New Years Eve - 1957

Here is an old kinescope from over 50 years ago!! For 100 years, the slow drop of a lighted glass ball on New Year's Eve from atop One Times Square in New York City has become an American tradition. A huge crowd gathers every year to welcome in the New Year.
Beginning in 1956, Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians entertained the US on New Year's Eve with a combination of music and the live "ball drop" at Midnight. Guy continued this tradition until his death in 1977. His band still played on at CBS Television on New Years for an additional 2 years.
(Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve began in 1972 on ABC and still broadcasts annually.)
This broadcast began right after the 15-minute news and ran for an hour. Guy plays the music and newsman Robert Trout announces the beginning of the New Year. If you look closely, you'll see acerbic television personality Henry Morgan in the crowd. TV was very primitive 50 years ago. Harsh lighting, a cheap office clock and a World War II searchlight scans the crowd below.
I hope you'll enjoy ringing in the New Year - 1958!
Recorded: December 31, 1957

[@frankisfunny2007]

I'm 20, but I wish I could go back to the '50s... great cars, common sense still, sports were great, and honest, etc... life was great then

[@pacmanindy]

I may miss Dick Clark, but Guy Lombardo was New Years Eve!!! He was the King of New Year's Eve!!!

[@lawrencephelps3181]

sure was!

[@walterweddle7644]

We continue to listen to Guy Lombardo every New Years Eve.

[@sjtom57]

Rest in peace, Mr. Lombardo. New Years has never been the same since you passed.

[@schrollG]

The good old days. Men wore tuxedos or suits and women wore nice dresses and pearls. Now you see people in ripped jeans and nutty hats in Times Square and moments after the ball drops, you hear an artist play some song that goes out the window faster than a New Year's resolution. I was born in 1977; I wish I had been around to watch this live.

[@mandyburger924]

What is wrong with you? It was a beautiful time with hope for great new year, like every new year. Why in the world a black person change that? You are a shameful bigot. I pray to our sweet lord that you don't have children to pass your hate to.

[@PhynTrickSnipin]

It’s the Greatest thing in the World to see my dad playing trombone with Guy Lombardo. The Sweetest Music This Side Of Heaven.....

[@Juliaflo]

To me, Guy Lombardo was and always will be New Year's Eve.

[@jimbo97]

Guy Lombardo has always been MY "New Year's Rockin' Eve"! 🤩

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Those were the days when you got dressed to the nines, either in a tux or your best suit and the ladies with a new gown. Out to a great meal at a hotel, dancing and champagne until Midnight, then more dancing, lots to drink and a breakfast at about 2 o'clock! They had more fun then, I think! This is CBS-TV with Robert Trout.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Arguably New Years use to be a very adult thing until they started to cater to the younger crowd, let alone in a casual way.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Christopher Sobieniak With New Year's coming up (well not here in Israel, but in my heart) I guess I should whip out the old balloon.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Joe Postove Do that, shame if Israel doesn't celebrate it the same time as the rest of the world. You can at least try to get the ball started!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Christopher Sobieniak I'm seriously thinking of making a grilled cheese sandwich to celebrate with!

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Joe Postove Which is also perfect. You need to start a trend of a more secular appreciation of this holiday (you don't have to drink if you don't want to, but it's a thing).

[@sambradley2975]

I miss both Dick Clark & Guy Lombardo! New Years has not been the same since we lost these 2 giants, "Should old aquiantance be forgot "...

[@MrSimplejack09]

i was born in 1980 it was really cool to see this video of old thanks for the moment into a window of time when life was simple and grand

[@carltriangolo217]

I was always a Lombardo fan from my childhood in the fifties,and never missed a New Year's Eve broadcast.I guess it was my farther's influence who was a conservatory trained musician.Maybe not,I simply loved this band,and play at least a few of their recordings every day.

[@KIZERVONZINGER]

I was 7 years old and my parents let me stay up for this, I remember it well I was dancing with my dad :)

[@13sweets1313]

I watch this on New Years Eve every year! It wouldn’t be New Years Eve with out it.Happy 2020 to all.🎉🥳🥂

[@drkatzinternational]

2020 was very very bad year. I regret celebrating it.

