Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here's the complete broadcast of WBBM Channel 2 News at 6pm, anchored by Bill Kurtis and Harry Porterfield.
Includes:
'Spinning Eye' Station ID (voiceover by Jerry Harper)
Newscast open (voiceover by Ed Roberts), followed by Bill previewing coming stories, and then these items:
- Controversy over a supposed $21 million deficit in 1979 corporate budget under former Mayor Bilandic, as charged by Mayor Byrne; Bilandic speaks about the situation in newsroom interview with Bill, Harry and Mike Flannery
Commercials for:
Robitussin cough medicine
Gallo Chablis Blanc wine (with restaurant critic/author Paul Wallach)
Corum watches (at Trabert & Hoeffer)
Jontue from Revlon (at Marshall Field's)
- Federal Judge Nicholas Bua orders city to reinstate with back pay 17 city employees who'd been fired in violation of Shackman decree
- Gala fundraiser at McCormick Place enriches Mayor Byrne's war chest by $1 million
- Cook County State's Atty. Richard M. Daley meets with reporters, promises reforms to felony review system and favors "vertical" prosecution; a clip of his presser is shown
- Also, his office was in touch with fugitive Bernardine Dohrn's attorneys; he insists no plea bargain deal is on the table until after she turns herself in
- Roger Field reports on two suburban teenagers, Brian Catlin and Chris Adams, both 17, charged in a blackmail scheme that shut down DePaul University's computer in September and commandeered it during the university's registration week (story posted separately here: youtu.be/Z8eh4v7z2Rk)
- John Drummond reports on a proposed RTA fare increase and service cutbacks to cover a massive deficit
Commercials for:
Hairline Creations (with president Paul Finamore)
Instapure Water Filter by WaterPik (with Robert Fuller)
McDade's sales on VCR's and TV's (featuring soap star Jed Allan)
Norell perfume (voiceover by Lauren Bacall)
- Chicago receives 1.1 inches of snow, leading in to Harry Volkman's weather forecast
- Father George Clements, Pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church, hopes his application to adopt a child is approved by Christmas, and encourages others to adopt; Renee Ferguson reports, also comments from Theresa Mayberry, Adoption Co-ordinator of DCFS
Commercials for:
Revlon Cosmetics Kit
United Airlines - Sunbird to Florida
Old Orchard shopping mall
Sunbeam Reversible 1200 Blow-Dryer
- Hundreds affected by Southern Italy earthquakes storm Naples homes seeking shelter, looting and black markets are also reported; in Chicago, tickets go on sale for benefit concert for earthquake victims, is sold out
- Air France offering 60% discount on U.S.-Italy flights for Italian citizens in this country
- Day 395 of Iranian hostage crisis: Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher back in Algiers hoping for speedy response to American proposals for hostages' release
- Frank Currier reports on National Unity Day, Americans sending free Christmas cards to hostages
Commercials for:
Sizzler Family Steak House
Venture Christmas Sale (version 1)
Cooking with Pam (cooking oil)
Static Guard spray
PSA for Youth Enrichment Services (voiceover by Bob Carrington)
Johnny Morris' sports report
Commercials for:
Seiko Quartz watches
Venture Christmas Sale (version 2)
Oil of Olay
Brim decaffeinated coffee
- Newsbriefs on four banks raising their prime lending rates, Congress setting limits on auto and truck imports, and Pope John Paul II issuing second encyclical of his papacy
- "Someone You Should Know" profile on "zookeeper's zookeeper," David Kahn, supervisor of nursery at Lincoln Park Children's Zoo
- New York Stock Exchange closing numbers
Commercials for:
Water Tower Place
Stewart's Coffee
Mogen David Concord Wine
Wieboldt's
Ending summary of weather and preview of 10pm newscast, then goodnights
Commercials for:
Brioschi antacid
Dannon Vanilla Yogurt
Orajel D
McDade's - sale on Bell & Howell cameras
"Portions Recorded" notice (with promo voiceover for Hallmark Hall of Fame by Jerry Harper)
Commercials for:
Citizen watches
McDonald's McChicken
Kmart
Station ID / Hanukkah animation (posted separately here: youtu.be/HF0zRCkPgRg)
CBS Special Presentation bumper, and opening of "A Tale of Two Cities"
This aired on local Chicago TV on Tuesday, December 2nd 1980 during the 6pm to 7pm timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. We preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!
