Entertainment is a key distinction.
The oldest known color tape is of the NBC Washington studios dedication ceremony on 05-22-1958.
Many important programs were simply taped over, as no anticipated future use was envisioned.
It was common practice for networks and stations to erase programs.
For that reason, every 2-inch tape that survives is something of a happy miracle and a time capsule.
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Quigley called the Berle tape a unicorn to have survived.
The historic debut episode has been recovered and preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
Milton Berle made his TV debut hosting NBCsThe Texaco Star Theatrein 1948.
The program is titledPreserving Historic Color Videotape: Mr. Television (a.k.a.
Milton Berle) and Friends.
The UCLA Film & Television Archive event is co-presented by the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies.
