KTBS-TV Sign-off 1975

KTBS-TV sign-off/Shreveport, Louisiana 1975

[@adeverger]

I just died. I am from Shreveport. This song taught me to be a patriot. I am in NYC for 30 years with people who hate our country. Sad.

[@destrytompkins9464]

God Bless You, I'm from Vivian. the South rules huh!

[@Texoma_Mikes_Garage]

Such a fond memory of this simpler time. If I was up I'd turn on the TV just to close the night out with this beautiful rendition and sign off. Brings a tear to my eye today.

[@fireindahole857]

Racist times

[@maxmorman7748]

Brings back a lot of memory's. As a kid we really thought we were big if we stayed up untill the tvs went off. Seems like so long ago

[@loboblue5441]

I felt that way too

[@charlessmith263]

@@loboblue5441 I remember WCIU-TVs sign off in the 1980s in Chicago. It would end with a sort of a "Armed Forces Medley" before leaving the air. WYCC-TV's sign-off in Chicago in the 1980s would end with a prerecorded Star Spangled Banner before the snowball happens (carrier cut, of course).

[@charlessmith263]

The last statement before the "good night" the voiceover did was known as a "copyright warning message", which I paraphrase this - no programming related to KTBS-TV may be reused in any form without written consent of this station.

[@jordanlinda]

It was a long time ago. I remember.

[@ad3673]

Pups said it all in the comment below. I grew up east of Tyler and we watched Shreveport stations. This sign off is still one of my favorite memories...what a great song and what great memories. I lost both my mom and dad in 2016 and I miss them every day. Listening to this makes me feel just a little bit closer to them. Thanks spufferama for posting this. It is so very meaningful to me.

[@camillerolen2839]

I can't tell you how many nights I sat up and watched this very ending to a long day after a date. There is nothing quite like hearing All My Trials at the end of the day. Beautiful scenery and brings back so many memories. Long Live Dixie!

[@lsutigers7517]

This song makes me feel so sad, brings back such good memories. I'm glad I grew up during that time.

[@butanebandit]

I still remember staying up and seeing this right after the "Big Movie" on Saturday night. Now I recall how Reisor Bowden and other announcers referred to the station as "Television Three" through the early 80's. Lovely, even though it used stock footage. I wish someone could dig out Channel 12's sign-on film they used around the same time. If I remember it correctly, they probably shot all of it themselves with beautiful scenery around the Shreveport area, and then aerial footage of their tower near Mooringsport (before it fell down that one time). The music used was a John Denver instrumental. I can't remember the announcer's name but he also did local commercials like for Powell Buick-GMC.

[@jefferygreening5665]

Bob Weimar was the staff announcer at KSLA in those days.

[@butanebandit]

@@jefferygreening5665 Wow, I knew his first name was Bob but I couldn't remember his last name. Thanks

[@jetdriver26]

The big movie intro used to be on KZbin. Don't know what happened to it.

[@tomloft2000]

young people still can't believe that TV used to shut down every night.

[@erikpridemore3174]

From the original ABC Shreveport, Louisiana Affiliate KTBS-TV sign-off, we will be hearing "An American Trilogy" by Mickey Newbury. This very same song, also played on its CBS Lafayette, Louisiana Affiliate KLFY-TV sign-off, and this reminds us of the old KXII-TV Channel 12 sign-off back in the '70s when it was played at Midnight on its then dual NBC and CBS Ardmore-Sherman-Denison-Ada Affiliate (Now CBS 12 Fox 12 and my 12) . And we love this sign-off to bring back memories.

[@markfuller979]

Interesting comment from you, which I appreciate. I grew up in Longview watching KTBS. I'm now retired and living near Pottsboro and watch KXII.

[@Johnnyqwest1]

I didn't take it as being offensive. I think Dixie is a very beautiful song. It did blend into Battle Hymn of the Republic. Both songs associated with The civil war. I believe the race issue is way over used and people seem to go out of their way to get offended to display their desire to be a good person. If Dixie is used to offend then that is a different matter.

