WLS Channel 7 - Eyewitness News at 6:00pm (Complete Broadcast, 6/11/1980) 📺

Here's a complete broadcast of the 6:00pm edition of Eyewitness News with Fahey Flynn and Jack Jones (subbing for Joel Daly) on WLS Channel 7. (some of description here omitted due to character limit)
Includes:
Mark Wolin report on commuter tax hike (feat. Vivian Nannen of Arlington Heights, Howard Sikurski of Niles, Margaret Shurtleff of Winfield, Ald. Robert Shaw (D-9th Ward) and Mayor Byrne)
Chuck Goudie report on Lake Forest package bombing of Percy Wood, the President of United Airlines, at 887 S. Forest Hill (feat. Postal Insp. Raymond Oldham and Phil Bettiker of Cook Co. Sheriff's Police) [later revealed to be the work of Ted Kaczynski, the infamous "Unabomber"]
Report on rapist caught in Chicago River after attacking a woman, leading to Vivian Rosenberg report on bond for Palatine rapist Henry Hurst (w/ Gerry Broderick of Rolling Meadows Police, victim fiancé Ray Scully, Hurst atty. Rick Alossa and victim's mother Danielle Hayner; plus courtroom drawings by Andy Austin)
Commercials for:
Frigidaire
Diet Rite cola
Sears Father's Day sale
Jim Gibbons report on new school budget, featuring Chicago Board of Ed meeting highlights and comments from Supt. of Finance Joseph Madison; plus School Finance Authority audit with chairman Jerome Van Gorkom
Reports on CTA's budget crisis (with CTA chairman Eugene Barnes and RTA Chairman Lewis Hill) and the finding of a "stolen" Greyhound bus (at North Halsted parking stall)
Kim Peterson report on 81-year-old Gladys McArthur hiding animals in her apartment at 4244 N. Mozart St.; 2 neighbors are interviewed
Commercials for:
Hillshire Farm smoked sausage
1st Metropolitan Builders (with Lillian Randolph)
Vidal Sassoon Skin Care
Arlington Park
Diane Lawson report on cutoff of unemployment benefits to former federal workers; Stella Cuthbert of the State Labor Dept. gives advice to those affected
Bob Petty report on summer job fair at Navy Pier for sanitation work, with job applicants Michael Stacker, Walter McCray and Joanne Donelson, and Asst. Sanitation Comm. Tom Siwek
Carol Bogart report on fired Downers Grove Good Samaritan Hospital nurse Linda Kurle who was suspected in patient deaths; also featured are hospital staffer Karen Klett and attorney Oliver Gregory, her attorney Al Botti, and Linda herself
Commercials for:
Good Year American Eagle tires
Toyota dealers
Red Lobster
Aramis for men
Reports on Fred Astaire's upcoming marriage to jockey Robyn Smith and a piece on exotic dancers
Next is Tim Weigel's sports report, [31:18] Denis Savard signed to Blackhawks; interviews with draft picks Modzell Greer and Keith French), plus Cubs' slump as reported by Jay Berry, and more
Commercials for:
Jewel food stores
Sears
American National Bank
Bob Evans Pork Sausage
Sen. Richard Daley and family (including mother Eleanor and brother William) visit White House to reiterate support for Carter
Frank Mathie report on new portable Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis device for kidney patients; one of its backers, nephrologist Dr. Gordon Lang of St. Joseph Hospital, and air-space analyst Russell Smith testifies how CAPD works for him
Commercials for:
Vivitar pocket camera
Rust-Oleum
Lip Quencher
Chicago Health & Racquetball Club (with Raquel Welch)
Reports on death of Japanese Prime Minister Ohira Masayoshi, massive pending recall of 1969-79 Ford cars, condition of Richard Pryor and upcoming departure of White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan
Report by Ann Compton on problems dogging John Anderson's presidential campaign, with Ed Asner vowing to support him
Commercials for:
Dominick's Finer Foods
Florida orange juice
Ball Park Franks
Shell Auto Care
Report on Louisiana alligator problem (with wrong graphic), leading to story on rare birds at Brookfield Zoo and weather with Frank Sechrist
Commercials for:
Omega watches
True Value hardware stores (voiceover by Lee Phillip)
Conair Royal Persian Henna
Estee Lauder 'Summer Lights, Summer Brights' beauty kit
South Bend, IN police recovering from 'blue flu',news of Illinois budget surplus, Lebanon, IL asking for law banning Ku Klux Klan, and fire in Steger
Preview of Mark Wolin truck story and report on Alberta Hunter for 10pm
WLS-TV Editorial by VP/GM Peter Desnoes - "Two-Tiered Sales Tax Fix"
Commercials for:
Hefty plates
Sugar free Tab cola
Tuscan Pops (with Buddy Hackett)
AM Chicago bumper promo (with Robb Weller)
This aired on local Chicago TV on Wednesday, June 11th 1980 during the 5:59pm to 7:01pm timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The Museum of Classic Chicago Television's mission is the preservation and display of early home videotape recordings (70s and early 80s, primarily) recorded off of any and all Chicago TV channels; footage which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. For information on how to help, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, please e-mail: [e-mail]

