Here’s audio from the opening to a rebroadcast of Hal Holbrook’s “Mark Twain Tonight!” that CBS aired from 7:30-9PM ET on Thursday, January 2nd, 1969. The special originally aired on Monday, March 6th, 1967. Both broadcasts were sponsored by Xerox.
The opening includes a brief introduction letting viewers know that Xerox is responsible for their enjoyment of “Mark Twain Tonight!” Then comes a sort of mission statement for Xerox. Next, a lengthy commercial for the Xerox Telecopier. The opening wraps up with a final mention of Xerox.
Here’s a transcript:
Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight! is brought to you in its entirety by Xerox and its worldwide affiliates.
At Xerox, we believe the needs of man are many, and our ability to grow depends on our ability to understand man and his needs.
Now you can use an ordinary telephone and the Xerox Telecopier. To phone a photograph. Dial a design change. Call a cardiogram. Telephone a tabulation. Dial a drawing. Call a chart. Or even send your favorite doodle.
Almost anything requiring immediate action or a quick decision can be sent by the Xerox Telecopier. Just insert the document. Press the send button. Dial the person or office you want. Establish voice contact.
Then place the phone in the special Xerox Telecopier cradle. In just 6 minutes or less, an exact copy of the document can be received anywhere in the country. Then discussed. All over normal telephone lines. And neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can stay this courier from the swift completion of its appointed rounds.
The Xerox Telecopier.
And now Xerox presents Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!
About This Recording
Source: Reel-to-reel audio tape
Date: Thursday, January 2nd, 1969
Network: CBS
Station: WHEN-TV (Channel 5, Syracuse, NY)
I missed both performances.
I wish I could have seen that commercial. It sounds as though the Xerox Telecopier was an early version of the Fax machine.
now now……a glint in holbrooks eyes looking towards landmark tv;s THAT CERTAIN SUMMER with Martin sheen//……. that’s Barry dillers efforts/—–/the latter placed on the tv map by Levinson and link followed by Linda blair’s paring with sheen in Sweet hostage remember??//all was folly..——->yet it guaranteed future work for all involved…***..mind you it was with Holbrook’s voice over which introduced the tv public with those facts of Adolph Hitler weatherizing the cruel death of adolphs mother to cancer..//previously suppressed to the public….****……………anyway holbrooks pairing with Katherine ross’s…resulted in Levinson and link’s magnum opus/ murder mystery///////—-A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER//no wonder the parlor game of Botticelli in that opening party scene of the pilot for columbo got Gene barry’s motof running..yet NO trademark nor trade link……ahem……….