1956

1956/57 – I Love Lucy was #1 on CBS Monday. Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1956 season; Break The Bank was cancelled in the ninth season. Alternate Shows: The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM. The Jack Benny Show and The Marge And Gower Champion Show were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM during the summer. The Goodyear Playhouse and The Alcoa Hour were on NBC Sunday ay 9:30 PM. Cheyenne and Conflict were on ABC Tuesday at 7:30 PM. Armstrong Circle Theatre and The Kaiser Aluminum Hour were on NBC Tuesday at 9:30 PM. Armstrong Summer Playhouse and Show For A Summer Playhouse were on NBC Thursday at 9:30 for the summer. 20th Century Fox Hour and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM. Anniversary: The Ed Sullivan Show celebrated ten years on CBS. Meet The Press celebrated ten years on NBC. Original Amateur Hour celebrated ten years on TV. Biggest New Hit: The Ford Show was #19 on NBC Thursday. Tennessee Ernie Ford wore many hats for the show; he was the host, singer, comedian and the star. The funny thing is the show wasn't named after him whatsoever. The name came from The Ford Motor Company, the sponsor. Either way, The Ford Show became a big NBC hit for both parties involved. Movies 2 TV: Broken Arrow was based on the 1950 James Stewart movie. Name Change: ABC Presents was known as Quest For Adventure DuPont Cavalcade Theater to DuPont Theater. On Trial to The Joseph Cotten Show–On Trial Press Conference to Martha Roundtree's Press Conference in April 1957. Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars to Schiltz Playhouse in November 1956. Tonight to Tonight! America After Dark on January 28, 1957. Tonight! America After Dark to The Jack Paar Show on July 29, 1957. Original Run: Do You Trust Your Wife was on CBS Tuesday at 10:30 PM. The Ford Show was on NBC Thursday at 9:30 PM. The $64,000 Challenge was on CBS Sunday at 10 PM. Reruns: CBS aired My Favorite Husband reruns in the summer of 1957. CBS aired The Jimmy Durante Show reruns in the summer of 1957. NBC aired Adventure Theater reruns in the summer of 1957. NBC aired The Charlie Farrell Show reruns in the summer of 1957. Encore Theatre was the reruns of Ford Theatre episodes. Festival Of Stars was the reruns of The Loretta Young Show episodes. Jim Ameche was the host. Key Club Playhouse was the reruns of Ford Theatre episodes. Moment Of Decision was the reruns of Ford Theatre episodes. The Playhouse was the reruns of Schlitz Playhouse Of The Stars. S.R.O. Playhouse was the reruns of Schlitz Playhouse. Show For A Summer Evening was the reruns of the syndication series, Heinz Playhouse. The Return: NBC revived the former LIVE CBS series, The Web, during the summer of 1957. The NBC version was filmed. NBC revived Summer Playhouse for the summer. It was last seen in 1954. CBS revived The Herb Shriner Show. CBS revived Pick The Winner for the 1956 Presidential year. CBS revived The Spike Jones Show. It was last seen on NBC in 1954. Flight #7 returned to ABC for the summer. ABC revived Enterprise; it was last seen in 1955 on ABC. ABC revived Open Hearing as a LIVE interview show. The last time, it was a documentary show. ABC revived Industries For America. It was last seen in 1951–1952. After the failure of The Honeymooners and the Jackie Gleason produced show, Stage Show, last season, The Jackie Gleason Show returned to CBS in the same time slot, Saturday at 8 PM. Those Whiting Girls returned to CBS after a year absence. Summer Replacement: The Big Moment replaced The Big Story for the summer. Destiny replaced Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater for the summer. High–Low replaced The Ford Show for the summer. The Julius LaRosa Show replaced Perry Como for the summer. Undercurrent replaced The Lineup for the summer. Switch Networks: Ford Theatre went from NBC to ABC. Midwestern Hayride went from NBC to ABC. Omnibus went from CBS to ABC. Tidbits: The first season of Playhouse 90 was LIVE. Real Life couple, Howard Duff & Ida Lupino, starred in Mr. Adams and Eve as…get this...a Hollywood married couple! Wow! What a real stretch for them! As of this season, Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars was no longer LIVE. Sports Focus was Howard Cosell's first series. Press Conference moved to Sunday afternoon for three months, then returned to prime time in April 1957. Nat "King" Cole was the first major black performer to headline a network variety show. Cowboy Theatre started on NBC Saturday afternoon in September 1956. Cowtown Radio was produced at Cowtown Ranch in New Jersey. The owner, Stoney Harris, was one of the commentators. The Whirlybirds supposed to be on CBS. Instead, it went to syndication. Xavier Cugat and his then wife, Abbe Lane, starred in The Xavier Cugat Show. 1956/57 Fall Season One Season (1956/57) The Adventures of Jim Bowie – 1956–1958, ABC, western, Scott Forbes Broken Arrow – 1956–1958, ABC, western, John Lupton Circus Boy – 1956/57, NBC; 1957/58, ABC, adventure, Mickey Braddock