• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Retro Thanksgiving NFL Football TV Coverage

J

Joseph_Gallant

Guest
If my memory serves me correct, the first NFL game played on Thanksgiving Day was Detroit hosting Chicago in 1934.

IIRC, The first time Dallas hosted a Turkey Day game was 1966, but it did not become an annual event there until the early 1970's.

I would think that the once-WWJ-4 (now WDIV) went on the air in 1947, it broadcast the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving Day clash for a couple of years.

I'd like to find out (maybe our own Timmy B. can help) about what NFL (and heck, we can include the old American Football League from 1960 through 1969) Thanksigiving games were broadcast on network TV, the networks that did them, and who were the commentators.

Note: This year, we have one game (Atlanta at Detroit) which while not the greatest game, may not be as much of a mis-match as Thanksgiving games in Detroit have been of late. The other Turkey Day game (Denver at Dallas) should be one of the better Thanksgiving matchups the NFL has had in several years.
 
>
>
> IIRC, The first time Dallas hosted a Turkey Day game was
> 1966, but it did not become an annual event there until the
> early 1970's.

I remember well the Dallas-Cleveland game in 1966; I was
stuck in a Holiday Inn in Norfolk, VA (we were in the process
of moving to Virginia Beach from North Carolina and our
furniture hadn't arrived). Danny Villanueva kicked four
field goals for the Cowboys, a fact which has stuck in my
mind for almost forty years. After his playing days ended,
Villanueva ran (may have even helped start) Spanish-language
KMEX/34 Los Angeles.
>
>
>
 
source: New York Times
Here is How NFL Football has been carried on Network Television on Thanksgiving from 1946 to the present

1946
AAFC- NY Yankees .vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 1:45pm- (WABD 5- DUMONT)

1947
AAFC- Brooklyn Dodgers .vs. San Francisco- 2pm- (WCBS 2- CBS)

1949
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 10:55am- (ABC)

1950
NFL- New York Yanks @ Detroit Lions- 11:55am- (ABC)

1951
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (Dumont)

1952
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (Dumont)/ Chicago Bears @ Dallas Texans from Akron, OH, 3pm (DUMONT)

1953
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 11am- (Dumont)

1954
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (Dumont)

1955
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (ABC)

1956
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)

1957
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)

1958
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)

1959
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)

1960
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)

1961
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)

1962
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
AFL- New York Titans @ Denver Broncos- 3pm- (ABC)

1963
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
AFL- Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos- 3pm- (ABC)

1964
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
AFL- Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers- 3:30pm- (ABC)

1965
NFL- Baltimore Colts @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
AFL- Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers- 4:30pm- (NBC)

1966
NFL- San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)
AFL- Buffalo Bills @ Oakland Raiders- 3pm- (NBC)

1967
NFL- Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)

AFL- Oakland @ Kansas City- 2:30pm- (NBC)
Denver @ San Diego- 4:30pm- (NBC)
1968
NFL- Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)

AFL- Houston Oilers @ Kansas City Chiefs- 1:30pm- (NBC)
Buffalo Bills @ Oakland Raiders- 4pm- (NBC)
1969
NFL- Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)

AFL- Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Oilers- 1:30pm- (NBC)
San Diego Chargers @ Houston Oilers- 4pm- (NBC)

1970
NFL- Oakland Raiders @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)

1971
NFL- Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)

1972
NFL- New York Jets @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
1973
NFL- Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
Miami Dolphins @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (NBC)
1974
NFL- Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
1975
NFL- Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
Buffalo Bills @ St. Louis Cardinals- 3:30pm- (NBC)

1976
NFL- Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
1977
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Miami Dolphins @ St. Louis Cardinals- 3:30pm- (NBC)
1978
NFL- Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions- 3:30pm- (CBS)
1979
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Houston Oilers @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (NBC)
1980
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
1981
NFL- Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1982
NFL- New York Giants @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
1983
NFL- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1984
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
New England Patriots @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
1985
NFL- New York Jets @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1986
NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
1987
NFL- Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
Minnesota Vikings @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1988
NFL- Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Houston Oilers @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)

