WBBM Channel 2 - Channel 2 Weekend News (Part 1, 1978)

Here's Part 1 of a complete edition of the Channel 2 Weekend News on WBBM Channel 2, anchored by Bob Wallace (substituting for Harry Porterfield). Also featuring Brian Boyer. Includes:

Tail end of commercial for Arlington Race Track - "That's Entertainment" (post time 2pm, Monday-Saturday)

Animated WBBM Station ID (voiceover by Jerry Harper?)

Opening of Channel 2 Weekend News (with Dick Marx's famous "I Love Chicago, Chicago My Home"-based Channel 2 News theme) - featuring Harry Porterfield, sportscaster Bruce Roberts and weather forecaster Irene Rodriguez, and a long shot of the newsroom-studio (voiceover by ??)

Bob Wallace (with no explanation of Porterfield's absence) previews some of the stories of this edition:

- Floods in Rockford, IL leave 600 people seeking higher ground
- Chicago area auto mechanics threaten strike over overtime clause in recent contract with dealers
- Several thousand runners undeterred by rain while participating in 12-mile run on behalf of Chicago Lung Association

With that, Bob reads the following stories:

- National Safety Council reports 230 traffic deaths nationwide so far over the July 4th holiday, and may reach 750 by the end of the holiday; an estimate that holiday travelers will accumulate over a billion miles of driving during the weekend; in Cook County, three driving-related fatalities so far

- Film (from WIFR Channel 23 in Rockford, IL) of cars driving through flooded roads and people wading in water, the result of the Rock River and its tributaries swelling past flood stage, following torrential rains the previous night (July 1st); 600 in low-lying areas seeking shelter in higher ground; National Weather Service says rivers will not crest until the 3rd

- Flash flooding in Rolling Meadows; Elmhurst, Riverside and Brookfield also threatened, but O'Hare and Midway airports are running normally despite rain; Bob previews upcoming weather report from Irene Rodriguez

- Though many outdoor activities are cancelled due to rain, Chicago Distance Classic goes on as scheduled. Brian Boyer reports on the 12.4-mile marathon in which 6,000 initially participated (and which served as a fundraising drive for the Chicago Lung Association) starting at 8am; as the race went on, the participants swelled between 8,000-10,000; the winner, Gary Bjorkland of Minneapolis, MN (in 61:20), is interviewed, and refers to second-place Paul Bannon of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as a "formidable opponent" (what, no word on the man in a wheelchair?); following those two were three University of Chicago track club members: Stan Mavis, Herb Lindsay and Dan Claytor(sp?); attending physician Dr. David Bachman is also interviewed about the 20 who dropped out for reasons ranging from the heat to fractures; Mayor Michael Bilandic greeted the runners who made it

- Bob reports on the upcoming Lakefront Concert and Fireworks Spectacular on the 3rd at 7pm, with a free concert from the Chicago Symphony and Grant Park Symphony; plus some other free concerts and celebrations on the 4th in places such as Gompers, Olympia, McKinley and Indian Boundary; a morning reading of the Declaration of Independence, orations, band concert and a Pennsylvania rifle demonstration on the steps of the Chicago Historical Society; and increased CTA service and reduced fares on the 3rd and 4th; on the 4th, many businesses and federal, state, city and county offices will be closed for the holiday, and reopen on the 5th

Bob then signals a commercial break by previewing an upcoming story by Cyndy Brucato on a threatened Chicago auto mechanics' strike

Long shot of newsroom with super text: "Channel 2 News Continues...."

Commercial: Country Time Good Old-Fashioned Lemonade-Flavored Drink Mix - featuring a scarecrow - "Not Too Tart, Not Too Sweet" - with character actor Harry Holcombe as Grandpa - (C) General Foods Corp. 1978

Commercial: Long Chevrolet Elmhurst Summer Savings Spectacular - open on July 4th from 9am-9pm

This aired on local Chicago TV on Sunday, July 2nd 1978 during the 6pm to 6:30pm timeframe.

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