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

People look to take offense And they want to purge southern culture in its entirety 11 years ago we had no idea how bad it would get

[@melony9470]

God bless the South ❤

[@weatherstudios7964]

This has to be the most heartwarming sign off i ever seen.

[@fireindahole857]

Racist

[@FlyingCrow]

What memories. This is the first time I've ever seen it in color. Believe it or not, we had a B&W TV until I went in the Air Force in 1980.

[@davidrbecken]

We had black and white until 1976. That was the year cable tv arrived in Shreveport, so my father sprang for color. That made those racy HBO movies way more enjoyable for me, and him, I imagine. That was the first time I saw that orange kitchen on Brady Bunch reruns.

[@mharris5047]

I had a color television in my home as early as the mid 1960's. However, I still had one 13 inch black and white television in my bedroom as late as the early 1990's My father was a good friend of a local furniture and electronics store, I was in the guy's store in 1990-1991 and he still had a new 13 inch black and white television for sale for $95. I even bought a special order commercial washer and dryer set from him in the mid 1980's, I still use that washer today (I moved into a house without a circuit for an electric dryer and replaced it with a gas dryer at that time).

[@MinisterTyler]

I remember staying up past bedtime and after this was over you would just get a constant tone. Times were so much better and simple. Sometimes I wish we could go back in some ways. Wow! Brings back lots of memories.

[@djrokkchun8ntnojokeproduct131]

Michael Tyler yep

[@tywanjackson2320]

Same here

[@MrIveyIsBonkers]

Back then, television was much more, how should I say it? Humble? Carefree? I dunno. But back then there was little to no infomercials, no 12 hour news, and it signed off and on every night and morning. I wish I was alive back then to experience it.

[@thermoj]

I was. You're right. It was great to be alive back then.

[@imrustyokay]

Eh, I think it's more carefree now, Humble, no. Although, I like how they don't sign off, more of a choice for Night Owls for me.

[@shawnmarengo494]

When Elvis Presley sang “Dixie” in concert, he would reduce the audience to tears.

[@pups1678]

This was the last thing I listened to on NON schoolnights. Life was clean simple living. You didn't absorb yourself in electronics. Families went to church every Sunday night and Wednesday. You ALL sat down at the dinner table and talked about the day. You didn't hear of kids shooting up school's or mass murders. You played with others outside got along and didn't have the bullying and hatered. People didn't walk around with attitudes cuz they thought it was cool. There was love in this world. It was simple. It was good. It was the best times of my life. Today? I really can't stand what has become of all this.

[@FernieCanto]

"Families went to church every Sunday night and Wednesday. You ALL sat down at the dinner table and talked about the day." Now *there* is some scary, dystopic "1984" stuff.

[@KennethKetchum]

I also remember when TV stations actually signed off the air and the powerful stirring songs that accompanied those sign offs. NOw I WANT TO LISTEN TO THOSE SONGS CONSTANTLY I MISS MY MOTHER AND FATHER SO MUCH. TIMES WERE MORE SIMPLE BACK THEN TODAY IS SO SAD

[@pinmeister987]

Life was simpler that is true. There was still a lot of bullying. Probably more then than today. Schools tended to ignore that stuff back then. The murder rate was a lot higher than today. Statistics will show that. Still miss those days though. Good music. Life has gotten a lot more complicated with cable news, internet, cell phones etc. Back then you could graduate High School and find a decent job that paid enough you could live comfortably. Now you have to have various degrees, certificates, and play office politics to survive.

[@markmiller6751]

I lived in Texarkana in 1978 for a short while. I remember this sign off. Memories.

[@kevinmcgee735]

KLFY used to play this at sign off and, often I stayed up for it... love this old version of Dixie...

