I watch a lot of You Tube videos about the older television shows, movies, commercials, sports and news events and I especially became interested in the recordings of local stations and of course, the national news on Nov. 22, 1963. It was just another day until the shot rang out in Dallas, as these references can tell you. I've included some personalities from Peoria, IL, as well as a children's TV host from Evansville, IN, in this piece. There are stations from Chicago, Hartford, CT, and Cincinnati, where over 33 hours of WLW broadcasts from that tragic weekend are available. WLW bills itself as "The Nation's Station" and hence that part of the title, which is partly based on the name of a Twilight Zone episode ("Mr. Denton on Doomsday")which reflects the mood here. Looking back, we view Nov. 22, 1963 in some ways like watching an old horror movie, cringing in anticipation as life goes on before the monster strikes.

It's three before five on a rainy autumn morning,
the all-night crew is closing up shop,
the Yawn Patrol is winding down.

A rooster's crow follows the news.
On channels clear and close, the airwaives hum
with ag news straight from the farm,
the heard but unseen help in the milk barn.

The only station in the country with 50,000 watts of power.
Soon Milt, Bob and the Early Bird will log in.

A gloomy day, but normal with little thought
of the doom which lurks like a grade-B movie monster
in the shadows over the Land.
This is Today, Friday, Nov. 22, 1963.

The man who accompanied
Mrs. Kennedy to Paris
is travelling with her
today in Texas.
She charmed a crowd by
speaking in Spanish
last night in Austin.

While on the Ohio,
the radio rage was
a beef-and noodle dinner.
Captain Kangaroo jingles his keys
to open the Treasure House,
in Romper Rooms, we learn the difference
between "Do Bee's" and "Don't Bee's",

We say "Good Morning"
to Mothers of Twins
from a downtown hotel
all while a creature
from the Dark Corners
takes his "curtain rods" to work.

How are you? How are you? How are you?
This is Godfrey, along with Gabriel Haeter.
It's raining up and down the valley, still.
"It's a beautiful day here in the old bullpen."

At noon, the meeting of
The 50-50 Club comes to order,
Ruth Lyons presiding,
and dropping the name
of the sponsor
and a Gershwin tune
while everyone waives hello.

The Royals are on tonight,
while down in Texas,
the President spoke
and Jackie stole the show.
Now here's a word
from Wynn's Friction Proofing.

For some, it's cartoon time,
or lunch with Uncle Dudley or Uncle Bentley.
A pretty lady in tights exercises.
"You're on the Mic-Line"
with Thanksgiving cooking tips.

The "Big O" takes us
to the Country Faire
for Dairymen's News.
A musical trip
to Dogpatch with Felix Slatkin,
while all the housewives, farmwives
and cleaning ladies gather round
to catch up on their stories.

"I've been thinking about it and giving it a lot of thought..."

We interrupt this program...

How are you? How are-
There is no good news tonight.