WMAQ Channel 5 - Ron Hunter Today - 'Chicago Magicians' (Complete Broadcast, 1/1978) 📺

Here's a complete broadcast of Ron Hunter Today on WMAQ Channel 5.

His guests on this edition are a number of local Chicagoland area magicians, (in order of appearance) Hugh Cosgrove, Jr., owner of Mr. C's Magic Lounge in Berwyn - a "Magic Bar" where you could drink and also see magic performed (closed in 1980, sadly); Ken Karp, visual escape artist; Dan Longoria, closeup artist; and card trickster Jimmy "Cards" Molinari,

Includes:

Ron summarizing the first weeks of his program and the people and topics he handled, in a promo for his show

Animated station ID / PSA for Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau (voiceover by Ed Grennan)

Opening segment (theme: "Magic To Do" from "Pippin"), then Ron explaining how his show with Harry Blackstone Jr. was one of his highest-rated, before setting up the premise of this program and who will be appearing, and explaining one of the card tricks

Ron introduces his first guests, Hugh Cosgrove, Jr. and Ken Karp, the latter of whom does a trick with a straitjacket (with a bit of difficulty) as Hugh explains the mechanics.

Commercial: Zip jeans from Menage de Trois (as seen in Penthouse and Viva!)

Commercial: Walton Carpets - dial C-A-R-P-E-T-S

Commercial: Welcome! Chevrolet - 2nd Anniversary - 92nd and Ashland

Commercial: Pace & Albert Auctioneers - 2-Day Public Antique Auction (January 7th-8th) at the Holiday Inn of Mundelein

In Segment 2, Dan Longoria joins Hugh and Ken, and does "color tricks" with knives that are modified for black-and-white TV screens, then Ron promises Jimmy in next segment.

Commercials for:
Homer's sale on "hand-crafted upholstered furniture"
Tide laundry detergent with Mrs. Mickey Thayer refusing to give up a box of Tide, and earns a years supply
Talro Insurance Agency with Roland Harper of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field - 372-8255

Jimmy "Cards" Molinari is on board for Segment 3, where Ron starts off about his credentials and skills before starting off with a number trick (numbers on card shown out of sequence), then shows off a few card tricks with some explanations.

Bumper

PSA on deaf workers and their abilities from Gallaudet College (and captions below)

Commercials for:

MVU - Motor Vacations Unlimited in Elgin (voiceover by Ed Grennan)
Robitussin Cough Medicine - 4 different kinds - "Ask Your Doctor"

In last segment, it's just Ron with Jimmy and Hugh, and one more set of card tricks before Ron gives the denouement on Jimmy's number picks and closes this installment.

Commercials for:

Custom Auto Show for January 6th-8th at the Amphitheater - "See the Star Wars Van" and Elvis Tribute Artist Bill Haney
The Plant Communicator by St. Croix Corp. - tells you if your plants need fertilizer or water with sound - Available at Sears - Walgreens - Turnstyle - Franks Nursery & Crafts (ending voiceover by Ed Grennan)
Restano Furniture & Interiors - 7124 West Grand Avenue

PSA for National Foundation, March of Dimes, Metro Chicago (voiceover by Ed Grennan)

PSA for Immigration & Naturalization Service Aliens Address Report Requirement - "All aliens must report their address to the U.S. immigration during January" (voiceover by Ed Grennan) - I wonder if that includes Mork and Alf?

First 40 seconds of The Fugitive episode "Second Sight" (in color, from 1966-67 season) (thought that was Martin Sheen at first but it's actually actor Tim Considine)

This was from a tape donated to The Museum of Classic Chicago Television as part of The Mike and Britta Fayette Collection.

This aired on local Chicago TV the first week of 1978 during the 1:00am to 1:30am timeframe. (can't pinpoint the exact airdate unfortunately since there are no listings for which Fugitive episode aired at the time)

This was from a tape donated to The Museum of Classic Chicago Television as part of The Mike and Britta Fayette Collection.

About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:

The Museum of Classic Chicago Television's primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s and early 80s, primarily) recorded off of any and all Chicago TV channels; footage which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical purposes. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, and to view more of the 4,700+ (and counting) video clips available for viewing in our online archive, please visit us at:

[LaurenLover]

I think the one you linked with the same opening links to this exact new one you posted here, not the one talking about Lee Harvey Oswald.

[troytakesphotos]

They put a hell of a lot of resources into a show that aired at 1am... and Ron looks like he knows it too.

[davanmani]

Pat O’Brien is laughing but Ron was no different except that he could anchor and host as well as report better about himself as anybody.