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Across the border, the CBC and CTV networks suspended regular programming on Friday and Monday. They both aired regular programing over the weekend ( with occasional preemptions). So Hockey Night in Canada went on as usual, and the CFL Western and Eastern finals were shown (but the Western final was blacked out in Vancouver because the Lions were the host team). I remember that Sunday Dad turning the TV on and a football game appears- Mom is appalled and Dad replies “Canadian station”.
One last item- on CFUN the Pick Hit of the Week for 11/30/1963 was “She Loves You” by the Beatles.
I was working nights at Sunbeam Bakery and got to bed about 4:00 AM. I got up a little after ten that Friday morning and was in the shower listening to KAYO when they broke in with a bulletin and then immediately switched to the Mutual network. I don’t know just what time Mutual announced JFK’s death.
When I went to work that night, I remember one of my co-workers walked in grinning and said, “Well, they finally got him.”
Two days later, it was quite an amazing thing to be watching as Jack Ruby pulled a gun and killed Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV.
Does anyone remember what this was like? Was it a lot of dead air time or were they able to come up with enough to talk about? From Nov 22nd to the funeral on the 25th, that’s a lot of time to fill up in 1963. I doubt the stations were able to put together retrospective specials very quickly like they do now.
I was 13 at the time. My recollection is the networks signed off overnight (not sure of time zones), resuming in the early mornings with multiple ceremonies, e.g. the procession to the Capitol where the body was in state, hours of people marching past the casket in the Rotunda, developments from Dallas on Oswald, and ultimately his shooting death which was live on I think NBC and CBS with Tom Pettit and Ike Pappas. The funeral itself on Monday and the placing of the flame at Arlington. In other words there were visuals and reporters covering events and offering commentary (a lot from Dan Rather). I should mention that there was pro football that Sunday and people did attend games, but they were not televised, to my knowledge. The NFL later regretted playing at all.
There were noticeable and lengthy times where the network reporter just let the pictures tell the story. Especially during the funeral procession and ceremonies (casket in the rotunda, etc.).
The initial coverage in Dallas was a scramble to get still photos developed and propped up in front of a camera, bringing up the sound of a phone call from the hospital, technical glitches — though we didn’t turn away and hung on every word and through the silences.
There is a channel on YouTube by David Von Pein that has all the network coverage available.
I’m not sure about the other networks, but after coverage wound down for the day, NBC had a camera fixed on the body lying in state in the Capitol rotunda until deep into the overnight hours when they finally signed off.
This article is interesting in that it clarifies KTVW continued to run their regular schedule. I thought they may have just stayed off the air.