WAFF TV 48 sign-off 1979

Huntsville-Decatur television station WAFF 48 concludes its broadcast day in 1979

[@richardburkard9839]

Am I the only one who's started watching sign-offs like this every night at bedtime - a different one every night?

[@nextg]

That's such a great idea. I can't believe I didn't even think of that. :D

[@weatherstudios7964]

I have even a weirder fassy: I created my own playlist of sign offs for play every night as i sleep.

[@DoctorPretorious616]

I've been doing the exact same thing, good to know I'm not the only one!

[@warrtiger9780]

oddly enough, yes as well as looking at the people on them and imagining that they're prob long dead.

[@majoinerful]

I'm glad I'm NOT the only one!

[@newstarcadefan]

You got something that's quite rare. Anything from WAFF-TV pre 1982 fire is pretty much gone.

[@jareddicarlo7816]

The "Little House on The Prairie" episode aired on October 1st, 1979, so this recording has to be in the last week of September 1979

[@lavontreyclarke3285]

"We're WAFF, TV48, serving Huntsville/Decatur and the rest of the Tennessee Valley here in Northern Alabama. We're owned and operated by the American Family Broadcasting Company, and were dedicated to bringing you a better kind of television station than you ever had before. At this time, WAFF ends its broadcast day, but we'd like to thank you for allowing us into your home and giving us the privilege of serving you. Please join us again tomorrow morning and have a pleasant night."

[@jareddicarlo7816]

We now have an airdate for this: September 29, 1979

[@cincycamel]

one of the best tv sign offs i've ever seen. the whole segment was so mesmerizing and very well done through and through.

[@brittanysmth90]

Was that Luther Vandross singing in the NBC Sports commercial? I remember watching Little House and The Tonight Show with Carson/McMahon, especially in the 90's when I grew up. That was awesome!(may they all rest in peace) I wasn't born until 1986, but I bet that those days were really exciting!

[@adrianlyord5300]

Brittany Smith You are correct ! Also Patti Austin too!

[@davidbutler1857]

Grew up watching the National anthem play when programming would end... fell in love with this version of it. I keep this video saved on my phone and just watch it sometimes. Really brings back that time period of my youth where you'd stay up late, and be forced to turn OFF the tv because nothing else was on.

[@randyeorr]

Puttin' on a whole new face, Dressin' up with lots of style Puttin' on a special look, Breakin' out a great big smile Gonna spread our wings and reach right up to the stars No one is prouder than we are Add a touch of mystery Take a look at all that's new Share a taste of victory Feelin' some nostalgia too Gonna spread our wings and be the best you can see No one is prouder than we are Goin' up to set some trips Gonna laugh and dance and sing Visit with some dear old friends Gonna topple everything Gonna spread our wings and show off all that we've got NBC --- Proud as a peacock!

[@joeorsini6110]

randy orr How did you know the lyrics to the song?

[@randyeorr]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proud_as_a_Peacock

[@MaryS2022]

That piano rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" made me tear up despite this being from before my time. Thank you for sharing this footage.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I remember this at 3:25 is the piano rendition of the National Anthem which was the piano SSB. I saw it when it was on WSVI-TV (channel 8), an ABC affiliate in St. Thomas which is in the Virgin Islands. We lived in Puerto Rico when we had WSVI-TV on cable. This was where the station signed on in the morning where they kicked off Saturday mornings beginning with cartoons like "Superfriends", "Scooby & Scrappy-Doo", "Richie Rich", "Pac-Man" and others. That brings back memories.

[@carlveluz1992]

@LolliesOfficial Did WNEW-TV used the Piano SSB after the transmitter relocated to the World Trade Center North Tower?

[@adrianlyord5300]

Patti Austin and Luther Vandross were singing on that NBC Promo Song " NBC Proud As A Peacock"!

[@randyeorr]

RIP Kasey Kasem doing the voice over on the promos

[@kengeorgejones6855]

I'd never seen that Proud as a Peacock football jingle before. Catchy.

[@Timelytube1178]

Check out the parody'

[@davidbutler1857]

I searched for this Natl anthem on sign off for years. I have a serious nostalgia for this video

[@Comwhiz2002]

@ddavenport the AFLAC duck was not introduced until 2000, several years after the company sold WAFF-TV 48

[@DaveCornutt]

IIRC, they re-did the control room shots after NBC dropped the "cut N" logo in 1979. They did a signoff that showed clips of a lot more of the studio equipment; I distinctly recall a VTR drum. They used that signoff until the old station building on Monte Sano burned down in 1983.

[@gidzmobug2323]

Dave Cornutt Did they ever learn what caused the fire?

[@VectraQS]

Damn, spot on! I love finding recollections proven 100% accurate.

[@chasebakerofthe209]

You mean 1982

[@ryoushii]

yep, the last time I saw a sign off was when I was stationed in Germany in the early 1990's and the Germans still didn't have 24 hour TV. It was the same schtick as here, prayer, station info and so on, except because this was Bavaria, they played THREE anthems, the EU "Ode to Joy" theme from Beethoven, the Bavarian state anthem and then the German national anthem and then white noise. Even then it was nostalgic since this had died out in the US for the most part by then.

[@bluray2012ify]

Great signoff from Huntsville, AL.

[@essvee86]

I was expecting the announcer to say "Now y'all come back, ya hear?" LOL! Anyhow, this is by far the best SSB sign-off music of them all. It's not as pompous or chest beating as the others.

[@RGC198]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@BlaineStewart123]

@cinoche - The song is "From a Sidewalk Cafe" by Frank Mills

[@Musicradio77Network]

BlaineStewartWTKR He was best known for his big instrumental hit "Music Box Dancer" in 1978 or 1979.

[@DaveCornutt]

(I was interning at American Data at the time. One of their sales people had been up there just hours before the fire, trying to sell them stuff. We all kidded him the next day: "You didn't have to burn them down just because they didn't order anything!")

[@gregmyers3255]

Dave Cornutt ,

[@branDS2480]

over 30 ywars and hes still at it,glory to the Lord of host's forever and ever

[@pauljr.harrington1905]

In 1982, WAFF’s studios caught on fire.

[@PGMEagle]

Wow Kasey Kasem doing the voice over on the promos

[@Jerseysson27]

When I heard the song of WAFF 48 for the sign off ...was that "I just can't help believing"? Cause it sounded like that

[@bgatesdie]

@banther1972 I was 6, and I remember this, weird. My 3 and 6 year old kids will never know.

[@pauljr.harrington1905]

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ended in 1992, and Carson died in 2005.

[@djjaseuk]

Nice BBC Testcard Track there! :)

[@17z483]

WAFF 48 opening 2003

[@Ace411275]

Did WAFF cut to color bars or completely shut down there transmitter after sign off?

[@rockthejungle]

WATCHED 8/3/14

[@2011paramedic]

1979!

[@patrickrancourt4782]

Gr8 clip

[@looneytunes9000]

Presently, WAFF-TV is owned by Gray Television since they chewed up Raycom last year.

[@kaiokendo]

theres a parody of wereloud song called were loud made in nbc studios

[@essvee86]

17th anniversary? Who celebrates on the 17th anniversary. That's NBC for you back then, and now. Proud as peacock? Nah, more like 'stuffed as a turkey!'

[@JesseL85719]

Original air date?

[@3Cr15w311]

Quadruplex VTR at 2:56?

[@marksmith4828]

Yes. A RCA TR 600. The last 2" model RCA made.

[@Ace411275]

@@marksmith4828 I saw in another video that after the station fire of 82 WAFF bought 2 Ampex AVR-3's for there new studio, witch i believe was also the last 2" quad machine that Ampex produced. By this time the 1" type C format was being released and adopted by TV stations..

[@HwoarangtheBoomerang]

🥲💔.

[@rudyiraheta80]

tri affiliate of nbc abc & cbs

[@mindsaglowin]

This would be called "unconstitutional" today. Tragic.

[@JohnMossSF]

Says who? Where is your proof, or are you just stirring the pot?

[@wthrz]

Not sure what you mean. I don't see anything in this video that SJW's consider "Racist" or "Unconstitutional". At least not yet. Unless you're talking about the motivational lord-related stuff in this. Yeah, I've seen some SJW's consider that that way.