Found, earliest color videotape predates Fred Astaire tape.
 

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

Wow, this is very nice to know! Thank you for posting it.

I wonder if the included original commercials are the amazing live color Kraft foods commercials. They were always examples of the best that color TV could do.

I've seen plays of early "non-entertainment" tapes, but I don't remember whether they are older.

What's the situation?

I wonder if the program will be released to the public? I sure as heck won't be in LA.

I believe the oldest is the tape of Eisenhower at the switch of the Washington, DC NBC station to color.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKqHZcXvUAs

I think DC Video wants to protect the integrity of the video per Mrs. Berle wishes, but the video may eventually be released on the DC Video website or associates.

Mrs. Astaire is vehemently opposed to “An Evening With Fred Astaire” being on the internet, and blocked it on YouTube.

Yes, I thought I noticed that Kris Trexler had moved it over to Vimeo...

For those keeping score at home, the version that is posted there is the 1/26/1959 repeat performance... I don't believe the actual 1958 premiere version has ever been re-broadcast since the restoration, since the transfer of the reels that held the commercials for that initial airing were rather unstable.

- Kevin

Yes, a few years back, saw the Astaire video on Vimeo. I had a short clip on YouTube which Mrs. Astaire had promptly removed.

Teaser image.

https://visions4netjournal.com/wp-co.../Berle-MT.jpeg

Thank you all!!!!

Earliest surving color video tape of an entertainment program 10/08/1958

https://youtu.be/nk8jIPbEBwk?si=Bc-WyWwIlZ6hWWsm

The best parts are the Kraft color commercials with Ed Herlihy and a snippet of the original The Price is Right with Bill Cullen in color!!!!
Last edited by vallieone; Today at 08:55 AM.

Thank you vallieone. You beat me to the post.

Wow wouldnt it awesome to be able to see that in analogue again???


Thank you Mate very much!!

With our tongues firmly in cheek, those of us who are members of the Game Show Forum would like to point out that the oldest existing color videotape footage of an entertainment program is a portion of Bill Cullen's version of "The Price Is Right", followed by some other show which appears to star Milton Berle... :)

- Kevin

Its interesting that all these early color tapes are of programs that lack color. I'd love to see the first tape of the Rose Bowl Parade, or a baseball game.

Well, Fred Astaire's specials are about as colorful as they come, and some of the old Dinah Shore Chevy Shows are great, too-- but I agree they are a little more of the exception, rather than the rule...

- Kevin

1958 Fred Estaire quad tape
 

In reading this post I get the feeling that it implies it was recently found. I believe this has been on utube for years now. Ed Reitan and I once had a conversation about this many years ago. (I also have his RCA TK40A camera in my collection)

When I lived in Seattle, Washington I used to hang out at all three network station transmitters except for KIRO at which the studio and transmitter were together on the property on Queen Anne Ave. I lived there from 1960 to late 1963, I remember the quad tape room there and was facinated watching the Ampex playing. I wonder if KIRO has any of these tapes today. Utube and KIRO's webpage has many of JP Patches clown shows shown. JP (Chris Wedas) was a friend that I could actually talk to and was a thrill for me to do so! And yes, I was one of his many "Patches Pals" and have a published book that he autographed to me.

Being that many Patches tapes have survived, and KIRO went on the air in 1958 I wonder what else they may have?

This tread is about the recent release of a slightly older color video tape than the Fred Astaire tape which was given to DC Video for restoration by Mrs. Berle. The same players as the restoration team that worked on the Astaire tape, of course missing the late Ed Reitan, RIP.