Dirty World News

I've been having a blast digging through the dozens of videos on YouTube depicting TV sign-off messages throughout the years, back before most stations broadcasted on a 24-hour programming schedule.

It's interesting to see how many there are from the mid-1980s, presumably when adoption of VHS players took off.

WCBS, New York, NY (1960s)
WKYC, Cleveland, OH (1976)
CHCH, Hamilton, ON (1979)
WJZ, Baltimore, MD (1981)
WUAB, Cleveland, OH (1981)
WCBS, New York, NY (1981)
KOAP, Oregon (1981)
WNAC, Boston, MA (1982)
WCLQ, Cleveland, OH (1982)
KXLY, Spokane, WA (1982)
KTHI, Fargo/Grand Forks, ND (1983)
KFSM, Fort Smith, AR (1983)
KCET, Los Angeles, CA (1984)
WNEW, New York, NY (1984)
KTXL, Sacramento, CA (1985)
KHQ, Spokane, WA (1985)
WLVT, Allentown, PA (1986)
WNEV, Boston, MA (1986)
WSBK, Boston, MA (1986)
WUSI, Carbondale, IL (1986)
WNJS, Camden, NJ (1986)
KITV, Honolulu, HI (1986)
KCOP, Los Angeles, CA (1986)
CBWT, Winnipeg, MB (1986)
WABC, New York, NY (1986)
WNBC, New York, NY (1986)
WNYW, New York, NY (1986)
WTNH, New Haven, CT (1986)
KYW, Philadelphia, PA (1986)
WPVI, Philadelphia, PA (1986)
WTAF, Philadelphia, PA (1986)
WPHL, Philadelphia, PA (1986)
WTAE, Pittsburgh, PA (1986)
WBOC, Salisbury, MD (1986)
KOMO, Seattle, WA (1986)
KHQ, Spokane, WA (1986)
WNET, Trenton, NJ (1986)
WNJT, Trenton, NJ (1986)
WTVN, Columbus, OH (1987)
CBUT, Vancouver, BC (1987)
CHEK, Victoria, BC (1988)
WPTF, Durham/Raleigh/Fayetteville, NC (1988)
WCOM, Mansfield, OH (1988)
WJZY, Charlotte, NC (1989)
WRAL, Raleigh, NC (1989)
WNRW, Winston-Salem, NC (1989)
WKFT, Fayetteville NC (1993)
KDLT, Sioux Falls, SD (1993)
WNYC, New York, NY (1996)
WMVS, Milwaukee, WI (1999)
WOAY, Oak Hill, WV (2007)

If you're into this kind of ephemera, you can find lots more patriotism and conclusions of broadcast days at TV-Signoffs.com.

Posted by Doug at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Gilligan’s Island is usually dismissed as low-brow camp by most cultural warriors. Little do they know that this 60’s TV show was one of the first salvos fired in the Culture Wars by the gay left.

I knew it.

Posted by Doug at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

What's this? A Marylander excusing Robert Irsay for moving the Colts out of Baltimore? It can't be. The sun didn't rise in the West this morning. Hell didn't freeze over. And I didn't win the lottery.

This exhaustive piece from Indianapolis Colts fan Mike Devitt about the history of football in Baltimore and the Colts' untimely departure from the city is long (and slightly painful), but worth it.

(Irsay still sucks)

Posted by Doug at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This deliriously weird spot for Pipkin's Pit BBQ is probably the most hypnotic local commercial I've seen since Flea Market Montgomery.

The "to be continued..." at the end is exciting. And they mail order!

[via]

Posted by Doug at 09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A cat and a rat ride on top on a dog like they're best friends forever...I'm not sure if this means world peace is at hand, but my jaw dropped wide open when I ran into this guy in Santa Barbara a few months back. If you see him, be sure to give him a tip.

Posted by Doug at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)