[@knightsbb]

This is fantastic ! My DAD played with Guy from 1954 until 1958. If you look real close you can even see him. Thanks Dad ! for sharing some of the greatest music EVER What could be better than listening to. " THE GREATEST MUSIC THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN" Johnny Mildner

[@CinematicTechnologies]

Watching this while watching the live stream for the new year tonight.

[@ebailey140]

Thanks for posting this! For my generation, it was Dick Clark. I must say, I have difficulty picturing Ryan Seacrest becoming as iconic with New Year's Eve as the late, great, Guy Lombardo and Dick Clark.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Me too.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

Ryan Seacrest got the job because Clark had a massive stroke. So they got Regis to fill in for Clark that year. Originally they wanted Regis to take over. But Regis ultimately declined. Seacrest had been hosting the most popular show on television at the time, American Idol. So he seemed like the obvious choice to take over. But Clark's refusal to retire, and step aside proved a major thorn in their side. Clark's performance was absolutely terrible after his stroke. He could barely speak. His speech was slurred and incomprehensible. The audience had no idea what he was saying. It was depressing the viewers watching it, on a night that's supposed to be about happiness and celebration. But since Clark owned the show, they couldn't fire him, or force him to resign. Even though he should've. But Clark's ego wouldn't allow him to step aside. He still believed he was the world's oldest teenager. Even though in reality, he was an elderly disabled man in his 80s. He did eventually realize he could go outside anymore, so did relinquish that, and bequeath it Seacrest. But he had the condition that he would always do the final countdown. And that was an absolute disaster. He was always off with the count. He would be 15 seconds behind the actual count. By the time he got to 0, it had already been New Year's for 15 seconds. And he kept it up until he died. Never giving up his spot. Quite sad honestly that that's how he chose to go out. Instead of just retiring gracefully and passing the torch, he chose to go out like that. Because unfortunately that's how most people remember him. Not as the great and brilliant showman he was in his prime. A masterful linguist, and delightful presenter with charm and charisma for days. But as an old disabled man, who suffered a debilitating stroke, slurring his speech, and bumbling his words, and being off-count. I don't know why his ego wouldn't allow him to just take the high road, be remembered for being great.

[@gloriamiller4930]

Happy New Year 🎊🎆🎈 2019 from all of us here who remember watching Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians every New Years Eve Glad my family still remember him and watch him fondly every New Years Eve God Bless Have a happy healthy New 2019

[@iVenge]

I switched off all of the garbage that was on TV tonight, and played these videos on my TV instead. We were much happier, and the room was filled with wonderful memories of music and loved ones and our shared cultural traditions.

[@gz08002]

This is so cool to see. My Mom was pregnant to me that NYE, I was born in July '58. Remember LOVING to watch the NYE shows with Guy Lombado as a young child. Wanted to go that party when I was grew up, all dressed up dancing with my handsome date. *sigh* Never happened. R.I.P. Guy. You were a class act.

[@VictrolaJazz]

On New Year's Eve 1957 my mother and I were staying in the Lynn Hotel on Gaston Ave. in Dallas, Texas across the street from Baylor Medical Center--my father had surgery on January 1, 1958 and was found to have inoperable lung cancer. My aunt Mary Edna and her best friend Olna Sams were with us in the hospital when Dr. John Lester Kee gave us the devastating news. We brought daddy home at the end of January but he never got out of bed and passed away March 17 at the age of 59. My mother was 94 when she died in 1997, having driven her car three days earlier.

[@dotheevolution100]

+VictrolaJazz How are you not dead?

[@VictrolaJazz]

+anthony yeager I was a teenager.

[@GamingsForTheMad]

If you mind me asking, how old are you? I was born in 2000 and i will be 15 tomorrow. Man time goes quickkk

[@VictrolaJazz]

+Are You Mad ? It sure does! I was one year younger than you are now!

[@k3nnyisaw3som3]

+anthony yeager That was rude.

[@IgnacioAgramonte]

LOVE THOSE DAYS.

[@dustydigits1]

My parents were very religious Southern country folk...no drinking,smoking, dancing....yet we watched this "religiously" every year. Perhaps it allowed the to join in the revelry vicariously without the guilt....hmmmmm. Great nostalgia clip!!!

[@juannegrette605]

How time goes so fast and happy New year to all and to all peace love RESPECT and blessings and may all your wishes come true be strong out there wherever you are

[@mrshollywoodstar2b]

I was born 1 month, 12 days before that broadcast-11/11/57. Always loved to hear Guy Lombardo.

[@MySpace662]

That video is like opening a time capsule, the beautiful days of a bygone era.

[@ebailey140]

I like that Guy Lombardo, 35 years after his death, is STILL part of the Times Square celebration, with his version of Auld Lang Syne played right after the ball drop. Now, they'll need to come up with something that honors Dick Clark, the second name we will always associate with Times Square at New Year's Eve.

[@ebailey140]

@caa1000 Yeah, it was live. Guy Lombardo had been doing these broadcasts since 1928, first on radio, then TV, continuing until his death in 1977. Lombardo was who made the Times Square event famous.

[@bevscorner]

Wow, everything was so different, and yet eerily similar. This is a great peek into our own history here. I love the adverts. Thanks!

[@jacksongrainger9926]

The year my great grandmother graduated from nursing school, she said that she and a group of other nursing students walked the halls singing auld Lang syne for all the patients who happened to be up

[@Mr2009fxstc]

I'm sure I watched this when I was 8 years old!

[@tonyaw168]

Happy 2018 60 years later. I hope you all have an amazing year!

[@NoelGuyALfan]

Thank you Johnny for posting about your Dad. Always a pleasure to hear from the families of all the famous Bandsmen. I was born the year before your Dad started with the Guy,and have been a dedicated fan for over 45 years in Aus.. Keep well and take care :-) Regards Noel. Melbourne. Australia.

[@XX-gy7ue]

charming , HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

[@bushwickbuddies]

Lombardo was a fixture for many years on TV at New Years. It was great in person...and I was at a few of them including this 1957 show from the Hotel Roosevelt in NYC

[@pgh45rpms]

Guy's traditional New Years Eve gala began in 1929 - during radio's heyday - from the Roosevelt Grille. They eventually moved to the Waldorf Astoria. Evidently there was no announcer for this broadcast, since Guy had the responsibility of plugging the sponsor. In all, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra was a 50 year tradition on New Years Eve.

[@DwellerB]

That was great. Thanks.

[@catdaddy3302]

Happy New Year 2019.

[@TheiPhoneGeek]

My left ear enjoyed this

[@michaelmitchell5098]

That is what we had...Andy Williams for Christmas and Guy Lombardo for New Years.

[@pep590]

I was one month old on this date.

[@VictrolaJazz]

So glad I brought back happy memories! Happy New Year to you, too!

[@AlTillyTheBum]

My Exact Sentiments .. I Recall Those Days With Misty Eyes .. You,VictrolaJazz,Couldn' Have Described It Any Better.Thanks .. Happy New Year !

[@Finispshellnut]

Absolutely wonderful! I was only 3 at this time, but Guy Lombardo was on every year.

[@Scytheh]

Thanks for uploading this video.

[@13sweets1313]

New Years Eve Tuesday 2019 🥳🎉Happy New Year 2020🎉🥳

[@vandabrouwer742]

Such a wonderfull time..

[@ebailey140]

I DO wish there was more from Dick Clark's shows in the 70s available. Fortunately, there's some of the early to mid 80s MTV New Year's Eve shows, when they were at their best. And, of course, I wish there was more classic Lombardo shows available.

[@Kingdomx]

it doesnt get any better than this!

[@sambradley2975]

It was very subdued back then. I saw Guy Lombardo on TV when I was a kid.

[@fredlawson9394]

Happy New year ! 🥂🍾💛🖤💛🥳

[@ebailey140]

Yeah, they were first broadcast on radio in 1929, which made the ball drop in Times Square famous, nationally. In 1956, they did the first TV broadcast.