[@jordanthomas7304]

Yes, they did. Terry Eugene Dover, God rest him, announced the sign off for TV 10 sign off. I remember that since I was 3!

[@StuON22]

I need a time machine, everything that fits my soul is in the past.

[@tywanjackson2320]

As a kid in the 80s i use to stay up to watch the tv sign off.

[@butanebandit]

@Mr1991ladarius If I'm not mistaken, this video was pulled straight off the master tape that an employee had at their desk. This isn't a home video recording, thus the high quality.

[@lesarasure2740]

I loved this sign off, and I loved those days. Great memories, thanks for sharing.

[@Fontenotcjf]

This sign-off had special meaning one night in August 1975. The ark-la-tex would have been informed by News that evening, of Hank Williams Jr.'s near death experience that afternoon in Montana. Maybe these same thoughts of "Dixie" resonated in Hank's mind as he lay helpless on that Mountain side.

[@srachui53]

Where in East Texas? I grew up in Tyler (Chapel Hill, actually) and had the same experience watching this sign-off many times as a kid...in fact, I've been looking for exactly this video for a very long time. How wonderful to find it since it brings back some GREAT memories!

[@jmommay0362]

srachui53 this is in Shreveport Louisiana

[@stanleytryhard1825]

Poll: how many would give up cells, the internet and Amazon and go back to the Princess and the brick remote if it was a requirement to be transported back to these times? Simpler, yes, less technical, but nobody really knew the difference, did they? I wonder if B Gates ever gets nostalgic lol

[@kscott24]

A very touching sign-off with the late Reisor Bowden and "American Trilogy" in the music background; crystal clear like it should have been in 1975. Great post!

[@chbarts]

High-quality upload for a high-class sign-off. Class act all around. Thanks.

[@soulfox1]

KTBS.. hmm, memories all the way from Jefferson, TX.

[@nanlisa]

Very beautiful and inspiring sign-off. This is from the year that I would have graduated from high school.

[@brimi925]

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this!! Such memories!! My best friend and i were wondering if we would ever be able to find this. I thought of calling the station to ask for it. SINCERELY,...this was such a great part of a shreveport childhood.

[@kp64mullins]

Frankly, I don't care what some froot-loop says about the song "Dixieland", it is a wonderful, and sentimental, song to everyone who understands God and country and growing up in the South... I miss the old KTBS sign-offs...and strangely, the Indian head test card...

[@Misled57]

Just beautiful ! These days you could never get a TV station to play this !

[@Ark1j]

You wouldn't be about half full of it, would ya? Ok, You go on being 'racist to some degree'‐ that's Your thing. The rest of us just dont have any use for Stupid people! '...all men are created equal' - New flash‐ They sure as hell dont all achieve equally. Wake Up- no promises life was gonna be fair...its even tuffer when your Stupid. What Booker T. said- 'There is a (no)class of colored people.......'

[@sherryhannah498]

I remember KTBS remember watching it from across the state line in Marshall,Texas...that song nice..it's An American Trilogy by Elvis right???? cause the lyrics partially are I wish I was in the land of cotton old times there are not forgotten look away look away look away Dixie land....when in '75 was this????...I remember reading about Hank Jr's fall that was terrible then seeing it in the movie about him awful...that was great the way he bounced back huh?????

[@bobbye.wright4424]

Im from shreveport la i growed up listening at this song i hate what it stands for but i love the song n video

[@anthonythomas1750]

And what do you think it stands for?

[@donniepitchford5269]

An Ark-La-Tex classic!

[@brettbousman5070]

Dixie was the fight song for the Confederacy. but Battle Hymn of the Republic was the fight song of the Union. This was American Trilogy originated by Elvis. this rendition was sung by an African American man. Don't care what any Yankee says. its beautiful and I am glad I grew up in East Texas to experience this sign off across the state lines

[@MrHmg55]

The singer is Mickey Newbury. He's white. But it's still a beautiful rendition and video.

