WLS Channel 7 - Eyewitness News - "New Year's News" (Excerpt, 1979)

Here's an excerpt of a New Year's Day edition from Eyewitness News anchored by Vivian Rosenberg(?) and Jay Levine, with reports from John Culea, Sheila Stainback and Karen Kalish. Includes:

As the tape comes in, we are in the middle of a report on a spate of murders of Chicago cab drivers, the latest victim being 24-year-old Bejan Moshkel Gosha (?) of North Sheridan Road, found shot to death at North Ashland after quarreling with a group of people.

This is followed by these other stories:

- Denials by Cook County State's Attorney's office of reports of investigations into finding a possible accomplice in murder of 27 people found in John Wayne Gacy's home; based on accounts by Jeff Rignall of how Gacy had drugged and sexually molested him; Gacy is due in court the next day over those charges. The fallout from Gacy's crimes has adversely affected the image of Chicago's Community of Clowns - as a report by John Culea elaborates, with interviews with members of the Clown Guild of Metropolitan Chicago including Robert Koepel who denies Gacy was ever a member; they also note how Gacy's mouth paint was un-clown-like, giving him the impression of being "harsh and mean"

Previews of coming stories:
- "Miracle Motor" allowing one to travel up 100,000 miles without gas
- Sheila Stainback at Michael Reese Hospital, about New Year's twin babies

Commercial: Alberto VO5 hot oil treatment with British actress Rula Lenska (who, needless to say, is better known in Britain than here - except for these ads)

Commercial: Boushelle's Annual 2 for 1 Cleaning Sale - a little different from this ad, but with the same memorable "HUdson 3-2700" jingle

Commercial: "The Basic Handyman's Guide" from Jewel Food Stores - how to take care of home repair yourself in an easy-to-read guide - Chapter One is free with a grocery purchase of $5.00 or more (voiceover by ??)

Commercial: Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes, in a smooth cheddary sauce - how to spruce up hamburger meals - "one of five plain-meat potatoes" (voiceover by ??)

- Vivian(?) introduces a report by Sheila Stainback (whose first name is misspelled "Shelia" on the lower third super) from Michael Reese Hospital on a set of twins who were born on New Year's Day, Telecia(?) and Theresa Brooks (5 pounds each), born eight minutes apart to mother Mary Brooks; she had called a cab, ambulance, police and firemen but because of a winter storm they couldn't come in time, and in the end a sister from the West Side rushed her to the hospital; the mother had given birth via the Lamaze method

- New Year's and birthday celebrations for Lithuanian immigrant and Chicago-based painter Adomas Varnas who turns 100, and attributes his longevity to (in Jay's words) "moderation, a balanced diet, a good wife, and his lifelong interest in art" (alas, alack, he would pass away on July 19th 1979, more than half a year after the celebrations for his second century on Earth)

- A report on a "miracle car" that could go 100,000 miles without stopping for oil or gas or causing pollution; Karen Kalish, reporting from Elgin, has all the details on the Magnetron motor (made of gallium and deuterium), which was designed by Rory Johnson who does not own a car and has never tested this motor in real-world situations

Jay previews Dr. Walt Lyons' upcoming weather report, and Tim Weigel's reports on the various Bowls; this leads to a look back on the January 1st 1954 Cotton Bowl (Rice vs. Alabama) with one of the weirdest plays in history involving Dicky Maegle and Tommy Lewis, that is part of a Time Capsule Quiz; the question is, what was the final score?
(SPOILER ALERT: The answer was (A) - the Rice Owls defeated the Crimson Tide, 28-6.)

Commercial: Dunn Rite Rent-a-Car - "$10 a Day Rents a Chevrolet" - including free mileage allowance each and every day - only applicable in Downers Grove and Skokie (voiceover by ??)

Partial commercial for The Suitery - "Festival of Fine Clothing" (voiceover by ??) - before tape cuts out

This aired on local Chicago TV on Monday, January 1st 1979 (New Year's Day).

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