Vintage KFMB-TV Test Pattern

Following on our program about TV sign-ons and sign-offs, our good friend and listener Rick Bosscher, RF Systems Manager for the KFMB Stations, kindly donated an original test pattern slide that was used at KFMB-TV Channel 8 in San Diego.  Above is an image of the slide.  Smitty comments that he remembers this test pattern being used on the air, early mornings prior to sign-on as late as the early 80s.  These patterns are almost never seen today in the age of all-night infomercials and overnight news services.  We thank Rick Bosscher for his kindness in sharing this neat slide with us.  In case you missed this episode of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, just go to our podcast library and listen to show 99!

"Shotgun Tom" Kelly to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! (Program 108)

We are proud to announce that our dear friend "Shotgun Tom" Kelly will be the recepient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, at 11:30 AM Pacific Time.  All are invited to attend this event.  If you are not in the Southern California area, the event will be streamed live at this site: www.walkoffame.com  The video of the ceremony will be available at the site for a time after the event.  For further information on Shotgun and this event, please go to: http://www.walkoffame.com/pages/upcoming-ceremonies

On program 108, Shotgun joins us to tell us the story of how he came to receive this honor, and he shares with us some details of the process involved.  He also recounts a few of his memories and achievements that have led up to his being recognized by this honor, for his years of radio broadcasting.

Galaxy Nostalgia Network salutes Shotgun, and we offer him our most hearty congratulations on the occasion of this great tribute!

Happy New Year From Smitty and Mike!

We thank everyone out there that supports Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site! We have an exciting line-up of shows for 2013, and your support will help make this our best season yet. Help us get the word out about the podcast of choice for Baby Boomers (and beyond).  We'll be talking to you again soon, right here on Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, on the Galaxy Nostalgia Network.      Smitty, Mike, and the Galaxy Gang.

TV Station Sign-Ons (Program 99)

On Program 99, we remember the days when TV stations would shut down late at night, and then start broadcasting again very early the next morning.  This was known as the Sign-On and Sign-Off.  Something that is very rarely seen today in the era of all-night infomercials and overnight news programs.  The Galaxy Gang recall their memories of getting up early in the morning to see the station transmitting a test pattern, such as the ones we show here, and then listening to the National Anthem, and perhaps a devotional film, prior to beginning the day's programs.  The test patterns were designed to be able to allow station engineers to align their transmitting equipment, and owners of TV sets at home to align their sets.

Test patterns such as these began to be phased out as color television became the standard.  For color TV adjustments, a color bar pattern was created to help technicians determine if a color set was reproducing an accurate picture. 

Although we don't see these interesting patterns on our TVs any more, it's fun to look back and remember those days.  Join us on program 99 for our recollections of these early TV memories!

Neil Armstrong 1930-2012

We are saddened at the passing of Neil Armstrong, first man to walk on the surface of the moon.  Heroes are sometimes difficult to find, but in Neil Armstrong, we all had a hero from the days when America had set its sights on landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.  The days of the Apollo Space Program were an exciting time to be alive and to be an American.  The nation fulfilled the promise to the late president John F. Kennedy when he stated in 1961 that the United States had all of the available resources and manpower to land a man on the moon and safely return him home by the end of the 1960s.  Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the two men who first set foot on a heavenly body other than this earth, have gone down in history.  Now that we have lost Mr. Armstrong, he has become legendary, and will be remembered for generations to come.  The staff of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site salutes the memory of Neil Armstrong, and recall his "One Giant Leap for Mankind" he took on July 20, 1969.

Early Color Television (Program 91)

In program 91, we talk about the history of Early Color Television.  The many technical developments along the way to creating a viable color system as well as the programming that was featured in those early days.  On the program we mention RCA's first production color TV set.  Here it is pictured above, the RCA Victor CT-100.  It made it's appearance in 1954, and featured a 15" screen.  The color on this set was very vivid, and almost had a Technicolor likeness to it.  This set originally cost around $1,000, several times the price of a conventional Black and White set.  Today it is a very desirable collector's item.  To see more early color sets, please go to our Facebook page and look at the Early TV Set Gallery.

Galaxy Guys Wrap Up "Tribute to KCBQ"

Co-Producers Mike Bragg and Gilbert Smith of Galaxy Nostalgia Network are proud to announce the premier of their joint venture video that profiles the history of San Diego AM Radio Top 40 powerhouse KCBQ. Although the station no longer plays music format, the memories live on. In August 2010, a monument was dedicated to the station and staff. Here's the KCBQ story, and the dedication of the monument with remarks by many radio pros who worked there.