ABC News Nightline - "Bitter Cold" - WLS Channel 7 (1st 16 Minutes, 1/11/1982)

Here's the first nearly 16 minutes of an edition of ABC News Nightline, anchored by Ted Koppel, dealing with the bitter cold that has gripped much of the nation and how it has affected those with no heat.

Includes:

Station ID / promo for "Roustabout" (voiceover by Ernie Anderson)

Opening setup for coming edition (including, after this coverage, a look at mudslides in Northern California), followed by opening titles (and voiceover by Bill Rice)

36 out of 50 states over the past night had temperatures drop below zero, with at least 57 dead as a result; Louisville, KY's -40 wind chills led to cancellation of garbage collection; with following reports:

Tim Fleischer of WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo, NY (later to join WABC Channel 7 in New York) reporting on Buffalo's 27" snow and 50 mph winds; interviews with people outside airport and inside shelters; Lt. Alfred McDonald of Buffalo Police Department speaks of tenfold increase in burglaries during blizzard; and at least 3 have died thus far

NYC Housing Commissioner Anthony Gliedman, at Heat Complaint Center, speaks about what is being done for people freezing to death in their homes, and speaking of up to 25,000 complaints coming in, and temperatures inside below legal standard of 68 degrees in daytime and 55 degrees at night, with 260 homes having no heat at all

In Dover, FL, Rebecca Chase next to attempts to save Florida citrus crops from the sub-freezing temperatures (22 degrees as she speaks); grower Don Hemphill speaks to her about the situation; she recounts previous year where another cold wave caused the state to lose 25% of the citrus crop

Once-and-future Chicago TV legend John Coleman, from WSB Channel 2 in Atlanta, details how bad the cold weather is in Florida, as well as across much of the country, and predicting snow in about half the country as well as less severe cold down the road; and previewing his next morning's Good Morning America weather forecasts

Commercials for:

Wang Computer (voiceover by Paul Frees?)

Pontiac 6000 (Note: NOT the 6000 SUX)

National Geographic special on sharks, underwritten by Gulf and to air on PBS (voiceover by Gene Barry?)

Masson Light Chablis wine

Promo for The Fall Guy (voiceover by Ernie Anderson)

Segment on how super-cold affects one's heating bills, starting with report from James Walker, on wood-burning, coal and kerosene stoves, and their effectiveness vs. oil or gas; an interview with Rutherford, NJ kerosene saleswoman Marie Wysock; another, with customer Pat Rose, is about to get underway when recording ends

"It is, statistically, speaking at least, the bitterest widespread cold wave to ever hit this nation during the 20th century."

This aired on local Chicago TV on Monday, January 11th 1982 during the 10:30pm to 10:46pm timeframe.

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