1955

1955/56 – The $64,000 Question was #1 on CBS Tuesday. Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1955 season; Meet Millie was cancelled in the fourth season. Alternate Shows: The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM. The Goodyear Playhouse and The Alcoa Hour were on NBC Sunday at 9:30 PM. The Milton Berle Show, The Martha Raye Show and The Chevy Show were on NBC Tuesday at 8 PM. Ozark Jubilee and Grand Ole Opry were on ABC Saturday at 8 PM. Grand Ole Opry appeared monthly. Armstrong Circle Theatre and Pontiac Presents Playwrights '56 were on NBC Tuesday at 9:30 PM. Armstrong Circle Theatre and The Kaiser Aluminum Hour were on NBC Tuesday at 9:30 PM for the summer. 20th Century Fox Hour and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM. Anniversary: Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports celebrated ten years on NBC. Kraft Television Theatre celebrated ten years on NBC. Biggest New Hit: The Honeymooners was #19 on CBS Saturday. Jackie Gleason gave up last season's #2 show, The Jackie Gleason Show, to solely focus on The Honeymooners. For some season, The Honeymooners was not a big hit it suppose to be. One of the most beloved sitcoms was cancelled in the first season. It lasted for thirty nine episodes. The Perry Como Show came to NBC at the right moment; he claimed Saturday for NBC with his one hour show. His fifteen minute show was on CBS from 1950–1955. Perry Como was #18 of the season. The next season, Jackie Gleason returned in his one hour variety show, but he couldn't put a dent in the new king of Saturday Night. Jackie Gleason was #29 and Perry Como was #11. Jackie Gleason called it a night at the end of the season; Perry Como continued to prosper on Saturday for the next few years. Movies 2 TV: Casablanca was based on the 1942 Humphrey Bogart movie. The movie won the best picture Oscar. Cheyenne was loosely based on the 1947 Dennis Morgan movie. Kings Row was based on the 1942 Ron Reagan movie. Name Change: Blue Ribbon Bouts to Wednesday Night Fights. Cavalcade Of America to DuPont Cavalcade Theater. The Colgate Comedy Hour to The Colgate Variety Hour. The Dunninger Show to The Amazing Dunninger Fireside Theatre to The Jane Wyman Show. Jane was the most identified with the show. Therefore, they renamed the show in her honor. She first appeared in 1955 on Fireside Theatre. Toast Of The Town to The Ed Sullivan Show You'll Never Get Rich became The Phil Silvers Show two months later. Original Run: The Adventures Of Robin Hood was on CBS Monday at 7:30 PM. The Alcoa Hour was on NBC Sunday at 9:30 PM. Crossroads was on ABC Friday at 8:30 PM. Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon was on CBS Thursday at 7:30 PM. 20th Century Fox Hour was on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM. Radio: Grand Ole Opry was on NBC from 1939–1957. Gunsmoke was on CBS from 1952–1961. William Conrad was the voice of Marshall Dillon. The Man Called X was on the radio from 1944–1948 and 1950–1952. Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon was on the radio from 1947–1955. Reruns: ABC aired Topper reruns till March 956. NBC aired them in the summer. NBC aired Dear Phoebe reruns in the summer. Encore Theatre was the reruns of Pepsi–Cola Playhouse and Studio 57 episodes. Festivals Of Stars was the reruns of Ford Theatre episodes. Spotlight Playhouse shown reruns of Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars. The Return: The Quiz Kids returned to CBS for a last season with a new host, Clifton Fadiman. Joe Kelly hosted it from 1949-1953. NBC revived the former CBS show, This is Show Business, for another season in the summer of 1956. NBC revived Man Against Crime as a LIVE summer series. The Eddy Arnold Show returned to ABC. It was previously on NBC in 1953. Ernie Kovacs returned to The Ernie Kovacs Show. He was previously on CBS in 1953. ABC revived Music At The Meadowbrook. Jimmy Blaine returned as the host. ABC revived Mark Saber with a new name, The Vise, in December 1955. Really, Mark Saber took over the name, The Vise, from the previous 1954–1955 series, The Vise, and The Vise's time