Camel News Caravan
The Camel News Caravan or Camel Caravan of News was a 15-minute American television news program aired by NBC News from February 14, 1949 to October 26, 1956. Sponsored by the Camel cigarette brand and anchored by John Cameron Swayze, it was the first NBC news program to use NBC filmed news stories rather than movie newsreels. On February 16, 1954, the "Camel News Caravan" became the first news program broadcast in color, making use of 16mm color film. In early 1955, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, maker of Camel cigarettes, cut back its sponsorship  to three days a week. Chrysler's Plymouth division sponsored the other days, and on those days, the program was labelled the "Plymouth News Caravan". The program featured a young Washington correspondent named David Brinkley, and competed against "Douglas Edwards with the News" on rival CBS. With greater resources, the "News Caravan" attracted a larger audience than its CBS competition until 1955. Launched on February 16, 1948, by NBC as "NBC Television Newsreel", and later "Camel Newsreel Theatre" it began as a 10-minute program that featured Fox Movietone News newsreels. John Cameron Swayze provided voice-over for the series . The "Camel News Caravan" was an expanded version of the "Camel Newsreel Theatre" feature Swayze on-camera. It was also known as the "Camel Caravan of News." The "Camel News Caravan" was replaced by the "Huntley-Brinkley Report" on October 29, 1956. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had word passed to NBC's White House correspondent that the president was displeased by the switch. In late 1961 and early 1962, Swayze served as one of three anchors of ABC News's evening news program but was better known for his appearances in commercials for Timex watches.