WPIX SIGN-OFF 1979

[@kimberlyjohnson2795]

Never thought I'd actually want to see one of these sign offs. But actually I kinda like it. It actually seems to bring closure to my viewing day. I may play it again tomorrow night to help me get to sleep :-)

[@2000Majicman]

I thought I was the only One!

[@mrceleb2006]

Music heard in the background comes from part of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by the Alan Parsons Project, on their debut album 'Tales of Mystery and Imagination', based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

[@LT9856]

Too bad stations don't do this anymore. Now they just run endless loops of infommercials.

[@RathouseFilmworks]

Well, they operate 24/7. And it's due to digital television.

[@amightysailingman]

Many if not most stations eliminated sign-offs way back in the analog TV age. I know the ones in my area had stopped by the mid 1990s. It just wasn't worth the problems that sometimes happened when trying to restart systems at 6 a.m. So it cost a thousand dollars in electricity to keep going a couple of more hours. They could lose more than that with just a few minutes of "technical difficulties" during sign-on.

[@dananelson6147]

Good news for people who sleep with the TV set on. In 2003 most stations are now operating 24/7.

[@mkaplan1383]

An eternity of useless products to rot your sceavy little mind....FOREVER!

[@JeffMinde]

The FCC required sign-offs until 1997.

[@VandelayIndustries61]

I remember that "fluttering flag" anthem on WPIX. Back then every station in New York had a distinct audio of the anthem, with different accompanying visuals. One station, I forget which, had a Moog synthesizer version with a montage of stills depicting events in American history, done in chronological order.

[@mikecane]

Brings back memories. Saw it many times. I had B&W TV then.

[@rockerdriver]

What was it with those Indian head test patterns anyway!They either played that continuous tone,some area radio station or even crazier,elevator music! It was really bizarre even back then!

[@lavontreyclarke3285]

"Copyright 1979, WPIX, Inc." "The entire broadcast day of WPIX, all programs, included therein, and their arrangement, and compilation, are protested by copyright and subject to this notice. All rights are reserved by WPIX Inc. At this time, WPIX, New York, leaves the air until tomorrow, when we resume with another schedule of the best in television. WPIX is owned and operated by WPIX Inc, with studios and offices at 220 East 42nd Street New York City and transmitter atop the Empire State Building. WPIX operates on Channel 11 as authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. Programs broadcast by this station may not be used for any purpose except exhibition at the time of their broadcast on receivers of the type ordinarily used for home reception in places where no admission, cover, or mechanical operating charges are made; nor can they be rebroadcast without express permission from WPIX. WPIX is a member of the Association of Independent Television Stations. May we suggest if you like to spend some time now listening to New York's rock n' roll, turn on WPIX 10.2 FM. And now, our National Anthem."

[@4evernate28]

Just in case anyone's curious, the background music is the Alan Parsons Project's Pavane, from their debut album Tales Of Mystery And Imagination. Once I heard that, I was bugging. XD

[@x60hz]

Very Good!!

[@user-qw6tn6qm7c]

Original 1976 Edition, no less.

[@fromthesidelines]

In "The Star-Spangled Banner" sequence, the SAME soundtrack was also used in Channel 4's [WNBC-TV] version at that time- featuring "travelogue scenes" of Washington D.C. and its monuments, and a brief shot of the U.S. Marine Corps Band supposedly performing this...

[@superstarhailey]

It's from 1969

[@bearpaw72]

The off-air screen is my favourite TV program in the world.

[@joanjettwannabe]

The Jetsons is one of my favorite tv programmes in the world.

[@PhantomPlayland]

Many were the nights when (at the 4:40 mark in this video) a bleary-eyed young man (me) would rise from the sofa, shut off the set and go to bed. I miss this and I'm not even sure why. Maybe I just miss the idea that the world had powered down for the night. Thank you, TapThat. Your uploads kick ass and this is a great find indeed.

[@sambradley2975]

I wish we could go back to those days.

