1953

1953/54 – I Love Lucy was #1 on CBS Monday, second year running. Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1953 season; This Is Show Business was cancelled in the sixth season. Alternate Shows: The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM. General Electric Theater and The Fred Waring Show were on CBS Sunday at 9M. Philco TV Playhouse and Goodyear TV Playhouse were on NBC Sunday at 9 PM. Motorola TV Theatre and The U.S. Steel Hour were on ABC Tuesday at 9:30 PM. Center Stage and The U.S. Steel hour were on ABC Tuesday at 9:30 PM for the summer. Biggest New Hit: There was no new show in the top 30 ratings. Local TV: Your Chevrolet Showroom was on local TV in New York in October 1943, then it moved to ABC a month later. Movies 2 TV: Life With Father was based on the 1947 movie. That's My Boy was based on the 1950 Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movie. This is the first movie that Jerry and Dean had "actually" acting roles. Eddie Mayeoff reprised "Jarring" Jack Jackson for the series. Topper was based on the 1937 Cary Grant movie. Name Change: Campbell Soundstage to Campbell Summer Soundstage in June 1954 as a film series. A Letter To Loretta to The Loretta Young Show in February 1954. Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen to The Jane Froman Show Joseph Schildkraut Presents was also known as Personal Appearance Theatre. The RCA Victor Show to The Dennis Day Show. Gillette Summer Sports Reel to Sportsreel. The Strawhatters to Summer In The Park. TV Recital Hall to Recital Hall. Talent Patrol to Soldier Parade in Mid–1954. Texaco Star Theater to The Buick–Berle Show. Texaco moved the sponsorship to another night and Buick took over the sponsorship of the newly name show. Original Run: Coke Time was on NBC Wednesday/Friday at 7:30 PM for five seasons. Radio: Earn Your Vacation was on CBS from 1949–1950. My Favorite Husband was on CBS from 1948–1951, Lucy Ball and Richard Denning. Sky King was on the radio from 1946–1954. Topper was on NBC in 1945. Reruns: Top Plays Of 1954 shown reruns of Ford Theatre. The Return: The Hank McCune Show returned to syndication after a brief run on NBC in 1950. This time, it lasted a year. ABC revived Leave It To The Girls for another year. NBC revived Truth Or Consequences in May 1954. NBC revived Kollage Of Musical Knowledge for the summer; it lost it sparks without Kay Kyser and his maniac crew. Front Page Detective returned to DUM after a year absence. CBS revived It's News To Me for the summer with Walter Cronkite as the new host. The Hunter returned to NBC. It was previously on CBS in 1952. NBC revived Midwestern Hayride after a year absence. NBC revived Recital Hall. It was last seen in 1951. Red Barber's Clubhouse returned to CBS as The Peak Of The Sports News. It was last seen in 1950. Simultaneous: Jesse White was on Private Secretary and The Danny Thomas Show, both from 1953–1957. Private Secretary started in February 1953. Summer Replacement: The Best In Mystery replaced The Big Story for the summers of 1954–1956. The Blue Angel replaced See It Now for the summer. Center Stage replaced Motorola TV Theatre for the summer. Neither series come back next season. The Jack Paar Show replaced My Favourite Husband for the summer. Saturday Night Revue replaced Your Show Of Shows for the summer. Summer Holiday replaced The Jo Stafford Show for the summer on Tuesday. Song Snapshot On A Summer Holiday replaced The Jane Froman Show for the summer on Thursday. Top Plays Of 1954 replaced Armstrong Circle Theatre for the summer. Your Play Time replaced the two alternated series, The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary, for the summer. Switch Networks: Bank On The Stars went from CBS to NBC. On Your Way went from DUM to ABC in January 1954. Man Against Crime went from CBS to NBC and DUM in the same time period on both networks – Sundays at 10:30 PM. Mr. & Mrs. North went from CBS to NBC in January 1954. Place The Face went from NBC to CBS. Revlon Mirror Theatre went from NBC to CBS. It was no longer LIVE on CBS. Two For The Money went from NBC to CBS. Twenty Questions went from DUM to ABC. Tidbits: Man Against Crime aired on NBC and DuMont at the same time - Sunday at 10:30 PM. Life With Elizabeth was Betty White's first series. In the middle of the season, Pepsi–Cola Playhouse was no longer LIVE. Joan Crawford was in the first CBS episode of Revlon Mirror Theatre; it was her TV dramatic debut. Life With Father was the first ever series to be film in color, but was shown in B/W. Helen Grayco starred with her husband, Spike Jones, in The Spike Jones Show in four different seasons. Gene Autry discovered Gail Davis. She was featured in his movies and his series, then she got her own series, Annie Oakley, in 1954. Gene produced the series. 