WTOP-TV 6pm News, October 23, 1970

[@Portugal2025]

I grew up in DC. The WTOP station was blocks from my house. I love this. When news served to educate and inform not entertain

[@Vahmrick60]

I worked in the TV news industry 40 years. Thanks for posting this, it sure brings back memories. Film at 11! Wonder how many kids these days would be impressed with a talking Viewmaster.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

I’ve got a Viewmaster minus the audio upgrade. I guess I was deprived.

[@josephhoman8602]

I love watching old news broadcasts from the 1970s while I'm eating food...

[@irvan36mm]

I was doing that back in the ‘70’s.

[@goodmeasure777]

@@irvan36mm LOL, was just going to say that. We ate dinner while the news was on, lol.

[@UnchainedEruption]

I watch current news broadcasts (or read on website) when I'm eating.

[@quantumrobin4627]

Gives good perspective to culture change

[@SA-sc7or]

All these people were so cool, calm, and collected. They don't have to say everything three times in a row with lots of drama and hype. And they called their weather segment the fearless forecast - today every weather event is considered a tragedy even if it is just a rain storm. I miss the professionalism. They kept their personal thoughts to themselves and they spoke without halting, pausing and intentional stammering. I miss those days.

[@Cryax2]

The Cold War era was so interesting to look back on. As someone who was born in the United States with parents who were raised in the Soviet Union, I love learning and understanding about that time from the perspective of both sides.

[@70sleftover]

We definitely weren't friends with the USSR but the Nixon era (and 1970s in general) was notable for the "detente." I think this local news is fascinating because being it's a station in Washington they had their own White House reporter.

[@msquaretheoriginal]

A very young Warner Wolf, before he coined his catchphrase "Let's go to the videotape!" but there with his football picks. Popular in both New York and Washington. Still with us at age 84.

[@mactheknife7049]

Wow... Max Robinson, Barry Serafin, Doug Lewellyn and Warner Wolf on a local news broadcast crew is like having a Major League All-Star team playing for a high school team.

[@RickinBaltimore]

Think more of a stacked Triple-A team before they hit the majors.

[@americangiant1003]

@@RickinBaltimoreYup. Perfect comparison.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

A rare gem of "The Big News" on the then-WTOP-TV 9 in Washington from 1970, with Charles Crawford and Max Robinson as anchormen. In mid-1971, when Gordon Peterson became an anchorman, "The Big News" was renamed "Eyewitness News". John Douglas is the announcer. In Los Angeles, the former KNXT-TV 2 (long since KCBS) also had a local news program called "The Big News", and Joseph Benti was the anchor.

[@JohnKelm]

At the time we moved from Southern California to the DC area in ‘68, Jerry Dunphy was “The Big News” anchor and owned the time slot for many years. Did Benti succeed him there?

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

@@JohnKelm I think so. From 1966-70, Joseph Benti was the anchorman of "The CBS Morning News", before he moved to KNXT.

[@cryscars]

Thank You for posting this. Born in Washington DC 1963, grew up in DC. Seeing this brings back memories of my childhood. Seems like more than any OTHER news back them, my family ALWAYS watched WTOP in the 1960s-1970s, Max Robinson was my favorite and as a child I really don't remember seeing many of "US" represented on TV news. Strickly business here, no nonsense, hype, drama and fluff.

[@redlady8296]

I absolutely adore the handwritten signs and the weather map with the stick on numbers and fronts. Can’t help but think of all the meticulous effort put in. I was born in 82 so it’s cool to see things like this.

[@Archer838]

Interesting! Brings back a lot of memories

[@XZYOE]

Interesting to see the news when the fairness doctrine was still in effect.

[@ian_ford]

_"history shows that great powers can be drawn into conflict, without their intending it, by wars between smaller nations."_ - Nixon, 1970. *Clearly, with Palestine and Israel, history is rhyming once again.*

[@MrMusicfan65]

Max Robinson. RIP

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Also, Bob Dalton.

[@percy3489]

Omg look at my man Max Robinson back in the day before world news tonight RIP Brotha a true pioneer I was 2 yrs old back then now I'm in my mid 50s in the year 2023 Damm I'm old 😆

[@neilfeinberg7825]

Eight months old for me and in my playpen. I remember Doug Lewellyn as the commentator judge Wapner s "People's court"!!

[@Portugal2025]

You could fast forward the editorial fifty three years and same issues prevail

[@tobechukwuolumba7337]

Reporters for the Big News in 1970: George Allen Gil Butler Charles Crawford Theda Cumbridge Bob Dalton Allen Dessoff Charles Gertz Alan Grip Carolyn Lewis Doug Llewelyn Claude Matthews Jim Michie Tim O'Brien Gordon Peterson Max Robinson Ford Rowan Warner Wolf

[@damienchance2622]

And then Doug was a court reporter on the people's court

[@wmbrown6]

A few years after this, Charles Crawford went to WCBS-TV in New York as Health & Science Editor.

[@damienchance2622]

WOW Warner wolf was on channel 9 in the 70's

[@gsnfan]

8:30 Haven't seen this classic commercial for Dip It in years! A dirty percolator brewing coffee is like a witch's brew.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

The Dip-It spot is v'o'ed by Joe Sirola.

[@JohnHillRSNStudios]

Charlie Gertz later went to WYFF channel 4 in Greenville, SC.

[@BackOnTheRoad]

It looks like this was in pre-teleprompter days.

[@asz6965]

My mother was born next day!

[@susanb2015]

Real newscasters.

[@georgecherucheril9947]

Max Robinson tossing to Barry Serafin wow. Some 8 years later Max would be tossing to Barry except this time it would be for ABC News.

[@lsmftymf]

Warner Wolf also worked at ABC later that decade. He was one of the broadcasters when the network began televising the Monday Night Baseball games in 1976.

[@waynetompkins3006]

The Dating Game called. It wants its set back.

[@ryohn5468]

1970 was a very colorful time when I turned 2 yrs old then.

[@JJJBRICE]

Does anyone know who won the congressional election mentioned on the news program ?

[@evelynwren929]

I looked it up! Darrel H. Stearns (the mentioned candidate) lost to Republican incumbent William L. Scott. Stearn earned just 36.2% of the vote, so I guess that advertising man was out $6k or so.

[@migmey]

So funny, they all sat there like kids in school. And only men…😮

[@Nur100etc]

49:21 is that the kid from The Waltons? Ben?

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

The Greyhound Bus spot is v/o'ed by Larry Haines.

[@kc4cvh]

31:30 That sounds like the voice of Rod Serling.

[@susanb2015]

Not him.

[@nflmlbclassics]

Where did you find THIS?! And what URL link do you have for this one?

[@lsmftymf]

48:46-49-45 Henry Fonda for gaf; much too memorable.

[@ErnestTeeBass]

Thanks, now in my head I can hear my grandpa impersonating Henry Fonda geeeAy Eff Oh to turn back the clock.....

[@jbvideos6605]

@24:08 The hair on Warner Wolf

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

During the sports report, Warner Wolf gives his pro-picks, and predicts that the Redskins will beat the Cincinnati Bengals and mentions that veteran guard Vince Promuto will miss the rest of the 1970 season with a bum knee. (Promuto retired just before the 1971 season, the first George Allen was to become head coach.)

[@CaptchaNeon]

Anyone know what became of any of the men who were in the drug rehab? Truth only please.

[@keric-d7h]

1:25

[@MrSfilms94]

1:10