[@CosmicKim100]

Thank you again for sharing! My father was Frank Sechrist the meteorologist. It's a joy to watch him! Especially since video from those days isn't easy to find.

[@whatever-up7ps]

That's awesome 👍

[@realnpc3763]

Wait till he finds out space is fake!

[@realnpc3763]

What a waste of life.

[@jackiewilson8772]

I grew up in the 80s as a teenager in Chicago and I remember all of these folks! Such a nice memory! I was also, oddly, friends with NBC meteorologist, Terry Burhans.

[@realnpc3763]

@@jackiewilson8772 nice a foreign agent for NASA

[@josephhoman8602]

Im from Baltimore,md..I love watching news from the 80s while I'm eating my food..

[@Speakup84]

I thought I was only one who did that 😂

[@jasonconnor3905]

How you eating?, really good I hope

[@nowitsabadtime]

Anybody who wants to know "What life was like in the 1980s" need only to watch this, this is the real-deal!

[@AckzaTV]

ya it wasnt all luxury vaporwave hotels, it was more like a dirty drug addict version of the 70s

[@crb4059]

Its like sulfur for leftists, wokies and obamaites alike. (although technicially our great president would be a few months from taking office)

[@tias.6675]

Lol many people who lived it still think it was a great time. The 80s were still a huge deal in the 90s and early 00s.

[@michaeljezierski7158]

Most famous phrase in Chicago next to Harry Caray’s “Holy Cow!” and Ken Harrelson “Put it on the board” - “How do you do ladies and gentlemen I’m Fahey Flynn”

[@mrs.morris5506]

Sheesh! At 5 years old, I was too young to comprehend the news at the time, but still remember half the stories from this broadcast. The city and metropolitan area were all jacked up.

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

That’s pretty impressive actually!

[@raydemos1181]

Growing up watching the news in and around chicago was a traumatic experience for me, it is a brutal violent place on the earth , every night who killed who , night after night, not a normal environment ,

[@OCarioca.13]

LET'S Save the tapes !!

[@darrellmfume4505]

growing up in Chicago watching this now. Ah, the memories. I was 12

[@SeamusMcGillicuddy0]

My condolences 😣 !

[@zaheerahshareef8131]

Wow I was 3 🤣

[@TheBandit7613]

Chicago was broke even then. I graduated (DGS) in 1983 and moved to Colorado, then Las Vegas a few years later. Still have family & friends in the Chicago area and visit from time to time. Leaving was the best decision I ever made.

[@PredatorKingdom]

Loved how the Family intro was shown at the end this was amazing!

[@thomasbrown3356]

Jack Jones sounds like that officer in Beverly Hills Cop. "not falling for the banana in the tail pipe!". Lol

[@thomasbrown3356]

Alderman Shaw wearing that rug on his head. Classic!

[@waynewright2886]

The Day Before my High School Graduation in L.A. when this Episode of Eyewitness News Aired! Chicago had its Lead Anchor for WLS ABC 7... the Late Fahey Flynn at the Time! It's Sister Station KABC 7 here in L.A. we had the Late Jerry Dunphy! Both Irish Americans Leading Newscast in Separate for ABC O&O Stations 2500 Miles Apart! Legends in 2 Separate Cities at the Time! & Before they Came to the Separate ABC O&O's, they Both Worked for the Local CBS O&O's in Chicago & L.A. Fahey at WBBM/CBS 2 in Chicago. & Jerry at CBS 2 (Then KNXT Now KCBS 2) Here in L.A.

[@eyehatefarcebook11]

Wayne Wright The WLS lead anchor was your equivalent to Bill Bonds or Jac LeGoff at WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit.

[@waynewright2886]

@@eyehatefarcebook11 I wasn't Familiar with WXYZ Newscast in Detroit, I was Chicago Born in 61 & Moved to L.A. in 69, & didn't know about Network O&O's as with ABC, NBC, & CBS at the Time, Until I Took a Broadcasting Class & Learned what these 3 Network Stations Owned at the Time & the Affiliates Owning the Rest, back in 1980.

