1954 George Burns-Gracie Allen in color

[Phil Nelson]

Originally Posted by Steve D.

I did ask Dan Wingate if this and other shows in their archive would be available on DVD. I recall his response was negative on this.

A couple of years ago, I talked to a guy whose company does restorations of material like this. He said the legal obstacles to producing a DVD of a variety show are overwhelming. Consider a single musical number performed by a guest like Ella Fitzgerald: you need to get a release from the guest performer (i.e., the estate of Ella Fitzgerald), plus a release from whoever owns the copyright for that song, plus releases from everyone in the studio orchestra playing in the background. And don't forget a release from the broadcasting company that aired the episode . . . on and on.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[Steve D.]

Originally Posted by Phil Nelson

A couple of years ago, I talked to a guy whose company does restorations of material like this. He said the legal obstacles to producing a DVD of a variety show are overwhelming. Consider a single musical number performed by a guest like Ella Fitzgerald: you need to get a release from the guest performer (i.e., the estate of Ella Fitzgerald), plus a release from whoever owns the copyright for that song, plus releases from everyone in the studio orchestra playing in the background. And don't forget a release from the broadcasting company that aired the episode . . . on and on.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Phil,

This is an ongoing problem with so many early TV programs. I'm sure there are archives out there with all manner of early broadcasts with these legal issues that restrict their being released on DVD or any medium. I know the UCLA Archives has much to offer but also deals with the legal obstacles.

-Steve D.

[benman94]

With the Mickey Mouse Protection Act in place, and further extensions seeming likely, I'll be in the ground by the time the first early color programs from 1954 lapse into the public domain.