A partial broadcast of the 11pm Action News from Feb 23, 1981 with Jim Gardner, Don Tollefson and the late great Jim O'Brien. This was the golden era of Action News.
What a delight. I knew he was really good 40-some years ago, and I loved him and we all still miss him, but Jim O'Brien was superb in his basic role as a communicator. He was clear, even-tempered, pleasant, smooth and damn entertaining, but the basic information he gave never, ever, ever, got tangled. He made it look just so easy. He was immensely gifted. How I wish he wouldn't have left us so early. I'm glad these are around to still watch, though. They make me smile.
I was 16 years old then and Jim O Brian's weather forecast was my best part of Action News. It was a sad day when I heard of his death, it wasn't the same onymore. I'm now 54 and I still remember Jim as if he was still with us in our hearts. Thanks for sharing this video it brought back fond memories of Jim O Brian, we will never forget you Jim.
Absolutely, this was the golden era. Jim O'Brien was wonderful. This was far and away the most popular news show. Action News.. they had the best news intro - both the pictures and the terrific theme!
LOL, I had to Google her name. Sounded familiar. Classic Jim O’Brien, followed by background chuckling in the studio. Refers to Caribou, Maine as the last house out there. Explained weather in a manner we all could understand with a dose of humor. Also enjoyed the last topic about the captured bird with sarcasm, dry wit, and a chuckle from Jim Gardner. This was the Golden Age of local news.
Jim O'Brien was the best. His weather forecast was entertaining, low-tech, yet informative. There was no Action Radar or funky graphics needed to tell the viewers what the temperature was. He gave you a pithy and succinct weather report that was probably more accurate than what Cecily Tynan gives us today.
Richard D'Ambrosio You're right about that. Unfortunately, news programming has rapidly changed (for the worse, IMHO, but who am I?) and continues to change. 6 ABC's "Action News," while they introduce change slowly, nevertheless, has to change with the times. I miss the descriptive cloud (Happy, when the weather was going to be great, sad when it was going to be horrible, etc.). I also miss that map of Philly indicating what the temperature was in certain parts of the city (Northeast, Airport, WPVI Studios, and Camden, a.k.a. "East Philly").
He was the best!! His corny jokes and camaraderie with Jim Gardner and Steve Levy (and "Tolly") were EPIC! The Delaware Valley was in a state of prolonged shock and mourning for quite a few years after his shocking death in September, 1973. He was really irreplaceable and still missed and fondly remembered today.
@@bmasters1981 Yes...thanks...didnt even realize my typo when i commented. Fingers going faster than brain when using phone to comment. He WAS the BEST, though, wasn't he?
I met Tollefson and Jim O'Brien in a Benehana restaurant in Bala Cynwyd in the mid 70's. I was about 10 years old and those guys took time to talk and sign a placemat for a star struck kid 👍
They probably are. We just have to look very hard. By chance, I just happen to find a Prime Time episode with Jim O'Brien, complete with the original theme.
I miss Jim O’Brien and the simpler. Happy times back them.
Thanks for sharing.
Unbelievable! Talk about a time capsule... All these years later, Jim O'Brien is still untouchable.
philaman1972 Dave Roberts and Cecily Tynan don’t even match, but they do a great job honoring Jim’s legacy
What a delight. I knew he was really good 40-some years ago, and I loved him and we all still miss him, but Jim O'Brien was superb in his basic role as a communicator. He was clear, even-tempered, pleasant, smooth and damn entertaining, but the basic information he gave never, ever, ever, got tangled. He made it look just so easy. He was immensely gifted. How I wish he wouldn't have left us so early. I'm glad these are around to still watch, though. They make me smile.
40 years later and Jim Gardner is still reporting the news.
Jim celebrated 44 years at Action News on June 1st. How time flies.
He is legend.
He just did his last broadcast on 12/21/2022. Spectacular sendoff! A legend indeed!
I was 16 years old then and Jim O Brian's weather forecast was my best part of Action News. It was a sad day when I heard of his death, it wasn't the same onymore. I'm now 54 and I still remember Jim as if he was still with us in our hearts. Thanks for sharing this video it brought back fond memories of Jim O Brian, we will never forget you Jim.
I was 12. 😥
What a wonderful time capsule for Philadelphia. Incredible to watch in 2023.
35 years ago today - we lost Jim O'Brien. a TRUE legend!
Unreal how time flies.
Absolutely, this was the golden era. Jim O'Brien was wonderful. This was far and away the most popular news show.
Action News.. they had the best news intro - both the pictures and the terrific theme!
Seeing Jim o'Brien do the weather on that old achool weather board...wow the memories.. i was like 7 year old then..even the old commericals was great
Here because of Jim Gardner's retirement on December 21st, 2022.
Thanks for the memories of Jim O'Brien!
Jim O'Brien isn't dead- He lives on in the Airwaves travelling in space and here!
This is amazing footage.
Great to see Jim O'Brien in his element. "As raw as Rita Jenrette". Classic Jim. Loved that guy.
galesayers I don’t think he’d be staying around if it was done today
LOL, I had to Google her name. Sounded familiar. Classic Jim O’Brien, followed by background chuckling in the studio. Refers to Caribou, Maine as the last house out there. Explained weather in a manner we all could understand with a dose of humor.
Also enjoyed the last topic about the captured bird with sarcasm, dry wit, and a chuckle from Jim Gardner. This was the Golden Age of local news.
I could watch these all day. Takes me back.
I had forgotten how good Don Tollefson was. It’s sad the way his career ended.
OMG this is awesome.
Jim O'Brian was an absolute gem. Irreplaceable. Miss him.
It's sad that the 1981 Kawasaki advertised at the beginning of this video was more technologically advanced than a 2018 Harley-Davidson.
Thanks for including the commercials!
Jim O'Brien was the best. His weather forecast was entertaining, low-tech, yet informative. There was no Action Radar or funky graphics needed to tell the viewers what the temperature was. He gave you a pithy and succinct weather report that was probably more accurate than what Cecily Tynan gives us today.
Richard D'Ambrosio You're right about that. Unfortunately, news programming has rapidly changed (for the worse, IMHO, but who am I?) and continues to change. 6 ABC's "Action News," while they introduce change slowly, nevertheless, has to change with the times. I miss the descriptive cloud (Happy, when the weather was going to be great, sad when it was going to be horrible, etc.). I also miss that map of Philly indicating what the temperature was in certain parts of the city (Northeast, Airport, WPVI Studios, and Camden, a.k.a. "East Philly").
He was the best!! His corny jokes and camaraderie with Jim Gardner and Steve Levy (and "Tolly") were EPIC! The Delaware Valley was in a state of prolonged shock and mourning for quite a few years after his shocking death in September, 1973. He was really irreplaceable and still missed and fondly remembered today.
@@birdsfan57 Sept. 1983, I think you mean.
@@bmasters1981 Yes...thanks...didnt even realize my typo when i commented. Fingers going faster than brain when using phone to comment. He WAS the BEST, though, wasn't he?
Wow this was a month before I was born!!
Awesome find/upload!!
I was 4 and still in pre-school when this aired.
R.I.P. Jim O'Brien.
Jim Gardner is still going strong on channel 6 today.
Wow, this is an incredible upload! Thanks!!
Rollie Massamino. That's a real blast from the past!
I was 6 turning 7 in 1981. My Grandparents used to watch Action News and I'd play on the living room floor during the broadcasts.
Oh, the memories!
That's A solid sports segment. Channel 6 will always be special to us...
Great to Jim O'Brian again.
The Action News graphics in the early 80s were very cool!
I really do wish Jim O'Brien was back with the Accu weather forcast.
I miss when commercials were that short😭
I met Tollefson and Jim O'Brien in a Benehana restaurant in Bala Cynwyd in the mid 70's. I was about 10 years old and those guys took time to talk and sign a placemat for a star struck kid 👍
Jim Gardner has been at WPVI for almost 40 years now!
+Michael Chua
it's a shame it's no clips of him on WPVI from the 70's
+Michael Chua and shows no signs of retiring
+Jessy Leppert Nope.
They probably are. We just have to look very hard. By chance, I just happen to find a Prime Time episode with Jim O'Brien, complete with the original theme.
would love to see just one clip of Jim Gardner from 1976
thank you for including commercials :)
Wow. I feel real old now.
JIm O'Brien was the best weather man ever !
Now I can see what was going on here while I was away on my first deployment.
Woow the memories of being a young kid. Funny WPVI is still ,y news cast in 2021
19% interest rate. I remember when I was getting interest in the hundreds of dollars every month in my savings account.
Yes. I remember that too. Unfortunately, those days will never return in our lifetimes. The federal reserve bankers are robbing people.
his daughter is roz on frazier
Jim O’Brien’s daughter
I was gonna say that I never knew Jim o brien daughter is roz from Frasier
Monday, February 23, 1981.
Wow. Aerial views for the close!
This was 3 days before I was born lol
Live on Jim O’Brien Live on
I used to miss Marc Howard.Then heard about he talked after he left ch6
He went to NBC where he retired
KYW offered him as the lead news presenter. He was about to retire and wanted to have the opportunity before it was time to hang the mic.
Excellent quality, thanks for posting, betamax?
Obrien cracked up
I wonder if the actor with dark hair in the motorcycle commercial is David Packer?
I think it is Meat Packer
Prime rate at 18.5. Yow!
Bad for borrowers, but great for savers though. Today the prime rate is under 1.5%!
How old was Jim Gardner when this aired?
+Janette McClelland Jim was born in 1948, so Jim was around 32 or 33 years old here in '81.
Seriously? He looked older(or shall I say,distinguished) with the gray hair even then. Wow.
Janette McClelland Exactly, Jim looked very distinguished here and have been since '76.
I've only watched Action News for about 15 years online,only visited Philadelphia for the first time last fall. So I missed the early years. Legend.
+Janette McClelland 32 right then. Jim turns 68 on May 17.
To think 9 months later Sept 25th 1981 he passed away
Jim passed away on 9-25-1983
Jim O'Brien and Gary Papa were two big losses on Channel 6.
I would have been 9 years old
This is when Hockey was fun. Before it became the IceCapades.
oh, fighting still exists in the NHL.
Hey
I see the weather format has changed because why would people in philly care about the weather in other cities? lol
Tea Bag mayor Green the worst mayor ever in Philadelphia
Wow. A time when democrats were against taxes!