Date of the CBS TV Concert?
I here present relevant pieces of information, which are a Catch-22 insofar as establishing the date of the CBS TV Recital. I think the one certain conclusion to be drawn is that the concert was NOT recorded solely in February 1968, as has been widely reported.
1.
See below for a ticket, which once belonged to Horowitz's stand-in
pianist, Sheldon Skolnik, dated December 20, 1967. Upon Skolnik's death, the
ticket was inherited by his friend Steven Heliotes. Recounted by Heliotes, the backstory
explains why the ticket is whole and not torn:
"... I remember Sheldon telling
me that due to some kind of oversight or other not enough tickets had been
distributed to fill the hall (it was by invitation only I don't believe they
were put on sale to the public) and Sheldon and some others were given handfuls
of tickets and went out in front of Carnegie Hall stopping people on the street
asking them if they'd like a free ticket for a Horowitz concert.... I'm sure he
had a few tickets virgo intacta which would explain it."
PDF- front of ticket
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4spbsz
PDF- back of ticket
http://www.sendspace.com/file/pmdee7
2.
The CBS recordings log clearly notes recording sessions on
both January 2 and February 1, 1968. Further confusion is added by the fact
that the January 2 takes are marked "remake," which would seem to indicate a
previous session.
PDF- Recordings Log
http://www.sendspace.com/file/zbl8u5
3.
A New York Times article from January 17, 1968 implies that the concert has not yet been
broadcast OR played, and reads as though the agreement to televise the concert
had only just been reached (not the case, since there was definitely a
recording session on January 2). The article specifies that the concert will
take place on February 1.
PDF- New York Times
http://www.sendspace.com/file/a18ct0