[@brettbousman5070]

Thank you to the people who posted this. good memories.

[@essvee86]

If this really is from 1975, then you got the oldest North American sign off in KZbin. There's a 1973 BBC2 sign off (or closedown, as they say over there) on KZbin.

[@owenwexler7214]

essvee86 there’s a couple American sign offs from 1972 on here but this is definitely one of the oldest

[@TheMymusic82]

Dave, Mickey Newberry.... One of the GREATS.... I miss those days

[@Misled57]

When I first heard this song I was visiting my uncle in Ashdown , Arkansas in 1976. At the time I was living in NY and I was only 18 years old. After hearing this song I did some research and found out this was from the civil war and was amazed they STILL played this down south after 110 years,I guess the pain never ends for many in the south !

[@jeffhaer7734]

I was in ashdown in76,,small world

[@1439of2000]

As somebody raised in the South it’s unfathomable to me somebody would hear this and not know the history. Dying era

[@guyaldrich5878]

@@1439of2000 They didn't play this in NYC !

[@1439of2000]

@@guyaldrich5878 No shit

[@bluecatfish]

And the South may rise again

[@Cowboybud]

Apparently it was common for stations in the south to play "Dixie" at sign-off at one time; Hank Williams Jr. referred to it in the song "Dixie On My Mind".

[@dixiejuche1703]

What an amazing version of Dixie. Truly beautiful. 😭

[@bobbye.wright4424]

Hey man i hate what it stands for but i love the song growing up and im black

[@dixiejuche1703]

Bobby E. Wright This land is your land too, brother. Please don’t hate it. All the sons of the South must stand together against the enemy that wishes to destroy our land and enslave all of us.

[@fireindahole857]

F@ck that song and all the people who like it

[@TuxEarth]

now this is how a sign off should've been back then. Nice, mellow, and went out with care. The sign offs here in Baltimore often frightened me as a child.....don't ask why. They just did. Maybe some of those sign offs scared any of you as a child where you live.

[@thisisnotcharles]

This is great!!! I've looked for this too. Thanks for posting!!!

[@tmorril]

Too bad the quality isn't better. I spent many years listening to this song was very impressed by the musical arrangement and singing. I wonder if the lake shown is Cross Lake? I used to live really near the channel 3 studios on Kings Hwy. and watched a live newscast inside once.

[@tk-ix5lw]

It is Caddo Lake in Mooringsport.

[@rickydon516]

I like the quality just like it is, myself. Total nostalgia. The singer nailed this.

[@dylankennedy2575]

Timothy Morrill I honestly could’ve sworn that was either red river or maybe even Toledo bend

[@lsusaronna]

and on one of the channels, WWL, I think, in New Orleans. The film they showed with the song was haunting. I wish I could find that version. As to those complaining about the "Dixie' portion, you need to realize that this is history. Many people would like to return to the South once they move away. BTW, I did pick cotton as a kid. What about those complaining?

[@mr.g-manofficial6391]

Which Seal of Good Practice did WWL use in their sign off?

[@srachui53]

Man this brings back some good memories!

[@muzikdude1188]

One of the lengthier sign-offs I've ever seen. Usually a station's sign-off took maybe 2-3 minutes at the most while this one goes on for over five minutes. Very well-done though.

[@mrceleb2006]

The music heard in the background is "I Wish I Was in Dixie" by whoever sang this song...BTW, there's no SSB film or test pattern at the end!

[@keithmoon3190]

Actually there was, but the tape stopped recording before it was shown...

[@mrceleb2006]

I see​...BTW, during the fall of 1975, ABC (the network KTBS-TV was affiliated with) was gaining more viewers than ever before!

[@duncanwilkins2133]

Grew up in Lufkin watching this S'port tv station and their sign off

[@mudstaind26]

Anyone got a link to the "3's on your side" song from the 80's/early 90's? "Working hard for you channel threeeeeee KTBS..." Surely some of ya'll remember it.

[@JBBrickman]

So I remember seeing this comment last year and you got me interested myself in finding it. Ive searched around KZbin off and on and I just found it today! Here ya go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ7Vd5xvfqmUiLs

[@cincycamel]

that was a classy sign off. and very good for bieng in the 70's

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Part of this signoff spiel reminds me of how WMAL/WJLA-TV in Washington would end: The programs shown on WMAL/WJLA-TV Washington are reserved. Programs may not shown directly or indirectly where the exhibition is for the purpose of profit. There is charge of for admission; a cover charge for entertainment; a fee for mechanical operation, or any other charge with respect thereto.

[@David-yw2lv]

Hardly any stations left that don't operate 24/7/365(366 in leap years) now.If nothing else,they play infomercials in early morning hours

[@jasonq703]

Many nights as a kid I remember watching this.😥 Time goes by too fast.

[@GOODBYEGOODBYEGOODBYE-s1d]

R.I.P KTBS 3 Analog ????-1999

[@destrytompkins9464]

Mickey Newberry nailed this song. Grew up watching tv go off at night. The only time it stayed on 24 hours was the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy.

[@destrytompkins9464]

And Reccer Boudin from channel 3. He was the face of channel 3, and the ring announcer for Mid South Wrestling!

[@fraggenaught]

REESER! It's the voice of Reeser Bowden (the announcer guy). Gawd does this ever bring back memories!

[@MrHmg55]

Reisor was best known for saying things like "This match is scheduled for one fall with a ten-minute time limit."

[@SpadeCaller]

Is that THE Al Legrand doing the voice work?

[@gjc82071]

@Mr1991ladarius Yea true, but, maybe it wasn't actually recorded IN 1975 though? I remember the sign offs in my area of the country, they would use the same 1 for many years. Maybe this initially MADE in 1975, but was recorded in the late 70's/early 80's? It's very beautiful though. I wish I knew who sang it. Such a beautiful voice! I miss TV sign offs. Infomercials killed'em. TV sign offs were natures way off telling you it was time to go to sleep/bed. LOL (unless you had HBO).

[@jareddicarlo7816]

I’ve watched this video a few times now, but I’m only now just noticing the plane that crosses in front of the sun at 4:12.

[@devares2006]

I remember The Saturday Big Movie as a kid. It use to air after the News, and later, after M*A*S*H. Although they do, on occasion, still air movies on Saturday Night, I still miss the Saturday Big Movie. Which reminds me, does anyone has the opening to that?

[@brimi925]

Ridiculous comment. Those thoughts you had in your mind only show your own biases/feelings. Those of us who grew up here never even entertained such ideas while listening/watching this. Never ONCE did I think of such horrors.

[@mr.g-manofficial6391]

Nice animated seal of good practice there :)

[@Jerseysson27]

What a aweeeeesome and powerful sign off :)

[@Rexag]

Yeah... they should still be playing this.... it stands for none of the propaganda. You let others dictate your life...take it back!

[@devares2006]

KTBS still signs off on the weekends.

[@roovelroe]

@arkologist Great to know I'm not alone in trying to find the Moon-Handshake in Space Lonely People sign off. It aired in Jacksonville, Fla as well.

[@frankwm1988]

Since I live up North (PA), not to mention this stuff was being phased out not long after I was born (1988), I don't see things like this late at night. But as a devout Christian and one who appreciates his world (and even more so, his Word), I would be delighted if they still had this kind of thing, and up North. And I'm not planning on being Southern!

[@Theatlsou]

yes it's An American Trilogy but it's by Mickey Newbury, and it's him singing in this video. Elvis is the one who made it famous

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

American Trilogy official soundtrack of the history of NASCAR and the Winston Cup 1948 through 1987 also 75 seasons story of the National Football League and last but not least KTBS TV channel 3 Shreveport Louisiana lastly but not least tribute to Lane Frost a rodeo champion

[@chuckcollins]

@HarlodJenkins There must have been more than one version that Mickey Newbury recorded because the one I have has a faster rhythm and slightly different lyrics.

