San Francisco 1989 earthquake 35th anniversary soon...

bchristmastree9

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This Oct. 17, 2024, as you probably know, will mark the 35th anniversary of the massive earthquake that ravaged the Bay Area of San Francisco, and disrupted a World Series.


Also, here are some commercials from the Friday, Oct. 20, 1989 broadcast of 20/20 on ABC, from WABC in NYC; this set of commercials includes the opening of the broadcast (starting at the 1:03 mark), and per announcer Bob Cruz, one of the stories was about that massive earthquake (Lynn Sherr was in Oakland).

 

DallasFanForever

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I remember this like it was yesterday. Is this really 35 years ago? I recall getting ready to watch the game when suddenly my TV screen just went to a still shot of the ABC logo for a few seconds and then the announcers were back stating that there had been an earthquake.

The images that will always remain in my mind are the collapse of a portion of the Golden Gate and all those cars being trapped on it. I remember them showing buildings on fire around the Bay Area. For the first time the World Series seemed insignificant. After that there was a delay for over a week and given the sense of the tragedy no one really cared as much. Eventually the show had to go on but everything felt anticlimactic after that, as it should.
 

bchristmastree9

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I remember this like it was yesterday. Is this really 35 years ago? I recall getting ready to watch the game when suddenly my TV screen just went to a still shot of the ABC logo for a few seconds and then the announcers were back stating that there had been an earthquake.

IIRC, it was Al Michaels who said the immortal words, "I'll tell you what, we're having an earth...", and then that was that.
 

DallasFanForever

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IIRC, it was Al Michaels who said the immortal words, "I'll tell you what, we're having an earth...", and then that was that.
Yes, it was in fact Al Michaels. Then when they came back on the air he said something to the effect of “well that had to be the greatest opening ever in sports history bar none.”

It was quite surreal. It’s definitely one of those events that you remember exactly where you were when it happened.
 

rlr718

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Wow 35 years! I remember eating dinner the tv was on n the other room and we could hear it. It was one of those stop everything you’re doing moments.
Less than a year later I visited San Francisco and the Bay Area in general.
 
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