[@KKD1247]

Thanks...great stories! I saw Mr Lombardo (& his brothers) only once in the early 60s at his "Port-O-Call" resort in Florida.

[@glennballard4268]

I heard a few bars of the tune "High Society" at the very beginning. A classic of many Lombardo New Years Eves. Can't find it anywhere.

[@nickmad887]

thanks

[@VictrolaJazz]

Sounds good to me! Back then I never knew anyone who didn't have a comfortable home, no one on drugs or with STD's. Repression wasn't bad at all.

[@Brookside975]

You are absolutely right!

[@genesclean1]

I watched this in my living room in Rockaway, NJ I was in 7th grade...

[@sherronmccomas3580]

we saw him on Tierra Verde in Florida, my dad loved him.

[@ghumm03]

Guy is a distant cousin of mine. 3rd to be exact. I always enjoy watching this!

[@formerbritneyfan]

it's so black and white i cant see it that good but what can see it's really neat , it was before my time.

[@altfactor]

Bob Trout anchored numerous election nights for CBS Radio (through the 1970's), and was also first to report on the air that World War II had officially ended.

[@hp2662]

Back when the House Senate and Congress were public servants, we did NOT trade with anyone other nation or at least not very much, plenty of work to be found everyone had a job, and everyone was not trying to get high all the time!

[@fayeteville]

its great to bring in a new year dancing in a club that way but i would not like to be outside at times square, very cold, very cold! kerry that video is history, i didnt know about clariol , and it seems live! gracias

[@lockmuertos]

2021. My how times have changed.

[@formerbritneyfan]

I wasent even born until 1967 but it's still interesting to watch a new year ball drop before my time. this was the year that Micheal Jackson was born , it's really weird because he wasent born yet when this was being filmed , just think he was born sometime during that year and he already lived and died.

[@Linkage1992]

A historical treasure.

[@TheMonkeybeat]

@caa1000 There was live TV long before there was recorded TV. It started as a live medium back in the late 1930s. I was born in 1942.

[@JohnPalazzini]

YES!!!!!!

[@Kuzey457]

55 years ago. Yay.

[@sambradley2975]

62 years ago!

[@wmbrown6]

From the mid to the late 1960's, Mr. Lombardo's New Year's Eve specials were telecast over ABC (ironic, given that network would later be the home of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" which ultimately reduced Mr. Lombardo's get-togethers to irrelevancy. Speaking of "New Year's Rockin' Eve," the inaugural 1972 special - with Three Dog Night as hosts - actually ran on NBC (I.I.N.M., its first ABC telecast was 1974).

[@fromthesidelines]

You're probably referring to Guy's syndicated half-hour 1954-'56 syndicated series, 'KKD'. That ended when Guy and his Royal Canadians took a gamble by doing a live musical/"giveaway" show, "GUY LOMBARDO'S DIAMOND JUBILEE" (honoring enduring married couples) on CBS' Tuesday night schedule in the spring of '56; that lasted about 13 weeks.

[@wurtsboroboy]

Anybody recognize Henry Morgan in the crowd? He used to on game shows in the '50's & '60's

[@VictrolaJazz]

These were the best years out country would ever enjoy--we were in the midst of the great postwar prosperity which would be destroyed by the Great Society and the inflation of the 1970's.

[@williamkearn6886]

R.I.H Davait Elserant Keanst, 1910-1957.

[@williamkearn6886]

February 16th, 1910 - December 30th, 1957.

[@williamkearn6886]

Cause Of Death:(Execution By Gunshots)

[@bossradio930]

NBC first broadcast Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve in 1972 and in 1973. One of the years some segments were aired at The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Unfortunately, no videotape survives from NBC's vaults. In 1974, Clark moved the annual event to ABC where he was a huge part of it until his death in 2012 when Ryan Seacrest officially took over hosting duties. The annual NYE event is in its 43rd year.

[@pookerville]

I'd like to see Hugh Pierson bring the Guy Lombardo orchestra back to TV next New Year's Eve. I don't think Dick Clark will make it to this New Year's Eve...that stroke really did him in.

