[QuadList] Link to film/video clips re: David C's reply to"Park's at Penn State--where it's very snowy"

Fri Nov 4 09:30:14 CDT 2011

Ted,

If I recall correctly, we were using N-1 out of New York (housed in N.J. field operations) equipped with TK -760 cameras. I believe they were mini multicore. They were not triax. The stadium was wired up with TV 81but being an AFC championship game, more cameras had been added. It's the extra cable (audio and video) that had to be removed later in the thaw.

Here is a shot (from another game in Denver) of the TK-760:

In so far as VTR's in the truck for slo-mo, I believe we had all VPR-2's and possibly an HS -100. No 2" quad. But I am quite certain that the TCR-100's were still the commercial playback source in NYC at that time. There was no way to change spots & promos quickly and randomly without the TCR (or ACR at other facilities) which was especially useful with sports commercial integration. In so far as the TCR's were concerned, I know that Burbank was running them till at least 1986 when the Panasonic MII video cart machines replaced the quad carts. 

I think the "quad" viewers on this forum may not know how much financial pressure was riding on the TCR's in commercial breaks on games such as these. NBC chose to playback commercial spots "live" off of the cart machines. Usually each break ran dual TCR's "just in case" meaning a primary and a backup, gang rolled. In a game such as this, which is coast-to-coast live, and into Canada, Mexico, and overseas (perhaps AFRTS), everything had backup. In the case of an ever changing game scenario, with expected and unexpected time outs being called, flexible commercial integration was essential to be able to react immediately if the network had a commitment to air a spot or promo when appropriate. All eventualities were planned before game time. The sports department worked the AD assigned to commercial integration in this planning. Spots were pulled hours before game time. Duplicates were made (if needed) to address the dual playback situation (master and backup). The truck producer was on a dedicated PL to New York BOC on a party line with NY Sports, spot sales, and the Sports AD who was sitting next to the TCR operator (s). If there was an opportunity to go to a commercial, then it was done with the "plan" in place. If the game had some sort of unusual situation in which an unplanned break was needed, quickly carts were loaded and the remote switch was thrown to the control studio (which was taking the incoming remote truck feed). There was a lot of PL "chatter"  throughout the game for commercial integration but that was the way it worked so that revenue could be made. Likewise, engineering had the TCR's running in top shape for this important part of the broadcast. It may be hard to believe, but when that TCR rolled (2 second pre-roll) and was taken (placed on air), that one single TCR and it's head, playing that cart, was going to millions of viewers in the U.S. Talk about reliance on something going right! And that is why two machines were gang-rolled just in case something did go wrong and the backup had to be placed on air (rare). 

Here is a shot of preparation being made for a Burbank control point in another game. The AD (right) is talking with a veteran sports TCR operator about the upcoming game. Similar preparation and setups were in place in NYC also. 

Note: TCR (center) and the back of a TCR on the right. Out of pix on the left is a TR-70A. 
Commercial sources at the time of this shot were 2", 1" type C, and film. All were transferred to TCR cart.

David

On Nov 1, 2011, at 6:22 PM, Ted Langdell wrote:

> Clips of the game are on-line here:
> http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xeeiu3_sd-cin-afc-title-81-4_sport
> 
> David:  Do you remember what cameras were used and type of cable?
> 
> Was there any Quad equipment involved in the game broadcast, either in the truck(s) or in network facilities working the show?  Replays were from 1", I'd think.
> 
> 
> NFL.com has a web video with NFL film and NBC video of the AFC championship for the 1981 season:
> http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d80498e79/Top-Ten-Weather-Games-1981-AFC-Championship
> 
> ESPN's story is here:
> http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3198404
> 
> And somebody's got a DVD for sale:
> http://www.shippinganywhere.net/servlet/the-493/1981-AFC-Championship-Cincinnati/Detail
> 
> 
> 
> On Nov 1, 2011, at 1:32 PM, David Crosthwait wrote:
> 
>> The coldest and most miserable game I ever worked on was in Cincinnati for NBC Sports in January, 1982. It was combined New York/Burbank crew. We were staying at some high rise hotel in downtown Cincinnati, and on the morning of the game, there was ice on the inside of the hotel windows. I think we had a two day setup as this was a coast-to-coast A game (I was on the slo-mo crew). I helped with camera setup before hand also. It was bitterly cold to the point that nothing during setup was easy (camera cable was very stiff).
>> 
>> The morning of the game, we could not get enough heat into the NBC trucks. All soft drinks were frozen solid. The wind was like a knife. I had on every layer of clothing I had brought with me, much like everyone else. Even the hard core NBC NY Sports guys were having a day. I believe the director was either Teddy Nathanson or Harry Coyle, and they constantly were asking the camera guys if they were OK, with constant relief provided.
>> 
>> A couple of excited, shirtless fans I heard passed away a few weeks later from illness related to exposure in the cold weather.
>> 
>> After the game, the camera and audio cable was frozen in place. A decision was made to leave it till spring when New York field would come back for it (thawed out by then).
>> 
>> The flights in/out of Cincinnati were all backed up. I had to re-route and go to any flight to the South to re-connect to LAX. 
>> 
>> -9 with the wind (20-25 mph off of the river which was steaming) is something unbelievable. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_lore
>> 
>> Freezer Bowl (January 10, 1982, San Diego Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, AFC Championship Game)
>> One week after their victory over the Dolphins in "The Epic in Miami" in Florida's scorching heat, the Chargers travelled to Cincinnati to face the Bengals in the coldest game in NFL history based on the wind chill. The air temperature was -9 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 °C), but wind chill was -59 °F (-51 °C). In an attempt to intimidate the Chargers, several Bengals players went without long sleeved uniforms. Cincinnati won the game 27-7 and advanced to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
>> 
>> 
>> Best Regards,
>> 
>> David Crosthwait
>> DC Video
>> Archived Media Transfer and Re-mastering Services
>> 
>> Clients welcomed at our offices located at:
>> 177 West Magnolia Blvd.
>> Burbank, CA. 91502
>> 818-563-1073
>> 818-563-1177 (fax)
>> 818-285-9942 (cell)
>> 
>> david at dcvideo.com
>> www.dcvideo.com
>> 
>> Follow DC Video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcvideo
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Nov 1, 2011, at 9:43 AM, C. Park Seward wrote:
>> 
>>> Layers and more layers. They have to be out there in the cold for several hours. Even the cameras have elegant bags on them to keep them warm/dry. But we didn't have any failures, human or mechanical.
>>> 
>>> <IMG_0382.jpeg>
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> Park
>>> 
>>> C. Park Seward
>>> Cell: 818-535-2747
>>> Home: 541-476-6657
>>> 2" Quad and 1" "C" transfers
>>> The Transfer Lab at Video Park
>>> Visit us: http://www.videopark.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Oct 29, 2011, at 12:49 PM, Ted Langdell wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Snowy, but not in an analog TV way.
>>>> Illinois at Penn State northwest of Harrisburg, PA.
>>>> 
>>>> Watching SD on DirecTV via a Sony BVM 1910.  
>>>> 
>>>> Pictures look nice, considering.  I'll bet you're glad you're in the truck and that it wasn't snowing during setup yesterday.
>>>> 
>>>> How are the camera guys keeping warm?
>>>> 
>>>> With 8 minutes + in the first quarter, 0-0.
>>>> 
>>>> Ted
>>>> 
>>>> On Oct 29, 2011, at 12:22 PM, C. Park Seward wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi from snowy Penn St on ESPN2
>>>>> 
>>>>> Nice stuff. Keep it coming. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Park
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
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