1954

1954/55 – I Love Lucy was #1 on CBS Monday, third year running. Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1954 season; I Married Joan was cancelled in the third season. Alternate Shows: The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM. Philco TV Playhouse and Goodyear TV Playhouse were on NBC Sunday at 9 PM. Clorets Summer Theatre and Kleenex Summer Theatre were on NBC Tuesday at 9 PM. The Elgin TV Hour and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS Tuesday at 9:30 PM. The Best Of Broadway and Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts were on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM. The Best Of Broadway was on every fourth Wednesday. Front Row Center and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS at Wednesday at 10 PM for the summer. The Donald O'Connor Texaco Show and The Jimmy Durante Show were on NBC Saturday at 9:30 PM under the umbrella title, Texaco Star Theatre. Biggest New Hit: Disneyland was #6 on ABC Wednesday. For some odd reason, Walt Disney created the infomercial by accident. Yes, Disneyland was a very long commercial for the theme park. It opened on July 17, 1955. The show premiered on October 27, 1955. Walt Disney Studios was the first major studio to make the leap to TV; others fears that TV was the enemy and denied to put any hit movies on TV. For the biggest coup of Walt Disney, ABC poured some money in the theme park. This was the struggling ABC's first major hit series. ABC remained a investor for Disneyland and had stock till 1960. Walt Disney was displeased with ABC's actions with the park. Therefore, Walt Disney moved the series to NBC in 1961. Walt Disney and ABC came a full circle; Walt Disney brought ABC in 1996. Original Run: Climax was on CBS Thursday at 8:30 PM for four seasons. Damon Runyon Theatre was on CBS Saturday at 10:30 PM for two seasons. Medic was on NBC Monday at 9 PM for three seasons. The Millionaire was on CBS Wednesday at 9 PM for six seasons. Producers' Showcase was on NBC Monday at 8 PM for three seasons. Shower Of Stars was on CBS Thursday at 8:30 PM for four seasons. It only aired monthly. Name Change: The Colgate Comedy Hour to Comedy Variety Hour in the summer of 1955. Henry Youngman left The Henry And Rocky Show few weeks later after the series premiered. The new name was Rocky's Corner. Junior Press Conference to College Press Conference. The Peak Of The Sports News to Red Barber's Corner. The Buick–Berle Show to The Milton Berle Show. Your Favourite Playhouse to Stage 7. YFP only shown reruns. Stage 7 was the new ones. Radio: The Halls Of Ivy was on NBC from 1950–1952. Ronald Colman and his wife, Benita Hume, reprised their roles for the TV series. Reruns: CBS aired The Pride Of The Family reruns in the summer of 1955. Kodak Request Performance shown reruns of the episodes from Ford Theatre and Fireside Theater. Spotlight Playhouse shown reruns of Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars. Your Play Time shown reruns of Pepsi–Cola Playhouse and Studio 57. The Return: ABC revived Horizons for a few months. It was previously on ABC from 1951–1952. ABC revived Stop The Music for another two years with Bert Parks as the host again. ABC revived The Stork Club for another year. It was previously on CBS from 1950–1953. NBC revived Cameo Theatre after a three–year absence. It was their fourth and last season. Meet Corliss Archer returned to syndication after a two–year absence. It was previously on CBS. Bobby Ellis was the only cast member to return. Sammy Kaye returned to ABC in So You Want To Lead A Band, the same name of the 1950 NBC series. He was previously on NBC in the summer of 1953. Summer Replacement: America's Greatest Bands replaced The Jackie Gleason Show. The series only lasted the summer. And Here's The Show replaced The George Gobel Show. The series only last the summer. Caesar Presents replaced Caesar’s Hour for the summer. Cameo Theatre replaced The Loretta Young Show for the summer. Clorets Summer Theatre and Kleenex Summer Theatre replaced Fireside Theatre for the summer. Frankie Laine Time replaced Arthur Godfrey And His Friends for the summer. Spotlight Playhouse replaced The Red Skelton Show for five summers from 1955–1959. Those Whiting Girls replaced I Love Lucy for the summer. Undercurrent replaced The Lineup for the summer. Windows replaced Person To Person for the summer. Your Play Time replaced