1989
NFL- Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1990
NFL- Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1991
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
1992
NFL- Houston Oilers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
1993
NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
Miami Dolphins @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
1994
NFL- Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (FOX)
1995 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 1995 at Det Detroit 44, Minnesota 38- (12:30pm- FOX)
1995 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 1995 at Dal Dallas 24, Kansas City 12 (4pm- NBC)
1996 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 28 1996 at Det Kansas City 28, Detroit 24 (12:30pm- NBC)
1996 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 28 1996 at Dal Dallas 21, Washington 10 (4pm- Fox)
1997 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 27 1997 at Det Detroit 55, Chicago 20 (12:30pm- Fox)
1997 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 27 1997 at Dal Ten Oilers 27, Dallas 14 (4pm- NBC)
1998 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 26 1998 at Det Detroit 19, Pittsburgh 16 (OT) (12:30pm- CBS)
1998 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 26 1998 at Dal Minnesota 46, Dallas 36 (4pm- Fox)
1999 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 1999 at Det Detroit 21, Chicago 17 (12:30pm- Fox)
1999 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 1999 at Dal Dallas 20, Miami 0 (4pm- CBS)
2000 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 2000 at Det Detroit 34, New England 9 (12:30pm- CBS)
2000 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 2000 at Dal Minnesota 27, Dallas 15 (4pm- Fox)
2001 season: Week 11 Tks Nov 22 2001 at Det Green Bay 29, Detroit 27 (12:30pm- Fox)
2001 season: Week 11 Tks Nov 22 2001 at Dal Denver 26, Dallas 24 (4pm- CBS)
2002 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 28 2002 at Det New England 20, Detroit 12 (12:30pm- CBS)
2002 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 28 2002 at Dal Dallas 27, Washington 20 (4pm- Fox)
2003 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 27 2003 at Det Detroit 22, Green Bay 14 (12:30pm- Fox)
2003 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 27 2003 at Dal Miami 40, Dallas 21 (4pm- CBS)
2004 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 2004 at Det Indianapolis 41, Detroit 9 (12:30pm- CBS)
2004 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 2004 at Dal Dallas 21, Chicago 7 (4pm- Fox)
2005 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 24 2005 Atl at Det (12:30pm- Fox)
2005 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 24 2005 Den at Dal (4pm- CBS)
 
Thanks!!

While I knew that Dallas' first Thanksgiving Day home game was in 1966, I had been under the impression that the second one wasn't until 1970 or so. But Dallas has played at home every Thanksgiving Day since 1966, which makes this year's (November 24th) game against Denver the 40th straight year the Cowboys have played at home on Thanksgiving.

Hopefully, Jim Nantz and or Phil Simms will mention it on the air during their broadcast of the game. And in the unlikely event (as very few telecasts of NFL games prior to the 1970's exist) that footage of CBS' broadcast of the Cowboys' 1966 Turkey Day game still exists, I hope they'll show a brief clip of it.
 
That previous message looked like it had a baseball team or two listed in it. Anyway, what I'd like to know is how were Dallas and Detroit chosen as the two teams featured every year in the first place?
 
> Thanks!!
>
> While I knew that Dallas' first Thanksgiving Day home game
> was in 1966, I had been under the impression that the second
> one wasn't until 1970 or so. But Dallas has played at home
> every Thanksgiving Day since 1966, which makes this year's
> (November 24th) game against Denver the 40th straight year
> the Cowboys have played at home on Thanksgiving.

They didn't play on Thanksgiving in '75 and '77.
 
> That previous message looked like it had a baseball team or
> two listed in it. Anyway, what I'd like to know is how were
> Dallas and Detroit chosen as the two teams featured every
> year in the first place?
>

The NY Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers were also football teams in the short lived All-American Football Conference.
I don't know how Detroit's tradition started, but Tex Schramm was behind the Cowboys playing on Thanksgiving as a way to increase the team's national exposure.
 