[@georgemaster689]

Me,too!

[@ilovethetampabaylightning92]

I was all of 3 at the time. I know this is a cliché, but where did the time go? 🥴🤯

[@jimtorbet9298]

After this, the Denver station would play the poem High Flight (One of my Dad's favorite, as he was an Air Force Pilot)

[@danlivni2097]

I can remember in the early 80s. Alot of the TV stations would sign off at midnight. There was no programming from midnight to like 6 or 7 am. This was before the info commericals.

[@BrooklynChivalry]

+Dan Livni WPIX ran programming all night during the 1970s and 1980s. Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Action News (repeat), the Channel 11 Film Festival, Biography, Laurel And Hardy or The Abbott And Costello Show, and Biography. The sign-off was usually for about an hour or less between 5 and 6am, and would resume with cartoons and/or religious programming at 6-6:30.

[@danlivni2097]

+Tommy Retro's Blast From The Past! Yes you're right. I also remember Pat Harper was one of the top female broadcasters on PIX in the 70s to mid 80s. I also remember the sports guy in the late 70s and 80s Jerry Girard. Both were great on the air. Sadly both passed away. Pat in 94 from a heart attack. Jerry in 2007 from cancer.

[@amightysailingman]

@ Tommy Retro Your 70s information is wrong. I have some TV Guides from the 70s. WPIX usually had a two-hour movie at midnight, then a 30 minute newscast. Shut down at 2:30, then resumed at 7 a.m.

[@alexanderarce3341]

@@amightysailingman have photos of said tv guides

[@johnpat3622]

Maybe in smaller markets they did, but NYC and other bigger markets most stations (particularly independents) stayed on the air well into the early morning hours, especially on weekends.

[@RobPryme]

4evernate28 that song has taken over my day. Thank you for introducing it and all its glory to me.

[@anthonycorraro5874]

Anyone ever hear in the 70's on WPIX that "Those YANKEES are ALIVE!!!!"?🙂

[@puplover7991]

YES!

[@679steelers9]

I'm don't get scared. But when I do, it's because of this.

[@wmbrown6]

It should be noted that pre-1978, the sign-off (with no music, and voiceover by Bill Biery) ended with this notice: "May we suggest if you'd like to spend some time listening to the best in contemporary music, you tune to WPIX-FM, 102 on your FM dial." It was probably 1978 when the opening "The entire broadcast day of WPIX..." spiel was added to the script. And it sounds like the soundtrack of this SSB (U.S. Army Band, natch') came from the following film: watch?v=7HHTuLrTTh0

[@robloxyessidthekidno6642]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXmrhaiCp7mHnpI

[@oddgriffin]

The first scene scared me, but the logo in the darkness scared me even more and the music in the background (The first song) scared me even more!

[@wmbrown6]

It would appear the tone accompanying the SMPTE color bars was ~390 Hz.

[@kainnosgoth7336]

Ah, our National Anthem, back when America's citizens were proud of it and willing to fight for it. Today they just look the other way... :-(

[@americangamer-animation9856]

True :'(

[@kingofgoldnessr9364]

Kain Nosgoth Huh???

[@flatcapman]

The American Anthem is a song of pride and a reminder that Americans should never forget where they come from. It has a powerful and deep message most don't grasp today sadly and sounds way better then the crap Australian Anthem that sounds like it was written by a drunk Bogan while sitting on the toliet

[@flatcapman]

***** when put into context it makes sense.Anything like that can lose the creepy factor over time

[@karinbauer7501]

those were the days...when the national anthem meant something to me...but that is fading away :(

[@shobielim]

The was recorded via the station's translator W73AP, now WEBR-CD in 1979

[@MSTS1]

That one's pretty rare. I love that studio-shot flag with the fan blasting on it, and maybe a prod. assistant lying on the floor out of frame shaking the mast; that's unique.. nice clip

[@iiglittxrslime3985]

Oml this is literally the process: first the creepy song , then the National Anthem, then they go AFK for a LOOOOOOONG Time, and then the color bars show up for the rest of the night. Wowwwww

[@flatcapman]

with the trademark Australian BOOOOOOOO to the bars the wobble at the start sounds like it ran in the door Late

[@devilsorchard1449]

BOOOOOOOOOOO

[@flatcapman]

or "HEY HOW'S IT GOING?" Your "Your having a wild colour day" Me "FUNNY Check out my no 1 Australian hit.. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

[@wmbrown6]

The "SSB" film played for years by WPIX appears to have gotten around on other stations. A small snippet of this film (albeit a better-kept copy) was played at the end of the "SSB" film of KING Channel 5 in Seattle as of 1987, per: watch?v=g66AySFDCyM As for the film ran for years by WNBC and other stations - it has been referred to by Wikipedia as the "Mount Vernon SSB" exactly due to what 'fromthesidelines' described. Except this recording (my favorite of all) was the U.S. Army Band's.

[@RockNRollerRon]

Yep. I remember this....was 17 at the time....stayed up late often!

[@kidfrombrooklyn66]

I'm from NY and I do remember when TV stations signed off for the evening. That's was way before those infocomericals took over the over night hours and 24/7 broadcasts.

[@dananelson6147]

WPIX-FM is now a simulcast of WFAN-AM 660

[@timecrisisyesedcp4928]

Wpix operates in 7AM-12MN

[@creepyzeek1]

I'm sorry I took this for granted when I was a youngster. So much easier back then.

[@JerryOrbachFan]

I was just 3.

[@vladtheimpaler5550]

Used to doze off then as soon as you heard that national anthem my ass was like " oh shit what time is it? "

[@Cryptonymicus]

@1:20 I believe that's the US Army Herald Trumpets doing the National Anthem.

[@wmbrown6]

@shobielim - Can you advise as to the calls of the other New York TV station translators (i.e. Ch. 53 for WCBS-TV 2, Ch. 66 for WABC-TV 7) as of '79?

[@Inescapeium]

I'm not American, but I remember watching this in 2015-16.

[@syxepop]

Ilham Nobi Entertainment - either from a YT video or from Cable TV or satellite in most places throughout the Caribbean Basin, as its' satellite signal did reach into Colombia and Venezuela (not counting every country from Mexico through Panama and the whole Caribbean). That's how TBS wound up creating FANBASE for the Atlanta Braves, PIX to the New York Yankees and Mets (different years) and WGN to the Chicago Cubs throughout Latin America...

[@jpwjr1199]

Yeah. WPIX did not signoff the air for very long at all, when they did actually signoff, which I recall wasn't every night. I do remember this signoff, however upon seeing it again.

[@tapthatt2012]

@wmbrown6 any idea what music is playing behind him? never heard that voice before.

[@TimelordR]

What a same they no longer offer WPIX on Cable TV anymore like they did back in the 80's. I'd watch it.

[@johnissoevil]

@TimelordR The only way you can get WPIX outside of the NYC area these days is in Atlantic City. The only problem, practically the entire schedule is blacked out due to Syndex. From what I understand, it's also available on New England cable systems in areas lacking a CW affiliate, but again, the syndicated shows are blacked out due to Syndex. And then there's Dish Network, where it's available with no blackouts in the Superstations package.

[@jamiewillkner8742]

And now star tuned for.......complete silence.

[@wmbrown6]

@noahf67 - Since the 50-star flag was first unveiled in 1960, and WPIX started airing in color in 1965, and the Army "SSB" rendition as used for this film dated back to probably 1963, it would appear this film was from the late 1960's (and as aired here, very much faded by this point). Besides, WPIX didn't sign on until 1948.

[@worldofmybaby-podium922]

Why did it had minutes befor color bars? Maybe they went to have some coffee?

