The Museum of Classic Chicago Television - Fuzzy.TV

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The Museum of Classic Chicago Television - Fuzzy.TV

The official page of The Museum of Classic Chicago Television (www.FuzzyMemories.TV), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Our Mission: To further the acquisition, preservation, and display of historical Chicago Television broadcasts. This page is a "best-of" - the main site with over 4,700 video clips online is at www.FuzzyMemories.TV or visit our YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/FuzzyMemoriesTV

You can also visit our Twitter page where new video posts are announced -
http://www.twitter.com/FuzzyMemories

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Museum_of_Classic_Chicago_Television

12/25/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWlkW2j5voY

50 Years Ago Today:

Not from Chicago, but still of historical interest - a promo of Christmas evening's programming lineup on WNGE Channel 2 in Nashville, Tennessee. (The "GE" part of the station's calls was for its then-owner, General Electric; prior to 1973 it had been on Channel 8 under the call letters WSIX, until it swapped frequencies with PBS affiliate WDCN [now WNPT]; since 1983 Channel 2 has been known as WKRN.)

The lineup for this evening is listed as follows:

7:00 PM - Barney Miller - episode "Doomsday" (repeat of season premiere which originally aired September 11, 1975)

7:30 PM - On the Rocks - episode "The Legacy" (originally aired October 2, 1975)

8:00 PM - The Streets of San Francisco - episode "Deadly Silence" (originally aired October 16, 1975)

9:00 PM - Harry O - episode "Mayday" (originally aired October 23, 1975)

10:0 PM - Adam-12 (syndicated repeat) - as announcer notes, "Cycles and choppers come to the aid of Reed and Malloy"

10:30 PM - Movie 2 presents "Miracle in the Rain" (1956) starring Van Johnson and Jane Wyman

And ending with Merry Christmas wishes and appropriate slide with station's then-logo at left

With appropriate cheesy 70's music in the background.

Historical Importance Note: This footage is the earliest known from WNGE that was recorded off the air in color, as up to that point (and into the 1980s) any excerpts of it were represented in black-and-white recordings as part of tapings of the ABC network evening newscast that make up some of the Vanderbilt University Television News Archive.

Format Note: This was recorded on Umatic 3/4" videotape.

This aired on Thursday, December 25, 1975.

Not from Chicago, but still of historical interest - a promo of Christmas evening's programming lineup on WNGE Channel 2 in Nashville, Tennessee. (The "GE" p...

12/24/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MzdV-zNwaU

40 Years Ago Today:

Here's Part 1 of a fairly early episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show - back when they were still producing it in the WLS-TV studios, and when they were still using the old AM Chicago music as the theme. On this day they had a Christmas Talent Show featuring staff members from WLS Channel 7. This part includes:

WLS-TV anchorman Joel Daly shows off his yodeling ability (!) and then Kevin McGurk, WLS Account Executive in the Sales department does some impressions, singing and performs vintage 1985-era humor.

This aired on December 24, 1985.

Here's Part 1 of a fairly early episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show - back when they were still producing it in the WLS-TV studios, and when they were still us...

12/23/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WirSCK3n6oE

45 Years Ago Today:

Here's a promo for the ABC Network special, "John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together". The special aired on Tuesday, December 23, 1980.

Main voice over by Ernie Anderson.

Here's a promo for the ABC Network special, "John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together". The special aired on Tuesday, December 23rd 1980.Main voiceove...

12/22/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGrL39_QRyY

42 Years Ago Today:

From the "Lost, Forgotten and Obscure TV Shows" Department: Here's a complete first-run broadcast of an episode of the short-lived ABC Network spy series Masquerade, "Diamonds" (Season 1, Episode 2), transmitted over WLS Channel 7.

This starred Rod Taylor, a pre-Cheers Kirstie Alley, and post-BJ and the Bear Greg Evigan, and was about an intelligence operation recruiting civilians with certain skills to carry out required tasks. Here, after a courier is murdered and sensitive material he was carrying is stolen, Lavender (Taylor) is frantic to get it back - and part of his plan is to stop a proposed sale. Among the guests are Morgan Brittany, Dick Gautier and Eve Arden.

(NOTE: As mentioned on-screen, this is from [mainly] two sources, one of which is inferior to the other. The first 6½ minutes of Act I are in this state before switching to the better-quality recording at 8:27; this likely means the first commercial break is missing.)