> Hopefully, Jim Nantz and or Phil Simms will mention it on
> the air during their broadcast of the game. And in the
> unlikely event (as very few telecasts of NFL games prior to
> the 1970's exist) that footage of CBS' broadcast of the
> Cowboys' 1966 Turkey Day game still exists, I hope they'll
> show a brief clip of it.
>

More footage exists than you might think. The NFL just doesn't allow it to be shown, opting to have us see NFL Films footage.

There is exisiting video footage from CBS of the 1967 Ice Bowl and Super Bowl I. ESPN used it in their NFL 75th anniversary special a few years back.
 
> > That previous message looked like it had a baseball team
> or
> > two listed in it. Anyway, what I'd like to know is how
> were
> > Dallas and Detroit chosen as the two teams featured every
> > year in the first place?
> >
> Detroit, as noted earlier, started in 1934 and has been consistent. Dallas did start to get TV exposure, accoridng to Tex Schramm.

When the AFL was around, it also played two games on the day, although I think those rotated among teams.
 
> There is exisiting video footage from CBS of the 1967 Ice
> Bowl and Super Bowl I. ESPN used it in their NFL 75th
> anniversary special a few years back.
>
I can vouch for the Ice Bowl; when CBS ended its NFC coverage, it did a short montage at the end of the game which included a clip of Ray Scott on the field saying "It is very cold in Green Bay, Wisconsin"

As for SBI, if you know where that footage is, contact the Museum of Broadcasting; they've said for years they don't have anything.
 
> > Detroit, as noted earlier, started in 1934 and has been
> consistent. Dallas did start to get TV exposure, accoridng
> to Tex Schramm.

Commissioner Rozelle may have played a part in the Cowboys getting that second game. When he decided to allow such a game back in 1966 to increase TV exposure, he asked which NFL team [15 teams back then, before the merger with the AFL] was interested. Tex Schramm and the Cowboys took up the Commissioner on his offer practically by default, because no one else would.

www.nfl.com/news/story/6865869 ["The Gravy on Thanksgiving Day Games"]
 
here's some educated guesses and actua commentator crews for the below:

