1960/61 – Gunsmoke was #1 on CBS Saturday, fourth year running.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1960 season; Riverboat was cancelled in the
second season.
Alternate Series: Armstrong Circle Theatre and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM.
Anniversary:
I’ve Got A Secret celebrated ten years on CBS.
Red Skelton celebrated ten years on TV.
Biggest New Hit: The Andy Griffith Show was #4 on CBS Mondays; the show was aired after The Danny Thomas Show. Andy
Griffith has the biggest hit of the year; it was his first series. Even Opie was adorable to watch. Every season, The Andy
Griffith Show was in the top ten. His lowest ratings was #7 in 1961; his highest was #1 in his last season in 1967.
British Ties: CBS aired Danger Man from April–September 1961. Danger Man originally aired on ITV in British from
September 1960–January 1962.
Daytime: The Texas was on ABC weekdays from October 1960–March 1962.
Movies 2 TV:
My Sister Elaine was based on the 1942 Rosalind Russell/Janet Blair movie.
National Velvet was based on the 1944 Elizabeth Taylor/Mickey Rooney movie. It was Liz’s first leading movie role
that propelled her to movie stardom.
The Third Man was based on the 1949 Orson Wells movie. Orson reprised his role for the radio; Michael Rennie played Harry
Lime in the series.
Whispering Smith was based on the 1948 Alan Ladd movie.
My Three Sons Tidbits:
The 1960–65 ABC episodes was filmed in B/W; the 1965–72 CBS episodes was in color. The B/W episodes are rarely
seen today.
William Frawley was supposed to be the star of “My Three Nieces;” but the network changed the premise of the
show to My Three Sons and Fred MacMurray became the star instead. Ironically, when William left the series in 1965, due to
poor health, he accused William Demarest, his TV brother, of stealing his job.
Don Grady (Don Agrati) was on The Mickey Mouse Club just for one year, the third season. His TV brother, Tim Considine
was on the show too, but not as a Mouseketeer; he played Spin on “The Adventures of Spin and Marty,” and Frank
on “The Hardy Boys,” the TV shorts on The Mickey Mouse Club. Don appeared in an uncredited role on Spin &
Marty.
Fred McMurray and Tim Considine appeared in the 1959 hit Walt Disney movie, The Shaggy Dog. Tim’s costar, Tommy Kirk,
played his brother on The Hardy Boys on The Mickey Mouse Club. Tommy was Fred’s son on The Shaggy Dog.
In later years, the family grew so much that not all characters was in that week’s episode; different characters
took the spotlight each week.
Tim Considine quit the show in 1965, leaving just two sons. Hey, what to do with the title, My Three Sons? Well, the producers
brainstormed; Steve Douglas adopted his “third” orphaned son, Ernie Thompson Douglas, played by Barry Livingston,
who was Stanley‘s real brother. Stan was Chip Douglas.
Ironically, Robbie had three sons – triplets – with his wife, Katie. His three sons were Steve Douglas Jr.,
Charley Douglas and Robbie Douglas II. What a shame! No one wants to remember Uncle Bud! Charley? Come on!
Fred MacMurray played two roles in the last season; he played Steve’s cousin, Fergus McBain Douglas. Fergus was in
search of a wife.
You’re In The Picture was one of the biggest flops in TV history and in Jackie Gleason’s career. It was a very
good thing that Keenan Wynn injured himself on the day of the premiere. The injury saved his career! The following week, Jackie
apologized for the fiasco.
Name Change:
The Aquanauts to Malibu Run in February 1961.
The Comedy Spot to Comedy Spotlight
Mr. Garlund to The Garlund Touch in November 1960.
Phillies Jackpot Bowling to Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle.
Shirley Temple's Storybook to The Shirley Temple Show.
You Bet Your Life to The Groucho Show.
Wednesday Night Fights to The Fight Of The Week.
Original Run:
The Outlaws was on NBC Thursday at 7:30 PM for two years.
Pete And Gladys was on CBS Monday at 8 PM for two years.
Original Title: The Flintstones was going to be called The Flagstones. Hanna-Barbera changed their mind to avoid confusion
with the popular comic strip, Hi And Lois; their last name was Flagstons. For a brief period, it was The Gladstones till they
settled upon The Flintstones name.
Radio: The Third Man was on the radio in syndication from 1950–1951 with Orson Welles.
Reruns:
CBS aired reruns of the 1959 series, Brenner, in the summer of 1961, 1962 and 1964. There was also ten new episodes mixed
in with the reruns in 1964.
CBS aired reruns of The Chevy Mystery Show under the name of Sunday Mystery Hour in the summer.
Frontier Justice shown reruns of Zane Grey Theater episodes for the summer on CBS.
The Return:
ABC revived The Walter Winchell Show. It only lasted for six weeks.
CBS revived Frontier Justice after a year absence.
William Frawley returned in My Three Sons after a three-year absence. He was best known as Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy in
the early 1950‘s.
ABC revived Naked City after a year absence. This time, it was a one hour series.
Simultaneous: Bea Benaderet was on The Flintstones and Peter Loves Mary. I bet it was confusing for Bea for a little
while. She was Wilma on Peter Loves Mary; she was Betty on The Flintstones.
Spin Off:
The Andy Griffith Show from Make Room For Daddy; the pilot was shown on Danny’s show on February 15, 1960. Andy Griffith
arrested Danny for passing a stop sign. Danny thought there was no crossroad. Coincidence, Sheldon Leonard was the producer
of both shows.
