A Whole Vault of Shows Not Being Aired

[Jimme]

It has long intrigued me how some of these netowrks with vast libraries of programming (such as Game Show Network and TV Land) show only a fraction of the shows available to them.  While many viewers see these channels as a potential "museum of broadcasting" which should run all sorts of unique, early, and rarely seen stuff in the vaults (e.g., the black and white Petticoat Junction   first season. Beulah, or all the 1950's Goodson Todman games beyond the 3 a.m. one hour block), the station owners are convinced this stuff won't draw enough viewers.  As we see the same stuff on these networks again and again, and the ratings aren't extraordinary, it can be said programming to a niche market may not be such a bad idea.
Well, add the WWE 24/7 On Demand to this list.  Given that Vince McMahon owns the entire video and film libraries of several old promotions from the 1960's through the early 2000's (WCW, WCCW, AWA, and other southern regional promotions), one would hope for a wide array of programs spanning all the organizations and decades.  Instead, we are lucky to get one WCW show a month, and endless reruns of Wrestlemanias of the past and other pay-per-views from WWE.  They say this is what the public craves, not those poorly staged grainy videotapes from 1972. But they aren't happy with the number of subscribers, and have heard from long-term wrestling fans saying put on more 70's Madison Square Garden matches and 80's & 90's WCW, and we would subscribe. 
  What are your thoughts on how these networks with "libraries" of videotapes should program.  Show it all (and acknowledge you are a small niche channel catering to a comparatively small audience of very loyal viewers) or concentrate on re-running the few perceived big shows you have (and hope the crummy ratings go up someday)?

 

[KML0224]

As "WKRP" proved, some shows have the touchy legal issues of music clerances, etc. Even some of the music in WWE's old pay-per-view specials has been changed.

 

[NeilRattigan]

Some of the vintage sitcoms, such as "Beulah" and "Amos and Andy" are too politically incorrect to run now.
CBS, in fact, pulled "Amos & Andy" out of syndication in 1966 after feeling pressure from the NAACP.

On the other hand, the old ABC/DuMont kinescopes of Bishop Sheen's "Life Is Worth Living" are timeless.
Check EWTN, the Eternal Word Television Network, for airings.

Personaly, I'd like to see the History Channel run some of the old vintage newscasts, kind of like a "this day in history" lesson.
Who better to teach us than Huntley & Brinkley!

 

[TexasTom]

Some of the vintage sitcoms, such as "Beulah" and "Amos and Andy" are too politically incorrect to run now.
CBS, in fact, pulled "Amos & Andy" out of syndication in 1966 after feeling pressure from the NAACP.

The 78 episodes (two seasons) of "Amos and Andy" have apparently fallen into the public domain, which means that a station or network could just find copies of the episodes and show them without having to get permission from CBS or anyone else.

As controversial as this particular show became, I tend to doubt that anyone is going to try to do that. After all, there is no profit in running a show that you can't sell advertising in -- and that is likely to generate so much controversy and backlash in the process.

 

[STF]

I'm disappointed to hear that about WWE 24/7. It's not currently on Dish, but if it were I'd like to get it. I'd like it more though if they would show the older tapes and more WCW product. That's a shame they aren't taking full advantage of their library.

 

[BRNout]

The 78 episodes (two seasons) of "Amos and Andy" have apparently fallen into the public domain, which means that a station or network could just find copies of the episodes and show them without having to get permission from CBS or anyone else.

As controversial as this particular show became, I tend to doubt that anyone is going to try to do that. After all, there is no profit in running a show that you can't sell advertising in -- and that is likely to generate so much controversy and backlash in the process.

Of course what you're saying is quite true. However, it sure would be interesting to actually see some episodes of this show to see what all the fuss was about. I'm in my early 40s and never have seen them. I'd imagine that's true of pretty much anyone under the age of 45 or so, right?

Too bad that there isn't some way to watch these old programs using your cable company's "on demand" feature. The issues with Amos 'n' Andy not withstanding, there sure is a lot of good stuff out there that is no longer being shown on TV.

At the minimum, some of these programs are timepieces that would provide an interesting insight about a period of time that is now long past. A 'n' A are certainly an example of this. You know, censorship is rarely a good thing. After all, it's hard to know where you're going if you don't know where you've been....

 

[Corky Marlowe]

While, from what I can tell, "Amos & Andy" pretty much invented the sitcom as we know it, I can understand people being bothered by it, just based on the fact that it was pretty much based on blackface comedy. I am a member of a barbershop chorus, and there was a time in barbershop history that blackface shows were pretty common. Those are long gone, as well as songs that contained pretty much any racial epithet you can think of.

 

[azumanga]

While, from what I can tell, "Amos & Andy" pretty much invented the sitcom as we know it, I can understand people being bothered by it, just based on the fact that it was pretty much based on blackface comedy.

Of course, the irony of it is that in the TV series, Amos and Andy (and their friends) were played by actual blacks, rather than whites in blackface; and it also featured blacks in positive roles, such as lawyers and policemen. But the fact that the series had its roots in whites being blacks alone has gave the series a bad taste in the mouths of the NAACP.

