Out of the 13,858 episodes produced between 1956-2010, does anyone know how many actually survided and currently exist? I know that many shows saw their master tapes wiped (and re-used over and over) or were never archived at all.
shareI have to wonder if the very early episodes were even videotaped since it was a brand new technology when the series premiered. The early episodes might have been kinescoped for rebroadcast of the live show on the west cost. This might be why there are some very early scenes still availalbe.
Once videotape became used regularly I'm guessing they only saved episodes or scenes that they thought they might want for future episodes.
I was surprised to learn that up until the point they expanded to an hour broadcast they were still doing the show live for the east coast. I think it was Eileen Fulton's book that mentioned this, that they had to work double shifts for a month or so to do the daily broadcast then shoot scenes for the start of the hour long shows. Must have been odd shooting scenes that wouldn't be seen for weeks when they had to still do the daily half hour show.
The Nov. 22, 1963 episode definitely exists and we all know why.
May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?
Everything from the time the show went to an hour to the end exists. CBS and P&G actually have a lot of tapes from the 70's when it was a special episode or they thought they might want to use a flashback. There are kinescopes from the 50's and 60's as well as some b&w 60's videotapes. I used to have a friend who worked for CBS so who knows if its all still there.
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