source: New York Times
> Here is How NFL Football has been carried on Network
> Television on Thanksgiving from 1946 to the present
>
> 1946
> AAFC- NY Yankees .vs. Brooklyn Dodgers 1:45pm- (WABD 5-
> DUMONT) bill slater
>
> 1947
> AAFC- Brooklyn Dodgers .vs. San Francisco- 2pm- (WCBS 2-
> CBS) red barber
>
> 1949
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 10:55am- (ABC)
> red grange, joe hasel
> 1950
> NFL- New York Yanks @ Detroit Lions- 11:55am- (ABC)
> red grange, joe hasel
> 1951
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (Dumont)
> harry wismer
> 1952
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (Dumont)/
> harry wismer
Chicago Bears @ Dallas Texans from Akron, OH, 3pm (DUMONT)
> red grange
> 1953
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 11am- (Dumont)
> van patrick, chris schenkel
> 1954
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (Dumont)
> van patrick, chris schenkel
> 1955
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (ABC)
> van patrick, chris schenkel
> 1956
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
> van patrick, ray scott, les bingaman
> 1957
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
> van patrick, ray scott, les bingaman
> 1958
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
> van patrick, ray scott, leon hart
> 1959
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
> van patrick, ray scott, leon hart
> 1960
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
> van patrick, ray scott, bob reynolds
> 1961
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
> van patrick, ray scott, bob reynolds
> 1962
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
van patrick, ray scott, bob reynolds
> AFL- New York Titans @ Denver Broncos- 3pm- (ABC)
curt gowdy, paul christman
> 1963
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
van patrick, ray scott, russ thomas
> AFL- Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos- 3pm- (ABC)
curt gowdy, paul christman
>
> 1964
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
van patrick, jack buck, jim morse
> AFL- Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers- 3:30pm- (ABC)
> curt gowdy, paul christman
> 1965
> NFL- Baltimore Colts @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
(first cbs game ever in color) van patrick, chuck thompson, pat summerall
> AFL- Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers- 4:30pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, paul christman
>
> 1966
> NFL- San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
van patrick, bob fouts, frank gifford
> Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)
jack buck, frank glieber, pat summerall
> AFL- Buffalo Bills @ Oakland Raiders- 3pm- (NBC)
> curt gowdy, paul christman
> 1967
> NFL- Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
van patrick, frank gifford
> St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)
jack buck, pat summerall
>
> AFL- Oakland @ Kansas City- 2:30pm- (NBC)
jim simpson, george ratterman
> Denver @ San Diego- 4:30pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, paul christman
> 1968
> NFL- Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
lindsey nelson, tom brookshier
> Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)
>ray scott, paul christman
> AFL- Houston Oilers @ Kansas City Chiefs- 1:30pm- (NBC)
jim simpson, al derogatis
> Buffalo Bills @ Oakland Raiders- 4pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, kyle rote
> 1969
> NFL- Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions- 12:15pm- (CBS)
ray scott, paul christman
> San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys- 6pm- (CBS)
jack buck, pat summerall
>
> AFL- Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Oilers- 1:30pm- (NBC)
jim simpson, al derogatis
> San Diego Chargers @ Houston Oilers- 4pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, kyle rote
>
> 1970
> NFL- Oakland Raiders @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, kyle rote
> Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
ray scott, pat summerall
>
> 1971
> NFL- Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, al derogatis
> Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
> ray scott, pat summerall
> 1972
> NFL- New York Jets @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, al derogatis
> San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
ray scott, pat summerall
> 1973
> NFL- Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
ray scott, pat summerall
> Miami Dolphins @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, al derogatis
> 1974
> NFL- Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, al derogatis, don meredith
> Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, tom brookshier
> 1975
> NFL- Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, tom brookshier
> Buffalo Bills @ St. Louis Cardinals- 3:30pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy. al derogatis, don meredith
>
> 1976
> NFL- Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions- 12pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, don meredith
> St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, tom brookshier
> 1977
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, tom brookshier