Includes:

Show opening titles (with theme sung by Crystal Gayle)

Act I

Commercials for:
Hanes Too! panty hose
Kodak Kodamatic TrimPrint Instant Color Film (version 1) (with David Copperfield)
AT&T (voice over by Cliff Robertson)
Promo for Benson, Webster, Lottery! and Matt Houston (main voice over by Ernie Anderson) (ending voice over by Bob Lloyd)

ABC ID with Olympic music (and station ID lower-third)

Act II

Commercials for:
McDonald's - " 'Tis the Season for McNugget Mania"
Chaps cologne - by Ralph Lauren
Promo for Hardcastle & McCormick and "Funny Lady" (main voiceover by Ernie Anderson) (ending voice over by Bob Lloyd)

Bumper (voice over by William Conrad)

Promo for Blue Thunder (premiering January 6th) (voice over by Ernie Anderson)

Commercials for:
Venture - "The Best for Christmas"
Greyhound - "Ride Now - Save 1/3 Later"

Station ID / Eyewitness News promo (voice over by Mike Rapchak?)

Act III

Commercials for:
Enjoli - "The 8 Hour Perfume" (updated version where the man helps out slightly!)
Concentrated All detergent
Promo for 20/20 (voice over by Norman Rose)

Act IV

Bumper (voice over by William Conrad)

Commercials for:
Kodak Kodamatic TrimPrint Instant Color Film (version 2) (with David Copperfield)
Sears - "There's More for Your Christmas"

Epilogue

Commercials for:
AT&T (with Andy Griffith)
Pierre Cardin Man's Cologne (jingle set to tune of Rod Stewart's "You Wear It Well")

Preview of next week's episode, "Girls for Sale" (opening voice over by William Conrad)

Ending credits (with voice over promo for Good Morning America by Barbara Walters, and for "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" after That's Incredible! by Bob Lloyd)

Bumpers for Glen Larson Productions and 20th Century-Fox Television

ABC News Brief with Max Robinson (opening voice over by Charles Hughes), with items:

Interior Secretary William Clark removes three aides who'd served under predecessor James Watt

Another day of sub-zero temperatures in many parts of the country

Sen. Ted Kennedy calls Reagan's policies on hunger "inhumane," leading to Nightline promo about topic

Commercial: Sheer Elegance by L'eggs

Government okays Toyota-GM joint venture

Promo for coming 20/20

Promo for World News This Morning with Kathleen Sullivan and Steve Bell

Commercial: United Airlines - Hong Kong daily service

Station ID / promo for Kodak All-American Football Team (voice over by Al Parker)

Opening of 20/20 with Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters, and preview of coming stories (voiceover by Bill Owen)

This aired December 22, 1983.

From the "Lost, Forgotten and Obscure TV Shows" Department: Here's a complete first-run broadcast of an episode of the short-lived ABC Network spy series Mas...

12/19/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX_M4SGDCUE

45 Years Ago Today:

Here's a bumper announcement slide advertising the 39th Annual Christmas Around the World festival exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. November 29, 1980 through January 6, 1981.

(has some tracking issues)

Voice over by Merri Dee.

This aired on December 19, 1980.

Here's a bumper announcement slide advertising the 39th Annual Christmas Around the World festival exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. November 29...

12/18/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm0P5IoL94U

45 Years Ago Today:

Here's a Christmas themed commercial for Venture stores featuring specials on a Conair hairdryer and Musk.

Speaking of Venture at Christmas... I just opened up my last pair of new old stock holiday socks from Venture in Norridge. The suggested price on them was $3.00.

This aired on Thursday, December 18, 1980.

Here's a Christmas themed commercial for Venture stores featuring specials on a Conair hairdryer and Musk.This aired on local Chicago TV on Thursday, Decembe...

12/17/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEKepQK5wts

46 Years Ago Today:

Here's the complete broadcast of a 60-minute presentation of Dinah! & Friends on WNAC Channel 7 in Boston, MA, with guests Henry Winkler, Sister Sledge, Steven Spielberg with "1941" co-stars Dianne Kay and Wendie Jo Sperber, Ron Howard, and "people watcher" Ken Minyard.

(This show was available in both 60- and 90-minute versions; WNAC opted to air the former. Also, at varying points tracking issues are very much in evidence on the source tape.)

All local and station voice overs (except otherwise noted) by Leif Jensen.

