Bee file photo
Dick Cable in 1998, dressed much better, we think, than in 1975.
As part of its coverage of the death of President Ford, News10 streamed its entire newscast from Sept. 5, 1975, on its Web site. (That, of course, was the day Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme tried to assassinate Ford, right here in River City.)
It's a great piece of history and, quite frankly, a hoot to watch. News10 streamed everything, including commercials. Be sure to watch the whole half hour, because some of the memorable moments come late in the newscast.
Here are our highlights:
* Anchor Dick Cable's wide black-and-white polka dot tie.
* The austere set and anchor desk. Is that blue shag carpeting?
* Sports guy Creighton Sanders and his hideous striped and checkered sports coat. (A full minute of the sportscast was the replay of a horse race from the State Fair.)
* Reporter Doug Kriegel's mod mutton chop sideburns.
* And then, the commercials. There's one for Pringles potato chips in which a husband verbally browbeats his wife because their picnic was ruined by soggy chips. But, by the end, the couple is reunited and happy because the Pringles stay fresh. The other advertising gem: A spot for Rudy Castillo Chevrolet in Galt.
* The weather "graphics": They consisted of watercolor drawings of the sun and mountain ranges, valleys and the ocean.
* Some things don't change. The temperature in Sac that day was 99 degrees.
* Oh, and by the way, News10's coverage (they actually called themelves "News Service 10") was comprehensive. We kind of liked the low-tech nature of the broadcasts: reporters reading from yellow sheets of paper, not teleprompters; few graphics; hardly any music or sound effects; and a plain blue background.
* One last thing: Not a peep of anchor banter.
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