Regarding the public domain issue, are any (or all) of the series in PD? If so, CBS has been doing a good job keeping the series under wraps, as boots can't be found anywhere.

 

[LKellerIII]

"Of course what you're saying is quite true. However, it sure would be interesting to actually see some episodes of this show to see what all the fuss was about. I'm in my early 40s and never have seen them. I'd imagine that's true of pretty much anyone under the age of 45 or so, right?"

I'm 55, and I remember seeing them in afternoon reruns on KNXT Channel 2 in Los Angeles when I was 6 or 7 years old. I was too young to be politically aware, and I don't recall thinking anything bad about African Americans because of it. But looking at it in retrospect, it definitely reinforced negative stereotypes. Amos was a hard working guy (cab-driver, if I remember correctly). But on the TV show, Amos was almost a peripheral character. The comic plots were all based on the foibles of the 2 main characters; Andy, who was lazy and not very bright, and The Kingfish, who fancied himself a clever operator (gambler, etc.), but always lost the bet, blew his money, or got in serious trouble. He was also hen-pecked by his wife, Sapphire, who was shrill and mean.

Somebody else noted the irony that it was one of the few shows on TV that employed African American actors in ANY roles, and this is true. The show originated on radio, and the actors were white.

 

[Ultimajock]

On the other hand, the old ABC/DuMont kinescopes of Bishop Sheen's "Life Is Worth Living" are timeless.
Check EWTN, the Eternal Word Television Network, for airings.

Personaly, I'd like to see the History Channel run some of the old vintage newscasts, kind of like a "this day in history" lesson.
Who better to teach us than Huntley & Brinkley!

...the Sheen programs have also been running on Trinity Broadcasting Network. I caught one over their Phoenix station, KPAZ/21, a few weeks back and was pleasantly surprised to see TBN running something other than the usual shenanigans the Crouches commission...

...and, considering ABC and NBC each own a third of The History Channel, one would think it wouldn't be too hard to run not just Huntley-Brinkleys but also whatever surviving John Charles Daly ABC kinescopes may still exist...

 

[Ultimajock]

While, from what I can tell, "Amos & Andy" pretty much invented the sitcom as we know it, I can understand people being bothered by it, just based on the fact that it was pretty much based on blackface comedy.

...you've heard wrong. The original radio version of "Amos 'n Andy" was a 15-minute daily dramatic serial that had occasional comic touches. The actual "blackface" comedy of the same period was an obnoxious NBC Blue Network series originating from KSAT San Antonio, a noon-hour offering about a couple of Zip Coon-types who ran the "Black Panther Detective Agency." Why NBC ever bothered running that thing, I'll never know. The characters of "Amos 'n Andy" were transferred from the serial (cancelled because metal supplies were prioritised for the War effort, thus sponsor Campbell's Soup had to cut back on its production and radio sponsorships) to the radio sitcom in 1943, by which time quite a few sitcoms -- "Fibber McGee & Molly," "The Great Gildersleeve," "Duffy's Tavern," the Jack Benny and George Burns & Gracie Allen programs -- were very active. What "Amos 'n Andy" *did* originate was the concept of program syndication outside of a network; for its first year and a half on the air (1928-29), it was distributed on phonograph record to over 70 stations around the country while live productions of the same scripts were aired nightly over the originating station, WMAQ Chicago...

 

[MHB]

"Of course what you're saying is quite true. However, it sure would be interesting to actually see some episodes of this show to see what all the fuss was about. I'm in my early 40s and never have seen them. I'd imagine that's true of pretty much anyone under the age of 45 or so, right?"

I'm 55, and I remember seeing them in afternoon reruns on KNXT Channel 2 in Los Angeles when I was 6 or 7 years old. I was too young to be politically aware, and I don't recall thinking anything bad about African Americans because of it. But looking at it in retrospect, it definitely reinforced negative stereotypes. Amos was a hard working guy (cab-driver, if I remember correctly). But on the TV show, Amos was almost a peripheral character. The comic plots were all based on the foibles of the 2 main characters; Andy, who was lazy and not very bright, and The Kingfish, who fancied himself a clever operator (gambler, etc.), but always lost the bet, blew his money, or got in serious trouble. He was also hen-pecked by his wife, Sapphire, who was shrill and mean.

Somebody else noted the irony that it was one of the few shows on TV that employed African American actors in ANY roles, and this is true. The show originated on radio, and the actors were white.

From what I understand, the show was taped before a live audience of blacks and whites, and both enjoyed it; neither were offended by it back then.

 

[Ultimajock]

"Of course what you're saying is quite true. However, it sure would be interesting to actually see some episodes of this show to see what all the fuss was about. I'm in my early 40s and never have seen them. I'd imagine that's true of pretty much anyone under the age of 45 or so, right?"