Here's the complete broadcast of WBBM Channel 2 News at 6pm, anchored by Bill Kurtis and Harry Porterfield.
Includes:
'Spinning Eye' Station ID (voiceover by Jerry Harper)
Newscast open (voiceover by Ed Roberts), followed by Bill previewing coming stories, and then these items:
- Controversy over a supposed $21 million deficit in 1979 corporate budget under former Mayor Bilandic, as charged by Mayor Byrne; Bilandic speaks about the situation in newsroom interview with Bill, Harry and Mike Flannery
Commercials for:
Robitussin cough medicine
Gallo Chablis Blanc wine (with restaurant critic/author Paul Wallach)
Corum watches (at Trabert & Hoeffer)
Jontue from Revlon (at Marshall Field's)
- Federal Judge Nicholas Bua orders city to reinstate with back pay 17 city employees who'd been fired in violation of Shackman decree
- Gala fundraiser at McCormick Place enriches Mayor Byrne's war chest by $1 million
- Cook County State's Atty. Richard M. Daley meets with reporters, promises reforms to felony review system and favors "vertical" prosecution; a clip of his presser is shown
- Also, his office was in touch with fugitive Bernardine Dohrn's attorneys; he insists no plea bargain deal is on the table until after she turns herself in
- Roger Field reports on two suburban teenagers, Brian Catlin and Chris Adams, both 17, charged in a blackmail scheme that shut down DePaul University's computer in September and commandeered it during the university's registration week (story posted separately here: youtu.be/Z8eh4v7z2Rk)
- John Drummond reports on a proposed RTA fare increase and service cutbacks to cover a massive deficit
Commercials for:
Hairline Creations (with president Paul Finamore)
Instapure Water Filter by WaterPik (with Robert Fuller)
McDade's sales on VCR's and TV's (featuring soap star Jed Allan)
Norell perfume (voiceover by Lauren Bacall)
- Chicago receives 1.1 inches of snow, leading in to Harry Volkman's weather forecast
- Father George Clements, Pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church, hopes his application to adopt a child is approved by Christmas, and encourages others to adopt; Renee Ferguson reports, also comments from Theresa Mayberry, Adoption Co-ordinator of DCFS
Commercials for:
Revlon Cosmetics Kit
United Airlines - Sunbird to Florida
Old Orchard shopping mall
Sunbeam Reversible 1200 Blow-Dryer
- Hundreds affected by Southern Italy earthquakes storm Naples homes seeking shelter, looting and black markets are also reported; in Chicago, tickets go on sale for benefit concert for earthquake victims, is sold out
- Air France offering 60% discount on U.S.-Italy flights for Italian citizens in this country
- Day 395 of Iranian hostage crisis: Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher back in Algiers hoping for speedy response to American proposals for hostages' release
- Frank Currier reports on National Unity Day, Americans sending free Christmas cards to hostages
Commercials for:
Sizzler Family Steak House
Venture Christmas Sale (version 1)
Cooking with Pam (cooking oil)
Static Guard spray
PSA for Youth Enrichment Services (voiceover by Bob Carrington)
Johnny Morris' sports report
Commercials for:
Seiko Quartz watches
Venture Christmas Sale (version 2)
Oil of Olay
Brim decaffeinated coffee
- Newsbriefs on four banks raising their prime lending rates, Congress setting limits on auto and truck imports, and Pope John Paul II issuing second encyclical of his papacy
- "Someone You Should Know" profile on "zookeeper's zookeeper," David Kahn, supervisor of nursery at Lincoln Park Children's Zoo
- New York Stock Exchange closing numbers
Commercials for:
Water Tower Place
Stewart's Coffee
Mogen David Concord Wine
Wieboldt's
Ending summary of weather and preview of 10pm newscast, then goodnights
Commercials for:
Brioschi antacid
Dannon Vanilla Yogurt
Orajel D
McDade's - sale on Bell & Howell cameras
"Portions Recorded" notice (with promo voiceover for Hallmark Hall of Fame by Jerry Harper)
Commercials for:
Citizen watches
McDonald's McChicken
Kmart
Station ID / Hanukkah animation (posted separately here: youtu.be/HF0zRCkPgRg)
CBS Special Presentation bumper, and opening of "A Tale of Two Cities"
This aired on local Chicago TV on Tuesday, December 2nd 1980 during the 6pm to 7pm timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. We preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!
