# Broadcast day signal off **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033 "2016-01-13T14:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/1 "2016-01-13T14:38:38Z")
Anyone else remember this? Back in the 70’s, before 24 hour broadcasting, when local channels would sign off for the broadcasting day, somewhere around midnight to 1:00 am, a couple of the channels in the area I grew up would play the video clip linked: [High Flight - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx3WueJWlb4) , which is the poem _High Flight_ spoken over a video clip of an Air Force jet flying. Did other stations around the country do this as well? The other stations in my region would play the national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/2 "2016-01-13T14:47:26Z")
I just remember the anthem, but that was in the 60s. I also remember the [Indian](http://k6prk.org/indian%20head3.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/3 "2016-01-13T15:14:44Z")
The anthem with jets flying over, then the Indian, then static. Eventually the Farm Report comes on. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/4 "2016-01-13T15:50:30Z")
I always liked Kentucky Educational Television. They’d play “My Old Kentucky Home” and show horses running around the paddock. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/5 "2016-01-13T16:10:29Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Did other stations around the country do this as well? The NBC affiliate in Little Rock, AR, KARK did. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/6 "2016-01-13T16:20:48Z")
All the TV stations in my area just played the National Anthem over a film of the waving flag, then either turned off (static) or just broadcast a test screen. And not the indian one, usually just color bars & tone with a station ID on it. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/7 "2016-01-13T16:27:00Z")
I am originally from Shreveport, and I recall the sign-off music as either **Dixie** or a version of **American Trilogy** (a medley of **Dixie** , **The Battle Hymn of the Republic** , and some lullaby [_hush little baby, don’t you cry_…]). I do also recall seeing the Air Force one from time to time. Not sure if that was another Shreveport station, or a sign-off from a station in one of the various other places I’ve lived. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/8 "2016-01-13T16:35:59Z")
The Altoona, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh TV markets overlapped where I grew up in PA. All the stations played the national anthem at sign off. A couple of them played High Flight. At least one of them had a locally produced [sermonette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermonette). The local radio station had a recorded [Bible reading by Alexander Scourby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby) followed by the national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/9 "2016-01-13T17:48:00Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The Altoona, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh TV markets overlapped where I grew up in PA. All the stations played the national anthem at sign off. A couple of them played High Flight. At least one of them had a locally produced [sermonette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermonette). > The local radio station had a recorded [Bible reading by Alexander Scourby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby) followed by the national anthem. Where are you from, **Scumpup**? I’m from Johnstown. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/10 "2016-01-13T17:54:00Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Where are you from, **Scumpup**? I’m from Johnstown. Punxsutawney, originally. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/11 "2016-01-13T18:10:10Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > …and some lullaby [_hush little baby, don’t you cry_…]). “[All My Trials](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_My_Trials).” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/12 "2016-01-13T19:18:40Z")
From Detroit, they did it there too. I was just thinking about that poem, having recently scored a copy of “Carrying the Fire” by Michael Collins. (Collins mentions that every pilot he ever knew had a copy of that poem framed on his desk or office wall.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/13 "2016-01-13T19:21:25Z")
I got hit with that crappy “High Flight” glurg as a kid. What crap. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/14 "2016-01-13T20:18:45Z")
The Quad Cities had a promotional advertisement campaign that shut at least one of the 3 stations down. Unfortunately I have yet to find the video of it but did find a recording: [New Digital Conversion Station (featuring the Quad Cities U.S.A. song!) | Primary Selections from Special Collections](http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc/2015/03/19/new-digital-conversion-station-featuring-the-quad-cities-u-s-a-song/) It showed various manufacturers, places to have fun, people enjoying the river and shots of the eagles above the dams. And then the National Anthem would play. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/15 "2016-01-13T20:44:56Z")
The Indian also came on first thing in the morning. I remember staring at it waiting for Captain Kangaroo. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/16 "2016-01-13T21:10:33Z")
Isn’t this what let the spirits enter the house in Poltergeist? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/17 "2016-01-13T21:13:17Z")
Do any stations do this anymore? I too clearly remember this. On weekends I was always bummed that I was out of things to do and that it was time for bed. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/18 "2016-01-13T21:25:18Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > The Indian also came on first thing in the morning. I remember staring at it waiting for Captain Kangaroo. So do I. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/19 "2016-01-13T22:01:25Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Punxsutawney, originally. Not far. Practically neighbors. Channel 6 sent a news crew to Punxy every Groundhog Day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033/20 "2016-01-13T22:04:38Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Do any stations do this anymore? I too clearly remember this. On weekends I was always bummed that I was out of things to do and that it was time for bed. None of the stations in Tucson, where I live. They all broadcast 24/7, even if all they run are infomercials overnight. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadcast-day-signal-off/743033.md?page=2)