1960
's
The sixties were a transformative era for entertainment. It marked the opening of the first Universal Studios theme park in Hollywood, California. It also ushered in virtually an entire lineup of television in color on NBC, hallmarked by the famous phrase, "The following program is brought to you in living color, on NBC!"
1960
JFK and Nixon face off in the first televised presidential debate
It was through the initiative of NBC that “The Great Debates” between John F. Kennedy and Richard N. Nixon became a reality. Immediately after the nominations, NBC’s Robert W. Sarnoff was first to…
The first NBC White Paper is produced, beginning a long-running documentary series
The first installment, The U-2 Affair, was about a spy mission in the Soviet Union. Running for more than two decades, the series won universal acclaim for its high journalistic…
1963
NBC News transforms media with an historic 71 hours of coverage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination and funeral
The president's assassination set a new reporting standard for breaking news coverage. Over 400 newsman and mobile units were used during the 71 hours of coverage.
Universal’s To Kill a Mockingbird premieres
Gregory Peck starred as the courageous southern lawyer Atticus Finch hailed by the American Film Institute as the Greatest Movie Hero of All Time. Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about innocence, strength and conviction, the film won three Academy Awards®.
1964
NBC Sports broadcasts the first live telecast from Japan to the U.S. with the Tokyo Olympic Games
NBC broadcasted the first live telecast of any kind from Japan to the United States with coverage of the 1964 Summer Olympics. The segments included some live-by-satellite telecasts, as well as same-day coverage.
The Universal Studios Tour re-opens for business
The tour, which would eventually grow into the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, was a reincarnation of the original Universal tour that was halted in the late 1920s, when "talkies" became the norm and producers demanded a set free of noise from visitors.
Universal acquires Alfred Hitchock’s Shamley Productions
Through the acquisition of Alfred Hitchcock’s Shamley Productions, Universal acquired the rights to Hitchcock’s historic catalog including Psycho and his various television work along with distribution rights to his earlier classics like Rear Window and Vertigo.
1965
I Dream of Jeannie premieres on NBC
Barbara Eden’s Jeannie famously crossed her arms, nodded her head, and disappeared into a cloud of smoke. Eden and co-star Larry Hagman captivated audiences with their magical chemistry until 1970.
1967
NBC broadcasts the first-ever Super Bowl
The Green Bay Packers played the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever Super Bowl, which NBC broadcasted from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The broadcast had 24.43 million viewers. Today, the Super Bowl is one of the most-viewed sports events, with over 115 million viewers annually.
NBC's detective series Ironside debuts, featuring one of the first leading TV characters ever to use a wheelchair
The TV movie of Ironside was such a success that this show was turned into a series.
1968
Groundbreaking comedy Julia debuts on NBC
On Julia, Carroll portrayed a widow and single mother working as a nurse to support her son. The image of a strong, modern, and professional Black woman defied stereotypes and was a revolutionary concept for television during the Civil Rights era.
1969
NBC airs one of the biggest upsets in sports history: Super Bowl III
Joe Namath and the New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts 16 to 7. In this photo, NBC Sports’ Kyle Rote conducts the postgame interview with a victorious Namath.
