President Kennedy responds to U-Thant's note, he will avoid a direct confrontation with Soviet ships if such ships avoid the interception area.             

October 1, 1962 - March 29, 1963

Merv Griffin's guests on his first talk show day time series are Jack E. Leonard and Ann Sothern.  

NOTE: 
All but one of the 125 NBC Daytime THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW broadcasts are NOT know to exist. The Network wiped them as was the current practice at the time to reuse the 2" quad video tape. 
The one extant broadcast...Danny Kaye appearing November 9, 1962.  
However, Phil Gries founder of ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUIDO, INC. is personally responsible for audio taping 35 of these shows, direct line on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tape, during the original airing of these shows...historically remaining the only broadcast record (approximately a third) of Merv Griffin's first television talk show series.                                  

 A memorial special broadcast to the late Eleanor Roosevelt presented on the day of her funeral.        

The 36th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, one of the world's largest parades, is presented by the U.S. based department store chain Macy's.The parade started in 1924,tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit (with both parades being four years younger than Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade). The two-hour parade is held in Manhattan from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thanksgiving Day, and has been televised nationally on NBC since 1952. Employees at Macy's department stores have the option of marching in the parade


The 36th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from Central Park to Herald Square in New York City. 

Hosts: Bud Palmer and Chris Schenkel

Only the final 5 minutes of the parade was recorded, including the appearance of Santa Claus. We hear end credits and names of the sponsors of the parade by announcer Bill McCord, who was the announcer of the NBC TV Thanksgiving Day Parade for 21 consecutive years (1958-1978). 
Sign off. 


  It should come as no surprise that many of the telecasts from the 1950s thru the early 1970's are lost, or not known to presently exist in any broadcast form, and only TWO pre-1980 parade exists in full. One archived segment of the November 22, 1973 NBC MACY's THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE resides at The Paley Center for Media, and a segment of the November 26, 1959 CBS coverage of the THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE is archived at The Paley Center for Media. Not one pre-1980 TV Thanksgiving Day Parade is archived by The Library of Congress or by UCLA Film & Television Archive. 

 Network broadcast Kinescopes and Video were either discarded, wiped, or never recorded.  Video recording software (3/4" U-Matic) was first released to the Public at great cost in 1971, and the Betamax (1975) and JVC VHS (1976) gave the public a means to record television broadcasts off the air, but, to date, it seems nobody at home elected to record a complete parade and kept it making the 1971-1979 parades more likely to be found possibly only as clips than the 1952-1971 parades. Certain footage from old telecasts has been shown in anniversary specials, showing that some still exist. Bootleg copies circa 1980 to the present have been posted on You Tube...most all playback reflecting poor to fair quality till the 2000's. 

During the first television years, the parade went through changes. Many of the parade's most iconic balloons were introduced in this period, such as Popeye, Bullwinkle, the Happy Dragon, Underdog, Smokey Bear, Linus the Lionhearted, Sinclair's Dino, and the first two Snoopy balloons. The toy float concept was introduced in the 1960s, with a turkey-shaped one, introduced in 1973, eventually becoming parade mascot Tom Turkey.

A few notable lost parades include the 1956 parade (when Mighty Mouse crashed at Herald Square), 1965 (the debut of Underdog), and 1971 (when all the balloons had to be removed due to bad weather).
   
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (partially found NBC broadcasts of parade; 1953-1980)

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual event held in New York City every Thanksgiving Day. The Parade was founded in 1924 as a Christmas pageant by Macy's immigrant employees who wanted to celebrate the holiday, akin to parades held for special occasions in Europe. The Parade is perhaps best known for its iconic helium balloons that depict characters from pop culture such as cartoon characters, brand mascots, and original Macy's characters.

History 

Since 1953, NBC has held the telecast rights to the Parade prior to this, CBS broadcasted the Parade. NBC's broadcast of the Parade traditionally lasts three hours, with the first hour dedicated to performances by Broadway musicals and the Parade progressing to the finish line. The other two hours consist of the Parade itself, which features giant balloons, floats, cultural performances, celebrity appearances, and musical/talent ensembles. The Parade ends with Santa Claus riding on his own float, signaling the unofficial arrival of the holiday season.
Hosts of the NBC telecast have included such personalities as Lorne Greene, Betty White (from 1963 to 1972), Kent McCord, Martin Milner (1973), Ed McMahon (from 1974 to 1981), Helen Reddy (1975), Bryant Gumbel (from 1977 to 1980 and 1982 to 1984).

Availability 

Out of the 28 Parade broadcasts that aired on NBC between 1953 and 1980, only two (1959 & 1976) of them have surfaced in full. Video recording equipment was not readily available to the general public until 1971, meaning the 1953-1970 broadcasts have a lower chance of being found than the 1971-1980 broadcasts. Clips from various pre-1980 telecasts have been used in Parade anniversary specials produced by NBC, meaning at least parts of the broadcasts remain in the NBC archives.
Notably lost parades include the 1956 Parade (when all balloons succumbed to blustery winds, with Mighty Mouse crashing in front of NBC cameras), 1960 (the debut of the Happy Dragon, Macy's longest-running singular balloon to date) and 1971 (when all the balloons had to be removed due to heavy winds and rain).

