WFAA Newsfilm Collection, ca. 1960-1978

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. January 31, 1970]

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. January 1-5, 1970]

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. January 15-18, 1970]

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. February 6-12, 1970]

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. March 9-10, 1970]

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. April 27-30, 1970]

[WFAA News Clips and B-roll,
ca. February 24-25, 1970]

About the Collection

Holding library: G. William Jones Film and Video Collection, Hamon Arts Library

View more collections from the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection.

Overview

The WFAA Newsfilm Collection, ca. 1960-1978, is part of the moving image holdings of the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection (formerly the Southwest Film/Video Archive). The G. William Jones Film and Video Collection is part of the Hamon Arts Library.

Collection Materials

The WFAA Newsfilm Collection spans 18 years of 16mm news footage from 1960-1978. All of the films have been preserved in a climate controlled vault, but until recently, the content has not been identified and made available to the public. The Jones Film and Video Collection is now digitizing the films, so researchers may use them in their moving image and documentary projects, as well as for general historical research.

The clips feature rarely seen interviews with personalities such as George H. W. Bush, Jesse Jackson, Gerald Ford, and entertainer Tiny Tim. Subject matter ranges from election campaigns to city meetings, chili cook-offs to children’s swimming contests, gun control to civil rights issues. Over the time span of the collection, public buildings are built and demolished, presidents are elected and replaced, and a young reporter named Bill O’Reilly gets his start. 

Famous Faces

Whether to promote a film or a cause, many celebrities took the time to make an appearance on the Channel 8 News. John Wayne and Pat Boone attend an event at the Cotton Bowl. Omar Sharif gives an intriguing interview. Mel Torme stops by to discuss the music industry. Bob Hope’s visits to the SMU campus are captured.

Important news stories about political issues are well represented within the collection. Highlights include reports on global issues such as Dallas’ Ross Perot working to free prisoners of war in Vietnam all the way down to municipal issues of eminent domain and the building of libraries and schools. Jane Fonda even makes a visit, not to promote a film, but to rally support for the movement protesting the Vietnam War.

Cowboys, Rangers, and Other Sports Moments

Sports have always played an important role in Dallas, and the people and events that were important to the teams and the fans are well represented in the collection. Footage includes press conferences, practices, and some games. Other sporting events covered are the move of the Texas Rangers to Arlington, the original Texas Stadium being built in Irving, and the Dallas Chaparrals moving to San Antonio. Also, many SMU sporting events received WFAA coverage during these years.

The History of Dallas as a Moving Story

These films capture the people of Dallas living and working as the town grew up around them. Many of the stories cover the serious topics of war and corruption, but a large number of them are more whimsical. Films in the collection include inventions like a self-driving golf cart, an interview with a gopher, and even a piece about a young puppeteer from Dallas named Jeff Dunham. All of these stories contributed to the history of this city, and while they are not seen as historically relevant as Bush’s tax plan during his 1970 Senate race, they are things that mattered to the people living here during those two decades.