Your Hit Parade for the summer. Switch Networks: Big Town went from CBS to NBC. Down You Go went from DUM to CBS in June 1955. Ethel & Albert went from NBC to CBS in June 1955. Lux Video Theatre went from CBS to NBC. Place The Face went from CBS to NBC. Red Barber's Corner went from CBS to NBC in May 1955. The Red Buttons Show went from CBS to NBC. Treasury Men In Action went from NBC to ABC. Who Said That went from NBC to ABC. Tidbits: This was the last time that four major networks to be in the same season till FOX came to primetime in 1987 with Married With Children and The Tracey Ullman Show. NBC added a host, James Mason, to Lux Video Theatre. The CBS version didn’t have one. Studio 57 was one of the last regular DuMont series. The Mickey Rooney Show was also known as Hey Mulligan, its subtitle. Medic was Richard Boone's first starring vehicle. Clorets Summer Theatre and Kleenex Summer Theatre shown repeats from Four Star Playhouse. Compass was never seen on ABC's flagship station in New York. Norby was the first series to be filmed in color. Eastman Kodak Company sponsored it. Back then, all series were still shown in B/W. Climax was a LIVE show in the beginning; even some tape productions were added throughout the run. James Bond was first adapted for an episode, Casino Royale, for Climax. This James Bond was an American, played by Barry Nelson. Casino Royale finally made it to the big screen in 2006 with the new James Bond, Daniel Craig. Casino Royale is the first James Bond novel; it came out in 1953. The James Bond movies started in 1962 with Sean Connery in Dr. No, the sixth James Bond novel. 1954/55 Fall Season One Season (1954/55) The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin – 1954–1959, ABC, western, Lee Aaker Caesar’s Hour – 1954–1957, NBC, comedy/variety, Sid Caesar Climax! – 1954–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE, William Lundigan Compass – 1954–1957, ABC, travelogue December Bride – 1954–1959, CBS, comedy, Spring Byington Disneyland – 1954–1983, ABC, anthology, Walt Disney Father Knows Best – 1954/55, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC; 1958–1960, CBS, Robert Young The George Gobel Show – 1954–1959, NBC; 1959/60, CBS, comedy variety, George Gobel It's A Great Life – 1954–1956, NBC, comedy, Frances Bavier The Jimmy Durante Show – 1954–1956, NBC, comedy/variety, LIVE, Jimmy Durante Lassie – 1954–1971, CBS; 1971–1974, Syndication, adventure, Tommy Rettig The Lawrence Welk Show – 1954–1971, ABC, music, Lawrance Welk The Lineup – 1954–1960, CBS, police drama, Warner Anderson People are Funny – 1954–1961, NBC, quiz, Art Linkletter Shower Of Stars – 1954–1958, CBS, musical variety, LIVE, William Lundigan Stop The Music – 1954–1956, ABC, quiz, Bert Parks The Vise – 1954–1955, ABC, suspense anthology, Ron Randell Cancelled TV Show: The Best Of Broadway – CBS, anthology, LIVE Come Closer – ABC, quiz, Jimmy Nelson Dear Phoebe – NBC, comedy, Peter Lawford The Donald O'Connor Texaco Show – NBC, comedy, Donald O'Connor Elgin TV Hour – ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Halls Of Ivy – CBS, comedy, Mary Wickes Honestly Celeste – CBS, comedy, Celeste Holm The Ilona Massey Show – DUM, music, Ilona Massey The Imogene Coca Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Imogene Coca The Mail Story – ABC, dramatic anthology The Mickey Rooney Show – NBC, comedy, Mickey Rooney So You Want To Lead A Band – ABC, musical variety, Sammy Kaye The Stork Club – ABC, talk, Sherman Billingsley Studio 57 – DUM, dramatic anthology Time Will Tell – DUM, quiz, Ernie Kovacs Willy – CBS, comedy, June Havoc 17 out of 33 new series SURVIVED for 1955/56 ABC – 6/11, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Compass, Disneyland, The Lawrence Welk Show, Stop The Music & The Vice CBS – 6/10, Climax!, December Bride, Father Knows Best, Lassie, The Lineup & Shower Of Stars DUM – 0/3, NBC – 5/9, Caesar’s Hour, The George Gobel Show, It's A Great Life, The Jimmy Durante Show & People are Funny Mid season shows Appointment With Adventure – April 1955–1956, dramatic anthology, LIVE The Bob Cummings Show – January/September 1955, NBC; July 1955–1957, CBS; 1957–1959, NBC, comedy, Bob Cummings Country Music Jubilee – January 1955–1960, ABC, country music, Red Foley Damon Runyon Theatre – April 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, Donald Woods The Dunninger Show – June–Sept 1955, NBC; 