WGN-TV Channel 9, Sign-Off from 1978 (Re-creation)

Some time back I attempted video re-creations of 1964-vintage signoffs of WCBS-TV and WTOP-TV (both of those can be viewed here). This time out I try one for a WGN-TV signoff circa 1978. The images of the WGN-TV ID/John Hancock Building and the copyright notice was taken from the 1980 WGN-TV sign-on posted below. The NAB Seal of Good Practice came from an early-1980s KWGN-TV (Ch. 2, Denver) sign-on. The audio, rendered by announcer George Bauer (spelling?), is from a 1978 recording from Dave Riley's TVDX site. Unfortunately, the first ten seconds or so is missing.

WBBM-TV "TWO"
Sign-Off from 1978

Sign-off of the CBS Television Network's owned-and-operated station in Chicago. The clip begins with the final strains of the Star Spangled Banner (the same SSB film used by its New York sibling, WCBS-TV). Following that is the sign-off announcement with station ID graphic featuring the Chicago skyline with The John Hancock Center most prominently seen. After at least twenty seconds of black comes the color bars and tone, which is interrupted by a brief WBBM-TV station ID near the clip's end.

WGN-TV Channel 9
"Sign-On" from 1980

Not really a "sign-on" (WGN-TV had went to 24/7 operation by this time), but this was aired every morning at 5 AM to signify the official beginning of the broadcast day. Sadly, whoever originally recorded this cut out the National Anthem film used. Because of that, it goes immediately to the 1980-83 version of the NAB Seal of Good Practice and copyright statements. Two more 5 AM WGN clips from 1988 and 1994 are found below.

WFLD-TV Channel 32
Sign-Off from Autumn 1980

Channel 32 is known today as Fox Chicago, but this sign-off dates from the days of Field Communications, the original licensee. It begins with the final moments of Newstalk with Naurice Roberts. Then it's the inspirational moment Thought For Today, delivered by an off-screen minister. It is followed by a promo for All In The Family with the wrong voice-over (one for Happy Days Again). Then it's the sign-off with night scenes of the Chicago skyline, followed by the Sierra Club-produced SSB film, which is cut short here (apparently, the tape used to record this had reached its end). The Sierra Club SSB was used by at least two other Field Communications stations, WLVI-TV 56 (Boston) and now-defunct WKBS-TV 48 (Philadelphia).

WLS-TV Channel 7 Sign-On
from 8 December 1983

The ABC Television Network's O&O in Chicago (one of the five original ABC-owned stations on channel 7) begins its broadcast day. The clip commences with twelve seconds of a classic black-and-white test pattern re-designed for colorcasting, followed by several seconds of black and the National Anthem film featuring historic paintings of scenes of the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers. The sign-on announcement follows, which is apparently deliverd by a live female announcer.

WFLD-TV Channel 32
Sign-Off from circa 1984

A Channel 32 sign-off from its brief time as a Metromedia station (1983-86). The clip starts off with the final few seconds of Thought For Today. This version of the Channel 32 sign-off is similar to the one posted above, but uses updated video footage of Chicago at night and includes a copyright notice. Presumably, an SSB film followed, but is not present in this recording. Metromedia was absorbed by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1986 to form the core of the Fox Television Network.

WGN-TV Channel 9, "Sign-On" and SSB from late 1988

As mentioned in the description for the 1980 WGN-TV "sign-on" above, this was aired every morning at 5 AM as the official start of the broadcast day. It is preceded by the closing of The Late Movie and a promo for an upcoming DePaul University basketball telecast on Channel 9. The National Anthem is included in this one, which features views of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C..

WFLD-TV Channel 32 Sign-Off from 17 December 1989

Unfortunately, the first twenty seconds or so of this "Fox 32" sign-off is missing. It follows in the tradition of the previous WFLD-TV sign-offs with night views of the Windy City, but now has a new address (North Michigan Avenue). The brief "America The Beautiful" film that follows features a potpourri of things: nature, wildlife, history, sports, U.S. landmarks and ,of course, Old Glory at the end. Following this is fifteen seconds of the Fox 32 color bars with the date and time posted at the bottom.

WTTW Channel 11
Sign-Off from 1990

Sign-off of Chicago's premier Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member station, and also one of the oldest educational TV stations in the U.S.. The clip commences with the final minute or so of a 1972 episode of the BBC's sci-fi serial Doctor Who, which was a staple on U.S. public TV stations for many years. It's followed by a promo for the WTTW program Wild Chicago. The SSB piece that follows the sign-off announcement was most likely produced by WTTW itself.

WGN-TV Channel 9, "Sign-On" and SSB from 1994

Another of "Chicago's Very Own" 5 AM ID pieces, but this one uses filmed shots of Lake Michigan and a different announcer. The same Iwo jima Memorial SSB in the 1988 clip above is used here. This 5 AM ID was apparently put together a few years before this recording was made, for it is preceded and followed by animated station IDs using the WGN-9 logo used from 1993 to 2003.