slot. Summer Replacement: The Charlie Farrell Show replaced I Love Lucy for the summer. Chevrolet On Broadway replaced The Dinah Shore Show for the summer. Encore Theatre replaced The George Gobel Show for the summer. The Ernie Kovacs Show replaced Caesar’s Hour for the summer. Frankie Laine Time replaced Arthur Godfrey And His Friends for the summer. The Jaye P. Morgan Show replaced Coke Time for the summer. The Julius LaRosa Show replaced The Perry Como Show for the summer. Sneak Preview replaced Jane Wyman's Fireside Theatre for the summer. The Tony Bennett Show replaced The Perry Como Show for the summer. Undercurrent replaced The Lineup for the summer. The Vic Damone Show replaced December Bride for the summer. Switch Networks: Blue Ribbon Fights (CBS) to Wednesday Night Fights (ABC). Down You Go went from CBS to ABC (September 1955) to NBC (June 1956). The Dunninger Show (NBC) to The Amazing Dunninger (ABC). Ethel & Albert went from CBS to ABC. Life Begins At Eighty went from DUM to ABC. Screen Director's Playhouse went from NBC to ABC in June 1956. Tidbits: Mama was very popular that CBS cancelled the show in 1956; there was a huge viewer outrage. Mama returned to CBS for a short run on Sunday afternoons the following December. Warner Bros. Presents was the umbrella title for three rotating series – Kings Row, Cheyenne and Casablanca. Only Cheyenne survived for the season and lasted for eight seasons. 1955/56 Fall Season One Season (1955/56) The Adventures Of Robin Hood – 1955–1958, CBS, adventure, Richard Greene The Alcoa Hour – 1955–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Alfred Hitchcock Presents – 1955–1960, CBS; 1960–1962, NBC; 1962–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, suspense anthology Big Surprise – 1955–1957, NBC, quiz, Jack Barry Bold Journey – July 1956–1959, ABC, travel documentary Cheyenne – 1955–1963, ABC, western, Clint Walker Crossroads – 1955–1957, ABC, dramatic anthology Crusader – 1955–1957, CBS, international intrigue, Brian Keith The Ford Show Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford – 1956–1961, NBC, musical variety Gunsmoke – 1955–1975, CBS, western The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – 1955–1961, ABC, western Navy Log – 1955/56, CBS; 1956–1958, ABC, military anthology The People's Choice – 1955–1958, NBC, comedy, Jackie Cooper Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon – 1955–1958, CBS, police drama, Richard Simmons The Steve Allen Show – January 1956–1960, NBC; 1961/62, ABC, variety 20th Century Fox Hour – 1955–1957, CBS, anthology, Joseph Cotten You'll Never Get Rich – 1955–1959, CBS, comedy, Phil Silvers Wednesday Night Fights – 1955–1960, ABC, boxing Cancelled Shows: The Adventures Of Champion – CBS, adventure, Barry Curtis Brave Eagle – CBS, western, Keith Larsen Casablanca – ABC, international intrigue, Charles McGraw The Chevy Show – NBC, variety Do You Trust Your Wife? – January 1956–1957, CBS, quiz, Edgar Bergen Frontier – NBC, western anthology, Walter Coy The Honeymooners – CBS, comedy, Jackie Gleason, Art Carney Kings Row – ABC, drama, Jack Kelly It's Always Jan – CBS, comedy, Janis Paige MGM Parade – ABC, documentary, George Murphy The Martha Raye Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Martha Raye Medical Horizons – ABC, public affairs, LIVE, Quincy Howe Outside U.S.A – ABC, documentary, Quincy Howe Pontiac Presents Playwrights '56 – NBC, dramatic anthology Screen Director's Playhouse – NBC, anthology Star Stage – NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE, Jeffrey Lynn Wanted – CBS, documentary, Walter McGraw 18 out of 35 new series SURVIVED for 1956/57 ABC – 5/10, Bold Journey, Cheyenne, Crossroads, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp & Wednesday Night Fights CBS – 8/14, The Adventures Of Robin Hood, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Crusader, Gunsmoke, Navy Log, Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon, 20th Century Fox Hour & You'll Never Get Rich NBC – 5/11, The Alcoa Hour, Big Surprise, The Ford Show Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford, The People's Choice & The