KInescope Companies

[joeybabe25]

You will see ads in old issues of Variety for Kinescope Companies that would kine an appearence for someone scheduled to be on a tv program. I've often thought that there are a lot of professional kinescopes out there, yet to be discovered, that were paid for by people who wanted a film of their appearence .

Since home taping really didn't become feasable for even the wealthy until well into the 60's, I would like to think there are lots and lots of classic tv shows out there on kine.

Joe

 

[MCarney]

That's how the kinescope of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series came about. Bing Crosby was part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was too nervous to watch, either in person or on TV, so he went on a European vacation and arranged for the game to be kinescoped by one of these companies. He watched it when he got home and then put the film down in his basement with other films he had, and was only discovered when his estate was doing inventory for possible DVD releases of his shows a few years ago.

 

[joeybabe25]

I've seen videotape of ballgames from this early era, and they really stink. The tracking is abysmal. There is a lot said about the inferiority of kinescopes, but those done professionally, particuarly before videotape was "perfected" are superior in quality to tape.

Joe

 

[FreddyE1977]

Weren't there some legal hurdles to deal with? After all broadcast TV programs are copyrighted
material. Even in the early VCR days I recall the Federal courts were still kicking around the issue
of what exactly you were permitted to do as far as recording for personal use.

 

[joeybabe25]

Weren't there some legal hurdles to deal with? After all broadcast TV programs are copyrighted
material. Even in the early VCR days I recall the Federal courts were still kicking around the issue
of what exactly you were permitted to do as far as recording for personal use.

I think purely personal use has always been protected and recognized.

Joe

 

[BD Sullivan]

Weren't there some legal hurdles to deal with? After all broadcast TV programs are copyrighted
material. Even in the early VCR days I recall the Federal courts were still kicking around the issue
of what exactly you were permitted to do as far as recording for personal use.

I think purely personal use has always been protected and recognized.

Joe

It was definitely the basis of a lawsuit that involved Disney and Universal. The case was finally decided by the Supreme Court (in January 1984), although it was a close 5-4 vote:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...&dq=video+tape+recorders+disney+lawsuit&hl=en (page 8 of 28)

 

[cwf1701]

And didn't some companies kinoscope some educational programs from NBC, CBS, ABC, and NET/PBS and send them out to the schools also (edited with the ads and station IDs removed)?

 

[CrankyYankee]

Up until the mid 70's or so, The American Forces Radio and Television Service was probably the largest user of kinescopes.
Providing copies of recent news and sporting events, many copies were sent worldwide, used, and returned to be destroyed.

 

[BD Sullivan]

Up until the mid 70's or so, The American Forces Radio and Television Service was probably the largest user of kinescopes.
Providing copies of recent news and sporting events, many copies were sent worldwide, used, and returned to be destroyed.

Some of the ones that were not thrown out have made their way onto the air. A Johnny Carson anniversary show and the 1965 Baseball All-Star Game are two that I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[joeybabe25]

It was definitely the basis of a lawsuit that involved Disney and Universal. The case was finally decided by the Supreme Court (in January 1984), although it was a close 5-4 vote:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...&dq=video+tape+recorders+disney+lawsuit&hl=en (page 8 of 28)

I know there was a massive case, but if memory serves, I don't think Hollywood had any illusions or even goal at this point to take away home VTR's from people (in the United States). I think, even though the case file may say that, they were hoping for a tax or fee on every VTR unit or tape itself.

As always, I'm more than willing to be corrected.

Joe