[@nightmarefuelgamer8981]

They played this in the 80's as well.

[@marcaaron6816]

very nice if i may so neighbour we live the two greatest countries in the world CANADA & THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CANADA WE SAY GOD BLESS US GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

[@soonerterp]

Oddity Archive sent me here.

[@RetroDakota]

My NBC station still signs off nightly, and while they used to run the National Anthem, they no longer do so.

[@chuckcollins]

@ddavenport No. That was Channel 12, KSLA, which was owned by Viacom at the time.

[@richardkimble6586]

Help me remember, I swear KTBS updated the video to use Elvis version of this song. Am I right?

[@devares2006]

It is, isn't it? That and the opening for the Big Movie.

[@kcthatsawinner]

@JesseLee85719 Before they were WTBS, their call letters were WJRJ-TV.

[@MarcosSilveira]

Is this the song of the European Americans from the south?

[@2011paramedic]

Was a Shreveport Louisiana Tv Station KTBS Channel 3 an ABC affiliate or a CBS affiliate back then from 1975?!

[@devares2006]

It was (and still is) an ABC affiliate. The announcer even said it at 3:48.

[@gatesca10]

NICE QUALITY

[@sherryhannah498]

you a fan of his?????...I am that was awful that fall he took off Mount Ajax huh??..cause I read about it in his book Living Proof and saw it in the movie version but he bounced back that great huh??????

[@kcthatsawinner]

@ouachitarivervalley WPCH aka Peachtree TV is still owned by Turner Broadcasting. WPCH would take over coverage of Braves games after TBS aired MLB games instead of the Braves in 2008.

[@17z483]

Louisiana Public Broadcasting Closedown 1999

[@pkf81366]

I like your style pups1678

[@1stSaintsFan]

Only Elvis doing it better.

[@moribundart]

home

[@devares2006]

I thought, with the exception of the song, was one of the greatest sign off in the area.

[@Johnnyqwest1]

I looked into this song. It's done by a white guy. You don't even know what you are talking about.

[@FernieCanto]

Honestly, if I were a kid back in that time and I watched that on TV late at night, I'd be absolutely terrified. Such a depressing, morbid sign off, with a song about the Civil War, no less.

[@Ark1j]

aw, you poor little ol sugar britches.....(no 'ifs' about it!)

[@dacwtw]

I grew up I Shreveport, LA and thought it was a pretty song until I grew up. This song is offensive as hell. Who wishes they were in the land of cotton. As a black child I never ONCE heard any family member make that their birthday wish, Christmas list desire, Mother's or Father's Day request, or just for the hell of it.

[@Ark1j]

Somebody call the waambulance for poor little titty baby! Oh! Oh‐God, it's the big one Elizabeth! Here I come! Oh waaa, oh boo-hoo-hoo for little feller, he got his BLM award melted........ 😭

[@dixiejuche1703]

dacwtw Traitors can leave.

[@imrustyokay]

Damn, he wasn't kidding, this IS creepy.

[@JBBrickman]

How is this at all creepy, it’s beautiful, I listen to it when I drive down beautiful historic highways. You really feel connected to nature and the land listening to this song. Never got a creepy vibe from it!

[@owenwexler7214]

Man that would have been a beautiful sign off montage if they hadn’t chosen an anthem of the Confederacy as background music 😬 I know it’s historic but still 😬

[@Ark1j]

...but still, mama punked you out pretty good, eh Poindexter?

[@jasonq703]

Idiot.

[@camillerolen2839]

I can't tell you how many nights I sat up and watched this very ending to a long day after a date. There is nothing quite like hearing All My Trials at the end of the day. Beautiful scenery and brings back so many memories. Long Live Dixie!