You want "Early Color"??? This is about as Early as it gets...

[Pete Deksnis]

Just Google 'premiere ed reitan' to get the info:

“Premiere” – The first Commercial CBS Color System Telecast - 16 Sponsors

June 25, 1951 4:35 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. This program followed five minutes of a color test pattern that started at 4:30 P.M. Entertainment portions originated from the CBS Color Studio 57, at 109th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York. Commercials were originated at another “theater” (location unidentified) with Frances Buss as director – possibly, the Faye Emerson segment was a remote from MOMA or CBS at 485 Madison Ave.

With: Arthur Godfrey, Faye Emerson, Sam Levenson, Ed Sullivan, Garry Moore, Robert Alda and Isabel Bigley (stars of Broadway’s new hit “Guys and Dolls”,), Bil Baird Marionettes, Sol Hurok’s New York City Ballet (arranged by George Balanchine), Patty Painter (“Miss Color Television”), Wayne Coy (Chairman of the FCC), William S. Paley (CBS Chairman), Frank Stanton (President of CBS), with Archie Bleyer’s Orchestra.

Sponsors for this first telecast were General Mills, Lincoln-Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Company, Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company Inc., Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, William Wrigley Jr. Company, Revlon, Thomas J. Lipton Inc., National Biscuit Company, Standard Brands Inc., Quaker Oats Company, Best Foods Inc., Pepsi-Cola Company and Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company.

The only picture that doesn't seem to fit the 1951 scenario is the 'bloodshot' eye; didn't all those versions come later? The first time I saw one broadcast was in the early sixties, and it was a different version.

Pete