Status List of Parades recorded (Kinescope/Video Tape/ Audio).

#	Year	Status	Notes
01	1953	Lost	
02	1954	Lost	
03	1955	Lost	
04	1956	Lost	

05	1957	Lost	Phil Gries founder of Archival Television Audio, Inc. filmed two minutes of color 8mm film at the parade capturing images of Bill "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd riding his horse Topper, the debut of the Popeye  Balloon, and the Turkey Balloon, and the Soldier Balloon. 

06	1958	Partially Found. Clips of the Spaceman balloon exist,  and Phil Gries founder of Archival Television Audio, Inc. filmed three minutes of 8mm color film at the parade capturing images of  actor George Montgomery on horseback, Benny Goodman and band float, and the Spaceman balloon navigated by crane (helium-in-flated balloons this one year was not used because the government missile program caused a cutback in helium supplies for civilian use), 
                                                        
07	1959	Found (Complete Kinescope)	
08	1960	Lost	
09	1961	Partially Found	
A clip of one of the Marching Bands exist online. Partially Found	Footage of Donald Duck was used as part of a special in 2011 and footage of Bullwinkle was used in 2016. 

10      1962    Audio of the final five minutes ending including arrival of Santa Claus and sign off is archived  in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc.
                                                        

11	1963	Partially Found. Footage of the start was used as part of a special in 2011.
12	1964	Partially Found	
13	1965	Partially Found. Footage of the Dino balloon and the Monroe Girls Corp exist online and can be viewed on You Tube and on Facebook.
                                                         

14	1966	Audio Exists of the complete parade archived in 
the collection of Archival Television audio, Inc. (two hours).
                        

15	1967	Partially Found	Audio of the Carlisle High School Marching Band and the first few seconds of The Happening's performance on the "Rock Candy Mountain" float exists on You Tube.
                                                        
16	1968	Lost
	
17	1969	Partially Found	Footage of the Broadway cast of Jimmy Performing exists, as does the complete audio air check archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc. (two hours).

18	1970	Partially Found	Stills of Dino and Donald Duck exist.
19	1971	Partially Found.
	
20	1972	The complete audio air check of the parade is archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc. (two hours). 

21	1973	The complete audio air check of the parade is archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc. (two hours).

22	1974	Partially Found	
23	1975	Partially Found	Audio of the Christian County High School Band exists on YouTube.
                                                        
24	1976	Found, and the complete Audio Audio Air Check is archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc.
	
25	1977    The complete 173 minute TV Audio Air Check is archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc. (Partial NBC and CBS television broadcasts audio recoded as broadcast simultaneously).

26	1978	Partially Found	CBS' unofficial airing of the 
Parade is found; however, NBC's broadcast remains lost.

27	1979	Partially Found.
28	1980	Partially Lost. The majority of the 1980 Parade is found with approximately 30 minutes missing.
                                                       
Surviving Videos:
 |
The 1959 Parade, the oldest surviving parade in full.
The 1976 Parade, the 2nd oldest surviving parade in full.
Parts of the 1972 Parade.
The intro, band performances and Santa Claus from the 1979 Parade.
Wrangler Belles performance from the 1971 parade.
Wrangler Belles performance from the 1973 parade.
Wrangler Belles performance from the 1977 parade and longer introduction to the 1977 Parade.
The Broadway Cast of Jimmy Performing "The Mayor of New York" in 1969.
Diana Ross's famous appearance in 1979.
Sinclair's Dino in the 1965 Parade.
The Village People performance in 1978.
Tom Turkey, known in 1974 as the Toy Turkey, makes his second appearance.
The Patriot Band performance in 1978.
The Independence High School 76th Cavalry Band in 1978.
The Salem High School Marching Band performance and Santa Claus in 1977.
Mason Reese performance in 1975.
The Dover High School Tornado Band performance in 1972.
The Ohio Youth Choir in 1975
Audio of the Christian County High School Marching Colonels performance in 1975.
The Spring Branch Sr. High School Marching Band performance in 1974.
The Spring Branch Bruin Brigade performance in 1974.
Audio of the Carlisle High School Marching Band performance in 1967.
Short silent clips of the 1966 Parade.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Celebrity guests appeal for funds to fight Muscular Dystrophy. A letter from President John F. Kennedy is read. Jerry concludes the telethon with what would be his signature song, "You'll Never Walk Alone."                                      

Elwood P. Goodman (Jonathan Winters), poses as Merv Griffin's uncle and opens the show. Winters, Griffin, and Carol Channing take on numerous comedy improvisations. 
Note: Originally scheduled guest Woody Allen could not make the show at the last minute and Jonathan Winters filled in. One of the most hilarious appearances on the Merv Griffin NBC show. It would be Winter's only appearance.             

Guests are Henry Morgan, Jimmy Piersall, Adam Keefe and Woody Allen.             