Date with the Angels – May 1957–1958, ABC, comedy, Betty White Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre – 1956–1961, CBS, western anthology, Dick Powell The Dinah Shore Chevy Show – 1956–1963, NBC, variety, Dinah Shore The Gale Storm Show – 1956–1959, CBS; 1959/60, ABC, comedy, Gale Storm Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes And New Talent – 1956–1959, ABC, talent, Lawrence Welk The Nat "King" Cole Show – 1956–1957, NBC, musical variety, Nat "King" Cole Playhouse 90 – 1956–1961, CBS, dramatic anthology Richard Diamond, Private Detective – July 1957–1959, CBS; 1959/60, NBC, detective drama, David Janssen Tales Of Wills Fargo – March 1957–1962, NBC, western, Dale Robertson To Tell The Truth – December 1956–1967, CBS, game, Bud Collyer Treasure Hunt – 1956/57, ABC; 1957/58, NBC, quiz, Jan Murray Twenty-One – 1956–1959, NBC, game, Jack Barry West Point Story – 1956/57, CBS; 1957/58, ABC, military anthology, Donald May Cancelled Shows The Adventures Of Hiram Holiday – NBC, comedy, Wally Cox The Adventures Of Jim Bowie – ABC, western, Scott Forbes The Adventures Of Sir Lancelot – NBC, adventure, William Russell The Brothers – CBS, comedy, Gale Gordon The Buccaneers – CBS, adventure, Robert Shaw Circus Time – ABC, variety, Paul Winchell Conflict – ABC, dramatic anthology Giant Step – CBS, quiz, Bert Parks Hey Jeannie – CBS, comedy, Jeannie Carson The Herb Shriner Show – CBS, comedy/variety, Herb Shriner The Jackie Gleason Show – CBS, comedy variety, Jackie Gleason The Jonathan Winters Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Jonathan Winters The Joseph Cotten Show – NBC, dramatic anthology, Joseph Cotten Noah's Ark – NBC, medical drama, Paul Burke Pick The Winner – CBS, political, Walter Cronkite The Ray Anthony Show – ABC, musical variety, LIVE, Ray Anthony Stanley – NBC, comedy, LIVE, Paul Lynde, Buddy Hackett Tales Of The 77th Bengal Lancers – NBC, adventure, Phil Carey Wire Service – ABC, newspaper drama, Dane Clark The Walter Winchell Show – NBC, variety, 13 episodes, Walter Winchell 16 out of 36 new series SURVIVED for 1957/58 ABC – 5/10, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Broken Arrow, Date With The Angels, Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes And New Talent & Treasure Hunt CBS – 6/13, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, The Gale Storm Show, Playhouse 90, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, To Tell The Truth & West Point Story NBC – 5/13, Circus Boy, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Nat "King" Cole Show, Tales Of Wells Fargo & Twenty-One Mid season shows The Billy Graham Crusade – 1957–1959, ABC, religion, Billy Graham Cowtown Rodeo – 1957, 1958, ABC, rodeo, Marty Glickman Destiny – 1957, 1958, CBS, dramatic anthology, reruns, Francis L. Sullivan Enterprise – July 1957–1958, ABC, documentary Famous Fights – July/December 1957, ABC, sports The Last Word – June 1957–1958, CBS, informational/panel, Dr. Bergen Evans Meet McGraw – July 1957–1958, NBC, detective drama, Frank Lovejoy Mike Wallace Interviews – April 1957–1957/58, ABC, interview, Mike Wallace Mr. Adams and Eve – January 1957–1958, CBS, comedy, Howard Duff, Ida Lupino Open Hearing – February 1957–1958, ABC, public affairs, LIVE, John Secondari Sports Focus – June 1957–1958, ABC, sports news/commentary, LIVE, Howard Cosell Cancelled Mid Season Shows ABC Presents – ABC, documentary Action Tonight – NBC, dramatic anthology Air America – CBS, documentary, Walter Cronkite The Andy Williams And June Valli Show – NBC, music, Andy Williams The Big Beat – ABC, music, Alan Freed The Big Moment – NBC, sports drama, Bud Palmer Can Do – NBC, quiz, Robert Alda Cowboy Theatre – NBC, western anthology, Monty Hall Flight #7 – ABC, travelogue The Galen Drake Show – ABC, children's variety, Glen Drake The George Sanders Mystery Theater – NBC, dramatic anthology, George Sanders Georgia Gibbs And Her Million Record Show – NBC, music, Georgia Gibbs The Helen O'Connell Show – NBC, music, LIVE, Helen O'Connell High–Low – NBC, quiz, LIVE, Jack Barry Hold That Note – NBC, quiz, Bert Parks Industries For America – ABC, documentary The Jimmy Dean Show – CBS, musical variety, Jimmy Dean Key Club Playhouse – ABC, dramatic anthology The Marge And Gower Champion Show – CBS, comedy, Marge Champion Moment Of Decision – ABC, dramatic anthology Panic – NBC, dramatic anthology, William Van Voorhis The Playhouse – CBS, dramatic anthology, 4 episodes, reruns S.R.O. Playhouse – CBS, dramatic anthology, reruns Show For A Summer Evening – NBC, dramatic anthology The Spike Jones Show – CBS, comedy/variety, Spike Jones Summer Playhouse – NBC, anthology, reruns, Jane Wyman Theater Time – ABC, dramatic anthology, reruns, Anita Louis Those Whiting Girls – CBS, comedy, Margaret Whiting, Barbara Whiting The Vincent Lopez Show – CBS, music, Vincent Lopez The Xavier Cugat Show – NBC, music, LIVE, Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane You're On Our Own – CBS, quiz, Steve Dunne Syndication The New Adventures Of Charlie Chan – June 1957–1958, syndication, mystery, J. Carrol Naish The Sheriff Of Cochise – 1956–1960, syndication, police drama, John Bromfield The Silent Service – March 1957–1958, syndication, dramatic anthology, Thomas M. Dykers State Trooper – January 1957–1959, syndication, crime drama, Rod Cameron The Whirlybirds – January 1957–1959, syndication, adventure, Ken Tobey Two Seasons (1955/56) The Adventures Of Robin Hood – 1955–1958, CBS, adventure 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 Bold Journey – July 1956–1959, ABC; travel documentary Bowling Stars – April 1956–December 1957, ABC, sports Cheyenne – 1955–1963, ABC, western Crossroads – 1955–1957, ABC, dramatic anthology Crusader – 1955–1957, CBS, international intrigue Do You Trust Your Wife? – January 1956–1957, CBS, quiz Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal – 1955–1957, syndication, medical drama Encore Theatre – 1956, 1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, reruns Festival Of Stars – 1956, 1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, reruns The Ford Show Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford – 1956–1961, NBC, musical variety Gunsmoke – 1955–1975, CBS, western High Finance – July–December 1956, CBS, quiz Highway Patrol – 1955–1959, syndication, crime drama It's Polka Time – July 1956–1957, music The Julius LaRosa Show – 1956–1957, NBC, musical variety The Kaiser Aluminum Hour – July 1956–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – 1955–1961, ABC, western My Friend Flicka – February 1956–1957, CBS; 1957/58, NBC, adventure National Bowling Champions – April–Dec 1956, NBC; 1957, ABC, sports Navy Log – 1955/56, CBS; 1956–1958, ABC, military anthology The People's Choice – 1955–1958, NBC, comedy The Phil Silvers Show – 1955–1959, CBS, comedy Press Conference – July–Sept 1956, NBC; 1956/57, ABC, interview Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon – 1955–1958, CBS, police drama $64,000 Challenge – April 1956–1958, CBS, quiz The Steve Allen Show – June 1956–1960, NBC, variety Telephone Time – April 1956–1957, CBS; 1957/58, ABC, dramatic anthology 20th Century Fox Hour – 1955–1957, CBS, anthology The Vic Damone Show – July 1956–1957, CBS, musical variety The Vise – December 1955–1957, ABC; 1957–1960, NBC, detective drama Wednesday Night Fights – 1955–1960, ABC, boxing Three Seasons (1954/55) The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin – 1954–1959, ABC, western 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 December Bride – 1954–1959, CBS, comedy Disneyland – 1954–1983, anthology Father Knows Best – 1954/55, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC; 1958–1960, CBS The George Gobel Show – 1954–1959, NBC; 1959/60, CBS, 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 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 Spotlight – June 1955–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology Tonight – 1954–1957, NBC, talk/variety Undercurrent – July 1955–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology, reruns Four Seasons (1953/54) Annie Oakley – January 1954–1957, syndication, western The Big Picture – 1953–1959, ABC, documentary The Danny Thomas Show – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy 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 Loretta Young Show – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology Medic – 1954–Nov 1956, medical drama Midwestern Hayride – June 1954–1956, NBC; July 1957–1958, ABC; 1959, NBC, musical variety 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 U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE Five 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 Theater – 1952–1957, NBC, dramatic anthology Ford Theatre – 1952–1956, NBC; 1956/57, ABC, dramatic anthology General Electric Theater – February 1953–1962, CBS, dramatic anthology The Life Of Riley – January 1953–1958, NBC, comedy Name That Tune – June 1953–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, CBS, game 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 Six Seasons (1951/52) 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– 970, CBS, 1970/71, NBC; variety Schlitz Playhouse– 1951–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology Seven Seasons (1950/51) The Adventures Of Wild Bill Hickok – April 1951–1958, syndication, western 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 Eight 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 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 Nine 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 The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS; 1955–1963, NBC, variety Studio One – 1948–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology Ten seasons (1947/48) The Ed Sullivan Show – June 1948–1971, CBS, 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 Eleven seasons (1946/47) Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports – 1946–1960, NBC, boxing Kraft Television Theatre – May 1947–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology