How Bob Dylan's earliest TV appearance was lost and rediscovered (and I found it)

In summer of 1963 Bob Dylan had just recorded Blowin' in the Wind, and its television premier was on a local New York variety show on a Saturday afternoon. I saw the listing in an old TV Guide, and just happened to be working for Dylan's office, organizing his archives. I decided to try to find the tape.

[@karleyyork9001]

Fantastic. Oh how I miss the good old TV Guide. ♥️

[@abvianimation]

Great, and thank you! As for me, these early videos are the best way to listen to his songs (this and "Mr. Tambourine Man" at the Newport Folk Festival).

[@matiaslegrand]

Amazing find, thanks!!

[@kevinfagan1968]

I saw a documentary a few years back, I think it was on the BBC. It started by giving the background of the very cold winter of 1962 in England and Scotland. 'Wonderful Land' by The Shadows was the no.1 single at the time. It then started introducing the main topic, which was about a young folk singer, called Bob Dylan who travelled to Scotland to appear in a play. There wasn't any video tape from what I remember but there was 8mm film of the play when it was broadcast on TV. I think there was also an audio recording of it. It was very interesting.

[@fredmuller8136]

The play was 'The Madhouse on Castle Street' in which Bob had a small speaking part and performed 'Blowin' in the Wind', 'Hang Me O Hang Me' and 'Ballad of the Gliding Swan'. The BBC discarded their 35mm recording some five years later! No visuals remain but there are audio recordings of songs captured by Dylan fans holding a mic to the TV speakers. The play was poorly received and documentary you refer to was panned as 'an opportunity missed'. Whilst in the UK Dylan performed in a few coffee houses and met other folk performers such as Martin Carthy.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@fredmuller8136 thanks for this

[@TheFM_Club]

Thanks for your efforts!

[@guywalker29]

What was the name of the local TV variety show? If you have the TV Guide, why didn't you photograph it and use it in this montage of scheduled morning children's shows when it was on in the afternoon? Let me guess: the TV Guide you had "gotten" isn't yours?

[@rockcityfilms]

I gave the TV Guide to the Dylan office. The show was called Folk songs and more folk songs.

[@guywalker29]

I wonder how Westinghouse became interested in folk music so much so they filmed an hour show for TV. I wonder if there's an archive at Westinghouse with deets.

[@anithagadireddy]

Super