Found, earliest color videotape predates Fred Astaire tape.

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This message received today from a forum I participate in. A link to the announcement is also included.

The premiere presentation of the earliest preserved and restored color television videotape will be presented in Los Angeles February 24, 2024.

“ Quad Videotape Group member David Crosthwait has been waiting to tell the story of a recovrring a slightly older color video recording then has previously been widely known. It will be presented— O on the big screen — February 24, 2024 at the Billy Wilder theater in Los Angeles. Admission is free.


“Until recently, the oldest entertainment program known to survive on color videotape was An Evening with Fred Astaire, broadcast live on October 17, 1958, on NBC. The original 2 in. videotape of that acclaimed special was preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive in 1987, garnering engineers Ed Reitan, Don Kent, television archivist Dan Einstein and the Archive itself Emmy Awards for the technically challenging project. Last year, thanks to Milton Berle’s widow, Lorna Berle, a rare color videotape of the Kraft Music Hall Starring Milton Berle that predates the Astaire special by nine days (airdate October 8, 1958) was deposited at UCLA. Through the extensive efforts of engineer David Crosthwait of DC Video in Burbank, CA, this historic 2 in. color videotape starring Milton Berle (a.k.a. “Uncle Miltie”) has been preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Join us for the world premiere screening of the preservation of the earliest known entertainment program to survive on color videotape. Introduced by engineer David Crosthwait of DC Video, who will give a presentation outlining the significant technical challenges of this preservation project. The evening will highlight additional Kraft Music Hall surprises, with superstar guests Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and more.”—Mark Quigley, UCLA Film and Television Archive.

There are several other Milton Berle color recordings from other shows that will also be presented.

It makes for a great evening, and trip to LA from out of town.

Details, admission information and theater location are at this link.”

https://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2...n-milton-berle