Includes:

Station ID / PSA for Muscular Dystrophy Association

Segment 1: Show opening (voiceover by Paul Williams), followed by Ms. Shore's monologue, Paul coming out from backstage, followed by Henry as a "special percussionist" helping out with a special arrangement (from John Rodby's "gnome" band) of Williams' "We've Only Just Begun" done Spike Jones-style

Commercials for:
Miracle Sander, with free Miracle Scratch Cover
Domino Brownulated Sugar
Promo for Newsroom 7: The 11 O'Clock Update

Segment 2: Dinah and Paul speak with Henry about that rendition, plus a video of Ron speaking about the guest in question and Mr. Winkler's tips on etiquette

Promo for Stevie Wonder's "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants" album (audio futzing to avoid YouTube copyright blockage)

Commercials for:
Nestlé Hot Cocoa Mix (with Farfel the dog)
Roller Measure (from Ronco)
Promo for The Newlywed Game

Segment 3: Henry's penchant for neatness is discussed, and more video of Ron speaking about his co-star is shown, including when they first met, and Henry speaks of how he got "the Fonz" role

Commercials for:
Maxwell House coffee (at summer camp)
Oil of Olay

Segment 4: Henry's TV-movie, "An American Christmas Carol" (which aired the night before), is discussed (and a clip is shown), including its making (and Paul discusses his working on "Battle for the Planet of the Apes")

Commercials for:
"Disco Super Hits" record offer
Crimson Travel Service (with Rex and Sgt. Billy)
Long's Jewelers (with president Richard Chesley)
Promo for Newsroom 7: The 11 O'Clock Update

Segment 5: Sister Sledge perform their big hit, "We Are Family" (audio futzing necessitated for copyright reasons), followed by an interview segment with the four sisters

Commercials for:
Zayre Christmas Sale
Seven Editorial from editorial director Arch MacDonald on gasohol and its exemption from Federal tax

Segment 6 starts with "promotional consideration" plug for Pontiac, then Steven Spielberg comes on to discuss his new film "1941," Dinah shows an old Los Angeles Times headline from that year about enemy planes sighted over California coast, and discusses the film and its making

Commercials for:
"Super-Sonic" record offer (from Ronco)
Nescafé instant coffee
Promo for "Candlepins for Cash" (with Bob Gamere)
PSA from Governor's Highway Safety Bureau - "Make Right on Red a Good Turn"

Segment 7: "1941" co-stars Dianne Kay and Wendie Jo Sperber join Paul, Henry, Dinah and Steven to discuss the film

December Community Calendar spotlight gift certificates from Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and a coming speech from MIT Professor of Psychology Stephan Chorofer at Cambridge Forum on psychotechnology and engineering of public consent

Commercials for:
Bottoms Up sportswear
The Christmas Game from Massachusetts State Lottery (ending voiceover by Peter Thomas)
Miracle Broom - from Ronco

Segment 8 starts with plugs for Hamilton Beach Speed-O-Light Iron, Jolly Time Popcorn, Sue Bee Honey, and Lucky Drops Candies; Dinah says her goodbyes to the guests (including Mr. Minyard behind Henry), followed by ending credits (with voiceover promo for At Noon look at Moonies)

Commercials for:
Gift Coin (at Touraine and Cherry & Webb)
Coca-Cola - "Have a Coke and a Smile" (with promo at end for Holiday Feature Prices on selected 2-liter bottles)
Promo for At Noon
PSA for N.E. Home for Little Wanderers

Station ID / PSA for Boston's Museum of Science

The first few seconds of the opening of All-Star Beat the Clock

This aired on December 17, 1979.

Here's the complete broadcast of a 60-minute presentation of Dinah! & Friends on WNAC Channel 7 in Boston, MA, with guests Henry Winkler, Sister Sledge, Stev...

12/16/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRgxtDxq1U4

45 Years Ago Today:

Here's a fun Season's Greetings piece from the Eyewitness News team on WLS Channel 7. Featuring Fahey Flynn, Tim Weigel, Al Lerner, Jay Levine, Karen Kalish, Jim Ramsey, Peter Desnoes, Jim Hill, Joel Daly, Steve Deshler, Chuck Goudie, Frank Mathie, Jay Berry, Carol Bogart, Jack Jones, Kim Peterson, Theresa Gutierrez, Bill Campbell, Robb Weller, Diane Allen, and other staff making Christmas cookies. (did I miss anyone?)

Also includes a quick WLS bumper at the end with voice over by Wayne Atkinson.

Background music is the instrumental version of the "Seven's On Your Side" jingle.

This aired on Tuesday, December 16, 1980.

Here's a fun Season's Greetings piece from the Eyewitness News team on WLS Channel 7. Featuring Fahey Flynn, Tim Weigel, Al Lerner, Jay Levine, Karen Kalish...

