The Sunday Night Evening News (15 minutes from 11:00 - 11:15pm) provided a weekly anchoring role for Walter Cronkite at WCBS in New York. The Premiere broadcast was the only time   during the run of this weekend Sunday newscast that would be telecast in COLOR.
Premiere- April 17, 1955.

Hungary announces victory over Russian troops as fighting continues, in New York City, Hungarians march before UN Plaza.
Russia denounces Hungarian and US governments, Polish conclave in Warsaw cheers their new premier. Isreal undergoes mobilization, a report on the Olympic trials. 

NOTE: The October 28, 1956 telecast is the earliest Walter Cronkite Sunday Evening News television broadcast known to exist in any broadcast form.
 
Walter Cronkite reads the CBS News (1956-1968)

 If one remembers any of Cronkite’s NEWS broadcasts prior to August 5 1968, one must have an excellent memory. Though he was “the most trusted man in America” for decades, most of his bulletins and live TV CBS NEWS studio broadcasts from the 1950's &1960's no longer survive. Until 1968, only a handful of air checks have been extant. The most known, reporting the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Sadly, thousands of his his reports televised on CBS television were erased or discarded, prior to 1968 and not mindfully archived by CBS until 1974...previously thought not worthy of saving.                                                                                                              

The Sunday Night Evening News (15 minutes from 11:00 - 11:15 pm) provided a weekly anchoring role for Walter Cronkite at WCBS in New York. The Premiere broadcast was the only time during the run of this weekend Sunday newscast that would be telecast in COLOR.
Premiere- April 17, 1955.

The arrest of rebel leaders by treachery, Hungarian rebels fight the Russian army but they are no match for them, Hungarian rebels flee into Austria, UN votes to condemn Russian aggression in Hungary, urge withdrawal of Russian troops, Anglo-French fleet on way to Egypt. Fighting on Israel front almost ended, Dulles has intestinal cancer it was removed, presidential campaign report from various areas of the country. Eisenhower leads in the east. 

NOTE: The October 28, 1956 telecast, archived in the ATA library is the earliest Walter Cronkite Sunday Evening News broadcast known to exist in any broadcast form.                                                                                                                                                            

Election returns from all three networks. Bob Wilson with late return reports, CBS coverage from Walter Cronkite, Richard C.Hottelet, Leonard Hall predicts Eisenhower victory, H.V. Kaltenborn editorial on Eisenhower's victory, a report on the Jacob Javits Senate race, Stevenson concession speech.                                                    

Highlights: Holiday crowds visit the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, Truman claims the presidency is a "tough and terrible" job, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, opposes the Eisenhower foreign policy. Eric Sevareid interviews former President Truman.                        

Film producer Mike Todd and his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, on the first anniversary of Todd's film, "Around The World In Eighty Days," invited 18,000 of their close friends to a Madison Square Garden extravaganza.

 Personalities on hand include George Jesel, (Todd's Wife) Elizabeth Taylor, Elsa Maxwell, Walter Cronkite, Senator Hubert Humphrey, Hedda Hooper, Charles Boyer, Ginger Rogers, Joe E. Lewis, Bill Leon. and Garry Moore. It was estimated that a crowd of 18,000 filled the arena to witness the event. 

Jim McKay is the host.

 NOTE: Mike Todd conned the CBS program  PLAYHOUSE 90 into covering the spectacle, live. But when the crowd got out of control, a bland publicity stunt turned into a giant food fight.

News Anchor  Walter Cronkite covers the event.  
  

 NOTE: Five months later, on March 22, 1958, Mike Todd died in an airplane crash.                                                               

Highlights: Reports on new Russian "Dog" satellite, Sputnik 11
or "Muttnick", US prepares a sophisticated rocket "Vanguard" to launch its satellite, comments by US scientists on latest Russian feats, dog lovers around the world protest use of a dog in the satellite, Marshall Zhukov degraded in Russia, accused of Russia's World War 11 defeats, Russians put into service the world's largest plane, the TU 114.                          

Highlights: French crisis, insurrection spreading under De Gaulle's symbol headed by Algerian Junta, pro-Junta demonstrations in Paris demand De Gaulle, Massu, and Soustelle look to De Gaulle to Save France, all demand that Algeria remains French.                          

Highlights: The Russians criticize the US on Quemoy and Matsu, an interview with a US serviceman who was wounded in the bombardment, in Little Rock, school teachers will offer television courses, students want the high school to reopen regardless of integration, Dr. Martin Luther King survives a stab wound in New York City, Paul Robeson will make his home in Great Britain, the Milwaukee Braves clinch their second straight National League pennant, hot-tempered Ted Williams hurls a bat at a spectator.                           

Nelson Rockefeller defeats Averell Harriman for Governor of New York, Kenneth Keating wins a New York State Senate seat, Governor-Elect Nelson Rockefeller makes a statement on his victory over Harriman.  

Heard both CBS and NBC TV coverage. 

                                                            

The New York City Friars Club honors Ed Sullivan for his ten years on television.

An excerpt audio air check of Friars Club members honoring Sullivan include Joe E. Lewis, Jack E. Leonard, Jack Carter, Morey Amsterdam, Walter Cronkite, and Wayne and Shuster.

NOTE: This broadcast was aired in the time slot normally seen as  The Ed Sullivan Show,  8-9pm Sunday evenings. 

This program is a video tape of a recent Friar's Club Testimonial Dinner staged by Nat Hiken. It was to be the first of many Friar's Club dinners to be televised under the over-all title "Man of the Hour.' In actuality it was the only one that was produced and broadcasts. 

                                                   

Walter Cronkite reports on where the US stands in space, Nasa chief describes future US space plans.   

 Anchor: Walter Cronkite                        

Highlights: John Foster Dulles is dying of cancer, not responding to treatment, American ordered out of Cuba following arrest trial and conviction of trying to kill Castro, Russia trains spies for work in USA Americanizes them, the US to launch a discover satellite, Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India, interview with a representative of the Dalai Lama, nuclear talks to resume.                                       

Highlights: John Foster Dulles has died of cancer, Eisenhower expresses his sympathy, three officials of the Cuban government and Congressman John Porter deny that Cuba is going communist as reported by a CBS newsman, Parker Lynch case is investigated by the FBI.                                       

Highlights: Soviet rocket the Lunic 11 reaches the moon, British and Americans both send congratulations, Khrushchev to arrive in the US, Miss America would like to visit Khrushchev and Eisenhower.                        

Khrushchev's visit to California, includes a trip to San Francisco, Khrushchev's verbal duel with Spyros Skouras of 20th Century Fox, comment by Marilyn Monroe, Mayor Poulson remarks in Los Angeles and Khrushchev's retort. 
Walter Cronkite anchors.    

   We are an Eyewitness as U.S.S.R. Premiere Khrushchev visits in Washington and tours Pittsburgh, Chicago,  Des Moines, San Francisco, Los Angeles, plus a visit to the Roswell Garst farm in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Highlights broadcast of Khrushchev's headline making address before the U.N. General Assembly.                                     

October 20th, 1957-September, 1969

Walter Cronkite hosted this Sunday-evening documentary series, that presented filmed reports on a wide variety of historical and scientific subjects. In January of 1967, the show's title was changed to The Twenty-First Century.

General Montgomery Clark reminisces about WW 11. with Edward R. Murrow.  

Host: Walter Cronkite.                      

Walter Cronkite tales a look at the big news stories of 1959.             

Walter Cronkite narrates.  

A retrospective of Paris, a spawning ground for a revolution in the arts, sparked by a host of American expatriates from the world of literature, painting and the theater. Among those players include authors Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Colette, E.E.Cummings, Archibald MacLeish, Thornton Wilder, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Dos Passos, Sherwood Anderson, Hart Crane and Stephen Vincent Benet. Performers include Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, Marilyn Miller, Beatrice Lillie, Judith Anderson, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford; artists Pablo Picasso, Jo Davidson and Alexander Calder. Janet Flanner, who as "Genet" is the New Yorker's Paris correspondent, and artist-photographer Man Ray contribute their reminiscences. 
           

Highlight: Senator John F. Kennedy is leading in the West Virginia primary over Senator Hubert Humphrey. 

Walter Cronkite reports.                                       

Highlights: Summit stage set, Eisenhower in Paris, the Russians launch a 4 1/2 ton satellite with a dummy astronaut aboard, big four in Paris, Khrushchev honored in Paris sees Charles De Gaulle, Khrushchev wants the French and the British to mediate in U-2 incident, Nixon suggests a Gary Powers trade for Rudolph Abel, Nixon says Senator Kennedy will probably be his rival, more bodies of World War 11 plane is found, Pro-Castro parade up fifth avenue in New York City.                          

Topics include the summit crisis, Khrushchev threatens to leave if unable to reconcile with Eisenhower, Eisenhower comments on current US policy on U-2, flights will not be resumed, Khrushchev wants Eisenhower to apologize and punish those involved, Eisenhower refuses, press secretary Hagerty comments on current US policy on U-2.                                     

Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow anchor convention coverage spanning JULY 13, 14, 15, 1960. 
A retrospective declaration of candidacy for President of the United States is announced by Senator John F. Kennedy. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, the majority leader of the senate, speaks. Back live on the convention floor, Bernie Eismann talks to Minnesota Governor Orville L. Freeman; it was he who put Kennedy's name into nomination. Edward R. Murrow talks to Lowell Thomas. Adlai Stevenson introduces Eleanor Roosevelt who speaks before the convention. Neil Strawser talks to the Democratic National Committee chairman Paul Butler. 3000 delegates are represented as roll call begins the 1500 vote procedure. It takes 761 votes to nominate the choice for president. We hear each state cast their votes. John Kennedy, 43, becomes the third youngest nominee in history. Nancy Hanschman reports from Johnson headquarters. Adlai Stevenson is interviewed. Kennedy speaks to the convention, thanking them for his nomination. Benedition and the National Anthem end the evening for July 13th. Cronkite and Murrow rap it up with final thoughts. Betty Furness does a Westinghouse Total Elective Home Commercial. July 14th & 15th coverage present the nomination for Vice President. Earlier coverage by Kennedy at a press conference confirms Lyndon B. Johnson as his choice for the Vice President running mate. Nancy Hanschman interviews Johnson. There is coverage of the LBJ press conference. John F. Kennedy gives a 22 minute acceptance speech to the convention. Alexander Kendrick, Howard K. Smith, Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite evaluate the JFK speech. Spokeswoman for Westinghouse, Betty Furness, gives praise to Cronkite for his coverage of the National Democratic Convention.                          

Walter Cronkite narrates. 
In 1944 the Allies waged a series of battles around the monastery of Monte Cassino in an attempt to penetrate the German lines. The two opposing generals, Mark Clarke, commander of the United States Fifth Army, and Gen. Fridolin von Senger of the German forces, give their views of the strategic encounter.             

John F. Kennedy is sworn in as the 35th president of the United States. Live coverage from CBS and NBC news. Vice-President Lyndon Johnson is also sworn in. Poet Robert Frost recites a poem. NBC coverage from Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Edwin Newman, and Ray Shearer. CBS coverage by Walter Cronkite and Nancy Hodgeman. 

JFK inaugural, Benediction,, Lyndon Baines Johnson is sworn in, Poem by Robert Frost, President elect John F. Kennedy is sworn in who states that this is not a victory party but a celebration."

Note: President John F. Kennedy held the first presidential news conference to be carried live on radio and television.                                                  

EYEWITNESS - September 30, 1960 - July 26, 1963

Originally titled "Eyewitness to History" title shortened to "Eyewitness" by the Fall of  1961

------------------
EYEWITNESS
-----------------
 'CBS News' Production
US Documentary series 1960-63   30 minute Documentary program

Hosted by Charles Kuralt (1960-61)
Hosted by Walter Cronkite (1961-1962)
Hosted by Charles Collingwood (1962-1963)

A CBS special report and analysis on the failure of the Cuban invasion.

Host: Walter Cronkite.                                     

The Sunday Night Evening News (15 minutes from 11:00 - 11:15pm) provided a weekly anchoring role for Walter Cronkite at WCBS in New York. The Premiere broadcast was the only time   during the run of this weekend Sunday newscast that would be telecast in COLOR.
Premiere- April 17, 1955.

Highlights: France faces paratroop invasion by French army insurgents from Algeria, a civil war is threatened, Castro UN speech threatens US with fearful consequences if interference continues, Castro likes remedy to Hitler, Laos fighting continues.  

Sponsored by Aero Wax.  Commercial included.                                                                                                                                                                  

Highlights: Berlin crisis brewing, a possible attempt by East Berlin to seal escape route to West Berlin, a report from West Berlin on refugee escapes, Castro wants to reopen tractors for prisoners exchange, President Kennedy's peace corp is taking shape, recruits arrive for training, World War 1 pilot reunion in Dayton, Ohio.             

John Glenn's orbital flight with Charles Collingwood and Walter Cronkite. A recap of the flight and press interviews with the Glenn family. President Kennedy also comments on the flight.  

 
NOTE: BOX SCORE IN SPACE RACE
A COMPARISON OF THE ORBITAL FILGHTS OF American Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., and the Russian astronauts Maj. Yuri A. Gagarian and Maj. Gherman Titov: 

Date                   GLENN        TITOV          GAGARIN
 
Launch              Feb. 20, 1962  Aug. 6, 1961   April 12, 1961

Altitude (Miles)  100-160         110-159        110-187.75

Distance (Miles)  81,000          435,000          26,000

Speed (MPH)       17,350          17,750           17,400

Flight Time    4 Hrs. 56 Min.  25 Hrs. 15 Min.    1 Hr. 45 Min.

No. of Orbits     Three             17               One

Weight of Craft  4,200 lbs.       10,430           10,460

Craft Name      Friendship 7      Vostok 2        Vostok 1

Rocket Thrust   360,000 lbs.    800,000 lbs.    800,000 lbs.

Weightlessness 4 Hrs. 45 Mins. 24 Hrs. 59 Mins.   89.1 Mins.                       

October 20th, 1957-September, 1969

Walter Cronkite hosted this Sunday-evening documentary series, that presented filmed reports on a wide variety of historical and scientific subjects. In January of 1967, the show's title was changed to The Twenty-First Century.

Episode: Get The Graf Spee, reconstruction of events that led to the scuttling of the famed Nazi battleship (The German Sea Raider) in Montevideo harbor on December 17, 1939. German sea raider.
                                                                           

An examination of the human factors to be considered in space travel. Included are films of weightlessness tests, gravity studies and a look at the mental rigors of space travel as two airmen undergo 17 days ia a mock-up capsule. Also, a discussion of nutrition with Beatrice Finkelstein; optical challenges with Otto Schueller, and radiation perils with Dr. Herman J. Schaeffer.                                                                                                                                                             

April 16th, 1962 - March 6, 1981

On April 16th, 1962, Walter Cronkite made his debut as the anchor of the CBS Evening News replacing Douglas Edwards. He was not only the anchorman for the network newscast, but also served as its "managing editor." the dual position gave him considerable latitude in the selection, timing and arrangement of the day's news stories. It was during  Cronkite's early says at anchor that the nightly broadcasts expanded from fifteen to thirty minutes. The first half-hour show aired September 2, 1963, a week ahead of NBC's Huntley-Brinkley first expanded newscast and featured a special interview with President John F. Kennedy.

Color broadcasts of the evening news began early in 1966, about two months after NBC's. During this year most Network television transitioned from Black And White to Color.  

From the late 1960's until his retirement in 1977, Eric Sevareid commentated on The CBS Evening News. 

NOTE:
Moving images of Walter Cronkite reading the news in his studio every night for six years (1962–August 2, 1968) are mostly gone and not extant in any broadcast form. Exceptions are his coverage of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and the November 1963 events in Dallas, Texas: the JFK assassination, the shootings of police officer J. D. Tippit and Lee Oswald and all three funerals, as well as his introduction of the Beatles and his criticism of the Vietnam War.
Douglas Edwards anchored the live five-minute segment The CBS Afternoon News five afternoons a week between 1962 and 1966. He started the segment immediately after the twenty-five minute broadcast of the Goodson-Todman game show To Tell The Truth. Not one second from four years' worth of The CBS Afternoon News was preserved in any way.
Archival Television Audio original off the air sound recordings of network and local television news broadcasts, pre-1968, are extremely rare and not preserved at The Library of Congress, Paley Center for Media or UCLA Film & TV Archive.


Communist push deepens into Laos, the Senate led by Senator Thomas Dodd investigates sex and violence in TV programs such as the CBS drama, "Route 66," stock market reversal for the sixth day in a row, future planetary vehicles discussed by space expert.


CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite (1962–1981)

ANCHOR:
Walter Cronkite	 1962-1981 

EMINENT CORRESPONDENTS INCLUDE:
Roger Mudd 1963-1980 

Eric Sevareid 1963-1977 

Bill Plant 1968-1980 

Robert Pierpoint 1963-1980

Charles Kuralt  1968-1975 

Bob Schieffer 1975-1980 

Dan Rather 1963-1980 

Richard Threlkeld  1968-1977 

Bruce Morton 1968-1980 

Lesley Stahl   1974-1980
 
Harold Dow 1974-1980 

Marvin Kalb 1963-1979
 
George Herman 1963-1975 

Nelson Benton 1963-1968 

Bob Gregory 1968 

Harry Reasoner 1963-1980 

Bernard Kalb 1963-1979 

Terry Drinkwater 1974-1975

Bob McNamara 1977-1980 

Ed Bradley 1978-1980  
                                                                              

Live coverage  from all three networks of the "Aurora 7"  fourth USA spaceflight launch with naval officer Scott Carpenter. Joined in progress at T-15 minutes (7:19 AM EST.). Carpenter was the second American astronaut to orbit in space.  
From Mercury Control, Shorty Powers. CBS TV coverage by Walter Cronkite. ABC and NBC reports with correspondents Jay Barbee, LIsa Howard, Bill Ryan. There is a "hold" at 11 minutes because of fog. Charles Von Freud earlier interview with John Carpenter. Countdown is picked up. Launch time 7:45 AM EST. count down at T-5 minutes and counting.
                                     

February 1st, 1953-October 13th, 1957 (CBS)
September 11th, 1971-September 2nd, 1972 (CBS)

Walter Cronkite was the host and chief correspondent for this Sunday afternoon program that began on radio in 1947. Each week a well-known historical event was recreated and the leading figures in each episode were interviewed by CBS news correspondents. The show was revived on September 11th, 1971, and was aimed at children. Cronkite was host and correspondent for both versions of the program.

Today's episode: A Re-Run "Chamberlain At Munich."
                          

A recap of today's events. Also, a review of the original "Telstar 1" launching on July 13th and TV transmissions. The Future of satellite TV is discussed.  

Host: Chet Huntley. 

Highlights: From all three networks.

"America To Europe."

London To the USA, Walter Cronkite (CBS) 3 PM Eastern time talks to and views England, Niagara Falls, the Rio Grande River, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Chicago, John F. Kennedy press conference. 

Chet Huntley views Mount Rushmore and the Morman Tabernacle Choir in Utah.    

CBS newsman Douglas Edwards mentions Walter Cronkite is receiving the first picture today.                                             

Walter Cronkite, who began anchoring the CBS Evening News only three and a half months prior to this newscast, reports on the death of Marilyn Monroe. By closed circuit television, he also discusses the tragic death with Kim Novak and signs off the air with his familiar "And That's The Way It Is Aug. 6th 1962."    

Partial Transcript:

 Walter Cronkite: "Good Evening from the CBS News Headquarters in New York."  

Announcer: "This is the Evening News Edition of CBS News with Walter Cronkite. Brought to you by Dristan.

WC: " Capturing the world attention caused by her death. Even the Russians today sat in judgement calling her a victim of Hollywood. In Hollywood today a team of doctors and psychiatrists were still trying to determine exactly what she was a victim of. Her own hand or an accident? But the coroners inquest can only tell us how Marilyn Monroe died, and not why? Why with everything to live for with fame and fortune in their grasp are so many of our movie queens desperately unhappy. 

By closed circuit television  I asked that question  to Miss Kim Novak in Hollywood this afternoon.

Kim Novak responds and discusses her insight with Walter Cronkite in a four minute segment. 






    

October 20th, 1957-September, 1969

Walter Cronkite hosted this Sunday-evening documentary series, that presented filmed reports on a wide variety of historical and scientific subjects. In January of 1967, the show's title was changed to The Twenty-First Century.

The jazz of Dave Brubeck. This show originally aired on December 31st, 1961.