WOWT 6 Omaha - The Muppet Show promo (1977) bigO! plabax 2026-09-25 | WOWT 6 Omaha - The Muppet Show promo (1977)
KPTM 42 Omaha - Station Behind the Scenes Promo (1988) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | A very interesting promo, with no dialog, from KPTM themselves, showing the station's equipment with switch consoles and working VTRs, along with the staff doing day-to-day work in various departments, whether it's in sales, audio/video operations, maintenance, etc., done to the tune of Steve Winwood's "The Finer Things".
KPTM 42 Omaha - Musicbreak: Mannheim Steamroller - Interlude I and Amber (11-19-1987) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | Closing episode four of the five night mini series "Shaka Zulu" (voiceover by Joe Patrick) leads into one of station's Musicbreaks. These Musicbreaks were often shown after when Cinema 42 goes off, leaving roughly ten to twenty minutes left over for the station to air music videos usually by Omaha's very own Mannheim Steamroller, or long-form promos of current or upcoming first-run syndicated programs in which the station would have in their schedules in various time-slots. And these videos, are definitely a breath of "fresh aire". 😉
KPTM 42 Omaha - Sign-Off (12-14-1986) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | Well, here it is! My first sign-off posting from KPTM 42, found on the very tail-end of a worn down Betamax tape, which explains the dropouts throughout the recording, from a Sunday late night broadcast of "Sixteen Candles", syndicated from Universal Pictures Debut Network. The last thirty seconds of closing credits quickly precedes into the sign-off, with veteran Omaha broadcaster Joe Patrick providing the voiceover. Very fresh looking for the time, with the station gaining popularity throughout the reception area as seen on the map shown in the clip. And now, our National Anthem...in stereo...
KPTM 42 Omaha - EBS Test (1986) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | A more modern looking, with the image of marble, of KPTM's own Emergency Broadcast System test. Pleasant, with the ever jarring beep as always. Voiceover by Ray Stevens.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Newscenter 3 Update With Bob Murray and Ad Blocks (11-9-1984) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | A brief news update from Bob Murray, who anchored Newscenter 3's 5pm and 10pm newscasts from 1982 to the end of 1985. Followed by ads for "gooooold at Brandeis", hilarious Wendy's spot (parts is parts 🤣, then-KMTV weathercaster Tom Bevacqua selling men's suits at J.B. Patton's, M*A*S*H credits cutting too soon, and a KMTV Home Contest promo back when the station aired Wheel of Fortune.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Newscenter 3 With Chuck Roberts and John McDonald (12-4-1979) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | A partial (with poor color tuning) newscast with stories on a UN resolution on releasing the hostages in Iran, then-Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland's visit in Sioux City dealing with angry Iowa farmers, gasohol issue.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Omaha Television: The Early Years (8-31-1985) bigO! plabax 2020-01-02 | A fascinating full one-hour documentary covering Omaha television's golden age, produced by KMTV photographer Arlo Grafton and narrated by Kermit Hansen. Featured at the beginning of the program are the pioneering general managers that would launch the stations (in 1949) such as Johnny Gillin of WOW-TV (later WOWT in 1975), Ed May, Sr. of KMTV, and (in 1957) Eugene Thomas of KETV. Many on-screen personalities that would later go onto greater fame such as Johnny Carson, Floyd Kalber, Steve Bell, Tom Brokaw, John Coleman, Donald Keough (later COO of Coca-Cola), wrestler Verne Gagne. Some popular local news personalities such as Lee Terry, Ray Clark; weathermen such as Chuck Thomas, Frank Peddie; sportcasters Jack Payne, Dave Blackwell, and Joe Patrick (later the long time announcer of KPTM 42). Along with local cooking personalities such as Lyle DeMoss and Martha Bohlsen; Ethel Daugherty on exercising. Originally shown at the Orpheum Theater downtown Omaha on August 22, 1984 as part of an event which celebrated the 35th anniversary of television in Omaha, with Floyd Kalber as the Master of Ceremonies, and Johnny Carson live via satellite from Los Angeles who would announce the winner of the $5,000 Johnny Carson Scholarship.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Christmas Commercials (1981) bigO! plabax 2019-12-26 | Aired at various ad breaks throughout December.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Christmas Commercials (1992) bigO! plabax 2019-12-25 | Aired during an episode of "The Young and the Restless" on December 18th and the CBS special "The House Without a Christmas Tree" on December 25th.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Christmas Commercials (12-11-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-25 | Aired throughout a episode of Saturday Night Live ("The Eddie Murphy Show" episode!) and a syndicated repeat of "The Midnight Special".