[@flatcapman]

I think they were on a ciggie and coffee break then realised "nothing on the screen PUT THE RAINBOW AND AUSSIE TONE ON"

[@keithmoon3190]

@@flatcapman haha

[@flatcapman]

@@keithmoon3190 It's clearly rushed in by the tone distortion at the start

[@keithmoon3190]

@@flatcapman agreed

[@flatcapman]

@@keithmoon3190 I have listioned to that tone since childhood. Its the only tone that calms me down

[@MSTS1]

@wmbrown6 - I see at the 2:01 point of this video the flag film cross-dissolves into a loop (I use this technique too when necessary). It does seem to have the same film 'feel' of the Yule Log film loop. This was before Soft-Box bounce lighting. The old 60's Days of Our Lives opening has that similar film and lighting look too.

[@gli7utubeo]

Thanks. This is really great. Best to you for finding this.

[@wmbrown6]

Also . . . it's surprising to see WPIX as a member of the Association of Independent Television Stations. I see WOR had company by this point . . .

[@JerryOrbachFan]

Imagine having to fix that transmitter on top of the Empire State Building? Just a bit too high up for me.

[@x60hz]

Whoever this guy was who did the VO also did the closing VO for the Yule Log's 1971 airing (see my clip here on YT)

[@wmbrown6]

@MSTS1 - It did seem that the production of that "SSB" seemed to mirror that of "The Yule Log," because :38 into this film it crossfaded - in other words it was a loop. Wonder if 'PIX itself produced this film, given that no other TV station that I know of had the "SSB" in this specific form.

[@wmbrown6]

(CONT'D) Also . . . what became of the old B&W WPIX TP for them to have used SMPTE ECR 1-1978 color bars with their 400 Hz tone at this point? But as for the SSB . . . it's EXACTLY as I remember - except by 1979, the film had become as faded as what WCBS used for their own SSB.

[@josephbostrom5344]

That sign off sound used to scare the crap outta me as a kid, now, not so bad

[@alyssamurray6306]

You mean 4:40. That sound is the test pattern tones, and test pattern tones are very relaxing. They can even calm down crying babies.

[@flatcapman]

4:40 That is a 400HZ Sine wave tone to SMPTE colour bars

[@sillygoose635]

They can even calm down crying babies. pffft.

[@sillygoose635]

They can even calm down crying babies. pffft.

[@rudyiraheta80]

@@flatcapman is on g scale

[@wmbrown6]

@4evernate28 - More precisely, the part from 0:15 to 1:22 on: watch?v=Q2sHm0g14UM Now, what's the music played towards the end of the sign-off and before the SSB? That's now the $64,000 question . . .

[@galencrowson2208]

Yeah, I miss that time when u listened to that salute of our nation & you had no option but to lie down & catch some z's now every station is in 24 hr mode. I mean what the heck happened?

[@joanjettwannabe]

If i watched this before bed, i would have nightmares

[@wmbrown6]

@tapthatt2012 - As to the music heard over the promo for WPIX-FM, I remember that music from ads for the station at the time. As for the other background music - I'm as interested as you are. Sounds almost New Age-y. I'm wondering if one of WPIX-FM's DJ's from that rock format did this sign-off. Sounds like one of them. Just a question of who.

[@daverhodes362]

The INTV logo seen at 1.04 is very similar to one used by ITV in the UK around this time.

[@wmbrown6]

@OreckBoy1 - I have seen WPIX "leave the air until tomorrow" many times - but not like this. For the most part they had this "11 Alive" ID slide (or, if pre-1976, the prior ID slide with the original "circle 11" logo), no music, and Bill Biery (pre-recorded) reading the sign-off script - which started off with "At this time..." and, promo'ing WPIX-FM, referring to "the best in contemporary music."

[@wmbrown6]

I've found out all but one of the remaining translators, thus: WCBS-TV: W53AA (now WKOB-LD) WNBC-TV: W57AB WNEW-TV: W64AA WABC-TV: W66AA WOR-TV: W71AK WNET: W75AM WNJU: W62AA WTVG/WWHT: W60AI Only WNYC-TV (whose translator was on Channel 79) is a question mark at this time.