[@eyehatefarcebook11]

Wayne Wright You should view some of the clips people posted on youtube. Very good old school stuff from there.

[@waynewright2886]

@@eyehatefarcebook11 I do... thanks to these People putting Old Clips of Newscast, I Mainly Look at the Chicago News From the 60'& 70's, Mainly CBS 2, WBBM, with Bill Kurtiss & Walter Jacobson, who Kicked Ass at WBBM 2, as Labeled the "Strongest News Team in Chicago" back in the 70's, NBC 5, WMAQ Newscast was Weak with Anchors, & ABC 7, WLS was behind CBS 2, thanks to Fahey Flynn & Crew at ABC 7.

[@lvdude8631]

And before moving to LA, Jerry worked WITH Fahey at WBBM!

[@brentmann2988]

26:34 Michael Bell is a great voice-over talent. 48:45 Louisiana is closer to Israel than most of us thought. ;) 52:57 Len Gochman was another excellent voice-over artist. 49:48 This weather map tells us nothing but it's great nonetheless.

[@crb4059]

"Disarmament, acid pellet style."

[@twikirobot6897]

Love this....great quality. Thanks !

[@twoarrows2543]

One thing you can't deny though, you can't get past the rye and on point wit of a classy, prominent Chicago woman!

[@roringusanda2837]

*wry

[@zguyofficial6206]

This is so nostalgic

[@anonymous203020]

The lake forest bombing was from the unabomber. That’s crazy

[@paulakpacente]

Wish we could go back in a time machine. I did move my business out of the city in 1984.

[@OCarioca.13]

Yes that a dream

[@OCarioca.13]

I was born in 2006 and i never known the years 1980s

[@freshlittlebreeze]

p

[@karlpugh4531]

remember in 1980 the economy was TERRIBLE....inflation interest rates high unemployment gas lines

[@feverspell]

If you notice in the 1st Metropolitan Builders commercial, the voiceover doesn't match the numbers the actress is saying. Her mouth is saying "252-1155" but the audio says "282-8600." I wonder if the company changed their phone number between the time it was filmed and when it aired.

[@mmullen67]

Yes, I believe the company moved and had to change their phone number. But heck, we still can keep using the old commercial. No one will notice! Adding to the cheap factor, they superimposed the new phone number (with a black background) over the old phone number that appeared originally. Lillian Randolph reportedly was the actress. The fake voiceover lady appears to have played Lillian's daughter in a different 1st Metropolitan Builders commercial. You can find that one by searching for "1st Metropolitan Builders - "Why Didn't You Bring The Children?" (Commercial, 1980)". Sadly, Lillian died of cancer later that year (1980). That might explain if she wasn't available to re-shoot this old commercial, although the "Children" one has both the new phone number _and_ Lillian.

[@chigal0926]

I had the biggest crush on Chuck Goudie. Now he's got that middle aged spread going, but he's still handsome. And his report, the bomber was Evergreen Park native Ted Kyzenski.

[@sadietravels6213]

Interesting the on the street interview was held in front of the old Northwestern Train station. Too bad we couldn’t see more of the station. Amazingly the suburban tax wasn’t passed back then. I am sure it will be revisited at some point.

[@raydemos1181]

brandon will revise it for sure

[@MilesBellas]

UNABOMBER On June 3, 1980, Percy Wood, the President of United Airlines, received a letter in the mail. The letter informed him that he would soon be receiving a book of social significance. It was signed "Enoch W. Fisher." A week later, on June 10, Wood received a hollowed-out copy of "Ice Brothers," by Sloan Wilson. When he opened the book, it exploded, injuring him.

[@gspendlove]

My eyebrows went up when I read that the Unabomber sent that letter bomb to Percy Wood. Wood was lucky he wasn't killed.

[@cokesquirrel]

I thought this was going to be about the kendler bombing, He was also in like forest and someone threw a bomb through his kitchen window. He was the grandfather of 1 of my friends from He was also in like forest and someone threw a bomb through his kitchen window. He was the grandfather of 1 of my friends from lake forest country day , Supposedly he was mobbed up

[@jasong428]

Regardless of what anyone says now, life was better for all people in these days.

[@guerito7571]

"The Cubs are just losers that's all!" 🤣🤣

[@StukInBuf]

@guerito7571(open): And then, finally, 36 years later... the Cubs win it all.

[@rwboa22]

3:45 - Enoch Fisher a.k.a. The Unabomber a.k.a. Theodore Kaczynski.

