Here's a New Year's newscast from a galaxy far, far away from Chicago - Milwaukee, WI, and ABC affiliate WISN Channel 12, with an edition of Action News with Vince Gibbens and Nancy Laffey (filling in for Jerry Taff - not to be confused with future longtime WLS Channel 7 weatherman Jerry Taft).
Includes:
ABC ID slide (voiceover by Bill Rice)
Animated WISN station ID
Action News open (with original World News Tonight theme), and following stories:
- On top of Iran hostage crisis, the Soviets invade Afghanistan; condemnation from President Carter and State Department spokesman Hodding Carter
- Day 58 of hostage crisis, and UN, 11-0, accepts U.S. resolution threatening sanctions on Iran; Jack Smith reports on upcoming visit by UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim to Tehran, with snippet of quotes from Sadegh Ghotbzadeh
- Dick Blome reports on reaction of family of hostage Kevin Hermening to Christmas Eve video produced by captors; comments from parents Kenneth and Barbara Timm calling it "Iranian propaganda"
Commercial: Smith Barney (with John Houseman) - "They make money the old fashioned way - they EARN it!"
More news:
- Governor Lee Dreyfus to decide on where to build a new maximum security prison; Caledonia wants it built there, and Supervisor LeRoy Harbach comments; three other sites considered
- Political analyst Wayne Youngquist opines on how various social issues, and emphasis thereon, took a toll on the country throughout the decade about to end
- Live feed from the Marc Plaza hotel showing people preparing to count in the new year with style
Commercial: Nino's - New Year's special on steaks
Weatherman Howard Gernette previews coming weather forecast (you may remember Howard's face and voice on Chicago TV as a spokesman in commercials for House of Vinyl, Lincoln Carpeting, and others - here's one example featuring him and his wife: • House Of Vinyl (Commer... )
Commercial: Lathrop Furniture Appliances/Showroom - New Year's Day Sale
- Last lie from Burlington Liars' Club, which is calling it quits after 50 years, as reported by Rochelle Bridges (or was it Barbara Walters or Frank Reynolds?). Featuring comments from Liar Club founder (or was he?) Otis Hulett.
Rod Luck with sports:
- Green Bay coach Bart Starr looking for two new assistants
- In college football, Baylor beats Clemson 24-18 in Peach Bowl; Purdue leading Tennessee 21-6 in 4th quarter of Blue Bonnet Bowl
- Report on annual Harlem Globetrotters visit at Milwaukee Arena
- Bucks coach Don Nelson speaks about team situation leading up to Thursday game
- Report on skiing situation at Alpine Valley Resort, with comments from general manager Fred Cimino (did Rod Luck leave any sitzmarks, Nancy Laffey wants to know during the wrap-up?)
- Look inside Red Carpet warehouse/bowling alley; interview with maintenance director Bob Kaye
Commercial: McDonald's breakfast
Promo for NewsLine 12 phone number
Commercial: Doucas Oldsmobile - "Happiness is Dealing with Doucas"
Commercial: Colder's Furniture Milwaukee - New Year's Day Sale
Howard gives the complete, comprehensive weather forecast for next five days after reminding viewers that he's been here "forever".
Finally, Hughes Rudd offers a perspective on the decade about to end and on the passage of time in general - "Some did some hard travelling" (some of the music track had to be degraded or muted)
Then newscast ends with anchors putting on hats to celebrate coming New Year
(TECHNICAL NOTE: The cameras in the studio were RCA TK-44A/B's.)
Viewpoint from Editorial Director Ron Anderson on the end of the decade and what transpired over the course of this one
Network preemption notice (recording ends midway)
This aired on local Milwaukee TV on Monday, December 31st 1979 during the 10:00pm to 10:30pm timeframe.
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The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: tapes@fuzzy.tv Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!