
Vintage NBC Promo Slides
Many, many years ago, when television technology was still somewhat crude, stations used still images to promote upcoming shows or events. Often they used slides that were simply projected to the screen.
Of course, the need for these slides is long past but they remain a fascinating reminder of a simpler TV age. And so I was thrilled to come across a series of them for sale on eBay recently. According to the seller of these slides, they were used by NBC affiliate WRC-TV Channel 4, and were shown thanks to a piece of technology called a film chain. The film chain allows a station to convert a slide into an electronic signal and project it to a TV camera for broadcast.
I’m not certain of the dates on these, but I suspect many of them are from the 1950s and ’60s. I know the 1960s are in play because several of these slides feature the classic and underappreciated NBC snake logo. In any case, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. Let’s look at some vintage slides!
(Click on any image for the full-size version.)
- Saturday Film Festival: To Kill a Mockingbird
- Rock Hudson
- Thursdays on NBC
- Horse Racing
- Today on the Farm
- House of Numbers starring Jack Palance and Barbara Lang
- WRC Channel 4 logo
- NBC afternoon lineup
- Bonanza
- NBC Music
- Tournament of Roses Parade
- Truth or Consequences starring Bob Barker
- Wednesday on NBC
- Monday Night at the Movies
- The Tonight Show/Bigger Than Life
- Saturn orbital flight
- Your All-American College Show
- 1964 Republican National Convention