KMTV 3 Omaha - Saturday Morning Commercial Blocks (1983) bigO! plabax 2019-12-25 | Aired during "The Smurfs".
KPTM 42 Omaha - Christmas Commercials (1986) bigO! plabax 2019-12-25 | Ads aired throughout varied scheduled rerun episodes of M*A*S*H in November and December. Love the misspelled title to "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" in the promo.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Home For the Holidays With the Missouri Valley Chorus (12-25-1992) bigO! plabax 2019-12-21 | Missing the first minute or two is a local high school choral special, this one from Missouri Valley High School. Not sure if this was produced at KMTV or some other station west of Iowa, since it's where Missouri Valley is located. This special aired twice in '92, at 10:30 pm on Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning at 11am, which is the one posted here.Hosted by Kathy Risney, who provides the introductions to each holiday carol performed by the chorus or solist seen throughout, and presented by The First National Bank of Missouri Valley, Iowa which toward the end of program showing film slides of exterior shots of the bank and staff. Capping it off with a brief promo for Newscenter 3 new weather finder Firstwarning, and then a bumper with former reporter Kathy Sarantos Niver with her two girls. Merry Christmas!
KMTV 3 Omaha - Newscenter 3 Midday With Trina Creighton and Tom Bevacqua (12-18-1992) bigO! plabax 2019-12-21 | Midday 12pm newscast with slick icy weather being the top story, followed by a story on a deceased yet unidentified body way out west of Omaha. Love the typo on display, I-80 and Pacific when it was actually 180th Street and Pacific. Check out all that farmland before all of that development, including stores such as Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart, that would move in the 2000s. Along with gun amnesty, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Tom's freezing drizzle forecast, and the first half of Trina doing an interview with Pete Tulipana of Family Service discussing the topic on kids wishes that are not often fulfilled before tape cuts out.
KPTM 42 Omaha - The Tom Osborne Show Promo (1986) bigO! plabax 2019-12-21 | Awesome promo, backed with ELO's "Fire on High", that goes well with the movement of the players. Voiceover by Ray Stevens.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Newscenter 3 With Art Barron and Tony Cervantes (9-16-1984) bigO! plabax 2019-12-21 | A partial, and rare, Newscenter 3 weekend 10pm newscast featuring Art Barron, who then took over Mike Oling when he left Omaha for Seattle that summer. Barron, who passed away a month ago after years of anchoring stints in Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, Albuquerque, etc. In this clip...Hispanic voter registration, UAW strike talks at General Motors, Prince Harry's first public appearance the day after he was born, Sundae Sunday fundraiser at the Omaha Children's Museum, Tony's "not much going on" weather showing some sun here and rain there throughout the weather map.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Touching Point and Sign-Off (12-11-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-21 | A quick bumper for the short-lived local talk show "Good Day", hosted by Dave Wingert (currently on KOBM-FM 'The Boomer' radio) and Joni Ballion, precedes the usual Touching Point and into the sign-off, displaying the vintage station ID slide from 1980 to 1986, voiced over by Henry Kelpe.
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 Update with Carol Schrader, Ted Mullins, Dixon and Jernstrom (12-3-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-12 | Full 10pm newscast with stories such as unemployment, heart transplant patient Barney Clark going off the respirator, comic actor Marty Feldman's passing, hypnosis case in court, Crimestoppers receiving a boost from local businessmen, grain tonnage along the Missouri River; dismissed lawsuit against Cox Cable (notice the building where KMTV had their station located on 26th and Farnam downtown before the move west of Omaha in December 1978). Rob Dixon's warm and sunny weather. Ross Jernstrom's sports covering high school basketball, Creighton basketball, what Husker players are doing in Hawaii when they are not playing. Michael Scott's story on Wintertainment at the long gone Civic Auditorium. After the newscast, an editorial from then general manager Gary Nielsen's response to the infamous Nebraska versus Oklahoma football game.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Newscenter 3 with Mike Oling, Tony Cervantes and Ann Schatz (11-28-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-12 | Full 10pm newscast, covering stories such as the MX missile silo explosion in Tennessee, Terry Benton's piece on Christmas shopping by spending less; lame duck Congress, fitness center memberships. Tony's freezing weather forecast. Ann's sports coverage on NFL highlights, college football scores, upcoming college bowl games, UNO Lady Mavericks. And closing out the newscast with Deb Ward's story on diet ice cream (wow, those close-ups!)
