WABC Late Movie End, Morning Message, Sign-Off (1985)

Since the other WABC sign-off I posted was so popular, here's another. This unedited segment begins with the very end of that evening's Late Movie, "Buster and Billie." I believe this was recorded in spring of 1985.
Hoyt Axton warbles the last of "Billie's Song," then there's the disco-licious package outro, then a Public Service Announcement with NY Secretary of State Gail Shaffer, telling New York State residents that they can receive free weatherization assistance. (Shaffer served all of her twelve years as Secretary under Governor Mario Cuomo, beginning in 1983.)
Next, Queens Council on the Arts promotes an exhibit devoted to depictions of New Yorkers at play--stickball, Coney Island, skinny-dipping, etc.--featuring paintings by Robert Burghardt. (Here's a New York Times article about it: www.nytimes.com/1985/09/18/ga...) Tennessee Ernie Ford then talks about how the Salvation Army needs your donations for "work therapy" in an old-looking PSA that's probably an abbreviated version (and bless your little pea-pickin' heart).
Announcer Wally Parker (with the station from 1965-90, according to his 2005 obituary) reads a promo for the following evening's Joel Siegel Oscar special, then the Morning Message begins. Reverend Russell C. Block (representing the "United Presbyterian Church in the USA") speaks of the importance of humor and satire in faith.
Parker returns to sign off, first with a national ABC ID, then the local ID and broadcasting information for WABC, which is New York City's channel 7. The Star-Spangled Banner film used here is a simple one, depicting the Marines' "lowering of the colors" evening flag ceremony, accompanied by the United States Marine Band.
For color bar enthusiasts (you know who you are, you weirdos), there's fifteen seconds of silent bars, then the graphics vanish and we hear over a minute of that infernal tone. I defy you to listen to the whole thing without at least briefly wondering if it might cause you to lose your marbles. Then the graphics reappear to blessed quiet (of which I've left in a few seconds) and that's how it remained until the tape ran out a good bit later.
No rights held or implied. (If you'd like this video removed for copyright reasons, please contact me rather than notifying KZbin, I will gladly take it down from this channel.) This is not on any of the fascinating compilations at oldtvads.blogspot.com, but head over and take a look anyway!

[@DanZero77]

Always nice to see the late night stuff from WABC.

[@brooklynbabe7896]

Exactly

[@owenwexler7214]

Made it through all of the tone. I used to do QC and HDCAM tape outputs for a television production company so that sound is soothing and nostalgic to me.

[@NRFEPH]

3:25 - "Scratched" art card.

[@lavontreyclarke3285]

"This is station WABC TV, New York, Channel 7, key station in the ABC television network. WABC TV studios are located at the ABC Television Center, 7 Lincoln Square New York. Programs are transmitted from the Top of the World Trade Center in Manhattan with a frequency of 174 to 180 megahertz. WABC TV operates on Channel 7 by authority of the Federal Communications Commission. Now, speaking for the entire staff, this is Wally Parker wishing you a pleasant good night, and inviting you to join us this morning at 6:55am for more outstanding entertainment on Channel 7. And now, ladies and gentlemen, our National Anthem."

[@michaelwilliams2865]

We can always rely on Hugo Faces for bringing back the memories

[@roseweinstein4256]

Absolutely

[@panasonic1978]

0:11 Alan Parker "Unlimited Love"

[@eddieloius4592]

lol , i used google app to find the name. I didn't know it.

[@panasonic1978]

@@eddieloius4592 Shazam is your best friend :)

[@1986SSMONTECARLO]

GREAT instrumental

[@Anglynn74]

this is how we knew it was time to go to bed lol. I remember this big time

[@sambradley2975]

I remember this very well. I miss those days.

[@The_Mimewar]

Thank you for this...

[@andersupdale4981]

Back in the 1970's did'nt WABC use a audio tone of about 385 Hz with their colorbar?

[@sambradley2975]

Fresh & disrespectful little heathen. 😠😈

[@TrainMan2004]

If I recall correctly, ABC 7 went off the air most nights at 3 am, NBC 4 at 4, CBS varied between 3 and 4, FOX 5 WNYW usually around 4. WPIX 11 is the one channel I NEVER saw go off the air!!

[@jareddicarlo7816]

WPIX went 24 hours in 1980 or so.

[@ericsamuelson5656]

CBS stayed on during work/school nights with CBS News Nightwatch and WOR Ch 9 with 9 All Night movies

[@AndyUpdale]

Originally WCBS TV would sign off the air only for 20 minutes following "The Late Late Show" around 5:40AM!

[@jareddicarlo7816]

I’ve been searching all over for the music piece that plays during the “Morning Message” forever. All I know is that it wasn’t exclusive to this station, as it was also used by KMGH in Denver during their sign-off in the early 80s. Can someone help me find it?

[@pernellharrison1292]

Our national anthem starts at 3:59.

[@pernelldh]

3:59 National Anthem starts 🇺🇸

[@flatcapman]

OK FAIR GO on name calling we are hardly weirdos also the tone? NOPE 500HZ I enjoyed it and made me self aware. 400hz is my playing tone. You heard me and my 1000hz playing partner for a VERY long time. It's not infernal IT'S LOVE"

[@HugoFaces]

I identify as weirdo, so no offense intended.

[@lisaweathers6783]

join us at 6:55 AM dang two hour sign off thats a puny sign off

[@ScoopNemeth]

Join us at 6:55am for more outstanding entertainment...6:55am was five minutes before Good Morning America came on. No airing of World News This Morning before GMA? And since the WTC was completely destroyed in the attacks (Sept 11, 2001). I wonder where ABC7's transmitter is now.

[@joec2231]

It moved with most of the NYC stations to the Empire State Building (where most were before WTC was built and where most maintained auxiliary transmitters). I know 1WTC has/had plenty of room for broadcast antennae, but I think the vast majority of stations have remained at ESB (including all FM stations)

[@frankdenardo8684]

The President's Own aka the United States Marine Corps band playing The Star Spangled Banner.

[@ulknavcom054809]

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE TITLE OF THE THEME SONG TO THIS OPENING?

[@TrainMan2004]

Alan Parker - Unlimited Love

[@LaurenLover81]

This had to be an early Saturday morning, but was this near 4am or 4:30am?

[@HugoFaces]

This was early Monday morning. I'll be uploading the beginning part soon, which has a Joel Siegel Oscars show promo which says "tonight." The Siegel shows always aired the night of the awards, which were on Monday back then. I think the sign-off was earlier than 4am, I'll look into that...

[@DiamondJoe]

So they would sign on at 6:55 on a Monday morning. You realize in 2019, all of the O&O's in market no. 1 are finishing up their 2 1/2 hour morning news programs by then?

[@LaurenLover81]

@@DiamondJoe Even signing on at 6:55am on a weekday back in 1985 was awfully late, how would they've aired World News This Morning, news updates before GMA, and Morning Stretch? I would think it'd be 5:25am or 5:55am on a weekday in 1985? And even back then on a weekend, 6:55am would've been late, maybe 6:25am at the latest.

[@HugoFaces]

Okay, still researching... The Oscar show had previously been on Monday nights, but I'm trying to determine if it was aired on the Saturday preceding the awards that year. Anyway, it was definitely that weekend...

[@TrainMan2004]

WABC 7 usually went off the air at 3 am

[@sherryhannah9262]

What was the movie that was shown??????

[@efan2012]

Buster and Billie from 1974 with Jan Michael Vincent.