KTVU Vault
As KTVU began to reformat sports coverage and phase out the traditional nightly sportscast, I had an opportunity as a producer to rethink how to end the 6pm newscast. In what has become a favorite segment among viewers and those of us in the newsroom, the “KTVU Vault” looks back at the rich history of Channel 2 covering important moments in the Bay Area. The criteria is restrained: the story must be either something that happened in this day in history or is connected to the news of today. The archival video is lightly edited for length and supplemented with additional research to update the story into the present day. This segment has also become a way for me to tip my hat to the many amazing journalists who preceded me at KTVU and who helped build the station into a news powerhouse.
Grateful Dead 20th Anniversary Show
Former KTVU Political Editor Randy Shandobil profiled the Grateful Dead at the band’s 20th anniversary concert in June 1985 in Berkeley. Re-aired as the Dead and Company 60th Anniversary concerts took place in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on August 1, 2025.
September 11, 2001 Montage
I recall Alice Wertz, who was recently a freelance KTVU reporter, telling me a story about September 11. She was long ago an intern at KTVU in the 90s, became a reporter elsewhere, and had taken a break from reporting to raise her kids by the time of 9/11. That day, she called into the assignmend desk and asked how she could be of help. They sent her out to do a story on the spot about how people were feeling on that dark, heavy day. I thought she was maybe pulling my leg, but thanks to editor Mike Cerruti (who was also working that day), I indeed found Alice's story, as well as many other great stories of the heartbreak that people in the Bay Area and around the country were feeling. I was also partly inspired to do this segment after talking with one of our writers who was born in 2001 and therefore did not really experience 9/11.
Alcatraz Alternate Uses
There have been several proposals for repurposing Alcatraz since its closure in 1963. I found a story from 2009 when John Boehner suggested relocating Guantanamo Bay inmates there. The reporter was Mike Mibach, who is now the anchor of the 6pm news. I also found an interesting idea from 1988 to turn the island into a casino. This aired on July 17, 2025, when Attorney General Pam Bondi covertly visited Alcatraz after President Trump ordered the island to be used as a migrant detention facility.
1975 Gerald Ford Assassination Attempts
A look at some KTVU coverage of the assassination attempts of President Gerald Ford in Sacramento and San Francisco in 1975. A KTVU News crew interviewed another Manson Family member on the day of the first attempt in Sacramento. Re-aired September 5, 2025.
California Gubernatorial Recall Election 2003
A revisit of KTVU coverage of the California gubernatorial recall election on October 7, 2003. Re-aired October 7, 2025 and added contemporary commentary from Governors Davis and Schwarzenegger on the 2025 Proposition 50 redistricting ballot initiative.
Mikhail Gorbachev Visit May 1990
Team coverage from the KTVU Newsroom of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to the Bay Area in 1990, as well as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit in June 2010. Re-aired on August 15, 2025, the day of Vladimir Putin's summit with President Donald Trump in Alaska.
September 9, 2010 San Bruno Pipeline Explosion
Montage of KTVU team coverage of the San Bruno pipeline explosion on September 9, 2010. Re-aired September 9, 2025.
Pope John Paul II Bay Area Visit 1987
Jane Goodall Interview 2011
Clip of an interview between former KTVU health and sciences editor John Fowler and Jane Goodall in Walnut Creek in 2011. Re-aired October 1, 2025, the day Goodall died.
Hulk Hogan Interview 1986
Clip of an interview between former KTVU sports director Mark Ibanez and Hulk Hogan from February 1986 at the Cow Palace. Re-aired July 24, 2025, the day Hogan died.
First Outside Lands Festival 2008
Sale of the Golden State Warriors 2010
A revisit from July 15, 2010, when the Warriors were sold to the current ownership team led by Joe Lacob. The team had been struggling for some time, and Lacob beat out a higher bid from Oracle's Larry Ellison at the last minute. The team had also signed up and coming star Stephen Curry the year prior.
First Beatles show in the U.S. August 1964
The Beatles began their first concert tour in the U.S. at the Cow Palace on August 19, 1964. The final official Beatles concert was also in the Bay Area at Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966. Segment aired August 19, 2025.
First Major Government Shutdown 1981
The first major shutdown of the federal government occurred in November 1981. Story re-aired on October 3, 2025, during a federal government shutdown.