WOWT 6 Omaha - Action News Tonight With John McCaa, Frank Bramhall and Rick Sullivan (8-8-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-07 | Another full 10pm newscast from the summer of '82, lead off items featured are the passing of long time Omaha Police chief Richard Anderson, nuclear freeze, a taxicab driver holdup, more on the PLO in Beirut; financial institutions with the use of spending less money, Omacon II sci-fi convention that feature guests from the Nebraskans for the Advancement of Space Development. Followed by Frank's "good news weather". And a very awkward (mainly video issues) yet funny sports report from Rick Sullivan (don't know much about him though aside from Dave Webber and Rich Thiesfeld) covering mostly baseball and tennis. "Do we have the tape now? No tape, okay. Right now can we go to the score board? No, we'll have the tape..." Classic!
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 Update With Jerry Fannin, Don Novak and Ross Jernstrom (11-21-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-06 | A full 10pm newscast with stories such as the great grocery giveaway, Lech Walesa's church service, aerial photography, Lebanon. Don's weather on milder weather, then chilly moving southward from the Dakotas (love those computer graphics), vacation getaways. Ross' sports highlights include NFL game coverage, Husker center Dave Rimmington.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Action News Tonight With John McCaa, Frank Bramhall and Rich Thiesfeld (8-1-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-06 | Commercials and closing credits to Trapper John M.D. precedes a full 10pm newscast with items such as attacks in West Beirut, funereal for the 44 children that were killed in the bus crash in Beaune, France; trauma centers, update on strike at the Iowa Beef Producers plant, leaded gasoline proposals. Along with Frank's weather; Rich's sports on Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, baseball scores, National Junior Olympics track meet, golf, tennis. Closing off the newscast with Miller Park's 2nd annual Family Arts Festival.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Action News Tonight With John McCaa, Frank Bramhall and Rich Thiesfeld (7-25-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-12-04 | Full 10pm newscast leading off with a head-on collision with a '60s Chevy Nova striking a power pole on Fort Street, Mike McKnight on prison overcrowding, meat packer union strike in Dakota City, Beirut, interest rates, Deer Hollow Park reopening, farming nostalgia, Frank's weather, UNO trackmeet, second baseman Bobby Grich losing his temper, and Hearns vs. McCracken boxing match.
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 Update with Carol Schrader and Ted Mullins (11-14-1980) bigO! plabax 2019-12-04 | First five minutes of Newswatch 7 with only two stories featured. Investigating the aftermath of the Scoular grain elevator which had been hit by an explosion that happened two days prior to this newsacast, and the Kevin Johnson murder trial.
KETV 7 Omaha - Prime Time Commercial Blocks (11-14-1980) bigO! plabax 2019-12-04 | Commercials that were aired during a ABC telecast of "California Suite". Featured ads include actor Sam Groom pitching The Tough Americans (Concord and Spirit) from the long defunct automaker American Motors Corporation, Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese pushing Fun and Fitness programs from Post cereals, actor Robert Young in a Sanka coffee spot, Godfather's Pizza with the late J.W. Koll as the one and only Godfather in one of his many spots (boop?), and Swanson's Chunk White Chicken (chunk! chunk! chicken!) Classic!
WOWT 6 Omaha - Calendar of Events and Sign Off (11-28-1981) bigO! plabax 2019-12-02 | Looks like the switcher operator just couldn't wait to go home before cutting the juice. Followed by a bit of radio bleed (I believe from KEZO-FM Z-92) of Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown".
KMTV 3 Omaha - NewsCenter 3 With Chuck Roberts and John McDonald (11-16-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-12-02 | Partial 10pm newscast with stories on Iran, abortion trial, Ninette Beaver interviews murderer Clarence Pederson, Creighton University alumnus Philip Klutznick on the announcing to be President Carter's Secretary of Commerce; Jonestown, Guyana survivors seeking psychiatric help, UNL tuition hikes, arson.