Steve Allen Show Mid season shows Encore Theatre – 1956, 1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, reruns Festival Of Stars – 1956, 1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, reruns High Finance – July–December 1956, CBS, quiz, Dennis James It's Polka Time – July 1956–1957, music, Bruno Zielinski The Julius LaRosa Show – 1956–1957, NBC, musical variety, Julius LaRosa The Kaiser Aluminum Hour – July 1956–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Music At The Meadowbrook – ABC, musical variety, LIVE, Jimmy Blaine My Friend Flicka – February 1956–1957, CBS; 1957/58, NBC, adventure, Gene Evans National Bowling Champions – April–Dec 1956, NBC; 1957, ABC, sports, Joe Wilson Press Conference – July–Sept 1956, NBC; 1956/57, ABC, interview, Martha Roundtree Quiz Kids – Jan–Sept 1956, CBS, quiz, Clifton Fadiman $64,000 Challenge – April 1956–1958, CBS, quiz, Sonny Fox The Steve Allen Show – June 1956–1960, NBC, variety, Steve Allen Telephone Time – April 1956–1957, CBS; 1957/58, ABC, dramatic anthology, John Nesbitt The Vic Damone Show – July 1956–1957, CBS, musical variety, Vic Damone The Vise – December 1955–1957, ABC; 1957–1960, NBC, detective drama, Donald Grey Cancelled Mid Season Shows Adventure Theater – NBC, adventure anthology, Paul Douglas Air Time '57 – ABC, musical variety, LIVE, Vaughn Monroe CBS Cartoon Theatre – CBS, cartoon, Dick Van Dyke The Charlie Farrell Show – CBS, comedy, Charlie Farrell Chevrolet On Broadway – NBC, musical variety, Snooky Lanson Combat Sergeant – ABC, war drama, Michael Thomas The Eddy Arnold Show – ABC, musical variety, Eddy Arnold The Ernie Kovacs Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Ernie Kovacs General Electric Summer Originals – ABC, dramatic anthology The Golden Touch Of Frankie Carle – NBC, music, LIVE, Frankie Carle The Gordon MacRae Show – NBC, music, LIVE, Gordon MacRae Grand Ole Opry – ABC, country music, LIVE, Minnie Pearl, Chet Atkins Hollywood Summer Theatre – CBS, dramatic anthology, Gene Raymond The Ina Ray Hutton Show – NBC, musical variety, Ina Ray Hutton The Jack Drees Sports Show – ABC, sports news, Jack Drees The Jaye P. Morgan Show – NBC, music, Jaye P. Morgan Joe & Mabel – CBS, comedy, Norman Fell Man Against Crime – NBC, detective drama, Frank Lovejoy NBC Comedy Hour – NBC, comedy variety, Gale Storm, Jonathan Winters The Patti Page Show – NBC, musical variety, Patti Page The Russ Morgan Show – CBS, music, LIVE, Russ Morgan Saturday Sports Mirror – CBS, sports news, Jack Drees Sneak Preview – NBC, anthology, Nelson Case This Is Show Business – NBC, variety The Tony Bennett Show – NBC, musical variety, Tony Bennett Twilight Theater – ABC, dramatic anthology Syndication The Adventure Of Fu Manchu – 1955–1956, syndication, crime drama, Glen Gordon Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal – 1955–1957, syndication, medical drama, John Howard Highway Patrol – 1955–1959, syndication, crime drama, Broderick Crawford The Man Called X – syndication, intrigue, Barry Sullivan Sheena, Queen Of The Jungle – syndication, adventure, Irish McCalla Two Seasons (1954/55) The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin – 1954–1959, ABC, western The Amazing Dunninger – June–Sept 1955, NBC; 1956, ABC, mind reading 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 Caesar’s Hour – 1954–1957, NBC, comedy/variety Climax! – 1954–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Compass – 1954–1957, ABC, travelogue Country Music Jubilee – January 1955–1960, ABC, country music Damon Runyon Theatre – April 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology December Bride – 1954–1959, CBS, comedy Disneyland – 1954–1983, anthology Father Knows Best – 1954/55, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC; 1958–1960, CBS Frankie Laine Time – July 1955–1956, CBS, musical variety The George Gobel Show – 1954–1959, NBC; 1959/60, CBS, comedy variety The Jimmy Durante Show – 1954–1956, NBC, comedy/variety, LIVE The Johnny Carson Show – June 1955–1956, comedy/variety Lassie – 1954–1971, CBS; 1971–1974, Syndication, adventure The Lawrence Welk Show – 1954–1971, ABC, music