[@xrandy225]

Does anyone remember something like this in the late 70's. I'm thinking of a NY station (maybe WPIX) that after the late night signoff which I'm remembering to be about 2 or 3am, the station would go to black with some static sounds for a short time but then would transfer over to a late night movie from another network. I'm assuming the channel was shared by two networks with the one taking over after the original network signed off. I distinctly remember this and I think it was WPIX but I could be wrong.

[@wmbrown6]

@NEPatriot - Oh, the recording was the "Army SSB" all right. I'm referring to the films themselves.

[@TheRenard10]

Todo el dia de transmisión de WPIX, todos programas incluidos en el mismo, y su disposition y compilación, estan protegidos por derechos autor y sujectos a este aviso. Todos los derechos estan reservados por WPIX, inc.

[@Delmo5]

No test pattern?

[@Qboro66]

@ 4:39 uh oh... I think I have to go pooooooooooooooooooooop!!!

[@flatcapman]

4:39 its sounds like Im trying to poop nah on 2nd thought it sounds like Im trying to POOOOOOP a brick

[@ssosmcin]

And that was the signal for me to finally go to bed

[@patrickroeill8746]

God,Country and Family

[@DanZero77]

@wmbrown6 Now that I've also seen that WPIX was also an AITV member, was WNEW ever one?

[@DanZero77]

WPIX-FM... the station that didn't know what format to identify itself with!!!!!! I am willing to say that was a radio-style announcer there.

[@wmbrown6]

@4evernate28 - Nice to know this. Now the only mystery is who's the voice of this sign-off? (Again, it sure ain't Bill Biery, Ralph Lowenstein or even Roy Whitfield - was it perhaps one of WPIX-FM 102's DJ's of the time?)

[@erickpaolod.santos3719]

WPIX 11 is the CW Affiliate stations in New York city

[@RolloSmokes]

@wmbrown6 Either it's a really laid-back Lowenstein, or perhaps a 'PIX-FM jock.

[@alexlee6487]

WPIX-TV channel 11 Former independent then WB affiliate now CW affiliate.

[@tsgevaldas4703]

The rainbow bars sounded less well ear drum destroying

[@joeorsini6110]

At what point do the color bars come on in this video?

[@MrIveyIsBonkers]

4:39

[@flatcapman]

and its not the high pitched one its more a BOOOOOOOO

[@joeorsini6110]

Lloyd Duff, you're talking about the low-pitched tone!

[@flatcapman]

Joe Orsini Yes usually its a med to high pitch so it's different here I have seen a colour bar parody where its going BOOOOOO and Super Mario Boos are thinking its calling their name floating around the bars with happy smiles like they enjoy the tone

[@Phantanatomy]

Does anyone else find tv sign offs in general a little unsettling?

[@vladtheimpaler5550]

they always used to make me feel like there was some kind of crisis and it also felt very lonely and isolating for some odd reason............woke my ass up after watching half a flick so I could shut off the tv tho lol

[@Hogstuff]

The SSB clip here is rather unnerving

[@flatcapman]

ONLY WHEN STATIC IS THERE but Colour bars no I find them a delight and an honer when 400hz is played

[@chriss505]

too much poltergeist? ;)

[@flatcapman]

Poltergeist has nothing to do with it as Colour bars were not used for the ghost's gateway. I watch these for colour bars and tone 1000 or 400hz esp. 400hz and I LOVE THAT TONE. Sounds like my Australian accent

[@tapthatt2012]

@OreckBoy1 it is a freat find. the music alone gives a whole different feel to the sign-off. RAOS is the man.

[@tapthatt2012]

@RolloSmokes the search never ends my friend!

[@dalemcilwain]

In a strange way the station is telling us to go to bed.

[@RolloSmokes]

I have now seen everything. TAP THIS!!!!

[@wmbrown6]

The only question is, who's the announcer on this one?

[@flatcapman]

2:37-4:41 "what took them so long? where they out having a smoke? oh wait ITS a BOOOOO tone. Ok "ME" I guess they waited till I had a tobacco pipe then wobble is Sine wave for "Sorry to keeping you waiting but get over it"

[@hf6150]

I was too scared to "tapthat," even though the screen dared me to. :-)

[@logan7156]

at 4:41, I swear I can feel air coming from my speaker at high volume

[@damin9913]

America flag was the sign of peace and freedom but in 2022 I just don't know anymore😔

[@RoyKnable]

@TimelordR You're not missing anything. It's no longer the independent station you miss. Just another affiliate of a second-rate network now.

[@ajg2558]

They were late moving to wtc

[@wmbrown6]

@RolloSmokes - My money's on the latter (one of the 'PIX-FM jocks of the period; but it's just a matter of which one).

[@majoinerful]

I was born in 1979!!!!

[@Benicio_Fols]

I love the USA ♥️

[@jasminesmith4509]

well thank you

[@cherryangelcostales4575]

I was in early 90s that brocast

[@tapthatt2012]

@4evernate28 just listened to the original song. nice.

[@cmans79tr7]

I so miss that sound at :40!!!!!

[@erickpaolod.santos3719]

It was first sign on on June 15, 1948

[@lisabrown82964]

1:22 "The Star Spangled Banner" National Anthem Film by the United States Army Band of The United States Army.

[@jaydenvideokescores2167]

And toon wet thats wettoon ABS CBN Sign off 5/5/20 Tue

[@DerGunzWald]

So, I'm NOT the only one who finds this just a little scary?

[@bwc1976]

I remember being scared by sign-offs as a kid, but now I miss them and wish I could find the ones of my childhood stations again.

[@stantwiceforgoodgrades3962]

ok but why did i find the *_boooooooooooooooooooooooop_* sound satisfying for some reason? my friend would've shot up the tv and trash her cable real quick😳

[@sillygoose635]

Ugh, cable. Uncool.

[@flatcapman]

I love the 400hz tone as it comforts me

[@stantwiceforgoodgrades3962]

@@sillygoose635 ik me and my fam switched to roku tv and amazon fire tv since then 😭

[@cristianaviolante5388]

The flag was based of sign off of KING.

[@wmbrown6]

@DanZero77 - Can't say for sure . . . but if WNEW were an INTV member, they certainly didn't advertise it!

[@garfield-uw1oc]

1:22

[@theunrealbro4939]

lol tap that

[@gtc1961]

What I never quite understood, even as a little guy in the mid 70's....is why they broadcast that multi-color test screen all night long after they signed off? I mean they had to actually BROADCAST it so why not just put on some programming instead??? Right?

[@Dutch3DMaster]

Because that would've required people to actually be there at the station to be directors (to start movies or tapes), after all computers doing just that weren't there in those times (at least not in The Netherlands). I'm not sure how test-signals were generated in America because the television system is really a lot different in The Netherlands, but here our national (and also some local and regional) television stations switched off their feed-signals after signing off at which test-pattern and test-tone generators kicked in automatically, so basically it wasn't the station broadcasting and delivering the feed with the test pattern. But then again, television really is different in my country compared to America, allthough there are similarities on some parts.

[@gtc1961]

I used to think the same thing! Now they just put on infomercials!

[@amightysailingman]

They didn't broadcast the test pattern all night. It was just on for a few minutes after sign-off then a few minutes before sign-on. If you tuned in during the dead time in between, you'd see and hear static because there was no signal.

[@tharris19]

They actually said that it would be too expensive at the time to broadcast all night

[@RustyMuck]

The existence of the color bars and tone also was to provide engineer and technicians at the stations master control with the opportunity to adjust the visual/aural output. You might never have noticed because those adjustments would have been very subtle.