KMTV 3 Omaha - NewsCenter 3 With Chuck Roberts, John McDonald, Fletcher and Hansen (11-14-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-12-02 | Full 10pm newscast (check out Dale Hansen as he hurries in his chair during the open. Classic!) with stories on an abortion trial, Iran, Omaha Public Schools discussions on merging, drug practices at the Lincoln Regional Center, South Omaha city dump, and reconstructive surgery. Followed by Dick's weather, critic John Prescott's review on the Boston Sea Party restaurant. Dale's sports covering live at the long gone Omaha Civic Auditorium boxing matches with then weekend sportscaster Terry Yeager along with local boxing champ Ron Stander. Plus Ed "Two Tall" Jones boxing, and Darryl Dawkins smashing a backboard with one of his slam dunks. Closing off the newscast with a story on an employee one day smoke out at Mutual of Omaha.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Calendar of Events and Sign-Off (11-20-1981) bigO! plabax 2019-11-22 | Ending its day of telecasting with filmed scenes of fall throughout some of Omaha's city parks...and capping it off with a bit of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, bleeding from as my good guess, KEZO-FM (Z-92).
WOWT 6 Omaha - Action News Tonight With Jan Rasmusson, Frank Bramhall and Dave Webber (11-17-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-11-22 | Full 10pm newscast with an update on the hostages in Iran, then presidential candidate Jerry Brown feeling left out of upcoming debate in Iowa, Metro Area Transit serving the handicapped with their specially designed vans, exploding butane lighters, Salvation Army super sale (loved going to that store, which closed down in mid-2000s). Followed by Frank's warm weather, a young John Knicely (still anchoring today at 6) on the Huskers defeating Iowa State 34-3. Love the mix of film and video cutting from angle onto the other. A classic! Along with other college football scores and upcoming bowl games.
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 Update With Ted Mullins, Rob Dixon and Wayne Dzubak (10-30-1981) bigO! plabax 2019-10-31 | Friday night newscast with Ted anchoring alone, with Carol Schrader having the night off. Stories featured: -State budget special session by the Unicameral -Update on the Soviet submarine stuck in Sweden's water territory -Final part of Jerry Fannin's five-part story on the Amtrak Zephyr -Rob's weather. -Ross Jernstrom's story on Lincoln East vs. Lincoln High football -Upcoming info on Huskers vs. Jayhawks game on the following Saturday -Closing off the newscast with Dave Foote, in a tongue-in-cheek manner, reporting on Hex Haunted House over at Westgate Plaza, located beside that long time Halloween and craft store, Mangelsen's. Dave at his 'frightfully funniest' moment!
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 Update With Ted Mullins, Carol Schrader, Dixon and Dzubak (10-29-1981) bigO! plabax 2019-10-31 | Missing the first three minutes of an after midnight rebroadcast of the 10PM Newswatch 7 Update. Stories featured are Stu Nicholson's report of Omaha's North Freeway and the government grants needed. Look for James Suttle, later mayor of Omaha (2009-13). OPEC, Unicameral special sessions, Jerry Fannin's part four report on the Amtrak Zephyr, high school football scores and college football team predictions, and the Los Angeles Dodgers returning home to L.A. after their big win in the World Series.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Calendar of Events and Sign-Off (10-10-1981) bigO! plabax 2019-10-31 | Wait for a portion of "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner, apparently a leak coming from KEZO-FM (Z-92 'Red Hot Rock') after Channel 6 cuts the juice after the sign-off, and fading into the static never to be heard throughout the rest of the recording.
KETV 7 Omaha - Weatherwatch 7 Special Report and Red Sovine Album Offer (8-18-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-10-30 | During an episode of the syndicated children's series "Kidsworld", in a segment of street dancing, a severe weather alert surfaces with the ever jarring alarm beep, with then weathercaster Jeff Gallant voicing a brief weather update. Followed by an album offer spot from country music and storytelling legend Red Sovine.
