75 years of NBC4: Our special tie with Red, White & BOOM!

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — With NBC4 celebrating 75 years in 2024 as the city’s first television station, it means about half of that time has been as the home of Red, White & BOOM!

Red, White & BOOM! began in 1981, with WCMH joining soon after and beginning annual broadcasts. In early years, with the fireworks shot off every July 3, WCMH would offer a special presentation the night of Independence Day. Soon after, the show became live, as it will be again this Wednesday night.

The show has been a mainstay in Columbus for generations, and NBC4 has been there for many special moments. With the show set for the 3rd — to allow community fireworks to keep their position on the 4th — it meant Columbus was the first major fireworks show after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. And even though summer thunderstorms have sometimes caused the show to begin earlier or later than the usual 10 p.m., the only thing to ever cancel Red, White & BOOM! was the COVID-19 pandemic. And it did so twice, in 2020 and 2021.

Here is a look back at one show per decade, from the NBC4 archives.

2022

The pandemic left people eager for a sense of community and a return to tradition, and Red, White & BOOM! provided that in 2022. Watch the full show.

2016

In a sad occasion for NBC4, 2024 will mark the first Red, White & BOOM! since the death of longtime anchor Mike Jackson in October. One of Jackson’s favorite assignments every year was Red, White & BOOM! See him below from 2016 alongside Colleen Marshall .

2002

The September 11 attacks shocked the country and the world, and in the months that followed, the sadness over those who were lost that day was combined with patriotism. Both are on display in our show from that year.

1991

Generations of on-air personalities were part of WCMH’s Red, White & BOOM!, including longtime anchor Doug Adair. See him here after the show, alongside WNCI Morning Zoo host John Cline.

1987

Chopper 4 was retired several years ago, but it took to the sky year after year during Red, White & BOOM! Watch here as it circles Downtown.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.