> Miami Dolphins @ St. Louis Cardinals- 3:30pm- (NBC)
curt gowdy, john brodie
> 1978
> NFL- Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions- 3:30pm- (CBS)
(i think you meant cowboys) pat summerall, tom brookshier
> 1979
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, tom brookshier
> Houston Oilers @ Dallas Cowboys- 3:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> 1980
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, tom brookshier
> Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> 1981
> NFL- Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1982
> NFL- New York Giants @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> 1983
> NFL- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1984
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> New England Patriots @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> 1985
> NFL- New York Jets @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> St. Louis Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1986
> NFL- Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> 1987
> NFL- Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
> Minnesota Vikings @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1988
> NFL- Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> Houston Oilers @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, merlin olsen
>
> 1989
> NFL- Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, bill walsh
> Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1990
> NFL- Denver Broncos @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, bill walsh
> Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1991
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> Pittsburgh Steelers @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, bill walsh
> 1992
> NFL- Houston Oilers @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, bob trumpy
> New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1993
> NFL- Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (CBS)
pat summerall, john madden
> Miami Dolphins @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, bob trumpy
> 1994
> NFL- Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions- 12:30pm- (NBC)
dick enberg, bob trumpy
> Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys- 4pm- (FOX)
pat summerall, john madden
> 1995 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 1995 at Det Detroit 44,
> Minnesota 38- (12:30pm- FOX) pat summerall, john madden
> 1995 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 1995 at Dal Dallas 24,
> Kansas City 12 (4pm- NBC) dick enberg, paul maguire, phil simms
> 1996 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 28 1996 at Det Kansas City 28,
> Detroit 24 (12:30pm- NBC) dick enberg, paul maguire, phil simms
> 1996 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 28 1996 at Dal Dallas 21,
> Washington 10 (4pm- Fox) pat summerall, john madden
> 1997 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 27 1997 at Det Detroit 55,
> Chicago 20 (12:30pm- Fox) pat summerall, john madden
> 1997 season: Week 14 Tks Nov 27 1997 at Dal Ten Oilers 27,
> Dallas 14 (4pm- NBC) dick enberg, paul maguire, phil simms
> 1998 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 26 1998 at Det Detroit 19,
> Pittsburgh 16 (OT) (12:30pm- CBS) greg gumbel, phil simms
> 1998 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 26 1998 at Dal Minnesota 46,
> Dallas 36 (4pm- Fox) pat summerall, john madden
> 1999 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 1999 at Det Detroit 21,
> Chicago 17 (12:30pm- Fox) pat summerall, john madden
> 1999 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 1999 at Dal Dallas 20, Miami
> 0 (4pm- CBS) greg gumbel, phil simms
> 2000 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 2000 at Det Detroit 34, New
> England 9 (12:30pm- CBS) greg gumbel, phil simms
> 2000 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 23 2000 at Dal Minnesota 27,
> Dallas 15 (4pm- Fox) pat summerall, john madden
> 2001 season: Week 11 Tks Nov 22 2001 at Det Green Bay 29,
> Detroit 27 (12:30pm- Fox) pat summerall, john madden
> 2001 season: Week 11 Tks Nov 22 2001 at Dal Denver 26,
> Dallas 24 (4pm- CBS) greg gumbel, phil simms
> 2002 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 28 2002 at Det New England 20,
> Detroit 12 (12:30pm- CBS) greg gumbel, phil simms
> 2002 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 28 2002 at Dal Dallas 27,
> Washington 20 (4pm- Fox) joe buck, troy aikman, cris collinsworth
> 2003 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 27 2003 at Det Detroit 22,
> Green Bay 14 (12:30pm- Fox) joe buck, troy aikman, cris collinsworth
> 2003 season: Week 13 Tks Nov 27 2003 at Dal Miami 40, Dallas
> 21 (4pm- CBS) greg gumbel, phil simms
> 2004 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 2004 at Det Indianapolis 41,
> Detroit 9 (12:30pm- CBS) jim nantz, phil simms
> 2004 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 25 2004 at Dal Dallas 21,
> Chicago 7 (4pm- Fox) joe buck, troy aikman, cris collinsworth
> 2005 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 24 2005 Atl at Det (12:30pm-
> Fox) joe buck, troy ailman
> 2005 season: Week 12 Tks Nov 24 2005 Den at Dal (4pm- CBS)
> jim nantz, phil simms

