when TV stations one by one would sign off

[Subtraction]

then the last one.....after whatever was playing would roll an old reel of military presentation of colors with the National Anthem playing.

then.....thats all she wrote.

 

[pappylon]

Then getting up too early on Saturday morning only to stare at the test pattern...

 

[rickb119]

Life was much simpler back then.

 

[dosmalo]

Then getting up too early on Saturday morning only to stare at the test pattern...

Can't remember any stations here that had a test pattern back in the day.
We'd sit for several hours after sign-off passing a fat one and watch the flea races tho.

 

[Alobar]

Life was much simpler back then.

Definitely! No killer viruses, just those pesky Reds in Cuba trying to put in nuke missles..

 

[Orwell84]

Definitely! No killer viruses, just those pesky Reds in Cuba trying to put in nuke missles..

The same evil behind both and much more trying to take down the Greatest Free Nation on earth.
God Bless America!

 

[rickb119]

Definitely! No killer viruses, just those pesky Reds in Cuba trying to put in nuke missles..

As a prepubescent during that time, I wasn't aware of it. I don't even recall any duck and cover drills at school.

My biggest fear, at that time, was a guy named Dennis who loved to pick on me. Same age but much bigger. Fortunately, I had made friends with a big German Shepard in the neighborhood. He didn't like Dennis.

 

[Uncle Fester]

I remember the sign off with the national anthem.

We had a black and white tv for the longest time.

Still remember being a toddler, getting up before anyone else, turning on the tube tv, waiting for the tubes to glow, and seeing the test pattern.

The first thing to broadcast was "Farm reports".

 

[halkaloogie]

As a prepubescent during that time, I wasn't aware of it. I don't even recall any duck and cover drills at school.

My biggest fear, at that time, was a guy named Dennis who loved to pick on me. Same age but much bigger. Fortunately, I had made friends with a big German Shepard in the neighborhood. He didn't like Dennis.

Man, we had weekly duck and cover drills in school when I was a kid. Even these days, I think about it every time I hear an alarm going off.

 

[sKiZo]

I forget what LaLaLand station used to run a "keep on trucking" test screen after the anthem ...

 

[halkaloogie]

That's awesome, doubt Crumb got any money for it though. I just remember the Indian head test pattern and then the stripped color one.

 

[GChief]

I have a couple fallout shelter signs from my old primary school.

 

[Alobar]

As a prepubescent during that time, I wasn't aware of it. I don't even recall any duck and cover drills at school.

My biggest fear, at that time, was a guy named Dennis who loved to pick on me. Same age but much bigger. Fortunately, I had made friends with a big German Shepard in the neighborhood. He didn't like Dennis.

Too funny! I was in 2nd grade, and in school with the air raid siren for the town in the playground. That thing was so loud, some of us were far more frightened of that thing than some vague concept (as seen through the 7 year old mind) of mutual destruction while sitting under our desks..

Yeah My "bully" was named Buddy, and my older brothers bus left before mine so had no protection for 5 or so minutes! My parents got me a Saint Bernard when I was 10 and he quickly grew to a 180 pound dog that Buddy was scared to death of!
My Barney!

 

[gizzyman47]

I remember the test patterns and duck and cover. Haven't thought about that in years!

 

[jimfet]

I remember when, "Please stand by" would come up on the screen back then. My brother and dad, would get up and stand by the TV. Was funny back then and happened quit often.

 

[gadget73]

I tried to fire up my 1953 Philco TV last night but something ails it. I rebuilt it probably 15 years ago but it hasn't seen power in about 10. Picture is basically not lighting at all, not sure whats going on. Decided it was finally time to assemble the pieces I already had to feed it old programming. Its just the thing to watch The Honeymooners or Alfred Hitchcock Presents on.

 

[anytune]

When I was 4, I was fascinated by the sign-on screen on Channel 7 in Detroit. At 6:30 a.m., the station aired a four-way divided screen with a live clock, current weather, test pattern, and the WXYZ logo.

 

[Bill Ferris]

View attachment 2139450
Can't remember any stations here that had a test pattern back in the day.
We'd sit for several hours after sign-off passing a fat one and watch the flea races tho.

HA!!
One of my seventies GF told me that the no signal snow display looked like a massive "Ant Fights" to her..

 

[noisefreq]

I'd be fine with JUST news at 6 and 11...and that's it!

 

[Alobar]

I'd be fine with JUST news at 6 and 11...and that's it!

Now those were the good ole days, when the news wasn't a moneymaker for the networks but a public service required by the FCC of the use of airwaves. Now it's all captivated by whoever is paying for the adverts.. You know, those miraculous pharma cures for toenail fungus, followed by 16 seconds of a speeded up voice warning you that this drug could cause one of your organs to fall off, or worse!