Other than Monday Night Football, Letterman's weather forecasts were the only reason to watch Channel 13 at all in the early '70s. I lived in Bloomington at that time, and their signal was so bad that it was snowy even on cable.
If you look at Dave's fan base it's more made up of intelligent, funny type people. Most people are neither intelligent or funny. Having said that he regularly pulled in 8 million viewers on a post 12am time slot. That's pretty remarkable. The minority of haters are rabid and look for videos to hate on.
When Letterman started his late night show, he was amazing. He did weird, creative things that no one else in late night ever did. His show was hilarious. Over the years, he stopped doing that and his show became very mundane. But during the first few years, he was fantastic. Jay Leno was a good stand-up in his time, but as a late night host, he couldn't touch early Letterman.
Couldn't really care about what 'leno' lovers like... their sense of humor speaks for it self.... Look at today.. every SINGLE late night hosts lists Dave as their inspiration.. Kimmle, Conan, Fallon, etc.etc..etc.. none mention Leno
I was stationed at Ft. Harrison in 1972 and always remembered the wacky weatherman on the local affiliate. "What a hoot to see this. I hear this is the only surviving footage of Letterman from his work there.
Grew up with him in Indianapolis. Remember this and his satirical pieces on WNAP. Thought he was just some kind of local goofball. Was surprised when he made it big.
Noting influences of Kovacs, Python, and of course, Mad Magazine, distilled and flavored by Mr. Letterman. I wish there was more from this era, but I'm happy that we have at least this much.
The words "WLWI" and "ratings" were an oxymoron in those days (Channel 13 didn't become WTHR until 1976). Not only were they stuck with ABC before they became a big-league network (although they were starting to emerge, which was why they eventually signed with Channel 6), but their signal barely covered anything outside of the immediate Indianapolis area.
@@terry1919 -- I understood quite well what you were saying. This is about a television station in Indianapolis, not a radio station in Alabama. WLWI radio is irrelevant in this context. Have a nice day,.
LOL, Johnny Carson would've given him The Tonight Show if it'd been his choice, and Carson often submitted jokes for Letterman in the early days of "The Late Show", before Johnny died. If you hate Letterman, you must've also hated Carson because they were basically one and the same.
I grew up watching him as a substitute weatherman. We were always psyched if he showed up on the screen.
Whose jacket was he wearing?
holy shit thats cool
Sukatra I remember seeing DAVE LETTERMAN as a weatherman in Indianapolis. My mom use to talk about the crazy weather guy. That was a long time ago.
Other than Monday Night Football, Letterman's weather forecasts were the only reason to watch Channel 13 at all in the early '70s. I lived in Bloomington at that time, and their signal was so bad that it was snowy even on cable.
That’s so sick I’m glad you got to experience that
Everything that David Letterman did, he did like a late night talk show, until he got what he always wished for in 1982.
I don't see why everyone hates on him. He's so much better then Leno
That's because he is white and Noone likes white guys anymore
+veritas1007 Bullshit.
If you look at Dave's fan base it's more made up of intelligent, funny type people. Most people are neither intelligent or funny. Having said that he regularly pulled in 8 million viewers on a post 12am time slot. That's pretty remarkable. The minority of haters are rabid and look for videos to hate on.
When Letterman started his late night show, he was amazing. He did weird, creative things that no one else in late night ever did. His show was hilarious. Over the years, he stopped doing that and his show became very mundane. But during the first few years, he was fantastic. Jay Leno was a good stand-up in his time, but as a late night host, he couldn't touch early Letterman.
Couldn't really care about what 'leno' lovers like... their sense of humor speaks for it self.... Look at today.. every SINGLE late night hosts lists Dave as their inspiration.. Kimmle, Conan, Fallon, etc.etc..etc.. none mention Leno
That Letterman kid has a huge future ahead of him.
He would be on the same station AGAIN in ‘82 when he did “Late Night”
@@videonut1988 -- Only for the next 10 years, before he moved to CBS.
I was stationed at Ft. Harrison in 1972 and always remembered the wacky weatherman on the local affiliate. "What a hoot to see this. I hear this is the only surviving footage of Letterman from his work there.
So going to miss Dave. He is the best!!
His future was expecting him.
No kidding huh! The delivery was always where no other comic could touch him.
Dad told me about the studio ‘exploding’; this is the first time I’ve actually seen it. Funny stuff😸😸😸
Holy smokes. The opening music is "Liberation" by Chicago!
No WTHR history will be complete without David Letterman!
I love him
Hah! My dad told me about the studio 'blowing up' (in my defense, I was born the year that it aired)
God I miss him on TV
Grew up with him in Indianapolis. Remember this and his satirical pieces on WNAP. Thought he was just some kind of local goofball. Was surprised when he made it big.
Noting influences of Kovacs, Python, and of course, Mad Magazine, distilled and flavored by Mr. Letterman. I wish there was more from this era, but I'm happy that we have at least this much.
Good night Indianapolis
Do we have a time-frame for this ghost from Dave's broadcasting past? 1971? 72? Thank you, WTHR.
That music clip at the start sounds a lot like "Liberation" by Chicago Transit Authority.
It is.
Here from Howie Mandel mentioning this on JRE today.
his voic3e hasnt changed in 40 years lol
13thefuck13 this is like close to 50 years ago
Man, the ratings must have soared for WTHR when Dave was on there! Lolol Also him in those glasses! ROFLMAO! XD
legasiguy He was an unknown during these days.
legasiguy Maybe, in the middle of his career as weatherman
The words "WLWI" and "ratings" were an oxymoron in those days (Channel 13 didn't become WTHR until 1976). Not only were they stuck with ABC before they became a big-league network (although they were starting to emerge, which was why they eventually signed with Channel 6), but their signal barely covered anything outside of the immediate Indianapolis area.
Joke about the two states merging made me laugh. Hilarious ad-libbing about a messed up weather map. 🤣
He has that star quality from the beginning
$3 or $4.... Those were the days. But then we didnt have THE INTERENT!
@1:01 LOL I"ve never seen this before and I used to watch the show.
Gotta love him.
I remember watching his daytime talk show.
The power of that hair and those glasses though! I see why Dave was reluctant to show the flashbacks he did!
fans of Bill Tush should enjoy this. Dave has imagination.
I want to see him making fun of the little kids fascinated with lightbulbs. I heard about that one
Peyton and Eli brought me here
Cincy owned this station remember Bob Braun and Paul Dixon lol
Indiohio. I like it. It's a great idea...
The Magical box, the tree, the 24 inch rule and of course LHL or 383 =5 2424 or XX
WLWI is now a country station in Montgomery, Alabama
Actually, the original WLWI became WTHR in 1976, and swapped networks with WRTV/6 in 1979.
@@keithelster8858 apparently you didn't understand what I'm saying but have a happy day
@@terry1919 -- I understood quite well what you were saying. This is about a television station in Indianapolis, not a radio station in Alabama. WLWI radio is irrelevant in this context. Have a nice day,.
@@terry1919 actually the real call for the country station in Alabama is WLWI-FM as the AM station is WLWI.
1:07, ah.....
1:37 - Boom goes the dynamite.
Image ratio fail. Should be 4:3.
Hey. 13. Wrtv.
13 is WTHR, WRTV is 6
ABC, NBC, CBS
Still wore the glasses back then!
Letterman the weatherman
Loooooook At David Letterman then now he's looking like Santa Claus🤣
What year was this?
I believe this was in the late 60s or early 70s. Probably 1969 or so.
Dave looks so different now lol
Looks just like Harry 😍☺️
When TV was REAL
He's so high
Dave still eats in st Elmo’s. Big tipper.
Let’s bring Clover Power back. Looks interesting.
It was a 4-H thing. Imagine chickens in county fairs (my brother was a member).
What he does to stay on TV!
Young and happy back then. Life sure has a way of chewing you up. A real bummer at the end, life is.
yeah...poor him and his millions of dollars....real bummer...
David James what the hell are you talking about?
Tad chunky in those days!
It's a shame he never amounted to anything
By gorry!
Before he was a stand up comedian.
The shape of Texas on that map seems a little off. Or is it just me?
Actually most of the states on that map have somewhat skewed borders.
Welcome to weather “graphics” before the days of the computer!
Big mable
Wow, Remember when Dave was funny?
Yeah, always.
No wonder they didn't give this guy the "Late Show"...
"The Late Show" IS his show. "The Tonight Show" is the one you're referring to.
Saw your football predictions. You look...um, unique. I'm sure one of the NFL pre-game shows will be calling you any day now.
LOL, Johnny Carson would've given him The Tonight Show if it'd been his choice, and Carson often submitted jokes for Letterman in the early days of "The Late Show", before Johnny died. If you hate Letterman, you must've also hated Carson because they were basically one and the same.
Sad that he turned out to be a racist
OMG! He was just as unfunny back then as he is today.
Oh, so he's always been unfunny.
See. He was never funny. Not surprised.
yeah, the best funniest comedian is Eddie Murphy! He and Joe Piscopo were the best SNL Cast members ever!
See. He was never funny. Not surprised.