What's the oldest television program in your collection? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

debwalsh · 06-24-2006, 12:14 AM

We have a really broad spectrum of collectors here, with some people specializing in vintage TV, others in cartoons, others in foreign stuff, etc. So I'm curious - what's the oldest program in your collection? Why did you collect it?

I'll start. I believe the oldest program in my collection is a couple of episodes from the Kate Smith Show that was broadcast live in the early 1950s. They're kinescopes, and really not at all what I'd expect for a variety show. I acquired them for my 97 year old Grandmother, who adores Kate Smith, and even though my Grandmother is almost completely deaf, somehow she manages to both hear and enjoy Kate Smith's singing.

The next oldest thing in my collection would have to be the existing episodes of the original Quatermass Xperiment from the UK, another series done live and existing only on kinescope (and incomplete thanks to a strike at the BBC at the time). I collected that one for me - I love science fiction, and I really enjoy the Quatermass stories. I'm gradually trying to track down everything ever done by Quatermass creator Nigel Kneale.

The oldest thing I actually recorded myself would have to be a couple of episodes of Dukes of Hazzard and Vega$ that I recorded on my first rented VCR back in 1980, among other odds and ends on tapes so old the writing on the labels has faded to nothing.

So ... how about you?

Lamont · 06-24-2006, 12:21 AM

i have a lot of old shows from the old DUMONT tv network, which was late 40s- early 50s, the original LIFE OF RILEY with a very young Jackie Gleason, some MOREY AMSTERDAM SHOWS, Milton Berle etc

i have always been fascinated with the Dumont network, it seemed like the stuff they had on was far better than the other networks,but they still went under

BUT the oldest stuff i have is a weird collection of THOMAS EDISONS SHORT FILMS--- from 1891-1922, its a 3 disc collection of short films, that Edison HIMSELF filmed when film was new, 358 of them in total, all are short, a minute or 2 or 3 each, just stuff like landscapes, people he knew, bicycling, etc, etc, etc NOTHING BIZARRE
but really cool to see, 115 year old films, many of which look as clear and sharp as old I LOVE LUCY Reruns!!!

as far as what I taped myself, well we were pretty poor and didnt get our own VCR til the early 1980s, a big clunky 1 in 82 or 83, BUT I TAPED A TON OF STUFF BACK THEN

Peanutbutter · 06-24-2006, 12:23 AM

Oldest TV show: The Patty Duke Show 1963.(I still can't believe that Patty and Cathy were played by the same actress. I had a crush on Cathy)
Oldest Cartoon: Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles 1966

savageamusement · 06-24-2006, 12:33 AM

You mean like from actual recordings, or like- charlie chaplin 1929 stuff I got at the store?

debwalsh · 06-24-2006, 12:42 AM

Well, by programs I mean television programs. I'm not counting any of my silents, but I think it's really cool that Lamont has that collection of Edison shorts. One of the things I find really neat about trading and collecting is the preservation of our heritage. Say what you will about the boob tube and the idiot box, it's a part of our culture, and we've been witness to history through it. And sometimes witness to pure silliness as well ... ;>

Speaking of Patty Duke Show, I remember trying out the nickname Poppo on my Dad at the time. It did not fly. I was only in first grade at the time, but I totally aspired to Patty's coolness. Never achieved it, but I aspired ...

savageamusement · 06-24-2006, 01:09 AM

I know the oldest items I have are silents and Cartoons, Steamboat Willie, Bosko etc.

Then serials- lots of those (from Harvey mostly have to give credit)

And then I think my next oldest Program stuff is Howdy Doody, i think 1948 or so.

If you guys want a cool site-

Check this out-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._television%27
List of years in television

Tells you everything form the first show, to the show that aired tonight --Nice refrence.

lilhave · 06-24-2006, 01:40 AM

Martin Kane Private Eye 1949
Lights Out 1949
Milton Berle 1948

Of course a ton of stuff from the 50's

Harvey

Lex Luthor · 06-24-2006, 05:17 AM

Cartain MArvel 1940's

Tons of 60's Hanna Barbera Toons

Anthony33 · 06-24-2006, 06:37 AM

That I recorded myself? Probably some Fugitive reruns off of A&E a few years back. Store bought would probably be Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 1. I just heard that Season 2 is coming out at the end of the year, which I'm really looking forward to.

three 14 · 06-24-2006, 09:26 AM

my oldest show would be the ed wynn show.

Michael Randazzo · 06-24-2006, 11:36 AM

Koko the Clown, Bobby Bumps, Felix the Cat, all 1910-1930s. Thanks and God Bless.

