WLS Channel 7 - "The Original

Ok, I couldn't resist doing a little "photoshop job" on the 4:30 Movie logo to make it look like 3:30. ;-) But this is still a significant find - the original opening to the ABC 4:30 Movie in New York (which apparently was exactly the same as the WLS 3:30 Movie here in Chicago, except with the title changed)
My thanks to KZbinr mazinz2 (Doug) for discovering this, and for generously donating a copy of the DVD transfer to our archives.
/ mazinz2
Unfortunately, the 16mm film that this came from didn't have the soundtrack on it, so I had to do an editing job with my best guess as to the synchronization of the video and audio. I decided that this final version was probably pretty darn close. (I like the way the title juts into its final position right as the music crescendos)
The music, an original composition entitled "Big Show Theme," was composed by Walter Raim. (NOT Joe Raposo as originally believed), and was also the theme used for the later and longer-lived "rotating cameraman" opening to the 4:30 Movie: • the 4:30 movie open
Of course, in Chicago, we never got that opening - at some point (presumably around 1975) we switched to a completely different opening, the "Swirling Stars" motif, as well as a different music score. Why did we get an opening all our own? No idea.
www.fuzzymemori...
This opening (or at least modifed to say 3:30) aired on local Chicago TV from about 1969 to approximately 1975.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The Museum of Classic Chicago Television's primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, 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. Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical purposes. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, and to view more of the 4,000+ (and counting) video clips available for viewing in our online archive, please visit us at:
www.fuzzymemori...

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

The music was recorded in 1968 and used in NYC, then used in other markets.

[@iamnomad101]

That music editing is dead on! Such a colorful open, too.

[@puplover7991]

Holy shit!! I've been looking for the bumper w/ that music forever! Stuck in my head from the 70's and couldn't find it. So...it's ABC...Thank you!!!

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

This opening music and video to the 3:30 afternoon movie lasted at least throughout 1974, because I vividly remember a broadcast of the 1933 KING KONG on Dec. 24th, 1974 and it had this opening.

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Thank you, Anthony. According to the newspaper archives, King Kong did indeed air on 12-24-74, just as you remember it. I have no doubt that your recollection is correct. Based on this it seems the most likely possibilities for the opening switch are Fall of 1975 or Fall of 1976.

[@mrmjb1960]

This also opened up the New York WABC-TV Movie,too.

[@davek5027]

Wow! That brought back some great memories! Thanks!!!

[@damin9913]

I love this music got me jamming

[@1L6E6VHF]

WXYZ in Detroit had the same intro, as "The 4:30 Movie", which would become the 4:00 Movie, before they dropped the afternoon movie altogether. It makes sense they used all the same imaging as WLS-TV, as both were ABC O&O back then. WXYZ would be sold to Capital Cities soon after (despite the fact that Michigan's capital is Lansing).

[@paulnadratowski3942]

WABC NY used the same music with different graphic. Great opening

[@thunderstruck665]

WABC also used Moving Pictures for their Late Movie bumper up until 1992.

[@momoffour65]

Brings me right back to the '70's

[@vgmc7650]

@Charles Finley WXYZ-7 Detroit [ABC-owned until 1983 when Scripps-Howard got them] used this kind of intro for the "4:00 Movie", about 2 hours/day. Late 1970s, WXYZ expanded their 6:00 report (then an hour with ABC News at 7PM) to 5:30; early 1980s, the "5:30" became the "5:00" with the "circle 7" masquerading as a zero. By then, films were split over 2 days. In 1983, "Good Afternoon Detroit" replaced the 4:00 Movie. WTOL-11 still had a "4:00 Movie" (still 2 hours) until at least 1983.

[@fromthesidelines]

WABC-TV In New York originally used this opening from 1969 through 1973.

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Thanks Barry, I recognize you as an authority. :-) probably likely WLS would have used the 3:30 variant during the same time period, yes?

[@fromthesidelines]

Definitely.

[@cwf1701]

I remember seeing this on WXYZ as a kid.

[@wmbrown6]

Actually, here's a clue as to the music editing - courtesy another sister station, KABC Channel 7 in Los Angeles, via "The 6 O'Clock Movie": kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqPLi358nqqCjNEm14s (starting 15 seconds in) So L.A. is definitely confirmed to have run Raim's theme at least for a time, Chicago second. Besides New York, of course.

[@ronmonroe5253]

CLASSIC INTRO,,, MISS THOSE GOOD OLD DAYZ MONSTER WEEK OF COURSE 😅😅GOT PLENTY OF ASS WHIPPING FOR NOT DOING MY HOMEWORK FIRST 😅😅😅WATCHIN THOSE DAMN MONSTER MOVIES 😅😅MY MOTHER USE TO SAY SHUT THAT FU#KIN TV OFF😅😅😅

[@tapthatt2012]

I used his clip and did the same thing with the audio. I don't think I posted it but used it on an edit I did for a dvd.

[@2011paramedic]

Today on the 4:30 Movie, Mean Girls! Starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams!

[@retroguy1976]

I like this better than the wabc version they used the same music as in this clip

[@wmbrown6]

One wonders how Raim's theme would have faired with the "stars" open that replaced this.

[@chipdrusano]

Sounds like a song from The Supremes! lol

[@denisewalsh6586]

Okay so who composed this catchy tune?

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

It was an original composition, "Big Show Theme," composed by Walter Raim. (NOT Joe Raposo as originally believed)

[@denisewalsh6586]

@@FuzzyMemoriesTV Thank You so much for your research...I used to love this theme so much I wo

[@denisewalsh6586]

@@FuzzyMemoriesTV Thank you again I used to love this composition so much that I would watch the 4:30 movie just to hear it..I hope I can find "Big Show Theme " on KZbin to listen to a longer version of it. Is this possible? Thank you again from Long Island NY!

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

I think this was all they recorded. Here's more info in the video description of this clip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJfOpJx3isuEbK8

[@denisewalsh6586]

@@FuzzyMemoriesTV It's an inspirational uplifting composition...I listened and danced to it already ten times today outside! Wish there could've been a longer version but this is still a gem. Thank You so much for your research and for responding to my query.