First T.V. series to be shot entirely on video?

[EddieVanHalen]

I know of the first Spanish (I'm Spanish and live in Spain) T.V. series to be fully shot on video, its name was Tristeza de Amor (sadness of love or kind of that) and was aired on early 1986, so I assume much of the shooting was done in 1985. Prior to that all Spanish series were shot to film and then telecined for airing.
But my interest here is American T.V., which was the first US T.V. series to be shot only with video equipment? I recall series as Alf, Family Ties or Growing Pains as being shot to video and how dreadful they looked converted from NTSC to Pal, am I right? Were these the first ones?

[Drawer L]

All In The Family was shot on tape.First season was '71.Many variety shows before that were shot on tape,but that's the earliest sitcom I can think of.

[EddieVanHalen]

All In The Family was shot on tape.First season was '71.Many variety shows before that were shot on tape,but that's the earliest sitcom I can think of.

71? Picture quality has to be bad with plenty of video noise and inaccurate colors.

[Doug Sclar]

71? Picture quality has to be bad with plenty of video noise and inaccurate colors.

There were a few Twilight Zone episodes that were shot to video, I believe in the early 60's, and they had a radically different feel to them. Actuially they looked pretty similar to the soap operas of that time. Audio was quite different as well.

[Joel Cairo]

Here in the United States, many different series began using videotape facilities as they became available, in about 1957. Prior to this time, if they weren't originally produced on film, programs were live broadcasts, so the development of videotape allowed the actors and crews to take an occasional week off. I suppose the first programs to go **solely** to video were independent productions, since the networks had to spread their facilities among the different shows on their schedules.

The earliest "exclusively videotape" show I can think of is KTTV's syndicated "Divorce Court" series, which was first distributed in 1958.

-Kevin

[MMM]

71? Picture quality has to be bad with plenty of video noise and inaccurate colors.


The show, at least in the earlier-middle years, looks a little "soft" and not exactly transparent, but still looks OK. It doesn't seem entirely accurate, but IMO it doesn't need be.

[BrettyD]

While this isn't strictly on subject as this series wasn't shot on video tape - but some "air" copies were from it.....here in New Zealand I vividly recall the differences in quality of MASH episodes sourced from film vs those from videotape. Videotape ones had bluey green blacks and orange flesh tones and the sound was pretty mucky too. Film looked "clear" and "normal".

A while back I noticed Cheers was being aired for the umpteenth time and I was pretty impressed at the quality of the source material. Everything looked like it had been shot yesterday. Apart from a few episodes that had obviously come from videotape - yuk.

[Dillydipper]

I would bet the mid-60's ABC variety shows were videotape from start to finish. Also Carol Burnette and Red Skelton, but perhaps they came late to the party on that technology?

[EddieVanHalen]

Thank you for all the info!

[bencasey]

As far as prime time, non variety shows go, two that I can think of that aired off of tape were Way Out (CBS, 1961) and The Wrangler (NBC, 1960). And of course there was Shirley Temple Storybook Theatre, which started in 1958. I'm not sure if it was on 2-inch from the start but it was eventually as all of the DVDs released are from color tape. And every variety show aired off of tape after a certain point.

[Dillydipper]

In the 60's when shows were sent to Alaska and Hawaii for their affiliates, was that done on film, or tape? I would imagine shows that were sent to military bases overseas were film.

[Steve Hoffman]

As far as prime time, non variety shows go, two that I can think of that aired off of tape were Way Out (CBS, 1961) and The Wrangler (NBC, 1960). And of course there was Shirley Temple Storybook Theatre, which started in 1958. I'm not sure if it was on 2-inch from the start but it was eventually as all of the DVDs released are from color tape. And every variety show aired off of tape after a certain point.


Are you saying there are SHIRLEY TEMPLE NBC color shows out on DVD from 2" tape?

Link, please. I saw JACK AND THE BEANSTALK when I was 3 and never forgot it. They could be on Kinnie though...

[Joel Cairo]

Here's your link, Boss:

http://www.shirleytemple.com/?gclid=CMPu16f1p48CFRZZYQodaiMBPg

Just follow the "More Info" link at the bottom of the page...

"Beanstalk" is not among the selected stories, I'm afraid, but there are 11 others (all from color videotape masters, evidently) that look like they might be entertaining!

-Kevin

[Todd Fredericks]

I know in the UK you have the Quatermass serials from the 50's, the first couple of seasons of the Avengers, Doctor Who, Steptoe & Son, and tons of other shows.

Todd

[Steve Hoffman]

Here's your link, Boss:

http://www.shirleytemple.com/?gclid=CMPu16f1p48CFRZZYQodaiMBPg

Just follow the "More Info" link at the bottom of the page...

"Beanstalk" is not among the selected stories, I'm afraid, but there are 11 others (all from color videotape masters, evidently) that look like they might be entertaining!

-Kevin

Thanks, Kevin.

[Chip TRG]

I think only a couple of episodes of MASH were shot on tape. But I do recall that when they started showing reruns of MASH in the late 70's, the episodes looked very washed out. Later they fixed the problem and the reruns in the 80's looked much more natural.

The "tape" episode of M*A*S*H was "clipshow" ep. which still runs in syndication--cut into two parts, as it was an hour originally. Considering it was cut/edited way back in the late 70's from telecine transfers back THEN, it just looks awful and aged now, especially since every other episode has been restored over the years.

[Grant]

All In The Family was shot on tape. You sure about that? Because, all of their shows were done on videotape, recorded in front of a live audience. You can tell by the quality of the picture.

[Grant]

There were a few Twilight Zone episodes that were shot to video, I believe in the early 60's, and they had a radically different feel to them. Actuially they looked pretty similar to the soap operas of that time. Audio was quite different as well. yes, it was done as an experiment to save money on tape.

The episodes had a unique feel to them, but really didn't work too well. They ended up looking more like soap operas.

[Chip TRG]

yes, it was done as an experiment to save money on tape.

The episodes had a unique feel to them, but really didn't work too well. They ended up looking more like soap operas.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall that Art Carney/Christmas one was one of the videotape eps., and I could swear that when I saw it last year it was a kinescope. Do the masters still exist?

[rmos]

The 6 videotaped Twilight Zone episodes were titled: "The Lateness of the Hour" (12/2/60); "Static" (3/10/61); "The Whole Truth" (1/20/61); "Night of the Meek" (12/23/60); "Twenty-Two" (2/10/61); "Long Distance Call" (3/3/61)

[Steve D.]

As far as prime time, non variety shows go, two that I can think of that aired off of tape were Way Out (CBS, 1961) and The Wrangler (NBC, 1960). And of course there was Shirley Temple Storybook Theatre, which started in 1958. I'm not sure if it was on 2-inch from the start but it was eventually as all of the DVDs released are from color tape. And every variety show aired off of tape after a certain point.
Wrangler, as mentioned above, perhaps the 1st outdoor series shot on videotape.
I just spoke with one of my former KTLA workmates. He worked on the Wrangler series in 1960. NBC contracted to use KTLA's b&w videotape unit and crews. My buddy was the crab dolly operator. The series starred Jason Evers. They shot 6-8 episodes, he recalls, for this summer replacement for the Tennessee Ernie Ford show. They shot episodes in locations such as the Bronson Caves, just up the road from me, in the Hollywood Hills, to out in Thousand Oaks in Ventura County about 50 miles west of Hollywood. The series aired on NBC in Aug. - Sept. 1960

-Steve .

[MrPeabody]

I know he probably did more specials than series, but Ernie Kovacs was one of the first videotape pioneers. Some of the things he did with (and to) video is still surreal and totally fascinating today. It's long past time for a Kovacs revival.

[bencasey]

Wrangler, as mentioned above, perhaps the 1st outdoor series shot on videotape.
I just spoke with one of my former KTLA workmates. He worked on the Wrangler series in 1960. NBC contracted to use KTLA's b&w videotape unit and crews. My buddy was the crab dolly operator. The series starred Jason Evers. They shot 6-8 episodes, he recalls, for this summer replacement for the Tennessee Ernie Ford show. They shot episodes in locations such as the Bronson Caves, just up the road from me, in the Hollywood Hills, to out in Thousand Oaks in Ventura County about 50 miles west of Hollywood. The series aired on NBC in Aug. - Sept. 1960

-Steve .

Wrangler may be the first and only western shot on tape. I believe there were 7 made, at least that's how many they aired anyway. All exist in their original tape form in the UCLA archives.

[Doug Sclar]

The 6 videotaped Twilight Zone episodes were titled: "The Lateness of the Hour" (12/2/60); "Static" (3/10/61); "The Whole Truth" (1/20/61); "Night of the Meek" (12/23/60); "Twenty-Two" (2/10/61); "Long Distance Call" (3/3/61)

What about the episode where the lady was in the hospital and Dr. Smith (from Lost In Space) was her agent. I think it was called 'Room For One More'. I may have the name wrong, but this episoide was done both in film and video. IIRC the actors were the same, but a totally different look.

I wonder why they did them both?

[Doug Sclar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall that Art Carney/Christmas one was one of the videotape eps., and I could swear that when I saw it last year it was a kinescope. Do the masters still exist?

Yeah, I remember that one too. It may also have been done twice.