds to join their parent network.

Three minutes later, at 1:45:03pm EST Don Pardo broke into WNBC-TV's local rerun of "Bachelor Father" with the news, saying (reading AP bulletin) 'PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS SHOT TODAY JUST AS HIS MOTORCADE LEFT DOWNTOWN DALLAS. MRS. KENNEDY JUMPED UP AND GRABBED MR. KENNEDY. SHE CRIED 'OH NO!' THE MOTORCADE SPED ON.'[166][188][189] (Videotape of the NBC bulletins have been assumed "lost" as they did not start recording coverage until minutes later. However, audio engineer Phil Gries rolled tape on a set of audio recordings on a 1/4" reel to reel audiotape recorder. These have been donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.[190] However, NBC, in its book on the coverage of the assassination, mentioned the bulletins, as stated on the Associated Press wire report from which Don Pardo read.)[189] At 1:53:12pm (EST), NBC broke into programming with an NBC Network bumper slide and Chet Huntley and Bill Ryan began informing the viewers what was going on as it happened.[189] However, NBC's camera was not ready and the coverage was limited to audio-only reports as recorded by Phil Gries (3 minutes & 53 seconds), as CBS' coverage had been to that point. Other than for two audio-only bulletins (one following the initial report), ABC TV did not break into its stations' programming at all, instead waiting until the network was to return to broadcasting at 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time to begin its coverage.

At 1:57:05pm EST, just as Frank McGee joined the reporting, NBC began broadcasting the report as their camera was ready and working.[190] Three minutes later, at 2:00pm EST, CBS' camera was finally ready and Cronkite appeared on the air after a brief station break, with ABC beginning its coverage at the same time. Radio coverage was reported by Don Gardiner (ABC), Allan Jackson (CBS), and (after a top-of-the-hour newscast) by Peter Hackes and Edwin Neuman (NBC).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

43 hours of Live television and  radio coverage (multiple stations with recordings changing from one station to another as evens unfold) of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, including braking news events of November 22rd, November 23, November, 24 and November 25 when commercial television left the air to devote coverage only related to the assassination. 

Included are reports of JFK's assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald's killing by Jack Ruby, and the funeral of the late president. 
Within the 43 hours of audio many JFK retrospective audio clips are heard including Kennedy's 1951, 1952 and 1954 appearances on MEET  THE PRESS, Ribicoff's Aug. 17, 1956 nomination of John F. Kennedy for Vice President, Jan 2, 1960 JFK news conference that he will not accept a Vice Presidency nomination, 
Multiple hours and hours of coverage. Please specify specific day/hour/event.                                                 

Live coverage of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald  Kennedy. 
Shortly after noon on November 22nd, 1963, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. He was rushed to Parkland Hospital in Dallas where he was pronounced dead. Lee Harvey Oswald was captured and accused of the murder.