[@galaxymanjpg]

good times

[@ColonelPhillipGreen]

...And....Thank you Clariol!!!.." {:-)

[@VI36196]

I think this may have been also broadcast on radio, thus the announcements of the sponsor so often.

[@kylebulger4240]

Paramount should bring this back with a new host from Guy’s relatives. CBS hasn’t had a traditional New Year’s Eve broadcast since Happy New Years America got cancelled in 1996.

[@Juliaflo]

To me, Guy Lombardo will always and forever be New Year's Eve, although Richard Wagstaff Clark put his own spin on the celebration.

[@bushwickbuddies]

1958 was the year my first son was born and the cost for the Roosevelt New Year's party was $35.00 per.

[@IgnacioAgramonte]

I was seven years old.

[@jackieortegadesigns326]

My parents were still kids at that time. Dad was 5 while my mom was 10 in 1958. I was born in 1980 but I'm an old soul, older than the Boomers.

[@KKD1247]

It was definately live. I remember seeing it on TV back then. (They certainly couldn't assemble thousands of people in Times Sq a few nights before Dec 31 to be filmed.) When TV first appeared, it was ALL live. Eventually they showed film and later videotape events. If anything, Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve uses all tape for their California segments. The only Live part is from New York. So the Guy Lombardo New Years was all live. Thanks for watching!

[@sammylane21]

OMG God!There was a year BEFORE 1992??Just joking!!It is so much fun to look back isn't it??Can't wait for this years New Years Celebration!

[@peggysullivan5396]

Wish it was 1958 again lol

[@18Sheababy]

oh man, guy lombardo on new years eve has character. i never watch rockin new years eve... Boring!!!! wish we had guy back to do it every year...

[@johnnietocuellar742]

me pueden decir por favor el nombre de la primera cancion me gusta mucho esa musica de guy lombardo y his royal canadians

[@altfactor]

I think the only time Guy Lombardo's New year's Eve show showed something on tape was in 1962. I'm not 100% certain, as it was "before my time", but I thought that the December 31, 1962 show featured a taped segment on the arrival of 1963 in London, narrated/counted down by Alexander Kendrick (then CBS News chief forgien correspondent), fed by the newly-launched Telstar satellite, and recorded in New York for broadcast during the early part of the Lombardo show.

[@ebailey140]

It used to be that TV shows had a single sponsor, so it was one product getting plugged a lot instead of several getting plugged a little, like now. It's not that there was more plugging, then, just less variety in number of sponsors, & therefore what was getting plugged.

[@Linkage1992]

That's the thing. What you "know" about the fifties is simply what you've seen in a few videos, books and pictures. Everyday life was much, much more different and mundane.

[@ebailey140]

Look up "1933 - New Year's Eve" on KZbin to see what those same then middle aged folks were up to when they were younger. They weren't so reserved and "classy", then. That's why the older generation always frowns at the younger one's excesses. They REMEMBER it, & know exactly what trouble their kids are getting themselves into. :)

[@Demente_Ente]

I have to buy Clairol, now! shut up and take my money CLAIROL!

[@ozgood1x]

I was 1 month old. Say, Somebody Peg that minute hand for a while Would ya ?

[@2Addictive]

Is there an even older video that was put on KZbin?

[@VictrolaJazz]

People in '57/'58 drove cars with tail-fins and chrome, painted in three different colors. I was in high school and we received an education that didn't require remediation before we could take up college courses. Then we had jobs that lasted 30-40 years and retirements with pensions. We could tell the rest of the world to go to hell and it couldn't do anything about it.

[@Davesplash2001cannot]

Did we ever learn how many people the police commisioner thought there were? And EVERY conceivable kind of horn? (Dr Seuss begs to differ)

[@Leebm29]

Guy starts playing Auld Lang syne at the 6:00 mark. Happy New Year Glen Lynn Bob Freda Elaine et al from Lee B Mason

[@angelahoffman270]

It was 6:14

[@KKD1247]

The New Years Eve shows were all live. But yes, several years ago I saw a couple of filmed shows that they made for television. Much higher production values and scripted.

[@marc108]

I remember going to jones beach theater in the 70’s and after the show Lombardo would come speeding through on a boat waving to the crowd