tb
 
> > > Detroit, as noted earlier, started in 1934 and has been
> > consistent. Dallas did start to get TV exposure, accoridng
>
> > to Tex Schramm.
>
> Commissioner Rozelle may have played a part in the Cowboys
> getting that second game. When he decided to allow such a
> game back in 1966 to increase TV exposure, he asked which
> NFL team [15 teams back then, before the merger with the
> AFL] was interested. Tex Schramm and the Cowboys took up
> the Commissioner on his offer practically by default,
> because no one else would.
>
> www.nfl.com/news/story/6865869 ["The Gravy on Thanksgiving
> Day Games"]
>
And in the '70s it was no doubt a ratings bonanza for CBS,
whose motto in those days was, "When in doubt, give 'em Dallas."
Only problem was, NBC had the Cowboys every other year, when
an AFC team would come into Texas Stadium.

BTW, Pat Summerall was at the Cowboys game yesterday, and
it's obvious that alcohol has taken its toll on him; he looks
like a shadow of his former self. It did, however, make me
nostalgic for the days when he and John Madden were there
calling the game.
 
> > That previous message looked like it had a baseball team
> or
> > two listed in it. Anyway, what I'd like to know is how
> were
> > Dallas and Detroit chosen as the two teams featured every
> > year in the first place?
> >
>
> The NY Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers were also football teams
> in the short lived All-American Football Conference.
> I don't know how Detroit's tradition started, but Tex
> Schramm was behind the Cowboys playing on Thanksgiving as a
> way to increase the team's national exposure.
>
In fact, WOR was broadcasting a Yankees-Dodgers football game
on December 7, 1941, when Len Sterling interrupted with the first
bulletin on the attack on Pearl Harbor at 2:22 PM, eight minutes
before CBS and (I think) NBC broadcast their first bulletins (NBC
may have done so a few minutes earlier, I'm not sure).

This was five years before the All-America Conference began, so
I know the Yankees and Dodgers were once NFL teams.
 
> > There is exisiting video footage from CBS of the 1967 Ice
> > Bowl and Super Bowl I. ESPN used it in their NFL 75th
> > anniversary special a few years back.
> >
> I can vouch for the Ice Bowl; when CBS ended its NFC
> coverage, it did a short montage at the end of the game
> which included a clip of Ray Scott on the field saying "It
> is very cold in Green Bay, Wisconsin"
>
> As for SBI, if you know where that footage is, contact the
> Museum of Broadcasting; they've said for years they don't
> have anything.
>
Makes you wonder how important the NFL deemed Super Bowl I.
Don't forget that it was played in a half-full L.A. Coliseum,
and that the game was blacked out in Los Angeles.
 
A few clips of CBS' coverage of Super Bowl I appeared in a 1991 HBO special on the history of televised sports.

It's my understanding the minute or two clip was found at a CBS affiliate, and is the only known television footage of the first Super Bowl. It is my understanding that none of NBC's coverage of Super Bowl I (they carried it too) is known to have survived.

I believe the oldest complete videotape of a Super Bowl was NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl III. I thought that was the only one of the first five Super Bowls for which a complete tape exists, but I think complete tapes exist for all Super Bowls since number VI.

The NFL should get together with the networks and release complete network broadcasts (where available) of previous Super Bowls (including commercials if possible) on DVD. There are some bootleg DVD's of network broadcasts of past Super Bowls on E-Bay; "officially authorized" versions would be of a much better technical quality, having been remastered from the original network videotapes.
 
> >
> Makes you wonder how important the NFL deemed Super Bowl I.
> Don't forget that it was played in a half-full L.A.
> Coliseum,
> and that the game was blacked out in Los Angeles.
>
Oh, the NFL was trying to hype it; L.A. just didn't care because a local team wasn't involved. And even if the game had been sold out, it would have been blacked out (the NFL didn't lift a blackout until Supe VII.

It was because the networks were cheap about videotape in those days; color videotape was much more expensive then, and it got reused.
 
> BTW, Pat Summerall was at the Cowboys game yesterday, and
> it's obvious that alcohol has taken its toll on him; he
> looks
> like a shadow of his former self. It did, however, make me
> nostalgic for the days when he and John Madden were there
> calling the game.
>

Keep in mind the guy's 75 years old as well.

Nantz mentioned that he had dinner with Summerall and Verne Lundquist the night before. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall during that conversation!
 
B. Hayes 1016 wrote:

> Nantz mentioned that he had dinner with Summerall and Verne
> Lundquist the night before. What I wouldn't give to be a fly
> on the wall during that conversation!

Add Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, and Frank Gifford, and you'd be having dinner with six men who between them had called many of the NFL's greatest games. What a lesson in football history that would be for an NFL fan!
 
> > Nantz mentioned that he had dinner with Summerall and
> Verne
> > Lundquist the night before. What I wouldn't give to be a
> fly
> > on the wall during that conversation!
>
> Add Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, and Frank Gifford, and you'd be
> having dinner with six men who between them had called many
> of the NFL's greatest games. What a lesson in football
> history that would be for an NFL fan!
>

I was thinking more from a Cowboy fans' perspective, since Summerall (CBS) and Lundquist (radio and/or WFAA) had covered many of their games during the glory years. I remember reading somewhere that Summerall had broadcast the Cowboys more than any other team during his years with CBS and FOX.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom