Eisenhower WRC-TV 1958 (oldest known colour videotaping)

This is sample footage of the earliest surviving colour videotape recording which is the Dwight Eisenhower inaugural address to WRC-TV on 22nd May 1958. The first 15 minutes of this event was shot in B&W which you see the president arriving to the building and the news reporter giving details of the event, then about nearly 15 minutes in Robert Sarnoff hits the colour switch and on comes the colour. For the remaining 15 minutes Robert Sarnoff, Dwight Eisenhower and David Sarnoff speak about the station and the colour television technology while being recorded in living colour!!! The whole program is available for download in DVD quality from a user on Veoh right here www.veoh.com/browse/videos/cat... . In the sample I've included the B&W portion where the president arrives and the colour portion which Robert Sarnoff and Dwight Eisenhower speak.
USA started broadcasting colour in late 1953 and colour TV sets were available to the public in 1954 at an expensive price. Colour videotaping began in USA in 1958 and this footage is the earliest known to exist and it has been successfully transferred to digital for preservation. It is totally awesome to know that some colour programs from the late 1950s have survived on colour videotape as they show to us younger generations how good colour television really was back in its earliest days!!! Those RCA TK-41 cameras gave brilliant pictures back in the day!!!

[@JimRockford853]

This looks more like the late 1980s film than 1958

[@rjmcallister1888]

It's on videotape. Most TV stations stopped shooting film by 1978.

[@MaximRecoil]

That's because it was recorded on Quad, which is a very high quality 2" videotape format that was still being used into the 1980s. Smaller cassette-based formats with 1/2" tape weren't able to equal the picture quality of Quad until Betacam SP came along in 1986 (not to be confused with Betamax, which was a consumer format introduced in 1975, and which had poor picture quality).

[@johnalanelson]

Eisenhower was long dead by 1980!

[@DiscoBallGaming]

Monty Burns but those beautiful cars

[@MaurineGoodyear]

Monty Burns I know right. I find it fscinatong.

[@asdfasdf4345artsdfg]

I bet all the people with B&W TVs were very confused while watching this.

[@retrogamelord3763]

maccollectorZ (Commenting Account) "WHY ISN'T IT IN COLOR?!?!?!?"

[@digitalleft9250]

B&W TV would display B&W, right?

[@asdfasdf4345artsdfg]

Actually, I read that color TV had first been introduced a couple years prior; so, I'm sure people with B&W TVs knew that they were missing something.

[@KobraKai69]

I was watching this on my BBW and we were both surprised.

[@johnaddeo2251]

It drove my grandfather over the edge. I remember him screeching, flailing his arms and running towards the living room windows. I watched in stunned disbelief as he dove headlong right through it and fell five floors to his death. I think he just hated Eisenhower.

[@Muonium1]

I'm SHOCKED at how high the quality of both the color and sharpness of this video is. It's practically indistinguishable from common broadcast quality of the mid-80s. Incredible.

[@The_DuMont_Network]

We used these tube cameras into the 80s. The cameras used in this video were the RCA TK-4X series (Could have been a TK-40 but likely a TK-41) cameras using hand selected Image Orthicons. Cameras weighs over 250 pounds. The viewfinder itself was over 75 pounds. I used to have to carry those bastards around golf courses, up and down stadiums and on and on. Cable weighed over a pound a foot. The cameras required a complete 88 inch equipment rack for the support electronics. Could take over an hour to set them up, AFTER warming up for an hour. But a good video operator could make some gorgeous pictures. If he had enough light. Lots of light. Lots and Lots of Light... Them was the days! Google RCA TK-41, and RCA TRT-1. www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/TV/RCA-TV.htm#q3 Oldradio.com is a wonderful archive of all hings radio and TV.

[@eg3730]

Wonderment! E

[@ChatGPt2001]

Yes, it's truly remarkable how well-preserved and advanced the color videotaping technology was during that time. The 1958 NBC broadcast featuring President Eisenhower showcased the potential of color television and the high quality that could be achieved even in the late 1950s. The advancements in color videotaping technology paved the way for the improved visual quality that became standard in television broadcasts in the following decades. It's always fascinating to see how early innovations in technology have contributed to the development of the media we enjoy today. The preservation of historical broadcasts like this one allows us to appreciate the progress made in the field of television and video production.

[@stargazer7644]

That's because it's the same video format with the same bandwidth.

[@coffeehigh420]

i think the president is so captivated by seeing himself in color on tv, that he cannot stop looking at it, so he seems very distracted through most of his speech!

[@delreycustomshop7624]

I don't think he's distracted, but struggling to read the teleprompter.

[@paulymac5513]

If "Monk" was watching this he would say his tie is a little crooked.

[@MrCubFan415]

@@delreycustomshop7624 did they have teleprompters at that point or were they still using cue cards?

[@nidurnevets]

@@MrCubFan415 Teleprompters were invented in 1950.

[@KennyVeritas]

@@delreycustomshop7624 yeah Presidents have been using teleprompters for a very long time. And before that it was just paper on the desk 😂

[@ezHiker35]

Fascinating to watch. The video quality they achieved in 1958 is incredible. Aside from it not being high definition, it looks like a live broadcast.

[@brig.4398]

If you have ever watched and old Zentih tv they have a pretty amazing picture, the color is very beautiful.

[@HBC101TVStudios]

+Bri G. Beautiful? What about NTSC then? NTSC is not beautiful at all, it is twice as worst as SECAM. That's why people called NTSC as "Never Twice the Same Color" due to it's failure in controlling and auto-correcting the hues in the pictures.

[@godfreypoon5148]

@@HBC101TVStudios They call SECAM "System Extremely Crappy And Miserable". PAL is your pal.

[@jmdocs]

The perfect is the enemy of the good

[@fairussukarno1400]

And no extreme phase error like PAL

[@brycelandon6387]

As a Kansas native, I am so proud of the things Dwight D. Eisenhower accomplished in his lifetime!

[@johnwesleyhuss2327]

Yessir! #wearekansas

[@SpeedyWings2323]

Wasn’t he a Kansas native and lived in Texas?

[@SpeedyWings2323]

@@gabebeason934 he was born in Texas and lived in Kansas for most of his life and he considered it his home, so he is a Texan born who became a Kansas native. Let’s just be proud he was both and loved both

[@nick56677]

Eisenhower is a very underrated president. He made the Fabulous Fifties

[@williamturner1517]

The last, truly great leader this country had. Since, IKE we have endured a parade of low class politicians.

[@sincopare5795]

Ya gotta remember that when Ike was born, 99% of the country was shitting in a hole in the ground and reading by oil or candlelight.

[@georgepenton6023]

Sincopare That is absolutely ridiculous. Your understanding of history is atrocious.

[@parcivale]

@@georgepenton6023 Ike was born in 1890. At that time, most people lived in the country and used outhouses and the incandescent light bulb wasn't invented until 1897. So, no it's not ridiculous. Your understanding of history is atrocious.

[@lordsnivyofnottingham2948]

@@parcivale Commercial electricity was already a thing by the 1880s, and the incandescent bulb in 1879. Granted, Eisenhower was also born in Texas, and grew-up in Kansas, so the point is still valid.

[@user-kl4kh3qe4g]

@@georgepenton6023 You’re absolutely right!

[@GURken]

@@lordsnivyofnottingham2948 today 10gb internet is a thing but that doesn't mean that 90% of a nation watches youtube in 480p these facts that you read on wikipedia doesn't show the whole picture

[@endrightwinglunacy]

I love videotape. It has that 'live' quality, even here from the 50s.

[@NoobGamer-ix2mr]

Try watching 60 fps videos

[@gordonm7038]

ReturnoftheBrotha Showscan invented by special effects genius Douglas Trumbull is 65mm 60fps. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showscan It never really took off. It makes sense to shoot at 50 or more fps for 65mm to compliment the resolution.

[@turboflamez161]

Early sitcoms (like Dad's Army here in the UK) give a very good example of the difference between film and tape. Any scenes outside are on film, whereas the studio scenes are on tape. The difference when they go outside is very noticeable!

[@tomservo5007]

I hate videotape -- have you seen the original Twilight Zone episodes when they switched to video ? It took 3-4 episodes before they went back to film

[@joes9954]

Tom Servo Blame CBS for trying to cut costs when the show went over budget. They didn’t end up saving all that much and thankfully went back to film.

[@HailAnts]

Wow! Not only Eisenhower on video, but freakin' color video!! Blows my mind...

[@DreitTheDarkDragon]

Check out British Pathé, you can find really old videos here. I was surprised to see even Edison o.o

[@LauritzenLucas]

This video is super high quality too, the framerate is pretty high.

[@tacoman6485]

Better frame rate than cyberpunk

[@HailAnts]

@@DreitTheDarkDragon - Edison died in 1931, that’s long before videotape..

[@UnitedStates17]

@@HailAnts we have videos from the 1890s.

[@cblizz730]

the video quality looks very good maybe late 70's look, but the audio still has that 60's sound.

[@ezHiker35]

+cblizz7301 I believe the "60's sound" was because it was being sent over microwave relay to Burbank to be recorded to videotape. In those days the coast-to-coast TV network feeds had a limit on the high frequencies for audio.

[@rjmcallister1888]

Being 1958, it was probably being sent over AT&T Long Lines, since most affiliates did not yet have other capabilities, and early satellite was still a few years off.

[@lilpontoon6022]

Bought some Bose earbuds. It sounds perfect

[@mspysu79]

That is "Network Audio" with the AT&T Microwave relay network the Audio and video carriers where not multiplexed and the audio was sent over a standard 5 kHz wide channel, which would be the standard until the late 1970's when the networks started the move to satellite distribution with the audio having the full 15 kHz bandwidth of a standard FM broadcast. With the AT&T network, you could get 10 or 15 kHz channels "In Town" but not across the entire network, which is how the networks did work in NYC an LA they all had 10 then 15 kHz lines between each other and the independent production studios in town

[@oldgoody1]

@@mspysu79 Yes and the original 1956 B/W 2" quad VTR captured audio out to 15 kHz. Audio was easy. The video capture at close to broadcast quality was the triumph.

[@LampoonGoon]

LOL!!!! 1:40 Eisenhower looking at Sarnoff like, "I wanted to press the goddamn button. I'm the President."

[@dsbeerf]

Nicholas Smith Sarnoff was an evil, evil man. imho.

[@lordsnivyofnottingham2948]

Why didn't he? If they are going to go through the trouble of bringing the President, why shouldn't he have the honour of pushing the button?

[@sillygoose635]

@@dsbeerf lol, no

[@pjhoody]

Jim Benn why is that?

[@everybodysbud18]

Nahh lol. He was probably still trying to take in and understand all of the new technology he had seen on that day.

[@RetroGUY77]

My grandad went to America in 1956 and was amazed to see colour TV. When he moved back, he didn't get a colour telly until 1974!

[@donaldfuck]

Italian?

[@anonUK]

@@donaldfuck No, in the UK even though colour TV was available from late 1969, more people paid the black and white licence than the colour licence fee until the end of 1976.

[@Yetaxa]

@@anonUK late 1969 was when bbc1 went to colour Other channels began colour broadcast a few years earlier

[@jorgeneri]

"Telly", UK for sure :)

[@jec1ny]

I wish Eisenhower were president today. Good man, solid, moderate in his politics, didn't treat people with different ideas as the enemy. He got things done with very little drama.

[@mohameddiaby835]

Well, I hope admiral Bill McRaven runs for president, some day.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

importance of cod liver oil shows..

[@terrytc1]

Color TV in the US started in a small scale in 1954 but didn't get really going until 1955. By 1956-1957 both NBC and CBS had a good number of color shows. Due to the price of the sets and the fact that the majority of Americans bought their first TV in the early 50's at a hefty price, they saw no reason to quickly replace it. My father took my brother and I to a local TV store in 1956 to see the NBC kids show Howdy Doodie in color which was on around 4pm or 5pm I remember. The US and the world went into recession in 1958 and 1959 which further discouraged color sales and CBS stopped broadcasting color when CBS Columbia company stopped producing sets. It took 6 years for things to turn around.

[@richartrod]

Pretty impressive. I've worked in TV and knew a color program "Another Night with Fred Astaire" (1959) has been preserved, but I didn't know an older tape existed. When one considers this program was originating from WRC in Washington and being electronically recorded at NBC Studios in Burbank (KNBC), most likely via coaxial cable or telephone line, on the recently invented videotape format--in 1958--this is truly an incredible technical feat.

[@rockintetster]

The switching from BW to color should have been the honor of the president.

[@jojopuppyfish]

It was....the president of NBC (David Sarnoff)

[@bighands69]

+rerevisionist I suppose you are a national socialist. Have you not realized that national socialism failed.

[@a1wireless1964]

At the time, David Sarnoff probably had as much, if not more power than the president... He was the president of the largest corporation in the world NBC RCA

[@bighands69]

@tinwoods Shut up to what exactly?

[@everybodysbud18]

@@jojopuppyfish Robert Sarnoff

[@QuantumBraced]

It's not just the color, the resolution and clarity are also very impressive. It is proper standard definition.

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Of the two tapes made of this historic event, the first was poorly preserved and when an attempt was made to play it by archivists only the audio could be recovered. Fortunately Sarnoff made reference to the second copy which was subsequently tracked down and was found to be in much better condition. With some clever work done by a team led by Ed Reitan the colour video signal was recovered from the latter copy. The result is stellar!!

[@christianlane4785]

Every time I see the Great Generals of WW2, I stand at awe. I am grateful for their distinguished service that helped save this free world.

[@AudioTech50]

Having been a TV repairman for much of the last 50 years, I found this fascinating. I also saw a flash of color before he threw the switch. I wonder if this was recorded using the RCA videotape standard or the Ampex technology which RCA eventually adopted.

[@VinchVolt]

That reminds me of a video on restoring color to black and white copies of junked 1960's British TV shows, where they explained that flashes of color like those are the result of converting color videotape footage to black and white.

[@oldager1662]

Absolutely no artifacts of multiple helical scan heads seen in _later_ tapes. So this system was superior but I bet it used a lot of tape!

[@PAULLONDEN]

*@Michael Rudas* ....yeah , noticed that flash immediately , probably due to the conversion .

[@whitcwa]

RCAs first practical VTR used the Ampex technology. There was never an RCA videotape standard other than failed prototypes. Ampex shared its patents in return for RCAs patents in color TV.

[@Revelian1982]

Nnnnnnneeeeerrrrrrrrdddddd!

[@donclark4685]

I was 10 years old at the time of this telecast. It was a very pleasant time in the fifties. Far better than now, that's for sure.

[@gianniveeful]

Yes it was Don, and how we miss that time, and General Eisenhower.

[@johnalanelson]

Let's see ... Korean war, McCarthy era, Nuclear bomb scare (get your lead lined shelter today!) , Fidel Castro, Suez crisis ... yeah, those were really great times!

[@catlover10192]

I'm sure it was great if you were a straight, white, a least middle class male, or even a content housewife. Otherwise, not so good.

[@boxingmmacars23]

Damn how old are you bruh

[@martyzielinski2469]

While I have little sympathy for what passes as “civil rights” nowadays, it should be admitted that persons of color were often treated very badly back in those days. And this comment from an angry old white guy who’s supports #45...

[@wravenoak]

Great to see Eisenhower in what is almost modern photography!

[@Steve197201]

That Secret Service agent looked so cool, jumping out of the moving car right before it stopped.

[@coffeehigh420]

notice at 3:32 I think he looks at the color tv monitor and for the first time, see's himself in color doing a live broadcast and he's just in shock! Look at how he pauses to glance at it, etc.

[@msgeek703]

Yeah, he looked into that monitor and you can see how amazed he was.

[@turboflamez161]

Well spotted. Very interesting!

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

It could also have been him reading the script off-camera but I don't think we'll know for sure.

[@coffeehigh420]

@@Urlocallordandsavior I know cause I was there!

[@stephensoldner]

@@Urlocallordandsavior This is what I assumed it was. His delivery here is slower than usual and a little choppy, which would make sense if he was reading the speech.

[@IronPiedmont]

Film from the 1950's and 1960's had such smooth frame rates.

[@universe4839]

It's not film, it's video.

[@IronPiedmont]

Universe I know that.

[@universe4839]

***** Maybe you did, but in that case I don't understand your comment's relevance to this video.

[@IronPiedmont]

Universe I'm saying that the frame rate of multimedia (videos) from the 1930's, 40's, 50's, and 60's look good compared to today.

[@dewdude]

***** the framerate of film has not changed. the apparent frame-rate of video is 60fps. A lot of content was actually kinetoscoped to film; which used a higher rate to maintain ease of transfer.

[@TryTheBLT]

The quality of the B&W videotape images is amazing. I love these old videotapes when they are in good condition because video has a feeling that you don't get from film. It's like you're right there. It doesn't seem old and distant like some other B&W media whether it be photos, film, or tape.

[@VinchVolt]

I think part of that feeling might have to do with the fact that videotape was frequently used for amateur recordings prior to the mass-adoption of digital video cameras, whereas film wider than 16mm was reserved for professional productions. Thus, videotape tends to feel more "authentic" because it gives off a home movie aesthetic as opposed to the "professional" look of 35mm or 70mm film, ironic considering how 35mm and 70mm both provide a more accurate image than videotape.

[@Rainer67059]

+game4brains 123 Remember when the film The Hobbit came into the theaters? The cineasts complained watching that movie felt like watching TV. It was the higher frame rate. The makers chose to use 48fps, double the normal frame rate to (largely) eliminate the motion blur because motion blur doesn't go well together with 3D. Then it felt like TV because TV has no motion blur either, with its virtually doubled frame rate, doubled via interlacing. As TV images are consecutive pixel images, unlike film images that are synchronous pixel images, interlacing can create a virtually increased frame rate. Combined with the higher frame rate - 30 instead of 24 - TV technology displays motion better. 35mm is not overall more accurate than pictures from electronic cameras recorded on magnetic tape.

[@kevinevans5921]

Sokkies agreed look at a film of the first super bowl and it looks over 50 years ago, watch one of the rare clips on videotape and it looks live.

[@nidurnevets]

Notice the respect given the President of the United States in those days.

[@Langkowski]

Today we have SJWs that dress like giant vaginas to protest against the president

[@ageekofalltrades]

@@Langkowski You're replying to a post from 5 years ago...something tells me you probably didn't show respect to the man who was president at that time.

[@Langkowski]

There are three recent replies to the post, and you choose to focus on mine just because? Also notice that I write "today". My opinion about Obama, which you for some reason does not mention by name, is irrelevant since this thread is not about me.

[@nole8923]

Nuttymeemps How about because, except for maybe JFK, he was the last president who wasn’t an asshole. Well, and maybe Carter too wasn’t an asshole. The rest were.

[@sillygoose635]

@@Langkowski Today we have Anti SJWs in Red Hats to protest against the actual president

[@hebneh]

As an archivist, I'm really pleased to encounter this clip on KZbin and even more pleased that it exists at all, and has been transferred from its original 2" videotape - a piece of which you can see being handled in the first speech. Reading other comments, I can see that people don't understand that there's a difference between color FILM and color VIDEOTAPE. The color images you see of JFK's inauguration in 1961, for example, are FILM - not the same technology.

[@gianniveeful]

You see his humble nature and his true love for this country which he served as a true soldier of the United States and all humanity. Because of him, as a young Lieutenant, an old German man thanked me for being an American and serving in Europe. I took that thanks on behalf of General Eisenhower and the people of the United States, because I was not worthy of such praise and thanks. Peace to you.

[@garymorris1856]

It is remarkable how much we have dropped off in terms of the quality of the Presidency. Just imagine the dramatic difference in patriotism and character from Dwight Eisenhower to the current resident of the White House. If the issues weren't so serious, conditions would be laughable. Ike was a true American, and Obama is a bad joke.

[@johnhud0079]

commanding general of D Day forces. good solid president. national treasure

[@atlantic1952]

This is terrific to watch, history in the making, thanks so much...amazing to see color VTR so early!

[@JonnyQ358]

Great video of a great American President and General..And dig that brand new gleaming 1957 Cadillac Limousine..

[@LaptopLarry330]

During the early years of television, NBC was the "gold standard" for televised broadcasting excellence. They had the best programming, and most often, had the groundbreaking technological advances in the medium (thanks to their ownership by the RCA Corporation). NBC, and their parent company, RCA, had the right to be very proud of their breakthrough in color broadcasting and color videotape recording, in 1958.

[@kevinpoveromo6324]

RCA a nonpartisian company. NOW LOOK WHAT WE HAVE .SAD.

[@ScottWildTornadoSponge]

Just to put this in perspective from my family point of view: my maternal grandparents were married for under a year, and my paternal grandparents we’re dating when this footage was made. None of my aunts and uncles, my dad or mom, had been born yet. I had great-great grandparents and great-grandparents still alive at this point, all but one having past away before I was born. It’s amazing how this footage looks like it could have been shot in like the 1990’s, but yet was filmed in an era where it was just before many of the generation changing events of the 1960’s would occur. Great footage if put in historical context.

[@Nerdtendo6366]

As a huge Eisenhower fan, knowing he was the first president to be broadcasted in color makes me happy :P

[@Trance88]

Wow. The video quality for being such an early color broadcast is phenomenal!

[@kylefagan9585]

Presidential flag on one fender, as is tradition; Perfect weather for a presidential speech, aboot 80 dgrees, as is tradition; Presidential recording being recorded on colour T.V. for the first time, as is tradition; What a great day for america, and therefore, what a great day for the rest of the world.

[@jsg6532774]

A great man and a far better time about 7 years before the spiral trend started downward !

[@frostbytef2lms324]

jsg6532774 so you like segregation

[@deb310red]

Thank you for posting this video. Wonderful to see IKE in color.

[@mmcckkgg]

This is a real treat for us kids that grew up in the 50's and 60's and did not have color TV. We did not get one until 1972. Thanks for posting.

[@johnswackyworld]

oh man..the colors dude! the colors are so groovy!

[@bobstrauss9413]

Eisenhower was a good president..i remember him !

[@thelord6898]

@infinite beats per minute Oof.

[@metalmoto]

What a great piece of history. Thank You!

[@scdevon]

Fantastic footage. Thanks.

[@johnw.peterson4311]

“ I like Ike.” He was a great one, this coming from a Dem.

[@catchyname4353]

Shut up Trumpie

[@SO_DIGITAL]

These images had to be relayed 3000 miles to California to be recorded! Shows how advanced the microwave links were at the time. Awesome.

[@langley2205]

Thanks for uploading this. A real bit of broadcasting history. Also, I realised looking at the notes that it was the day I was born!

[@54Snickers]

Fascinating history lesson on color television development. I agree, the quality is surprisingly good. Glad to hear that the color tape of this event has been preserved digitally. I'm sure that the machines which played this tape, would have long since been rendered obsolete and probably not been in working condition 50 + years later.

[@egrand1508]

Eisenhower suffered a mild stroke just six months before this that left him with some speech difficulties. He always did talk slowly and sometimes hesitate, but after the stroke he would often slur words or even say the wrong ones. He was very conscious of it and slowed his speech even more to make sure he said the right thing. The bright lights needed for early color tv probably didn't help him see the cards either. After a couple of years Ike's speech returned to almost normal.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

🐱👍🏿

[@c3cubed]

This is fantastic. Nice to see a piece of history exactly the same age as myself. It seems Ike was having issues with the speed of the teleprompter - perhaps it was scrolling too slowly or feeding the speech in blocked sentence bars Nevertheless, folks commenting here on his seemingly staccato oratory should take into consideration the "delivery style" of the times. This was an age when public speaking demanded one to speak, using a punctuated and short-stroke sentence structure to enable everyone to grasp the message. This oratory style was prevalent to all major and international public figures going back to the invention of radio, right up to Kennedy & Johnson. It began to lose fashion by the late 60's.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

+c3cubed It's definitely the speed of a TelePrompter. I went through a similar situation myself with a teleprompter. But he is still authoritative, more so than the one we have now.

[@c3cubed]

He is probably the last example of the gentlemanly, elderly statesman - with an extraordinary, elegant projection of power.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

I don't think he was using a teleprompter. I believe he was speaking extemporaneously. Eisenhower's public speaking style was famously clumsy, and this seems a likely example of that. He was genuine, if awkward, and his audience always understood what he meant. Speaking of the tech he saw at the studio: "It really is entirely beyond my comprehension, but it is still capable of exciting my wonderment." That's a great line.

[@mattjones5987]

I don't think they had teleprompters yet. I believe someone in the back of the room was holding cue cards.

[@bernardprouty1390]

At times Ronald Reagan sounded like this too. Slow deliberative.

[@stupendous1068]

It's amazing seeing color footage of a President from so long ago.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Live color NBC broadcasts were happening since 1955. This was the first being recorded with video tape. This tape system was abandoned. A different video tape system became the standard. In the late 70s/80s, that system was replaced by several other systems! Today, we have HD. The very bright lights made it difficult for Ike to read the monitor.

[@roberth.5185]

Credible and ethical media back then. Not anymore.

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

They used gigantic RCA TK-41 color cameras in those days. They. generated large amounts of heat and had big vents on the sides.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

i bet they had cpu coolerfans like today?

[@CadillacL]

How amazing to see the earliest known color footage.

[@gamernorcal]

Amazing color! Great quality.

[@onlyweknow2]

Just like Ike, I don't know how they did it but the color was amazing.

[@englandmadethewest]

Quite fascinating. Really. Ike in colour. A history thing.

[@garymorris1856]

***** You are an idiot, and a complete ass.

[@TheMNrailfan227]

This footage is incredible, it looks like it’s from the 90s!

[@HeavenandHell1776]

Awesome footage of President Eisenhower

[@avagd6293]

Truman and Eisenhower were two of the best presidents that the United States has ever been elected.

[@mindislife]

there are colour footages of WW2. Not recolourised, but actually shot in colour.

[@southlondon86]

Where do these clips exist? The only ones ever shown tend to be the recolourised footage.

[@mindislife]

WW2 Japan In Colour was claimed to be shot in colour.

[@southlondon86]

Claimed? But no actual proof that it was?

[@mindislife]

It said shot in colour, Check it out yourself in youtube. Japan WW2 in Colour.

[@jonkern9503]

Color VIDEOTAPE is the showpiece here, not color film.

[@CassAnayadotcom]

this is really interesting and great to see, thank you.

[@danielcruz8347]

Glorious RCA-NBC Colour flip the switch!!! It's like Ms Judy,s Dorothy opening the DOOR to OZ !!!! BEAUTIFUL. thank you for posting

[@DanaTheInsane]

Want us to vote Republican again? Find one like him and we will talk.

[@AdmiralBlake]

USAFsarge and Obama won two elections.

[@AdmiralBlake]

oh grow up.

[@abola2121]

AdmiralBlake What a monumental achievement...

[@dylanwtn5634]

Joe LoPiccolo 9edgy11me

[@bobjenkins643]

USAFsarge at least obama didn't criticize half of america

[@Jaydublus]

Truly a great leader not in the least worried about appearances. Very refreshing in our TelePrompter world. Dwight Eisenhower knew who he was.

[@mchpm13]

I feel this is a great quality video!

[@garyhunt8067]

Amazing footage.

[@Godzilla52]

I miss the center-right Republicans.

[@3243_]

+Godzilla52 Some of them are now called Democrats.

[@CyborgVegita]

+threeby8887 lol no

[@zillsburyy1]

+Godzilla52 germans had this 10 years earlier

[@noonze1]

+Godzilla52 I miss Democrats who didn't use free stuff to get themselves elected, didn't apologize for the country, weren't obsessed with 'social issues' and big government, and who stood up to our adversaries. John Kennedy would be considered a right-wing nutjob today...

[@Godzilla52]

+noonze1 Except comparing the changes within modern Democrats to modern Republicans isn't even a real comparison. The Democrats by average are anywhere from center-left to center-right where as the Republicans by average are extremely right to the point where a moderate Republican is an endangerd species. Every single one of the Democratic candidates is light years far more preferable than any of the Republican presidential candidates (with the possible exception of George Pataki). Compared to the modern Republican party, the Democrats today look like the best political party in the history of the world. And this is coming from somebody who considers themselves right wing. I'd have to contest your JFK statement though. Every left wing person I know holds JFK in ridiculously high esteem. I've never heard a left winger take a real swing at JFK, even the socialists I know seem to have respect for him. The only real complaints I've heard about JFK from the left (and I've heard these from a few right leaning people as well) Is that his achievements are slightly exaggerated. All and all, the Democrats really aren't that left. I mean if you were to compare them to other left wing parties in Canada or the UK such as the Liberal Party of Canada, The NDP, The Labour Party of the Liberal-Democrats, America's Democrats would be the least left leaning out of all of them.

[@jonantonvenableskwart5320]

Abraham Lincoln at 3:06 rasing from his chair.

[@brainphelps1994]

+Jon Anton Venables Kwart LOL what the fuck was that guy?

[@imjoeywhotheheckareyou6658]

I don't see anything

[@mmangum4444]

LOL

[@Perririri]

He looks more like Stalin

[@Perririri]

@@imjoeywhotheheckareyou6658 Second to the right of seated Ike

[@larrymagee8758]

This looks so good because it was stored in an archive and not played to death

[@marcse7en]

And it was presumably converted to newer video formats, as and when they became available. I very much doubt this footage is uploaded to KZbin from the original reel of 2" videotape! The footage would almost certainly have been digitised years ago.

[@user-sp6jk3zz5b]

Fantastic quality for being over 60 years old 👍

[@AwesomeRobot15]

How many people even had color TV's though?

[@noonze1]

+AwesomeRobot15 Or Obama without a teleprompter

[@almostfm]

+AwesomeRobot15 Not many. The first color sets were about $1000 in mid-1950s money, and there weren't many stations that had the capability to broadcast in color (even those that did, most programming was still B&W). It's kind of like when the first HD TVs became available-not much programming to take advantage of the tech, and they cost stupid money to buy. But, somebody's gotta be first.

[@Rickswars]

0

[@choxxxieful]

More than a few...

[@shamicentertainment1262]

its pretty good quality for 1958, but it wouldnt of played as good from a tv in that time

[@HBC101TVStudios]

Shamic Entertainment Early NTSC color TV / video recordings in the 50's are considered good quality for the Americans. But for the Brits and Europeans, NTSC are considered the worst of all TV color standards.

[@blozier2006]

***** Isn't the joke something like "Never Twice Same Color"? :-P

[@HBC101TVStudios]

Bryce Lozier Yep.

[@aaendi6661]

I always found it funny how many people used to have the TINT control set wrong.

[@777jones]

Really cool. Deserves a lot of views.

[@trailkeeper]

The color is nice and smooth like good quality movie film.

[@jamestarrou3685]

What I'm noticing is how Eisenhower is talking to the audience, particularly when describing the technological advancements towards the end. He speaks with a sort of amazement of the technology with a sincere earnest. When I hear Obama speak, it all sounds smug.

[@DanaTheInsane]

It is called being intelligent. Bush II sounded like a two digit IQ twit. Your fear of "big Words" not withstanding.

[@jamestarrou3685]

What are you talking about?

[@Nominay]

James Tarrou He's suggesting that you are a reactionary partisan by your Obama comments.

[@Nominay]

USAFsarge Eisenhower was infinitely better than Reagan. Their respective experiences before holding high office was a stark contrast. Ike was a world leader as Supreme Commander of the European Theater in World War II, while Reagan was, what, a b-movie actor and a speech maker at a convention. The difference shows!!!!

[@Nominay]

USAFsarge I find it sad that you think I was defending Obama because I wasn't even thinking of him when I typed what I typed, and I was just trying to be funny. I didn't use the word "President" either. I changed your wording to "hold high office". Reagan should have never been Governor just as Bush should have never been Governor of Texas. As President, Reagan, like Bush AND OBAMA, did a lot of damage to this country and those 3 shmucks are now in the top of 5 of worst Presidents we've had. "Reagan, during the 1984 election took every state except Minnesota. Even Massachusetts voted for Reagan in 1984. " Nixon won EVERY state in 1972 (and DC is more liberal than Massachusetts). So what? Obviously the American people got it wrong, and McGovern was the best alternative we've ever had.

[@atlantis0v-104]

Eisenhower Is Better than Me.

[@luacreskid]

I was a junior in HS that year and I can tell you there were 0 color TVs in our community...but...I love watching and listening to IKE.

[@musikdoktor]

amazing footage..

[@NickOsterkampVA-R]

I can't even come on a President Eisenhower video without some of the comments here being a testimony to the retardation of humanity. Ike, if you really made it to the pearly gates, I hope I join you soon.

[@lbnFadl]

Nick Osterkamp Your picture makes absolutely zero sense

[@NickOsterkampVA-R]

This name is either restricted, too long, or contains too many invalid characters. Piss off, how's that?

[@lbnFadl]

Nick Osterkamp Two enemy flags together like that

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

Trump 2016? You're joking, right

[@NickOsterkampVA-R]

Captain Sum Ting Wong Oh get out of here, you just want to bug me about it.

[@toucansam3]

Ah, what's the big deal. Color television is just a fad anyway!

[@firebrigade101]

It was the first of it's kind...everything back in the early days was a big WOW! I got in on the rear end of this and remember the first paid cable, first VCR ,end of Drive-ins, touch tone on phones first Brick cel.phones, the first home computer with bbc (no internet)...all these things were a big deal at one time...just giving a explanation, not chewing out!

[@toucansam3]

firebrigade101 I remember the first time I went on an Internet chatroom, it was on Compuserve in 1994. I was chatting with a guy from New Jersey and I thought it was the most amazing thing I had ever done, so I know what you mean.

[@devintariel3769]

Well I remember using wifi for the first time in 2004

[@imyou2429]

I really only got to witness the iPhone release in 2007

[@mariop.morenog.e2209]

Amazing video. Congratulations.

[@lindaeasley4336]

Outstanding, crisp videotape for being more than 60 years old

[@ezragonzalez8936]

wonder how eloquent George W Bush or Trump would be at this speech lol

[@willdrucker4291]

+Leo Gonzalez I don't believe either could even spell the word "eloquent", yet alone BE eloquent

[@777uka]

Leo Gonzalez horrible.

[@Reub3]

I'd argue every president after this guy would lack that class. They all suck now and will continue to suck til the end of USA. RIP USA

[@MrTransalpin]

I believe this analog NTSC 3,58 Video is upscalled to digital. Master recorder was perhaps, an AMPEX video tape.

[@marcostar57]

Wow..amazing video! First time (?) I've ever seen Ike in color!

[@watermelon1680]

My dad was 5 at the time, so it is nice to see what he could have seen on TV.

[@murphy6700]

Wouldn't have been an inaugural address in May 1958. He was elected president twice: 1952 and 1956.

[@iamthem134]

I think it means the inauguration of the first colored TV address from Washington, not of the presidency. Inauguration is admittedly a strange word to use here, but that is what I believe the intention was.

[@ukranaut]

News records from nineties look like shit, compared to this.

[@julierogers6377]

ukranaut Huh?

[@subbustalkdude5663]

ukranaut Why the nineties of all decades? Why not the eighties?

[@subbustalkdude5663]

amanoncrack The only part of the 1990s that are recent is the late 1990s (1997-99). Also, the early 1990s (1990-93) are nearly indistinguishable from the late 1980s.

[@subbustalkdude5663]

amanoncrack I'm not even being "convoluted". That's only in your mind (which is wrong anyways).

[@subbustalkdude5663]

amanoncrack Because I'm right.

[@jimmygentile3354]

I always liked Ike. I think he doesnt get enough credit. A sincere and decent man,

[@spxmet]

How cool is this!!!!!

[@HailAnts]

This clip is about the tech, not the politics. All your moronic comments about such are an embarrassment...

[@webbsuperiorbelties5800]

Must be the beginning of the teleprompter too! Don't get me wrong, I like Ike, but he looks uncomfortable here.

[@morbius109]

Seth Webb His speech was impromptu, I'd read. He simply spoke from his own thoughts.

[@davidharing6475]

Yeah, he surprisingly doesn't sound like a natural speaker.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

Politicians of that era didn't grow up watching TV. They weren't trained almost from birth, as we have been, how a person on television is supposed to speak. Eisenhower was born in 1890 - he probably didn't hear a radio until he was well into his twenties. He was not a natural public speaker.

[@bighands69]

+HoneySiegalSurvivor Eisenhower destroyed the Nazi's and also faced down the Communists in Europe and he also destroyed the Communists in America. Are you a communist.

[@morticindavis9410]

morbius109 yeah but if you look closely it does look like he’s reading and trying to make out the words.

[@hellomcflyy]

imagine if they had archived all video tapes starting way back then....I get excited to find early 80s stuff on old VHS tapes - 1958...wow

[@RomeoAloneo]

The videotape looked twice as wide as modern day tape. That's why this looks so good for the time.

[@Tr1Hard777]

3:40 only if he knew what damage fast communication can cause due to lies and propaganda the Internet spreads

[@777uka]

If you guys want a good shock.....Google Pres Eisenhower mom and dad wedding pic....

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

Speculation that Ike's mother was biracial is not new and is entirely unproven. It seems based on one photograph and somebody's self-published book. Rumors that other presidents may have had some African ancestry (including Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Harding, and Coolidge) became popular around the time of Barack Obama's inauguration among those who wished to delegitimize everything about Obama, including his status as the first black president.

[@Montecm89]

Knew about the heart attacks, but not about the stroke. Thank you for the info! As a note, I was a history major and wrote a term paper on ike and his total genius, so what I meant wasn't to show any disrespect, and I hold nothing but the utmost respect and admiration of him.

[@yadig2012]

Great sound, as well !