1953/54 Fall Season One Season (1953/54) The Big Picture – 1953–1959, ABC, documentary, Capt. Carl Zimmerman Dollar A Second – 1953/54, DUM; summer of 1954, NBC; 1954/55, ABC; summer of 1955, NBC; 1955/56, ABC; summer of 1957, NBC, quiz, Jan Murray A Letter To Loretta – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology Jamie – 1953–1954, ABC, comedy, LIVE, Brandon De Wilde Junior Press Conference – 1953–1954, ABC, interview, Ruth Geri Hagy Make Room For Daddy – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy, Danny Thomas My Favorite Husband – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, Joan Caulfield Omnibus – 1953–1956, CBS; 1956/57, ABC, culture, Alistair Cooke The Peak Of The Sports News – 1953–1955, CBS; 1955–1958, sports commentary, Red Barber Pepsi–Cola Playhouse – 1953–1955, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE, Arlene Dahl Person To Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview, Edward R. Murrow Topper – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, Anne Jeffreys U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Where's Raymond – 1953–1955, ABC, comedy, Ray Bolger Cancelled TV Shows: Back That Fact – ABC, quiz, Joey Adams Bonino – NBC, comedy, LIVE, Ezio Pinza Colonel Humphrey Flack – DUM, comedy, LIVE, Alan Mowbray The Comeback Story – ABC, drama/interview, LIVE, George Jessel The Dave Garroway Show – NBC, variety, Dave Garroway The Frank Leahy Show – ABC, sports commentary, Frank Leahy Front Page Detective – DUM, newspaper drama, Edmund Lowe Leave It To The Girls – ABC, discussion, Maggi McNellis Joseph Schidkraut Presents – DUM, dramatic anthology, Joseph Schikraut Judge for Yourself – NBC, quiz, Fred Allen Man Behind The Badge – CBS, police anthology, LIVE, Norman Rose Melody Street – DUM, music, Allan Brown Meet Mr. McNutley – CBS, Ray Milland Motorola TV Theatre – ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Nine Thirty Curtain – DUM, dramatic anthology Of Many Things – ABC, discussion, Dr. Bergen Evans On Your Way – DUM, quiz, Bud Collyer Phillip Morris Playhouse – CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Pride Of The Family – ABC, comedy, Fay Wray, Natalie Wood Sky King – ABC, western, Kirby Grant Showcase Theater – ABC, dramatic anthology Stars On Parade – DUM, musical variety, Don Russell Through The Curtain – ABC, discussion, George Hamilton Combs 14 out of 37 new series SURVIVED for 1954/55 ABC – 8/18, The Big Picture, Jamie, Junior Press Conference, Make Room For Daddy, Pepsi–Cola Playhouse, Topper, U.S. Steel Hour & Where's Raymond CBS – 4/7, My Favorite Husband, Omnibus, The Peak Of The Sports News & Person To Person DUM – 1/8, Dollar A Second NBC – 1/4, A Letter To Loretta Mid season shows The Best In Mystery – 1954–1956, NBC, dramatic anthology Better Living TV Theatre – DUM, documentary/discussion, Fischer Black Center Stage – ABC, dramatic anthology Chicago Symphony – January 1954–1955, DUM, music, Fritz Reiner Doctor I.Q. – November 1953–1954, ABC, quiz, Jay Owen The Dotty Mack Show – February–August 1953, DUM; 1953–1956, ABC, music, Dotty Mack Flight #7 – June 1954–1955, ABC, travelogue The Hunter – July-December 1954, NBC, international intrigue, Keith Larsen It's News To Me – July 1951–1953, CBS, quiz, Walter Cronkite The Jo Stafford Show – February 1954–1955, music, LIVE, Jo Stafford Justice – April 1954–1956, NBC, law drama, LIVE Kollage Of Musical Knowledge – NBC, quiz, Tennessee Ernie Ford Life With Father – November 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, LIVE, Marion Ross The Martha Wright Show – April–December 1954, ABC, music, LIVE, Martha Wright Medic – 1954–Nov 1956, medical drama, Richard Boone Midwestern Hayride – June 1954–1956, NBC; July 1957–1958, ABC; 1959, NBC, musical variety, Bill Thall One Minute Please – July 1954–1955, DUM, quiz, John K. McCaffery Opera Cameos – January–November 1954, DUM, music, Giovanni Martinielli Public Defender – March 1954–1955, CBS, legal drama, Reed Hadley The Stranger – June 1954–1955, DUM, crime drama, Robert Carroll That's My Boy – April 1954–1955, CBS, comedy, Eddie Mayeoff The Tony Martin Show – April 1954–1956, NBC, music, LIVE Tony Martin Truth Or Consequences – May 1953–1956, NBC, quiz, Jack Bailey The Vaughn Monroe Show – August 1954–1955, CBS, musical variety, LIVE Cancelled Mid Season Shows The American Week – CBS, news/commentary, Eric Sevareid Answers For Americans – ABC, discussion, Hardy Burt Background – NBC, mews/documentary, Joseph C. Harsch The Blue Angel – CBS, variety, Orson Bean Cheer Television Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology, 5 episodes Comment – NBC, public affairs Droodles – NBC, cartoon quiz, Roger Price, Carl Reiner The Duke – NBC, comedy, Paul Gilbert Earn Your Vacation – CBS, quiz, Johnny Carson Gamble On Love – DUM, quiz, 4 episodes, Denise Darcel Greatest Sport Thrills – January 1954–1956, sports, Stan Lomax It's About Time – ABC, quiz, Dr. Bergen Evans The Jack Paar Show – CBS, variety, LIVE, Jack Paar The Jane Pickens Show – ABC, music, Jane Pickens Let's Dance – ABC, music, LIVE, Julius LaRosa Love Story – DUM, anthology, LIVE The Marriage – NBC, comedy, 8 episodes, Jessica Tandy The Mask – ABC, crime drama, LIVE, Gary Merrill Melody Tour – ABC, musical variety, Stan Freeman Men Of Tomorrow – ABC, documentary Motorola TV Theatre – ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Night Editor – DUM, dramatic anthology, Hal Burdick Now – ABC, documentary On The Boardwalk With Paul Whiteman – ABC, variety, LIVE, Paul Whiteman Open Hearing – ABC, documentary, John Daly The Spike Jones Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Spike Jones Summer Holiday – CBS, music, LIVE, Merv Griffin Summer Playhouse – NBC, anthology, reruns, Nelson Case Recital Hall – NBC, music, LIVE Take It From Me – ABC, comedy, Jean Carroll The Telltale Clue –CBS, crime drama, Anthony Ross This World–1954 – ABC, documentary Time Will Tell – DUM, quiz, Ernie Kovacs Top Plays Of 1954 – NBC, dramatic anthology Travel Corner – ABC, documentary Two In Love – CBS, quiz, Bert Parks U.S. Highway 1954 – ABC, travelogue Vaudeville Show – ABC, musical variety, 4 episodes, Glenn Osser Viceroy Star Theatre – CBS, dramatic anthology What Do You Have In Common? – CBS, quiz, Ralph Story What's In A Word – CBS, quiz, Audrey Meadows Who's The Boss? – ABC, quiz, Walter Kiernan The World Of Mr. Sweeney – NBC, comedy, Helen Wagner Your Chevrolet Showroom – ABC, variety, Cesar Romero Syndication Annie Oakley – January 1954–1957, syndication, western, Gail Davis Flash Gordon – syndication, sci fi, Steve Holland City Detective – 1953–1955, syndication, crime drama, Rod Cameron The Hank McCune Show – syndication, comedy, Hank McCune I Lead Three Lives – 1953–1956, syndication, intrigue, Richard Carlson Janet Dean, Registered Nurse – February 1954–1955, syndication, medical drama, Ella Raines Life With Elizabeth – 1953–1955, syndication, comedy, Betty White Waterfront – February 1954–1956, syndication, adventure, Preston Foster Two Seasons (1952/53) The Abbott And Costello Show – 1952–1954, syndication, comedy The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy The Adventures Of Superman – 1952–1958, syndication, adventure At Issue – July 1953–1954, ABC, interview The Big Issue – April 1953–1954, DUM, public affairs Bank On The Stars – 1953, CBS, 1954, NBC; quiz Cavalcade Of America – 1952–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology Coke Time – April 1953–1957, NBC, music, LIVE Death Valley Days – 1952–1975, syndication, western anthology Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents – January 1953–1957, syndication, anthology Enterprise – 1952–1955, ABC, documentary Ethel & Albert – April 1953–1954, NBC; June–Sept 1955, CBS; 1955/56, ABC, comedy Favorite Story – January 1953–1955, syndication, dramatic anthology Fight Talk – January 1953–1955, ABC, sports commentary Ford Theatre – 1952–1956, NBC; 1956/57, ABC, dramatic anthology Four Star Playhouse – 1952–1956, CBS, dramatic anthology General Electric Theater – February 1953–1962, CBS, dramatic anthology I Married Joan – 1952–1955, NBC, comedy It Happened In Sports – July 1953-1954, NBC, sports commentary The Jackie Gleason Show – 1952–1955, CBS, comedy variety The Jane Froman Show – 1952–1955, CBS, musical variety, LIVE The Life Of Riley – January 1953–1958, NBC, comedy Madison Square Garden Highlights – June 1953–1954, ABC, sports commentary Medallion Theater –July 1953–1954, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Meet Millie – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy Meet Your Congress – July 1953–1954, DUM, debate Mr. & Mrs. North – 1952/53, CBS; 1954, NBC, comedy/mystery Music At The Meadowbrook – May–December 1953, ABC, musical variety, LIVE Music Show – May 1953–1954, DUM, music Name That Tune – June 1953–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, CBS, game New York Giants Quarterback Huddle – 1952–1953, DUM, sports commentary Orchid Award – May 1953–1954, ABC, musical variety Our Miss Brooks – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy Place The Face – July 1953, NBC; 1953/54, CBS; 1954/55, NBC, quiz Private Secretary – February 1953–1957, CBS, comedy Quick As A Flash – March 1953–1954, ABC, quiz, LIVE The Red Buttons Show – 1952–1954, CBS; 1954/55, NBC, comedy/variety Ramar Of Jungle – 1952–1954, syndication, adventure The Range Rider – 1952–1954, syndication, western Revlon Mirror Theatre – June–Sept 1953, NBC; 1953, CBS, dramatic anthology Saturday Night Fights – January 1953–1955, ABC, boxing Saturday Night Revue – June 1953–1954, NBC, variety Summer In The Park – May 1953–1954, DUM, variety TV's Top Tunes – June 1953–1955, CBS, music, LIVE Talent Patrol – January 1953–1955, ABC, talent/variety This Is Your Life – 1952–1961, NBC, testimonial Two For The Money – 1952/53, NBC; 1953-1957, CBS, quiz The Walter Winchell Show – 1952–1955, ABC, news/commentary Washington Exclusion – June–November 1953, DUM, discussion Your Play Time – June 1953–1954, ABC; 1955, NBC, dramatic anthology Three Seasons (1951/52) The Adventures Of Kit Carson – 1951–1955, syndication, western Campbell Soundstage – June 1952–1954, NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Chance Of A Lifetime – May 1952–1953, ABC; 1953–1955, DUM; 1955/56, ABC, talent The Dennis Day Show – November 1951–1954, NBC, various The Dinah Shore Show – November 1951–1957, NBC, music Dragnet – January 1952–1959, NBC, police drama Goodyear TV Playhouse 1951–1960, NBC, dramatic anthology Foreign Intrigue – 1951–1955, syndication, intrigue Hour Of Decision – 1951–1954, ABC, religion I Love Lucy – 1951–1957, CBS, comedy I’ve Got A Secret – June 1952–1967, CBS, game Inspector Mark Saber–Homicide Squad – 1951–1954, ABC, detective drama Life Is Worth Living – February 1952–1955, DUM; 1955–1957, religious Masquerade Party – 1952, NBC; 1953, 1954, CBS; 1954–Fall 1956, ABC; 1957, NBC; 1958, CBS; 1958/59, NBC; October 1959–January 1960, CBS; Jan–Sept 1960, NBC, quiz/panel Mr. Peepers – July 1952–1955, NBC, comedy, LIVE My Friend Irma – January 1952–1954, CBS, comedy My Little Margie – June 1952–1955, NBC, comedy Name's The Same – December 1951–1955, ABC, quiz On Guard – April 1952–1954, ABC, documentary On The Line With Considine – January 1952–1954, NBC, news interview Place The Face – July 1952–1955, CBS, quiz The Red Skelton Show – 1951–1953, NBC; 1953–1970, CBS, 1970/71, NBC; variety Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars – 1951–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE See It Now – April 1952–1955, CBS, documentary The Week In Religion – March 1952–1954, DUM, religion Four Seasons (1950/51) The Adventures Of Wild Bill Hickok – April 1951–1958, syndication, western America In View – May 1951–1953, ABC, travelogue Big Town – 1950–1954, CBS; 1954–1956, NBC, newspaper drama The Cisco Kid – 1950–1956, syndication, western The Colgate Comedy Hour – 1950–1956, NBC, variety Danger – 1950–1955, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Down You Go – May 1951–1955, DUM; summer of 1955, CBS; 1955/56, ABC; summer of 1956, NBC, quiz The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show – 1950–1958, CBS, comedy The Jack Benny Show – 