Comments on: We Have Cameras

We Have Cameras

zarq — Tue, 10 May 2011 07:50:36 -0800

Eyes of a Generation is a "virtual museum of television cameras, and the broadcast history they captured," curated by actor and radio DJ Bobby F. Ellerbee. The site has hundreds of photos of cameras and of television sets backstage. It also includes vintage articles and a neat look at how the moon backdrop on the Conan set works.

Mr. Ellerbee collects vintage television cameras, some dating back to the 1940's. (YouTube link)

By: zarq

zarq — Tue, 10 May 2011 07:50:47 -0800

Related: Barry Mishkind, who edits the Broadcaster's Desktop Resource, also maintains the "RCA TV Equipment Section of The Broadcast Archive" which was linked in Ellerbee's site.

By: schmod

schmod — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:24:48 -0800

Oh, and if you have to ask, a full TV camera rig costs more than your house. I'm seriously not kidding. This is also amusing for the tiny bits of GRAR mixed in, pining for the good old days of television. The broadcast industry is chock full of these folks. At times, it can be a very old-fashioned industry. The bit about the moon is awesome, because it involves a very clever bit of purpose-built stagecraft and engineering, which you simply don't see much of these days, especially in the world of pre-recorded television. Christ. Now I'm doing it too.

By: doctornemo

doctornemo — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:59:41 -0800

This is very cool. Thanks for the post, zarq.

By: zarq

zarq — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:56:12 -0800

You're welcome! :)

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:44:06 -0800

Oh, hi!