12/15/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdU5lufxWVE

45 Years Ago Today:

Here's the last few minutes of the 5 PM edition (anchored by Fahey Flynn and Joel Daly), and all of the 6 PM edition (anchored by Diane Allen and Kim Peterson), of Eyewitness News on WLS Channel 7. (A bonus will follow.)

Includes:

Recording coming in within report by Frank Mathie on Santa cabbie resembling Roosevelt Lambert

Steve Deshler weather

Kim previews 6 PM edition, then Fahey and Joel close newscast

ABC World News Tonight aired afterwards.

Diane and Kim preview 6 PM newscast, followed by open (voice over by Al Parker)

All four suspects in murder of Anthony Hopfner are apprehended; Diane Lawson reports. The over the shoulder shot of the woman wasn't for this story, but the good Samaritan story about 17 minutes later in the broadcast

Bob Petty with Chicago police on homicide tally

New York subways unveil new canine patrol to fight crime

Commercials for:
Jontue by Revlon
Manischewitz wines
Convenient Food Mart
Marshall Field's

Hugh Hill on Mayor Byrne's call for 44th Ward Alderman Gerald Shay to resign

25th Ward Alderman Vito Marzullo laughs at reports she wants to replace him

Jack Jones on controversy over remarks by Rev. Jesse Jackson regarding Chicago School Superintendent position

Commercials for:
Sharp Microprocessors
Snapper snowplow
American Express card (take it to Merrill Chase)
ON TV

RTA hit with new headaches in form of structural defects in their Grumman 870's

Semi trailer truck with 6,000 gallons of gas tips over at Carol Stream, leading to evacuation of apartment complex and shopping center

North and northwest suburbs allowed to tap into Lake Michigan; Jim Ramsey speaks with La Grange residents about water situation

Northern Indiana Public Service Company will not raise gas heating bills as much as expected

Saudi Arabia increases oil prices to $32 a barrel during OPEC meeting in Indonesia

Treasury Dept. considering overhaul of appearance of Susan B. Anthony dollar

Seven on Your Side's Roberta Baskin helps good Samaritan

Commercials for:
Charlie fragrance (with Shelley Hack)
Ray-O-Vac "Christmas Gifts For Everyone".
Suitery clothiers
Ponderosa Steakhouse - "Gift Certificates"

Robin Orr explains her departure as Nancy Reagan's press secretary

Phyllis George Brown explains why she put on 60 pounds after having a baby

Cheryl Tiegs speaks of her old dietary habits

Tim Weigel sports

Stock market figures

Commercials for:
Chanel for Men
Zenith Space Phone
Brach's Chelsea Chips English toffee
State Street at Christmas (

Carlos Rodriguez whose house was mistakenly torn down will receive $22,000

Hugh Hill with Letters to 7 segment on Diane's r**e report and Pat Collins' piece on presidential transition

Commercials for:
Proctor-Silex coffee makers
"Children of a Lesser God" promo
Baby's Perfect Diaper Service
Duracell batteries

Reagan officially elected President by Electoral College

Steve Deshler weather

Commercials for:
Red Lobster
Ray-O-Vac (repeat)
Kmart Christmas Gift Values
Ivory Liquid (with Beverly and Bob Kipper)

Continental flight attendants to end 11-day walkout after tentative contract

Chrysler to seek another federal loan guarantee on Friday

Day 408 of hostage crisis, no movement on when they'll be released

ABC's John McKenzie on political situation in Poland

American Cancer Society releases latest cancer statistics

Commercials for:
Kmart nylon snow boots
Ciara fragrance
Almaden wine
Seiko Ultra-Thin Dress Quartz

10 states selling counterfeit Calvin Klein jeans

Steve's weather summary

Joel previews 10 PM edition, then newscast ends

Promo for "The Man Who Could Talk to Kids"

Editorial by VP/GM Peter Desnoes about giving to charity at Christmas time

Commercials for:
McDade's (with Jed Allen)

Season's Greetings from Eyewitness News team

Chicago Horizons

Station ID / AM Chicago promo (with Robb Weller)

Bonus: That's Incredible! preemption notice (voice over by Ernie Anderson), followed by first two minutes of Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

This aired on Monday, December 15, 1980

Here's the last few minutes of the 5pm edition (anchored by Fahey Flynn and Joel Daly), and all of the 6pm edition (anchored by Diane Allen and Kim Peterson)...

Address

Online Museum, But Our Heart Interstate In
Chicago, IL
60515

Telephone

+16308031977

Website

http://www.FuzzyMemories.TV/

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