In the early days of TV and TV news, You Are There plots centered around the intentional anachronism of having television news crews on the scene of historical events that occurred long before the medium was invented. This was made more effective by using actual CBS News reporters. But only famed anchorman Walter Cronkite was actually seen. Field reporters generally remained off-camera while such historical figures as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin answered their questions speaking directly into the camera, while never questioning the presence of such modern technology.
In addition to the historic principals of each event, the anachronistic news reporters usually conducted "man in the street" interviews to get a wide-range of varied opinions and perspectives. For instance, in the episode on the Wright Brothers' first flight, a bystander utters the famous words, "If man was meant to fly, God would have given him wings."
The episode "July 4, 1776- The Signing of the Declaration of Independence" correctly shows colonial sentiment for independence in interviews with various common folk at a roadside tavern who, like the colonists as a whole, are divided one-third for independence, one-third against, and one-third undecided or uninformed. When these divisions erupt into a barroom brawl the unseen reporter quickly signs off and returns to the live feed from Independence Hall.