1950–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, comedy The John Hopkins Science Review – 1950–1954, DUM, information Lux Video Theatre – 1950–1954, CBS; 1954–1957, NBC, LIVE Mr. Wizard – May 1951–1955, NBC, educational The Paul Winchell–Jerry Mahoney Show – 1950–1954, NBC, comedy/variety Sports Spot – June 1951–1954, CBS, sports commentary Strike It Rich – July 1951–1955, CBS, quiz The Stu Erwin Show – 1950–1955, ABC, comedy Treasury Men In Action – 1950, ABC; 1951–1954, NBC; 1954/55, ABC, crime drama Watch Mr. Wizard – May 1951–1955, NBC, educational What's The Story – July 1951–1955, DUM, quiz You Asked For It – December 1950–1952, DUM; 1951–1959, ABC, audience participation You Bet Your Life – 1950–1961, NBC, quiz Five Seasons (1949/50) Armstrong Circle Theatre – June 1950–1957, NBC; 1957–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology The Arthur Murray Party – 1950, ABC; 1950/51, DUM, 1951/52, ABC; 1952, CBS; 1952/53, DUM; 1953, CBS; 1953/54 – 1954/55, NBC; 1956, CBS; 1956/57, NBC, musical variety Beat The Clock – March 1950–1958, CBS, quiz The Big Story – 1949–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology Blue Ribbon Bouts – 1949–1955, boxing Broadway To Hollywood–Headline Clues – July 1949–1954, DUM, magazine The Gene Autry Show – July 1950–1956, CBS, western Life Begins At Eighty – January–August 1950, NBC; 1950 – 1952, ABC; 1952–1955, DUM; 1955/56, ABC, discussion The Lone Ranger – 1949–1957, ABC, western Martin Kane – 1949–1954, NBC, detective drama, LIVE Man Against Crime – 1949–1953, CBS; 1953/54, NBC/DUM, detective drama Pantomime Quiz – July 1950–1951, CBS; Jan–March 1952, NBC; 1952/53, CBS; 1953/54, DUM; summer of 1954, CBS; Jan–March 1955, ABC; 1955–1957, CBS; 1958/59, ABC, quiz The Plainclothesman – 1949–1954, DUM, police drama Robert Montgomery Presents – January 1950–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology Rocky King, Inside Detective – January 1950–1954, DUM, crime drama, LIVE Sportsreel – 1950–1955, NBC, sports/sports commentary Twenty Questions – 1949, NBC; March 1950–1951, ABC; 1951–1954, DUM; 1954/55, ABC, quiz The Voice of Firestone – 1949–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, ABC, music The Web – July 1950–1954, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE What’s My Line? – February 1950–1967, CBS, game Your Hit Parade – summer of 1950–1958, NBC; 1958/59, CBS, music Your Show Of Shows – February 1950 – 1954, NBC, comedy/variety Six seasons (1948/49) Arthur Godfrey & His Friends – January 1949–1959, CBS, musical variety Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts – 1948–1958, CBS, talent Break The Bank – 1948/49, ABC; 1949–1952, NBC; 1952/53, CBS; summer of 1953, NBC; Jan 1954–1956, ABC; 1956/57, NBC, quiz Captain Video And His Video Rangers – June 1949–1955, DUM, children's Fireside Theatre – April 1949–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology The Fred Waring Show – April 1949–1954, CBS, musical variety The Goldbergs – January 1949–1951, CBS; 1952–1953, NBC; 1954, DUM, comedy, LIVE Greatest Fights Of The Century – 1948–1954, NBC, boxing Mama – July 1949–1956, CBS, comedy/drama, LIVE Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club – April 1949–1954, ABC, talent, LIVE The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS; 1955–1963, NBC, variety Philco TV Playhouse – 1948–1955, NBC, dramatic anthology Quiz Kids – March 1949–1952, NBC; Jan–Nov 1953, CBS, quiz Studio One – 1948–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology This Is Show Business – July 1949–1954, CBS, variety Who Said That? – December 1948–1954, NBC, 1955, ABC, quiz Seven seasons (1947/48) Author Meets The Critics – April 1948–1949, NBC; 1949/50, ABC; 1951/52, NBC, 1952–1954, DUM, book discussion The Buick–Berle Show – June 1948–1956, NBC, comedy/variety Meet The Press – November 1947–1965, NBC, interview Original Amateur Hour – January 1948–1949, DUM; 1949–1954, NBC; 1955–1957, ABC; 1957/58, NBC; May 1959, CBS; March 1960, ABC, talent Toast Of The Town – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety Eight seasons (1946/47) Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports – 1946–1960, NBC, boxing Kraft Television Theatre – May 1947–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology