Videotaped or Filmed? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Munsters#1 · 04-24-2005, 03:37 PM

I've always wondered this about the Bewitched TV series. Was the series videotaped or filmed?

James"Thunder"Early · 04-24-2005, 03:44 PM

I think it was filmed

Larry Tate · 04-24-2005, 07:57 PM

Yes Every frame of Bewitched was Filmed at Liz Montgomery's insistance.
The Head of the Production company that made Bewitched is called
Screen Gems, it's head in Hollywood at the time, the former child star Jackie Cooper wanted it to be done on Videotape, but Liz Montgomery used her influence with the NY headquarters of Screen Gems to ensure it was filmed instead.

Larry Tate

RossFan1231 · 04-25-2005, 01:24 AM

I Really Think It Was Filmed

Munsters#1 · 04-25-2005, 08:26 AM

Well, see I aksed because Bewitched was recently released on DVD in Japan, and they said that the tapes they used had deteriorated.

Larry Tate · 04-25-2005, 11:52 AM

Yes there was an article on it all in a magazine i saw online, they were refering to the Audio Tracks that apparently had deteriorated in some cases not the visual aspect.

In them as well there are other audio tracks for the episodes that are ok so no harm was there to the episodes.

Larry Tate

treky · 04-27-2005, 12:47 AM

Yea, I read somewhere that that's happened to some TV shows, and as a result, some shows will never be released on DVD.

TV Guy · 04-30-2005, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Tate

Yes Every frame of Bewitched was Filmed at Liz Montgomery's insistance.
The Head of the Production company that made Bewitched is called
Screen Gems, it's head in Hollywood at the time, the former child star Jackie Cooper wanted it to be done on Videotape, but Liz Montgomery used her influence with the NY headquarters of Screen Gems to ensure it was filmed instead.

All sitcoms were filmed at the time, including the Screen Gems shows. Elizabeth Montgomery didn't have to insist on this; there was no precedent for any sitcoms being videotaped. The first videotaped sitcom, "All in the Family", didn't premiere until 1970. Even after that, all Screen Gems shows continued to be filmed.

Larry Tate · 04-30-2005, 12:55 PM

The idea of Videotape was new at the time in 1964 & considered by some to be innovative, the Twilight Zone experimented with it for about 1 dozen episodes or so as did a few others, but Liz Montgomery did have to bring the hammer down on Jackie Cooper to prevent his plans to shoot Bewitched on Videotape.

This is documented in a Magazine Article from 1965.

Larry Tate

Munsters#1 · 04-30-2005, 02:12 PM

In 1965, Fred Gwynne got all dressed up as Herman Munster, and he did a PSA with Murry the K. It was videotaped in 1965. I have the skit on DVD, and here is a shot of it.

As you can see, it looks grainy and poorly taken care of.

TV Guy · 05-04-2005, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Tate

The idea of Videotape was new at the time in 1964 & considered by some to be innovative, the Twilight Zone experimented with it for about 1 dozen episodes or so as did a few others, but Liz Montgomery did have to bring the hammer down on Jackie Cooper to prevent his plans to shoot Bewitched on Videotape.

This is documented in a Magazine Article from 1965.

Larry Tate

What magazine article? Source?

04-24-2005, 03:37 PM	#1
Munsters#1 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,928	Videotaped or Filmed? I've always wondered this about the Bewitched TV series. Was the series videotaped or filmed?
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04-24-2005, 03:44 PM	#2
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	I think it was filmed
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04-25-2005, 01:24 AM	#4
RossFan1231 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 16, 2005 Posts: 25	I Really Think It Was Filmed
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04-27-2005, 12:47 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Yea, I read somewhere that that's happened to some TV shows, and as a result, some shows will never be released on DVD.
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04-30-2005, 02:12 PM	#10
Munsters#1 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,928	In 1965, Fred Gwynne got all dressed up as Herman Munster, and he did a PSA with Murry the K. It was videotaped in 1965. I have the skit on DVD, and here is a shot of it. As you can see, it looks grainy and poorly taken care of. Attached Images

04-24-2005, 07:57 PM	#3
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	Yes Every frame of Bewitched was Filmed at Liz Montgomery's insistance. The Head of the Production company that made Bewitched is called Screen Gems, it's head in Hollywood at the time, the former child star Jackie Cooper wanted it to be done on Videotape, but Liz Montgomery used her influence with the NY headquarters of Screen Gems to ensure it was filmed instead. Larry Tate

04-25-2005, 08:26 AM	#5
Munsters#1 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,928	Well, see I aksed because Bewitched was recently released on DVD in Japan, and they said that the tapes they used had deteriorated.

04-25-2005, 11:52 AM	#6
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	Yes there was an article on it all in a magazine i saw online, they were refering to the Audio Tracks that apparently had deteriorated in some cases not the visual aspect. In them as well there are other audio tracks for the episodes that are ok so no harm was there to the episodes. Larry Tate

04-30-2005, 12:55 PM	#9
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	The idea of Videotape was new at the time in 1964 & considered by some to be innovative, the Twilight Zone experimented with it for about 1 dozen episodes or so as did a few others, but Liz Montgomery did have to bring the hammer down on Jackie Cooper to prevent his plans to shoot Bewitched on Videotape. This is documented in a Magazine Article from 1965. Larry Tate