The Lineup – 1954–1960, CBS, police drama The Millionaire – January 1955–1960, CBS, dramatic anthology Passport To Danger – 1954–1956, syndication, intrigue People are Funny – 1954–1961, NBC, quiz Producers' Showcase – 1954–1957, NBC, anthology Science Fiction Theatre – April 1955–1957, syndication, sci fi anthology Shower Of Stars – 1954–1958, CBS, musical variety, LIVE $64,000 Question – June 1955–1959, CBS, game Soldiers Of Fortune – Early 1955–1956, syndication, adventure Spotlight – June 1955–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology Star Tonight – February 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE Stop The Music – 1954–1956, ABC, quiz TV Reader's Digest – January 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology Talent Varieties – June–November 1955, ABC, variety Tomorrow's Careers – March 1955–1956, ABC, information Tonight – 1954–1957, NBC, talk/variety Undercurrent – July 1955–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology The Vise – 1954–1955, ABC, suspense anthology Three 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 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 Greatest Sport Thrills – January 1954–1956, sports I Lead Three Lives – 1953–1956, syndication, intrigue The Loretta Young Show – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology Justice – April 1954–1956, NBC, law drama, LIVE Make Room For Daddy – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy 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 Person to Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview Red Barber's Corner – 1953–1955, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC, sports commentary The Tony Martin Show – April 1954–1956, NBC, music, LIVE Topper reruns – 1955/56, ABC, comedy Truth Or Consequences – May 1953–1956, NBC, quiz U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Waterfront – February 1954–1956, syndication, adventure Four Seasons (1952/53) The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy The Adventures Of Superman – 1952–1958, syndication, adventure 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 DuPont Cavalcade Theater – 1952–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology Ethel & Albert – April 1953–1954, NBC; June–Sept 1955, CBS; 1955/56, ABC, comedy 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 The Life Of Riley – January 1953–1958, NBC, comedy Meet Millie – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy Name That Tune – June 1953–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, CBS, game Our Miss Brooks – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy Private Secretary – February 1953–1957, CBS, comedy This Is Your Life – 1952–1961, NBC, testimonial Two For The Money – 1952/53, NBC; 1953-1957, CBS, quiz Five Seasons (1951/52) 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 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 The Red Skelton Show – 1951–1953, NBC; 1953–1970, CBS, 1970/71, NBC; variety Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars – 1951–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Six 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 Variety Hour – 1950–1956, NBC, variety 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 You Asked For It – December 1950–1952, DUM; 1951–1959, ABC, audience participation You Bet Your Life – 1950–1961, NBC, quiz Seven 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 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 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 Eight 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 The Jane Wyman Show – 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 Studio One – 1948–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology Nine seasons (1947/48) The Ed Sullivan Show – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety 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 Ten seasons (1946/47) Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports – 1946–1960, NBC, boxing Kraft Television Theatre – May 1947–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology