Creating NOVA (1971-76)

ambrosino-portrait

From Michael Ambrosino: Science is a part of our heritage, our present culture, and a major force in determining our future. Its absence from television [in the 1970s], spoke to the ignorance of many of its gatekeepers…. Science, medicine, technology, engineering, architecture all impact our culture by determining how we live our lives!

Read More

The foundations of WGBH: 84 Mass. Ave.

84 Mass Ave Front

From Don Hallock: Many extraordinarily-gifted figures and luminaries of the day — in the arts, science, politics and education — found their ways into the halls and studios of the original WGBH-TV/FM studios at 84 Massachusetts Avenue.

Read More

Classic Theatre (1975)

Classic Theatre001

Nat: And I was extremely pleased and proud that Joan did such an extraordinary work in producing this series, the likes of which we will never see again. I was Director of the NEH Media Program which provided principle funding for this series

Read More

Program Guide – June 1965

14 IMG_9931

From the program guide This issue of the Program Guide is part of the continuing effort to celebrate the beginning of a new era for WGBH. On May 1 the new building was formally dedicated to WGBH President Ralph Lowell. On May 23, we had an Open House and this Guide was made ready for…

Read More

On-Air (1979)

14 IMG_9931

From Don Hallock Ever wondered what it takes to put on a public television or radio production? Well, here’s a glance behind the scenes (as if you needed one). It was originally prepared as a 1979 issue of the WGBH publication ON AIR. In this context, the entire tract functions, as well, as an attractive…

Read More

Ampex Video Simulcasting (1970)

14 IMG_9931

From Joe Pugliesi According to Benny Krol, who worked this system, this newsletter is from late 69 or early 70. Boston’s WGBH, first to use videotape recording for educational broadcasting, is probably also the first station to broadcast stereophonic FM sound synchronized with a video presentation… The Foundation established itself as a technological leader in…

Read More

Friends in Need (1962)

14 IMG_9931

From the Boston Sunday Globe TV Week — April 29, 1962 From the collection of Al Hinderstein Dave Davis and Greg Harney on the far right, Hindy with the camera on the roof of the bus. (This picture was taken at the 84 Mass. Ave. site. That’s the charred TV master control console in front…

Read More

Fragments from a Flyer (1950s)

14 IMG_9931

From Dave Nohling Dave Nohling has contributed these pieces from a very early, though unidentified, WGBH publication. They show images from some programs you might well have forgotten. Above: “Joseph Spear’s basic math and Northeastern Univ. summer TV credit course.” “TV courses in French and Spanish with Language Research, Inc.; Harvard’s basic Russian on radio-TV.”…

Read More

Dave Davis’ “Creativity” Memo (1958)

Screen Shot 2019-12-15 at 10.47.30 AM

From the collection of Dave Nohling Click on the images to see the original memo. Read the text, below. Memorandum July 23, 1958 To: TV producer-directors From: David M. Davis Subject: Creativity I have a great concern that we are not all utilizing the creative imagination that we have to make our programs interesting, stimulating,…

Read More

In the Ille Novi – excerpts (1958)

14 IMG_9931

From Paul Noble The following are excerpts from the Ille Novi collection. These “underground” newsletters were circulated from mid-1958 to mid-1961, and edited by the Queen (Jean Brady) and Paul Noble. September 1, 1958 (from Vol. 1, No. 2) Videotape Works! On Tuesday, July 29th, Jean Brady’s image was recorded on videotape at WGBH-TV, making…

Read More

“The Sight and Sound of Learning” (1958)

14 IMG_9931

From Dave Nohling Don Hallock: This brochure has likely not seen the light of day for more than 40 years. And this could well be the only copy. The two wonderful photos show Ruth Ann Flaherty and a young guest on Ruth Ann’s Camp, and Boston Museum of Fine Arts Director, Perry Rathbone, on Museum…

Read More