About
"What I wanted to do was control and harness the videotape."
In this three-and-a-half-hour interview, Tony Verna (1933-2015) talks about breaking into the business in local television at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, where he worked on local show Big Top and the original version of American Bandstand, then titled Bandstand. He recalls his groundbreaking invention - instant replay for sporting events - created in the wake of the Kennedy assassination for the 1963 Army-Navy football game. He outlines his continued work as a director in network television for CBS television sports, directing football, baseball, and horse-racing events for TV. Verna talks about several global television events with which he was involved: Live Aid, Sport Aid, and Global Prayer for World Peace, in which he worked with and directed Pope John Paul II. He talks about working on the 1960 and 1984 Olympics, and the 1990 Goodwill Games. He also recalls working with legendary sports announcers, including Pat Summerall, Jack Whitaker, Dizzy Dean, and Vin Scully. Finally, he envisions the future of television technology, and speaks of shifting audiences and modes of delivery for programming. Karen Herman conducted the interview on June 17, 2004 in Century City, CA.
Highlights
Tony Verna on creating the instant replay for the Army/Navy football game in December of 1963
Tony Verna on working with Pope John Paul II on the Global Prayer for World Peace
Tony Verna on directing Live Aid
Tony Verna on the audience reaction to the instant replay and subsequent uses of it
Tony Verna on directing Super Bowl XII in 1978
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on working on the original local version of American Bandstand; on working with Dick Clark on Live Aid
On working in local Philadelphia television and the equipment he used; on serving as assistant director on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person; on getting into sports broadcasting
Chapter 2
On directing sports for CBS; on the post-game show; on directing CBS's Baseball Game of the Week and working with sports announcers
On traveling with various camera lenses for broadcasts; on directing the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome; on the creation of the instant replay
Chapter 3
On inventing the instant replay; on coming up with the term "instant replay"; on the plays instant replay was first used for and the audience reaction
On how the instant replay has changed sports; on directing television coverage of horse races; on the first satellite television broadcast from London in 1965
Chapter 4
On directing the "Ice Bowl"; on dealing with live television disasters and censorship issues; on directing various Super Bowl broadcasts and the advent of color television
On directing Super Bowl XII in 1978; on working with the NFL; on directing various other sports events for television
Chapter 5
On directing boxing broadcasts; on directing winter sports and dealing with sports injuries on camera; on various specials and ESPN
On serving as the head of Ceasar's Palace Productions; on directing the 1984 Summer Olympics; on directing Live Aid
Chapter 6
On directing Live Aid and his favorite Live Aid moments; on directing the Global Prayer for World Peace
On directing Pope John Paul II; on directing The Goodwill Games and working with George H.W. Bush; on his company Praxis Limited
Chapter 7
On his company Praxis Limited; on changes in the television industry; on the craft of directing and producing television
On choosing shots, his directing style, and challenges in the control room; on how television audiences have changed since he started in television; on advice to people getting into television, highlights and regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
American Bandstand
Tony Verna on one day working on the original local version of American Bandstand when it was titled Bandstand
Global Prayer for World Peace
Tony Verna on directing the Global Prayer for World Peace
Tony Verna on working with Pope John Paul II on the Global Prayer for World Peace
Goodwill Games
Tony Verna on directing The Goodwill Games
Live Aid
Tony Verna on working with Dick Clark on Live Aid
Tony Verna on directing Live Aid
Tony Verna on the technical set up for Live Aid
Tony Verna on directing Live Aid
Tony Verna on his favorite Live Aid moments and the biggest challenge of Live Aid
Mike Douglas Show, The
Tony Verna on directing The Mike Douglas Show from Moscow
Monday Night Football
Tony Verna on directing Monday Night Football
Olympics
Tony Verna on leaving WCAU to cover The 1960 Rome Olympics
Tony Verna on the process of getting the tapes to America during The 1960 Rome Olympics
Tony Verna on directing the 1984 Summer Olympics
Person to Person
Tony Verna on assistant directing Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow
Super Bowl
Tony Verna on directing Super Bowl XII in 1978
Tony Verna on directing various Super Bowls
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Tony Verna on censorship issues with live television
Coverage
Tony Verna on directing CBS's Baseball Game of the Week
Tony Verna on the advent of the post-game show
Tony Verna on directing Monday Night Football
Tony Verna on working with the NFL and Pete Rozelle on football broadcasts
Tony Verna on directing hockey
Tony Verna on directing basketball
Tony Verna on directing television coverage of boxing
Tony Verna on directing winter sports for television and dealing with injuries on television
Tony Verna on directing the 1984 Summer Olympics and athletes promoting sponsorship
Tony Verna on directing The Goodwill Games
George H.W. Bush
Tony Verna on directing George H.W. Bush in Public Service Announcements
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Tony Verna on broadcasting the 1963 Army/Navy game in the wake of the Kennedy Assassination
Network Creation
Tony Verna on working with ESPN and how they've changed sports broadcasting
Olympic Games
Tony Verna on covering the 1960 Rome Olympics
Tony Verna on directing the 1984 Summer Olympics and athletes promoting sponsorship
Ronald Reagan
Tony Verna on directing an interview with then President-elect Ronald Reagan
Sports
Tony Verna on covering the 1960 Rome Olympics
Tony Verna on directing CBS's Baseball Game of the Week
Tony Verna on the advent of the post-game show
Tony Verna on directing Monday Night Football
Tony Verna on working with the NFL and Pete Rozelle on football broadcasts
Tony Verna on directing Super Bowl XII in 1978
Tony Verna on directing hockey
Tony Verna on directing basketball
Tony Verna on directing various Super Bowls
Tony Verna on directing television coverage of boxing
Tony Verna on directing winter sports for television
Tony Verna on directing The Goodwill Games
Super Bowl
Tony Verna on directing Super Bowl XII in 1978
Tony Verna on directing various Super Bowls
Technological Innovation
Tony Verna on creating the instant replay for the Army/Navy football game in December of 1963
Tony Verna on the advent of the instant replay
Tony Verna on directing the first satellite feed from London
Tony Verna on using the "action track" in sporting events and the advent of color television
Tony Verna on the "Ice Bowl"
Tony Verna on his company, Praxis Limited and "instant instant replay"
Television and the Presidency
Tony Verna on directing an interview with then President-elect Ronald Reagan
Tony Verna on directing George H.W. Bush in Public Service Announcements
Television Industry
Tony Verna on censorship issues with live television
Tony Verna on working with ESPN and how they've changed sports broadcasting
Tony Verna on how television audiences have changed since he started in the business
Professions
Directors
Tony Verna on his directing style and challenges in the control room
Tony Verna on advice to aspiring television directors
Tony Verna on choosing shots while directing
Technology Innovators
Tony Verna on the rise of DVR
Genres
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Tony Verna on directing Live Aid and Sport Aid
Religious Programming
Tony Verna on working with Pope John Paul II on the Global Prayer for World Peace
Sports
Tony Verna on covering The 1960 Rome Olympics
Tony Verna on creating the instant replay for the Army/Navy football game in December of 1963
Tony Verna on inventing the instant replay and some of its early uses
Tony Verna on directing the "Ice Bowl"; on dealing with live television disasters and censorship issues; on directing various Super Bowl broadcasts and the advent of color television
Tony Verna on directing Super Bowl XII in 1978; on working with the NFL; on directing various other sports events for television
Tony Verna on directing the 1984 Summer Olympics and athletes promoting sponsorship
Tony Verna on directing winter sports for television and dealing with injuries on television
Tony Verna on directing television coverage of boxing
People
Roone Arledge
Tony Verna on directing the 1984 Summer Olympics and athletes promoting sponsorship
Dick Clark
Tony Verna on working with Dick Clark on Live Aid
Howard Cosell
Tony Verna on Howard Cosell
John F. Kennedy
Tony Verna on broadcasting the 1963 Army/Navy game in the wake of the Kennedy Assassination
Ernie Kovacs
Tony Verna on Ernie Kovacks' early days in local television
Edward R. Murrow
Tony Verna on assistant directing Person to Person with Edward R. Murrow
Pope John Paul II
Tony Verna on working with Pope John Paul II on the Global Prayer for World Peace
Ronald Reagan
Tony Verna on directing an interview with then President-elect Ronald Reagan
Rod Serling
Tony Verna on directing Monday Night Football
Pat Summerall
Tony Verna on getting the equipment and coming up with the term "instant replay"