KMTV 3 Omaha - Newscenter 3 With Mike Oling, Tony Cervantes and Ann Schatz (10-31-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-10-30 | Closing credits to the 1978 movie "The Medusa Touch", preempting NBC's broadcast of "Halloween" (I wonder why?) leads into Newscenter 3. Stories featured: -Halloween, both the fun and awful-Slaughter in Israel-Pope John Paul II visiting Spain-Douglas County Treasurer's race-A Houdini escape trick downtown done by a young Pat Hazell, who would later become a writer for "Seinfeld"'s first season, producing a sitcom titled "American Pie" in 1996 that NBC commissioned but never aired except for the pilot episode (six episodes were produced), and the stage productions of "Bunk Bed Brothers" and "The Wonderbread Years".-Tony's November weather-Ann Schatz (dressed as a witch! Classic!) on the NFL strike, college football, Junior football, rowing regatta. And as always, Happy Halloween!
KETV 7 Omaha - Saturday Afternoon Commercial Blocks (10-11-1980) bigO! plabax 2019-10-30 | "Howard Cosell? Who's he?"
WOWT 6 Omaha - Hollywood Greats Commercial Blocks (8-31-1980) bigO! plabax 2019-10-30 | A van-load of product spots, upcoming store sales, and PSAs (you can definitely tell this is late-night TV) during a Channel 6 airing of the 1970 made-for-TV movie "Dial Hot Line".
WOWT 6 Omaha - Late Night Commercial Block (8-31-1980) bigO! plabax 2019-10-30 | Aired during the closing of a "The Twilight Zone" rerun.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom Commercial Blocks (9-22-1984) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | "Of the beauty and wonder that are ours, in the Wild Kingdom." Look for a promo for an obscure dance music show, similar to "American Bandstand", called "This Week's Music", hosted by Livingston Taylor, brother of singer-songwriter James Taylor.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Religion in the News With Dr. Jim Belt (9-22-1984) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | These special public service segments on the latest news on religion were a regular fixture on WOWT on Saturday afternoons from the 1970s through the 1990s, usually after the 5:30pm news. Featured are Habitat for Humanity and Beginning Experience. Pretty awesome to hear "Hideaway Part One" by America, taken from their 1976 album "Hideaway" as theme music.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Action News Tonight - Final Minutes (9-20-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | Closing out Action News Tonight with Gary Kerr seen here bringing up the story on "California Suite" stage production at the Upstairs Dinner Theatre, Dale Munson's weather brief with a cool fish finder graphic displaying. Seen along with Gary Kerr was long time anchor Byron Wood.
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 Update With Marcia Ladendorff (9-20-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | First few minutes of Marcia alone (Alan Muse had already been gone during the summer and Ted Mullins would arrive on October 1st. Stories featured: a strike at Rock Island Railroad, grain loading on freight cars in Council Bluffs, a driver wildcat strike at K & K Trucking, and details on the Rudy White case.
KETV 7 Omaha - Newswatch 7 News Capsule With Marcia Ladendorff (9-20-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | ...
KETV 7 Omaha - Prime Time Commercial Block (9-16-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | Look for then Newswatch 7 weekend anchor Sue Wolff seen doing a news brief.
KMTV 3 Omaha - NewsCenter 3 With Chuck Roberts and John McDonald (9-4-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | First ten minutes of NewsCenter 3 with John McDonald and Chuck Roberts, later of CNN fame. Stories featured: first day of school in Omaha, school spending lid, and Millard Public School bond issue; Hurricane David coverage ("Why do you just take pictures? Why don't you help!" Classic!), high speed chase on Ames Avenue, home loans and scatter site housing groundbreaking ceremony, led by then-mayor Al Veys.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Local Commercial Blocks (9-16-1979) bigO! plabax 2019-09-23 | Pardon the poor tracking issues visible throughout this clip, some old commercials during an airing of the 1968 movie "The Brotherhood". Featured are a brief Reese's spot with veteran actor Jeffrey Tambor, out of the shower and saying the wrong word on the phone, Roll-a-Matic floor mop, a talking wise old towel urging a girl to wash hands with Lava soap, shown on a worn old 16mm film piece.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Calendar of Events and Awkward Sign-Off (5-29-1982) bigO! plabax 2019-08-16 | Halfway into the Coast Guard clip the station cuts into a black screen with audio for about a minute, then cuts back station with color bars, then the close, and back to black screen again. I wish I had more knowledge about this but that's all I have available on display.
WOWT 6 Omaha - Calendar of Events and Sign-Off (8-31-1980) bigO! plabax 2019-08-16 | Sign-off close at the end voiced by then weekend weathercaster Frank Bramhall.