I'm 55, and I remember seeing them in afternoon reruns on KNXT Channel 2 in Los Angeles when I was 6 or 7 years old. I was too young to be politically aware, and I don't recall thinking anything bad about African Americans because of it. But looking at it in retrospect, it definitely reinforced negative stereotypes. Amos was a hard working guy (cab-driver, if I remember correctly). But on the TV show, Amos was almost a peripheral character. The comic plots were all based on the foibles of the 2 main characters; Andy, who was lazy and not very bright, and The Kingfish, who fancied himself a clever operator (gambler, etc.), but always lost the bet, blew his money, or got in serious trouble. He was also hen-pecked by his wife, Sapphire, who was shrill and mean.

Somebody else noted the irony that it was one of the few shows on TV that employed African American actors in ANY roles, and this is true. The show originated on radio, and the actors were white.

From what I understand, the show was taped before a live audience of blacks and whites, and both enjoyed it; neither were offended by it back then.

...only the radio sitcom version was taped before a live audience, and the only White actors in the regular cast were Freeman Gosden (playing both Amos and The Kingfish) and Charles Correll (playing Andy). The rest of the cast were Black, except for Amos' daughter, who was played by a Chinese-American actress. On TV, the entire cast was Black and the show was filmed on a soundstage at the Hal Roach Studios with a laugh and applause track dubbed in...

 

[kyscott]

Personaly, I'd like to see the History Channel run some of the old vintage newscasts, kind of like a "this day in history" lesson.
Who better to teach us than Huntley & Brinkley!

It would be nice to see a newscast without the name Britney Spears mentioned one friggin' time. Back when news was actual news that effected the viewers lives. Today's news, like everything else, has become more entertainment than news.

 

[Corky Marlowe]

It would be nice to see a newscast without the name Britney Spears mentioned one friggin' time. Back when news was actual news that effected the viewers lives. Today's news, like everything else, has become more entertainment than news.
Along those lines, when Elvis died, either CBS or NBC (can't remember which) refused to make that the lead story on their evening news. It would take up nearly the entire newscast today. Back to topic, I agree it would be cool to see vintage newscasts. We've all seen the footage of JFK's assassination as covered by the networks...Other coverage of significant events as they happened would be great too.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

Of course what you're saying is quite true. However, it sure would be interesting to actually see some episodes of this show to see what all the fuss was about. I'm in my early 40s and never have seen them. I'd imagine that's true of pretty much anyone under the age of 45 or so, right?

The late, lamented Trio network ran one or two A&A episodes a few years back during a sweeps month special on taboo television...I wish I could remember what the name of the primetime "umbrella" they ran the special under. It also included a documentary on taboo television and reruns of NBC's unsuccessful and religous-right boycotted "God, The Devil & Bob" cartoon (which I found quite hilarious). Unfortunately, I forgot to set my TiVo and missed the A&A showing during the special.

 

[NeilRattigan]

Corky Marlowe said: "Along those lines, when Elvis died, either CBS or NBC (can't remember which) refused to make that the lead story on their evening news. It would take up nearly the entire newscast today. Back to topic, I agree it would be cool to see vintage newscasts. We've all seen the footage of JFK's assassination as covered by the networks...Other coverage of significant events as they happened would be great too."

====

I remember the day Elvis died. It was CBS. Roger Mudd was filling in for Walter Cronkite, and if I remember correctly, the Elvis obit was at the top of the second block. NBC and ABC led with Elvis. I can't remember was CBS' lead story was.

 

[Markxxx]

You also have to remember broadcasting is not open to competition. There are only so many TV stations per city and so many cable channels. So it's not like you can just open a store, or push in another product.

Also as I've said before, it's not enough to make a profit, you have to make the MOST profit. So let's say I can sell time on "Amos and Andy," and make $100.00 that's good. But let's say I can sell the say time on "Roseanne," and make $105.00.

Well you might say it's only $5.00 more, but in today's business world that means "Roseanne" would win regardless of how many more channels it's on.

I love these Old Time Radio broadcasts a lot are available for free on the Internet, so look up old radio shows and you will forget there's nothing to watch on TV. I listened to a reading of "Scrooge," and let me tell you, nothing on TV or Movie can compare to the image in your mind.

 

[Ultimajock]

Corky Marlowe said: "Along those lines, when Elvis died, either CBS or NBC (can't remember which) refused to make that the lead story on their evening news. It would take up nearly the entire newscast today. Back to topic, I agree it would be cool to see vintage newscasts. We've all seen the footage of JFK's assassination as covered by the networks...Other coverage of significant events as they happened would be great too."

====

I remember the day Elvis died. It was CBS. Roger Mudd was filling in for Walter Cronkite, and if I remember correctly, the Elvis obit was at the top of the second block. NBC and ABC led with Elvis. I can't remember was CBS' lead story was.

...in fact, on NBC, David Brinkley's first words were, "Good evening. Elvis Presley died today..." Considering that NBC and RCA Victor Records were still co-owned at the time, I'd have been surprised if NBC *didn't* make it the top story...

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

One of the NBC cable stations (MSNBC-?) has featured taped news coverage of events on the date they took place. For example, last September 11, that outlet had tapes from NBC's coverage of six years before timed right up to the minute beginning shortly before 9 A.M. right after the first tower was struck past when both towers had fallen.