[QuadList] JFK Fifty Years Later--Were any QuadList members workingin TV that day?--Have you handled any materials from then?

[Fred Kovach]

I was a mere seven months old at the time he was shot.  Nonetheless, I do
have a rather humorous involvement with a piece of JFK footage.

 

I used to work for a video dub house that handled various footage for the
National Archives.  This was in the late 1980's and I was a dubber at the
time.  One day, I was given the assignment of dubbing a rather obscure
speech that JFK had given.  It was not really politically significant.  I
think it had something to do with the Department of Agriculture.  It came on
a 2" Quad reel and I was supposed to dub it to 1".  I had been trained that
old 2" tape was particularly fragile and that the heads could slice through
it if left to idle too long.

 

Recognizing the importance of JFK to our history, I handled this tape with
particular care.  I set up levels as fast as I could and tried not to
shuttle it too much.  I dubbed it in one pass and made sure that the 2" tape
was well into black before stopping it.  When I stopped it, I very quickly
took the heads down and examined the tape.  To my horror, I found that the
heads had, in that brief moment (less than a second), sliced through 2/3rds
of the tape!

 

I knew there was no harm done because I had gone so far into the tail.  And
the National Archives was going to pitch the tape anyway once they received
our 1".  So I spun the tape back onto its original reel and sent it back
along with the 1".  I didn't care to be known as the guy who ruined some JFK
footage!

 

Fred Kovach

Broadcast Technician

 

417-848-8381

 

  _____  

From: QuadList [mailto:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com] On Behalf Of
Ted Langdell
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2013 1:30 PM
To: Quad List
Subject: [QuadList] JFK Fifty Years Later--Were any QuadList members
workingin TV that day?--Have you handled any materials from then?

 

It seems hard to believe that the television coverage that had many of us
riveted to the screen happened 50 years ago tomorrow.

 

Some folks on the list could have been working in network or local broadcast
settings on that day, and it would be great to learn more about what they
didand thoughtas they were doing their jobs.

 

I know that QuadList member Harold Deppe, Sr. was at CBS in NYC at the time.


 

Although not in Videotape, Harold Sr. would have had a unique view of how
the network handled the day and those that followed.  (I think this would
have been from the Grand Central Station facilities, since the Broadcast
Center on W. 57th St. had a 1964 debut.  Clarifications about what happened
from where would be good.)

 

Perhaps there are others that you know of who are still able to recall
details?

 

If you've handled JFK materials, it would be interesting to know what you
observed as you played them, such as technical considerations and logistics
of the times.

 

If any of the materials you've transferred are airing in productions to be
seen over the next few days, or are available on-line, please include links.

 

Thanks,

 

Ted

 

Ted Langdell

(530) 301-2931

ted at quadvideotapegroup.com

Secretary for the   <http://www.quadvideotapegroup.com/>
QuadVideotapeGroup.com: 

Preserving Tape, Equipment and the Knowledge to use them, in conjunction
with the Library of Congress

 

 

 

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