NYC Ball Drop, December 31, 1957
Posted on December 31st, 2009 by steve
‘Beginning in 1956, Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians entertained the US on New Year’s Eve with a combination of music and the live ‘ball drop’ at Midnight. Guy continued this tradition until his death in 1976. His band still played on at CBS Television on New Years for an additional 2 years. (Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin Eve began in 1972 on ABC and still broadcasts annually.)
‘This broadcast began right after the 15-minute news and ran for an hour. Guy plays the music and newsman Robert Trout announces the beginning of the New Year . . . Harsh lighting, a cheap office clock and a World War II searchlight scans the crowd below.’
More Ball history here.
(Psst: Buy more Clairol)