Michael

Beavis · 06-24-2006, 11:50 AM

My 1931 and 1932
Lowell Sherman films... Bachelor Apartment and What Price, Hollywood?

Then of course, my entire Cary Grant film collection...but nothing really special.

lilhave · 06-24-2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beavis

My 1931 and 1932
Lowell Sherman films... Bachelor Apartment and What Price, Hollywood?

Then of course, my entire Cary Grant film collection...but nothing really special.

I thought the question was the oldest television program. For movies, I have about 10 silent movie serials, dating back to the teens.

Harvey

Beavis · 06-24-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilhave

I thought the question was the oldest television program. For movies, I have about 10 silent movie serials, dating back to the teens.

Harvey

I lost track of this thread..if it is stuf personally recorded myself? Since VCR's were in late 1978 and later... the oldest stuf I still have I recorded from back then, would be MTV's 1982 Ozzy Osbourne Concert, then Live Aid 1985, etc...

As for shows? I didn't think to record tv shows back in the late 70's or 80's...I was mostly in guitar playing, music and bands, etc...but if this thread was what is the oldest TV show we have on file...then I don't know, which was why I only rattled off my 1931 films..LOL Lamont was the one who posted NON-TV stuf with his Edison shorts and films from the 1800's......He was the fool who messed up this thread...

debwalsh · 06-24-2006, 12:19 PM

Well, the intent of the thread is what are the oldest television programs in your collection, not films. And it's what's in your collection, not necessarily what you've recorded yourself. I mean, no one could have personally recorded anything much before the late '60s/early '70s, and then only if they were running 1" or 2" tape decks or U-Matics.

Beavis - cool about Live Aid. I still have all my MTV Live Aid tapes, plus a set a friend recorded from the BBC - it's only missing a section of the show from when my friend was actually at Wembley.

First thing I recorded myself was Battlestar Galactica in syndication - I still have some of those. Prior to that, I paid someone to record BSG and a few movies back in the late '70s before I got my first VCR (a rental, who could afford?) in 1980.

06-24-2006, 12:14 AM	#1
debwalsh Ancient Archivist Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 23, 2004 Location: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Posts: 503	What's the oldest television program in your collection? We have a really broad spectrum of collectors here, with some people specializing in vintage TV, others in cartoons, others in foreign stuff, etc. So I'm curious - what's the oldest program in your collection? Why did you collect it? I'll start. I believe the oldest program in my collection is a couple of episodes from the Kate Smith Show that was broadcast live in the early 1950s. They're kinescopes, and really not at all what I'd expect for a variety show. I acquired them for my 97 year old Grandmother, who adores Kate Smith, and even though my Grandmother is almost completely deaf, somehow she manages to both hear and enjoy Kate Smith's singing. The next oldest thing in my collection would have to be the existing episodes of the original Quatermass Xperiment from the UK, another series done live and existing only on kinescope (and incomplete thanks to a strike at the BBC at the time). I collected that one for me - I love science fiction, and I really enjoy the Quatermass stories. I'm gradually trying to track down everything ever done by Quatermass creator Nigel Kneale. The oldest thing I actually recorded myself would have to be a couple of episodes of Dukes of Hazzard and Vega$ that I recorded on my first rented VCR back in 1980, among other odds and ends on tapes so old the writing on the labels has faded to nothing. So ... how about you?
	__________________ Deb Walsh Savage Traders Online!

06-24-2006, 12:21 AM	#2
Lamont Lamont says Smile! Forum Veteran Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Deep in the Heart of Nowhere Posts: 5,217	old stuff i have a lot of old shows from the old DUMONT tv network, which was late 40s- early 50s, the original LIFE OF RILEY with a very young Jackie Gleason, some MOREY AMSTERDAM SHOWS, Milton Berle etc i have always been fascinated with the Dumont network, it seemed like the stuff they had on was far better than the other networks,but they still went under BUT the oldest stuff i have is a weird collection of THOMAS EDISONS SHORT FILMS--- from 1891-1922, its a 3 disc collection of short films, that Edison HIMSELF filmed when film was new, 358 of them in total, all are short, a minute or 2 or 3 each, just stuff like landscapes, people he knew, bicycling, etc, etc, etc NOTHING BIZARRE but really cool to see, 115 year old films, many of which look as clear and sharp as old I LOVE LUCY Reruns!!! as far as what I taped myself, well we were pretty poor and didnt get our own VCR til the early 1980s, a big clunky 1 in 82 or 83, BUT I TAPED A TON OF STUFF BACK THEN
	__________________ I have not been trading for some time now, so please do not ask---- sorry, i cannot help you!

06-24-2006, 12:33 AM	#4
savageamusement Cutest Couch Potato Senior Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2003 Posts: 2,103	hmm You mean like from actual recordings, or like- charlie chaplin 1929 stuff I got at the store?
	__________________ WWW.SavageTraders.org To avoid channel surfing Wipeouts!

06-24-2006, 01:09 AM	#6
savageamusement Cutest Couch Potato Senior Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2003 Posts: 2,103	oh ok I know the oldest items I have are silents and Cartoons, Steamboat Willie, Bosko etc. Then serials- lots of those (from Harvey mostly have to give credit) And then I think my next oldest Program stuff is Howdy Doody, i think 1948 or so. If you guys want a cool site- Check this out- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._television%27 List of years in television Tells you everything form the first show, to the show that aired tonight --Nice refrence.

06-24-2006, 05:17 AM	#8
Lex Luthor I'm bringing Lexy back Senior Member Join Date: Jun 07, 2005 Location: The Great White North Posts: 2,374	Cartain MArvel 1940's Tons of 60's Hanna Barbera Toons
	__________________ I look forward to resuming our verbal judo - Lex Luthor It's a complicated world, Clark. Only the naïve view it in black and white - Lex Luthor Genevieve: "I underestimated you, Lex." Lex: "Well, that’s a common mistake." Lionel Luthor: "We don't need to play games, son." Lex Luthor: "Dad, games are all we got."

06-24-2006, 12:23 AM	#3
Peanutbutter Let My People Go! Frequent Poster Join Date: May 28, 2006 Location: The Savage Lands Posts: 154	Oldest TV show: The Patty Duke Show 1963.(I still can't believe that Patty and Cathy were played by the same actress. I had a crush on Cathy) Oldest Cartoon: Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles 1966

06-24-2006, 12:42 AM	#5
debwalsh Ancient Archivist Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 23, 2004 Location: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Posts: 503	Well, by programs I mean television programs. I'm not counting any of my silents, but I think it's really cool that Lamont has that collection of Edison shorts. One of the things I find really neat about trading and collecting is the preservation of our heritage. Say what you will about the boob tube and the idiot box, it's a part of our culture, and we've been witness to history through it. And sometimes witness to pure silliness as well ... ;> Speaking of Patty Duke Show, I remember trying out the nickname Poppo on my Dad at the time. It did not fly. I was only in first grade at the time, but I totally aspired to Patty's coolness. Never achieved it, but I aspired ...

06-24-2006, 01:40 AM	#7
lilhave Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 03, 2004 Location: N.Y.C. Posts: 2,294	Martin Kane Private Eye 1949 Lights Out 1949 Milton Berle 1948 Of course a ton of stuff from the 50's Harvey

06-24-2006, 06:37 AM	#9
Anthony33 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 12, 2002 Posts: 408	That I recorded myself? Probably some Fugitive reruns off of A&E a few years back. Store bought would probably be Alfred Hitchcock Presents Season 1. I just heard that Season 2 is coming out at the end of the year, which I'm really looking forward to.

06-24-2006, 09:26 AM	#10
three 14 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 20, 2006 Posts: 428	ed wynn my oldest show would be the ed wynn show.

06-24-2006, 11:36 AM	#11
Michael Randazzo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2005 Posts: 236	My oldest stuff Koko the Clown, Bobby Bumps, Felix the Cat, all 1910-1930s. Thanks and God Bless. Michael

06-24-2006, 11:50 AM	#12
Beavis Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 19, 2003 Location: TVLAND Posts: 725	My 1931 and 1932 Lowell Sherman films... Bachelor Apartment and What Price, Hollywood? Then of course, my entire Cary Grant film collection...but nothing really special.
	__________________

06-24-2006, 12:19 PM	#15
debwalsh Ancient Archivist Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 23, 2004 Location: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Posts: 503	Well, the intent of the thread is what are the oldest television programs in your collection, not films. And it's what's in your collection, not necessarily what you've recorded yourself. I mean, no one could have personally recorded anything much before the late '60s/early '70s, and then only if they were running 1" or 2" tape decks or U-Matics. Beavis - cool about Live Aid. I still have all my MTV Live Aid tapes, plus a set a friend recorded from the BBC - it's only missing a section of the show from when my friend was actually at Wembley. First thing I recorded myself was Battlestar Galactica in syndication - I still have some of those. Prior to that, I paid someone to record BSG and a few movies back in the late '70s before I got my first VCR (a rental, who could afford?) in 1980.