1956, ABC, mind reading, Joseph Dunninger Frankie Laine Time – July 1955–1956, CBS, musical variety, Frankie Laine The Johnny Carson Show – June 1955–1956, comedy/variety, Johnny Carson The Millionaire – January 1955–1960, CBS, dramatic anthology, Marvin Miller Producers' Showcase – 1954–1957, NBC, anthology Professional Father – CBS, comedy, Barbara Billingsley Spotlight – June 1955–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology Star Tonight – February 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE TV Reader's Digest – January 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, Hugh Reilly Talent Varieties – June–November 1955, ABC, variety, Slim Wilson Tomorrow's Careers – March 1955–1956, ABC, information, Lynn Poole $64,000 Question – June 1955–1959, CBS, game, Hal March Undercurrent – July 1955–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology Cancelled Mid Season Shows America's Greatest Bands – CBS, music, Paul Whiteman And Here's The Show – NBC, comedy variety, LIVE, Ransom Sherman Caesar Presents – NBC, comedy/variety, LIVE, Bobby Sherwood Cameo Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Clorets Summer Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology Do It Yourself – NBC, comedy/information, Cliff Arquette Front Row Center – CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE The Henny And Rocky Show – ABC, comedy/variety, Buddy Weed Hollywood Backstage – ABC, beauty tips, Erin Westmore Horizons – ABC, discussion, Dr. Louis H. Bauer The Ilona Massey Show – DUM, music, Ilona Massey It's Alec Templeton Time – DUM, music, Alec Templeton It's Magic – CBS, magic, Paul Tripp Jan Murray Time – NBC, variety, LIVE, Jan Murray, Tina Louise The Julius LaRosa Show – CBS, music, LIVE, Julius LaRosa Key To The Ages – ABC, discussion, Dr. Theodore Low Kleenex Summer Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology Kodak Request Performance – NBC, dramatic anthology, Jack Clark Let's See – ABC, quiz, John Reed King Make The Connection – NBC, quiz, LIVE, Jim McKay, Betty White The Matt Dennis Show – NBC, music, Matt Dennis Mr. Citizen – ABC, dramatic anthology, Allyn Edwards Music 55 – CBS, music, LIVE, Stan Kenton Musical Chairs – NBC, quiz, Bill Leyden, Mel Blanc Norby – NBC, comedy, David Wayne, Jack Warden Pall Mall Playhouse – ABC, western anthology The Pee Wee King Show – ABC, musical variety, Pee Wee King Penny To A Million – ABC, quiz, Bill Goodwin President Eisenhower's News Conference – ABC, news The Search – CBS, documentary, Charles Romine So This Is Hollywood – NBC, comedy, Mitzi Green The Soldiers – NBC, comedy, LIVE, Hal March Soupy Sales – ABC, children's, LIVE, Soupy Sales Stage 7 – CBS, dramatic anthology Star Time Playhouse – CBS, dramatic anthology The Swift Show Wagon – NBC, variety, Horace Heidt Those Whiting Girls – CBS, comedy, Margaret Whiting, Barbara Whiting Upbeat – CBS, music, LIVE, Russ Case What's Going On? – ABC, quiz, 5 episodes, Lee Bowman Windows – CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Syndication Eddie Canton Comedy Theatre – syndication, comedy/variety, Eddie Canton Meet Corliss Archer – syndication, comedy, Ann Baker Mr. District Attorney – syndication, police drama, David Brian The New Adventures of China Smith – syndication, adventure, Dan Duryea Passport To Danger – 1954–1956, syndication, intrigue, Cesar Romero Science Fiction Theatre – April 1955–1957, syndication, sci fi anthology, Truman Bradley Soldiers Of Fortune – Early 1955–1956, syndication, adventure, John Russell Late Night Tonight – 1954–1957, NBC, talk/variety, Steve Allen Two Seasons (1953/54) Annie Oakley – January 1954–1957, syndication, western The Best In Mystery – 1954–1956, NBC, dramatic anthology The Big Picture – 1953–1959, ABC, documentary Chicago Symphony – January 1954–1955, DUM, music City Detective – 1953–1955, syndication, crime drama College Press Conference – 1953–1954, ABC, interview Doctor I.Q. – November 1953–1954, ABC, quiz 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 The Dotty Mack Show – February–August 1953, DUM; 1953–1956, ABC, music Flight #7 – June 1954–1955, ABC, travelogue Greatest Sport Thrills – January 1954–1956, sports I Lead Three Lives – 1953–1956, syndication, intrigue Life With Father – November 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, LIVE The Loretta Young Show – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology The Hunter – July-December 1954, NBC, international intrigue Jamie – 1953–1954, ABC, comedy, LIVE Janet Dean, Registered Nurse – February 1954–1955, syndication, medical drama The Jo Stafford Show – February 1954–1955, music, LIVE Justice – April 1954–1956, NBC, law drama, LIVE Life With Elizabeth – 1953–1955, syndication, comedy Make Room For Daddy – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy The Martha Wright Show – April–December 1954, ABC, music, LIVE Medic – 1954–Nov 1956, medical drama Midwestern Hayride – June 1954–1956, NBC; July 1957–1958, ABC; 1959, NBC, musical variety My Favorite Husband – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy Omnibus – 1953–1956, CBS; 1956/57, ABC, culture One Minute Please – July 1954–1955, DUM, quiz Opera Cameos – January–November 1954, DUM, music Pepsi–Cola Playhouse – 1953–1955, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Person to Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview Public Defender – March 1954–1955, CBS, legal drama The Ray Bolger Show – 1953–1955, ABC, comedy Red Barber's Corner – 1953–1955, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC, sports commentary The Stranger – June 1954–1955, DUM, crime drama That's My Boy – April 1954–1955, CBS, comedy The Tony Martin Show – April 1954–1956, NBC, music, LIVE Topper – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy Truth Or Consequences – May 1953–1956, NBC, quiz U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE The Vaughn Monroe Show – August 1954–1955, CBS, musical variety, LIVE Waterfront – February 1954–1956, syndication, adventure Three Seasons (1952/53) The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy The Adventures Of Superman – 1952–1958, syndication, adventure 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 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 Meet Millie – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy Music Show – May 1953–1954, DUM, music Name That Tune – June 1953–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, CBS, game 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 The Red Buttons Show – 1952–1954, CBS; 1954/55, NBC, comedy/variety Saturday Night Fights – January 1953–1955, ABC, boxing 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 Your Play Time – June 1953–1954, ABC; 1955, NBC, dramatic anthology Four Seasons (1951/52) The Adventures Of Kit Carson – 1951–1955, syndication, western Chance Of A Lifetime – May 1952–1953, ABC; 1953–1955, DUM; 1955/56, ABC, talent The Dinah Shore Show – November 1951–1957, NBC, music Dragnet – January 1952–1959, NBC, police drama Foreign Intrigue – 1951–1955, syndication, intrigue Goodyear TV Playhouse 1951–1960, NBC, dramatic anthology I Love Lucy – 1951–1957, CBS, comedy I’ve Got A Secret – June 1952–1967, CBS, game 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 Little Margie – June 1952–1955, NBC, comedy Name's The Same – December 1951–1955, ABC, quiz 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 Five Seasons (1950/51) The Adventures Of Wild Bill Hickok – April 1951–1958, syndication, western 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 Lux Video Theatre – 1950–1954, CBS; 1954–1957, NBC, LIVE Mr. Wizard – May 1951–1955, NBC, educational 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 Six 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 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 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 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 What’s My Line? – February 1950–1967, CBS, game Your Hit Parade – summer of 1950–1958, NBC; 1958/59, CBS, music Seven 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 Mama – July 1949–1956, CBS, comedy/drama, LIVE The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS; 1955–1963, NBC, variety Philco TV Playhouse – 1948–1955, NBC, dramatic anthology Studio One – 1948–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology Who Said That? – December 1948–1954, NBC, 1955, ABC, quiz Eight seasons (1947/48) Meet The Press – November 1947–1965, NBC, interview The Milton Berle Show – June 1948–1956, NBC, comedy/variety 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 Nine seasons (1946/47) Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports – 1946–1960, NBC, boxing Kraft Television Theatre – May 1947–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology