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Originally Posted by Steve D.
All of Fred Astaire's NBC color specials were restored some years back. They aired on the Disney Channel without the peacock opening. I believe the specials were withdrawn from broadcast at the request of Mrs. Astaire and the Astaire estate. The series of shows, as I said were broadcast on NBC starting in 1958. That '58 show was sponsored by Chrysler Corp. They were re-aired in the 60's on CBS. I don't believe they were ever offered on VHS or DVD. The original NBC Peacock opening does show up from time to time on various shows and anniversary specials. I guess catching and recording it is just matter of luck.-Steve D.
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I have the set of three on VHS, bought a couple of years ago so I assume it's still available out there. No peacock. Quality is not very good - the sound sucks on these tapes. I taped a broadcast off of my local PBS station about 2 months ago that was much better. This was off of their digital channel (ATSC, not NTSC) so the quality was as perfect as the original source. They originally were going to show the first Astaire special, but when the broadcast came on they said oops we don't really have the rights to show this one, so they showed the second one. I know I've seen ALL of these on public TV at one point or another a few times so I wish Mrs. Astaire would make up her mind, don't show them, show them, whatever....Frenchy