ABC Wide World of Sports - 'The Harlem Globetrotters in Sierra Vista' - WLS Channel 7 (1978)

Here's a lengthy excerpt of ABC Wide World of Sports as aired on WLS Channel 7, spotlighting a (mostly complete) appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters at their training camp in the Barnes Field House at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ, playing against the New Jersey Reds. The play-by-play for this game, such as it was, was called by Howard Cosell.

The roster of the "Clown Princes of Basketball," as of this appearance consisted of Meadowlark Lemon (#36; who would announce his retirement from the team later in the year), Curly Neal (#22), Nate Branch (#32), Geese Ausbie (#35), Jerry Venable (#38), Twiggy Sanders (#42), Mel Davis (#19), Marques Haynes (#20), John Smith (#24), Dallas Thornton (#10) and Wolfman Lee (#34). Reds players include General Holman and (?) Buckner [actually Rick Butner] (#11). The referee is Andy Johnson, joined in the course of the game in officiating by Riley Pitkoff and Bruce Briggs.

The play-by-play (with some shots of a banner saying "Sierra Vista / Ft. Huachucha[sic] Welcomes ABC-TV") is intermixed with behind-the-scenes with the team, and recurring filmed segments about various legends retold Globetrotters style (narrated by Fred Foy).

After the end of the first part, Howard signals for a commercial break, but the tape cuts directly to the next sequence.

After the second part, Howard acknowledges soldiers stationed at Fort Huachucha; this leads to a filmed skit that is cut just as it's starting, and directly to the Globetrotters clowning with soldiers and visiting wounded veterans before play (and the hi-jinks) resumes.

Commercial: Allstate Homeowner's Insurance, followed by very brief shot of start of car commercial before cutting to film skit (already in progress) about the legend of the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, re-enacted both traditionally (voiceover by Fred Foy) and in Globetrotters' style (voiceover by Howard Cosell), before we get back to the action.

A very brief commercial is shown before the tape cuts back to the Globetrotters/Reds match.

Yet another brief commercial opening (for a drink) before tape cuts back to the hilarity on the court. At one point Geese douses Tony DeMarco of the Fort Huachuca sports staff with water. This is followed by a continuation of the Tombstone legend, Globetrotters-style (narrated by Fred Foy), before once again Howard picks up the action at Barnes.

The next commercial break is cut out entirely, and on the court some funny stuff with a cowboy hat. This leads into a segment of Meadowlark at his residence at El Rancho Escondido in Arizona before we get back to the game, with ventures into football and baseball before the action finally ends.

We then cut to the ending titles to the series, with sponsor billboards for Anheuser-Busch Natural Light and Gillette Right Guard (voiceover by host Jim McKay).

[Technical Note: On some angles, shots of Norelco PC-70 cameras used by ABC in those days can be seen, however briefly.)

This aired on local Chicago TV on Sunday, January 8th 1978 within the 3:30pm to 5:00pm timeframe (the 5 kHz telco audio was still on network feeds at that point for much of the country - but that would all change within the next month with diplexing which allowed video and audio to be fed through the same lines).

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[hughdismuke]

Curly and these Trotters are who I grew up with. The best Globers I ever seen. Talented, creative, confident and funny.

[johngsteel]

And narrated by the great Howard Cosell! Such joy and happiness!

[aorforever]

This era of globetrotters were the best - RIP Curly.

[babybro]

This really is like taking a time machine back to TV in 1978 Wonderful!

[zoneseven]

My eyes tear up as I watch this clip, remembering that Geese Ausby, Curly Neal, and the rest were the greatest good will ambassadors on the planet. But when you look at the Globetrotters, you realize that Meadowlark Lemon was the heart of it all and the greatest showman of all.
I think that if we ever want to rid the world of hatred, racism and war, just remove the politicians and send in the Harlem Globetrotters. Thanks to these wonderful heroes, I don't have one ounce of hatred in me. GOD BLESS Meadowlark Lemon and The Legendary Harlem Globetrotters

[NYYNYG]

Thanks for bringing back some wonderful childhood memories. What fantastic entertainers.

[kevinpayton]

I loved watching the Globetrotters on TV. They were larger than life celebrities back then.

[markwilson]

My dear friend in Meadowlark I’m missing him a lot not only entertain people in basketball when he was young but later in life he helped so many people before he died miss you brother....

[starterdc]

Man this was so good!! Globetrotters, Howard Cossel, Wide World of Sports footage .My eyes even got a little watery!! Really made my day!!

[gordonowens]

I like how the little kids are so mesmerized by what the Globetrotters are doing. I remember watching them as a kid and being just as awe struck.

[TheLincolnRanch]

I live in Sierra Vista AZ, I now have Meadowlark Lemon's 1970 Lincoln Continental MK-3 at my house...I saved it from our local old school junkyard as it was about to be crushed for scrap metal...it was well known in our local car groups....I just couldn't let it go this way So I'm giving it a 2nd lease of life I hope

[seand]

ABC Wild World of Sports was all we needed back in the day....they featured EVERYTHING!!!!

[jeffreysargent]

R.I.P. Curly Neal. Curly was a one of a kind who broke the mold on dribbling, half court shots, smiles, and fun on a basketball court. I'll never forget seeing him play live when I was a kid.

[jaymorgenthal]

The most talented and entertaining group of athletes we will ever see.

[peterquinn]

My Father and Mother took my brother and I to see them when they come out to Australia.
I wouldnt have been much more than ten years old if that.
They were larger than life and I remember the colours of their uniforms being so bright.
Im 50 years old now and have just lost my Father so seeing this brought back a good memory of my whole family.

[TheOlskoolever]

I'm now 55 and watching this brings me just as much joy now as it did as a 12 year old. Many of these trotters are no longer with us but I owe them so much for the joy they gave me and encouraging me to stay in school and get good grades. I remember getting their autographs.

[richiec.]

I use to LOVE watching the Harlem Globetrotters when I was a kid.

[paulnewsom]

If Times Could Be This Great Again, Thank You For This What a Great Era This was

[artemiasalina]

I absolutely loved these guys as a kid. They were the most athletically talented comedians I've ever seen. To be so good at both is rare, and nothing beat watching them with my father after dinner, laughing together in amazement at their incredible routines.

[michaelrich]

They were heroes to me back when I was a child.