[@TwiggysKidsandStuff]

Bob Petty- November 26, 1940 - February 18, 2020, 79 years old.

[@eydie57]

I love Jane Byrne telling him, "now you'll have to sit down and be good." Strong woman vibe.

[@christiantaylor9333]

Sit down and read it

[@IllusionSector]

2:00 This Ald. Robert Shaw with his "tax the privilege" attitude is the precursor to Beetlejuice.

[@hpflashman3328]

Interesting fact: the letter bomb was sent by the Unabomber

[@boat6float]

That's why I watched the video.

[@StukInBuf]

2:40 or so... Mr. Alderman here are some things you should consider about those services and out-of-towner support for them... If they shop in the city, they're already buying into those services. If they dine at local eateries while working in your city, they're buying in. If they park their cars in "pay-to-park" lots while working in town, they're buying in. So, in other words... suburbanites and other out-of-towners are already buying into the upkeep of your city's various services. Why raise the taxes and ultimately watch them(and their companies) move elsewhere? I believe I've often heard of "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

[@roringusanda2837]

Lol, I was thinking "what a grift" even then, when I saw it... always looking for other people to pay the way! Taking other people's money is twice as nice as making your own.

[@thecommaking]

Wow -- horrible crime levels back then!

[@KEICRUMBIE]

TAB. Wow what memories.

[@bethdibartolomeo2042]

Be in for a shock that the average price of a new car is over $7000. ROFLMAO Yeah, that'd be a shock in 1980. Today that's a down payment. I was about to turn 2 when this aired, so yeah, they weren't that cheap when I started driving.

[@UnchainedEruption]

Well after you take inflation into account, that would be almost $25k in today's money.

[@cokesquirrel]

$26k in 2023

[@stevenc5509]

48:47 Louisiana population problem with alligators Background: Israel West Bank

[@hig2831]

Idk why I want to watch this but I am

[@eydie57]

In the case of the nurse, Linda Kurle was fired, but a court overturned the decision, ordering that she be reinstated and paid back pay from June of 1980- Sept. 1980.

[@norbertop.niebres6320]

In today's (circa Friday, February 14, 2020) time, ABC7 Chicago Eyewitness News at 6:00 PM would go only 30 minutes. At 6:30 PM Wheel of Fortune on ABC7 Chicago.

[@StukInBuf]

Opening story... forget the "commuter tax." Try maybe increasing the tolls on the inbound tollways. Wait... people might find a way around those? Well, Chicago... I guess you're SOL.

[@Dirtnation2]

31:19 Fun fact Savard would be traded to Montreal for Chris Chelios ten years later.

[@dccoulthard]

Wow, no mention in the description of the Blackhawks picking one of the best players in their history, and arguably the best skater ever in the NHL?

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Sorry - it has been added now along with a time stamp. (unfortunately KZbin limits the video descriptions to 5000 characters so it's hard to fit everything in - but this was definitely noteworthy)

[@genegjr]

Did Jack Jones leave KYW. CHANNEL 3 in Philadelphia and left for wls in Chicago?

[@paulmorley1225]

How in the actual F can a cocaine-purification explosion leave "no evidence of drugs" in a house??? I'll tell you how... the police 'took' the evidence and/or money (most likely a little of both) thus none was left at the scene.

[@Solitaryman70]

I really forgot all about Bob Petty. 🤣

[@CrowTRobot-ni7zu]

How do ya do, Fahey?

[@m.oriley8260]

I lived in Lake Forest. I didn't know Mr. Percy Wood.

[@rigut229]

WLS RADIO WAS GREAT WITH LARRY LUJACK. STEVE & GARY. JIM SHORTS

[@drewhenderson7604]

Package 📦 bomb was one of unabomber early victims

[@siggyretburns7523]

14:51 "The case of the missing bus". Was there anyone on it? Worse, is there anyone still waiting for it? How the hell do you lose a bus?

[@michaellong3836]

29:40 update: Greer was cut during rookie training camp, then arrested in December that same year, charged with selling cocaine and marijuana.

[@Solitaryman70]

I was so in love 😍 with Jane Byrne. 2:59 RIP my lovely. Larry Lightfeet, pa-leeeezze give me a break.

[@Trav810606]

I remember Jack Jones from WCAU TV 10 in Philadelphia

[@johnv339]

Also, anchored at KYW-TV.

[@SagittariusQueen1980]

Chuck looked so young here, now he's a silver fox, and still good looking.

[@ig8895]

Wtf...

[@Jesuisderetour87]

@@ig8895 yep she was right.

[@ccsd0601]

Near-Miss car accident @ 3:33.

[@monicahorath]

Can you upload the WKBS sign off from 1983?

[@Solitaryman70]

I think Fahey meant I /65 and US 231 in Indiana. 13:10

[@SteveWeiserOnYouTube]

That reporter who asked the Cubs fan whether he eats his hotdogs with ketchup or mustard must've been from Mars. I've heard of people being physically escorted out of Gene and Jude's because they asked for ketchup.

[@kristalm9318]

Richard Pryor making crack accident!!! Roflmao!!!

[@siggyretburns7523]

0:55 I was starting to wonder if Mark didnt pay his commuter tax.

[@Silenced23]

Jack Jones to me feels like a Robert Downey Jr thing in Tropic Thunder.

[@RobertMacias2435]

mark wallace explains why... 👀

[@shovelhead3843]

It’s weird seeing this now, since everyone in this video are either dead or quite old.

[@eyehatefarcebook11]

This was a somewhat similar set used at WXYZ in Detroit at the same time. Same ol' "Cool Hand Luke" intro and music. Love it.

[@wecontrolthevideo]

The WXYZ set was the original design, and many versions were copied from it around the country.

[@MilesBellas]

Enoch W. Fisher. = UNABOMBER

[@FredDunkin]

40 years and nothing has changed. CPS and CTA going through financial trouble. Oh well

[@user-fw8rd5ud4q]

Still taxing achievement

[@dedebones1967]

The way animal control was treated them at this time was Terrible

[@antony716]

Chuck Goudey still a drama queen 40 years later

[@Solitaryman70]

How do you figure that?

[@roberthansen2008]

And they said i-75 goes through crown point. I think they meant i-65. I-75 doesn't even go in Indiana it goes from Michigan into Ohio.

[@raydemos1181]

I always thought Jane byrne was the last good mayor Chicago had, she seemed to really care about her city and even moved into cabrinie green horsing projects to help stop crime, Chicago went to the dogs when she left as mayor, I left for Florida in 94 never to look back or you will turn into a pillar of salt

[@tommym321]

Jane Byrne was an incompetent nut.

[@kascnef]

How is Chicago compared to NY portland Seattle and philly

[@rigut229]

WHERE IS STEVE AND GARY?

[@siggyretburns7523]

37:30 Cheer up, kids. This one doesn't sniff hair and wont cop a feel.

[@twoarrows2543]

You displace hard working tax payers out of your city with your wacky social and political policies, and it's their fault the low life's left behind that make up your constituents can't meet your tax rolls? Sububanites pay transit fares, parking fees, sales taxes once inside the municipality, etc. Cities like Chicago are always propped up with county, state and federal funds so they get that good suburban tax money anyway. Oh and it's the RTA's fault the CTA has to raise fares while reporting in same breath the suburban RTA already gives the mismanaged CTA funds. Ya' know growing up as a good little Chicago area liberal at this time, I thought all of this was so wonderful and perfectly fair. Now its a little tough to enjoy this nostalgia seeing it though today perspective knowing the shameful race, class and social Marxist warfare associated with all of this nonsense. "The PRIVILEGE of working in Chi-CUAW-go" . Disgusting!

[@StukInBuf]

@two arrows(open) Native New Yawkuh(sic) here; the same BS you described can also be found in the Big Apple. When Messrs. Koch and Giulianni were in charge, they kept that shit to a minimum, as best they could do. Also, when Giuliani was in charge, the grafiti was taken down from the trains, and quality of life was more enjoyable. Now, thanks to DeFloozio(sic), it's a shit show. BTW... I thank God my folks moved our family out of NYC when I was 7 and a half; this was over 40 years ago.

[@sablon3123]

not working

[@AckzaTV]

i bet living in the late 80s as a wealthy adult in Chicago on a summer vacation would be so nice, a big city, but in the heartland... of course the real action is in new york city or los angeles back then or miami but yeah new york in the late 80s or los angeles would be incredible (if u had money) or just knowing what you know now, getting to look forward to the 90s a whole decade before 9/11 , knowing you can be liek elon musk and make a billion dollars selling software to a dotcom like compuserve rich off stock market pumping from printing money for tech industry lol

[@tias.6675]

LA for me. Anyone who was wealthy and lived there before the 2010s is LUCKY !!!

[@DanKirchner5150]

21:13 "i need this diarrhea bad"

[@tamzid5811]

25.

[@JZ-gr1tz]

Listen to the they interview and spoked a far better English then now days

[@Solitaryman70]

14:35. John Gotti look a like.