October 1, 1962 - March 29, 1963

Excerpts from two programs. Jan. 31, 1963 comic & impressionist, Adam Keefe. Feb. 1, 1963 Merv Griffin's guests are Edward Everett Horton, Buddy Hackett and Bobby Breen. Mrs. Miller tells a joke to Merv who also plays the piano. 

NOTE: All but one of the 120 NBC Daytime THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW broadcasts are NOT know to exist. The one extant...Danny Kaye appearing November 9, 1962.  However, Phil Gries founder of ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUIDO, INC. is personally responsible for audio taping 35 of these shows direct line on to 1/4" audio tape, historically remaining the only broadcast record.                                                                   

Merv Griffin's guests are Montgomery Clift and Don Adams. 

Note: In Merv Griffin's 1980 Autobiography "MERV" he states:
"Of all the remarkable guests on my NBC talk show, one appearance remains in my mind as the most memorable, Montgomery Clift." He did very few televisions interviews in his life, and arrived at the studio, intoxicated, while Griffin was already on the air. However, when Merv introduced him, Clift walked on stage like he had pushed a button inside his brain that brought self-control. Montgomery Clift gave Merv Griffin, that afternoon, a lucid, fascinating interview including anecdotes about his relationship with Marilyn Monroe. By the end of the interview they both shook hands. Monty waved to the audience and strode offstage...collapsing against a wall the moment he was off camera. 


             

October 1, 1962 - March 29, 1963

Merv Griffin's guests are Jack Benny, Peter Lorre, Dr. Joyce Brothers and Bobby Breen. 

A rare interview appearance for Bobby Breen.

NOTE:  All but one of the 125 NBC Daytime THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW broadcasts are NOT know to exist. However, Phil Gries founder of ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUIDO, INC. is personally responsible for audio taping 35 of these shows, direct line, on to 1/4" audio tape when these broadcasts originally aired. They remain the only broadcast record.                                      

Merv Griffin's guests are Joan Crawford, Allen Drury, appearing on March 7, 1963 and  Adela Rogers St. John, Bert Lahr, Walter Slezak and William Saroyan, appearing on March 8, 1963. 
Two shows combined.              

Merv Griffin's guests are Shirley Booth, Peter Cook, Louis Lomax,
and Marilyn Lovell.             

Merv Griffin's guests are the Smothers Brothers.             

A special program honoring Medal of Honor winners such as General Jonathan Wainwright of World War 11, Richard W.O'Neill of World War 1, and Cpl. Thomas J. Kelly of World War 11. They relate events involved in earning the medal.                                  

A special on New York's new National League baseball team the New York Mets. Interviews with Mets Charlie Neal, Gil Hodges, manager Casey Stengal, others.                           

November 20, 1947-September 5, 1965 (primetime NBC); September 19, 1965-present (non-primetime NBC). Public affairs program which is the longest running series on network television.




Reporters question Governor George Wallace of Alabama.

The moderator is Ned Brooks. 

                                                                                                             

         George Wallace, governor of Alabama  replies to reporters   
on a myriad of topics.  

Right-wing talk attacking President Kennedy.             

Broadcast at 11:15pm  preceding THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, NBC correspondent, Edwin Newman reports on the premiere of CLEOPATRA. At the Rivoli theater in New York City  NBC TV reporter, Dan Rabel  interviews Roddy McDowall, Joseph Mankiewicz and 20th Century head Spyros Skouras who claims CLEOPATRA  will be the greatest film in  motion picture history. NY Times film critic Leonard Probst gives his review of the film. 
In addition, we hear a three minute incisive review from New York Herald Tribune film critic, Judith Crist who would soon begin appearing on THE TODAY SHOW (1964-1973), reviewing films.. 

NOTE: Probst, who joined NBC NEWS in 1958, was one of the first drama critics to present opening-night reviews on television as an integral part of the news report. He served as a television drama critic until 1971, continuing his reviews on radio afterward.     

NOTE:  Film critic Judith Crist gives a scathing review about CLEOPATRA.                                       

Featured are commercials for Freedomland with a Marty Glickman voiceover and a brief excerpt of the Bruce Morrow rock 'n' roll show on WABC radio in New York City.             

A recap of the day's "March On Washington" events.            

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.  
                                                                                                

September 1st, 1963-May 1st, 1966 (WPIX-TV)

John Zacherle (Zacherley) was the host of the Mighty Hercules cartoon that aired on WPIX-TV Channel 11 weekdays in New York City. Canadian born actor Jimmy Tapp provided the voice of Hercules. Other voices heard were Gerry Bascombe and Helene Nickerson.

Host: John Zacherle 

NOTE: No episodes of this series are known to exist.                                   

September 1st, 1963-May 1st, 1966 (WPIX-TV)

John Zacherle (Zacherley) was the host of the Mighty Hercules cartoon that aired on WPIX-TV Channel 11 weekdays in New York City. Canadian born actor Jimmy Tapp provided the voice of Hercules. Other voices heard were Gerry Bascombe and Helene Nickerson.

Host: John Zacherle 

NOTE: No episodes of this series are known to exist.