Thursday, August 5, 1976

[DSalter]

I remember excitedly gathering in front of our family television on Thursday evening August 5, 1976, to watch the one-hour NBC special on the Beach Boys, who were all over the media that bi-centennial summer.

I know little about television production but assume that many hours of video were shot in June of that year and then carefully edited down to a 50-minute broadcast.

Does anyone know what may have happened to all that unused footage? Was it destroyed or is it stored in an NBC vault somewhere? It would be fascinating to see the raw footage and sad to think of it languishing in a vault never to be seen.

[Tony S]

Great question and the Beach Boys it's okay was a really enjoyable documentary from the summer of 1976. I remember doing the same thing excitingly pulling up to the TV and watching that special. Loved all the band members solo spots and interview segments too. That was a great year for the Beach Boys

[guitarfool2002]

I have that special burned on disc somewhere, pretty enjoyable viewing! I'll have to dig it out of a dusty box somewhere, I haven't seen it in years. There has since been a DVD rerelease called "Good Vibrations Tour" or something, anyone have that one?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since Lorne Michaels produced that special, wouldn't the footage be the property of Lorne's "Broadway Video" company who also oversees SNL's archives? Or would NBC have it cataloged if any outtakes exist? I know NBC News has a pretty extensive archive available (for a fee, for research and licensing) but I'd think the raw footage would be in the hands of the production company Broadway Video. Just a guess.

[Rocker]

Yes, it was released as "Good Vibrations Tour" on DVD. Someone once gave me a copy of that. Definitely needs an audio update (remaster and remix). Here's the intro with "Fun, Fun, Fun":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtJ_Kquafyg


I too wondered how much was shot. Personally I don't care too much about the footage off stage (although it's great to see Dennis on the Harmony) but I'd guess they filmed the complete show. That would make a great release, even though Bruce is missing.

[guitarfool2002]

Here are two articles about the special from August 5, '76:

[guitarfool2002]

Notice in the first article, Lorne Michaels said they shot 25 hours of video to edit down to 50 minutes for the TV special...so there were 24 hours' worth of Beach Boys video footage in existence in 1976, who knows where it ended up or how much of it was saved. But I think Broadway Video would be the first place to start.

Also note that Gary Weis was involved in the special...Gary is one of my all-time favorite directors, from the early days of SNL, and his early SNL short film showing travelers returning home to family members set to "Homeward Bound" is one of my favorite and most moving pieces of film I've ever seen. Check out Gary Weis' work, he was unique and terrific.