Pete And Gladys from December Bride, the viewers finally meet Gladys in person in the spin off; she was always heard about
and not seen on December Bride, which Pete described her as a nagging terror. Really, Gladys was a likeable character. Pete
was so popular that Harry Morgan got his own spin off after December Bride went off the air in 1960. Even Verna Feldon was
on the show for the first season; she played the same December Bride character, Hilda Crocker.
Surfside Six from Bourbon Street Beat, Ken Madison moved to Miami Beach; the detective agency was set on the boat.
Summer Replacement:
Comedy Spotlight replaced The Red Skelton Show for the summer.
Frontier Justice replaced Zane Grey Theater for the summer.
Great Ghost Tales replaced The Ford Show Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford for the summer.
Kraft Mystery Theater replaced Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall for the summer.
Tidbits:
Frances Bavier and Andy Griffith didn’t get along on the show, despite of the loving relationship between the characters
- Andy Taylor and Aunt Bee. Andy Griffith himself said, "There was just something about me she did not like." On her deathbed,
she reportedly regretted it.
The Andy Griffith Show was Ron Howard’s first series. He later brought Happy Days to many ABC viewers in the 1970’s.
Ron changed gears and became a very successful movie director. He didn’t forget of where he came from. He was in the
Andy Griffith reunion movie in 1986 on NBC. The old gang was all there in Return To Mayberry, except Aunt Bee. She passed
on to the great blue yonder in the sky.
There were no black people in Mayberry. Hey, Andy, what happened to the black people? Oprah Winfrey wants to know! Call
her. Call her NOW. Call her like this moment in time. Call her please! Andy Griffith was Oprah’s favorite show.
Ranald MacDougall created Westinghouse Playhouse for his wife, Nanette Fabray, somewhat based on her life.
The Jackie Gleason Show replaced You're In The Picture after one episode. Jackie apologized to the nationwide audience
for the quiz show failure on the debut episode of The Jackie Gleason Show.
Stagecoach West was Wayne Rogers’ first series; it only last a season. He had greater success on M*A*S*H in 1972.
Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy, a real life couple, starred in a failed sitcom, Peter Loves Mary. Interesting note: They lived in Oakdale, a well-known soap city on As The World Turns.
Would you believed Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble smoked Winston cigarettes? Of course, they did. Winston was The Flintstones’
sponsor for the first few seasons. Their wives was mowing the lawn and beating the dust out of a rug while they smoked behind
the house. There’s no wonder the kids smoke too young! Have a Yabba Dabba...cough, cough...Do smoking good time!
Milton Berle was the host in the last season of Jackpot Bowling. It was called Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle.
Luke Perry was the name of a character on Stagecoach West; Luke Perry, the actor, starred in the hit Fox show, Beverly
Hills 90210 from 1990–1995, 1998–2000.
The Tall Man was about the real life characters, Billy The Kid and Sheriff Pat Garrett, in fictionalized stories of their
adventures. In reality, they were friends till Pat was elected as sheriff of Lincoln County. Of course, Billy The Kid became
his #1 foe.
OMG! Old Yeller didn’t die at all. Tommy Kirk must kill him on The Westerner! Tommy boy, you better hold back the
tears. You already cried over him once. I don’t have enough Kleenex for the both of us. Wah! Wah!
Riverboat last aired on January 16, 1961. A week later, The Americans took it spot on NBC Monday. The Americans didn't
make it to a second season.
Whispering Smith supposed to start in 1959 fall schedule. Guy Mitchell suffered a broken shoulder after seven episodes
was completed. The series was postponed till May 1961.
The Asphalt Jungle replaced The Islanders on ABC Sunday. Both didn't make it to a second season. They were no match for
the top 10 shows, The Jack Benny Show and Candid Camera, on CBS.
Viewer Response: The Law and Mr. Jones was cancelled in the first season. Thousands of angry letters went to ABC. The
series was back on ABC the following April. The viewers didn't increase. Once again, ABC cancelled the series in October.
1960/61 Fall Season
One Season (1960/61)
The Andy Griffith Show – 1960–1968, CBS, comedy, Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard
The Bugs Bunny Show – 1960–1962, ABC, cartoon, Dick Coughlan
Candid Camera – 1960–1967, CBS, humor, Allen Funt
Checkmate – 1960–1962, CBS, mystery, Doug McClure, Sebastian Cabot
Expedition – 1960–1962, ABC, wildlife, Col. John D. Craig
Eyewitness To History – 1960–1963, CBS, news analysis, Charles Kuralt
Fight of the Week – 1960–1964, ABC, sports, boxing, Don Dunphy
The Flintstones – 1960–1966, ABC, cartoon, Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet
The Law and Mr. Jones – 1960/61, 1962, ABC, legal drama, James Whitmore
Make That Spare – 1960–1964, ABC, sports, Johnny Johnston
Matty's Funday Funnies – 1960–1963, ABC; cartoon
My Three Sons – 1960–1965, ABC; 1965–1972, CBS, comedy, Fred MacMurray, William Frawley
Naked City – 1960–1963, ABC, crime drama
National Velvet – 1960–1962, NBC, adventure, Lori Martin, Ann Doran
The Outlaws – 1960–1962, NBC, western, Barton MacLane
Pete & Gladys – 1960–1962, CBS, comedy, Harry Morgan, Cara Williams, Gale Gordon
The Roaring Twenties – 1960–1962, ABC, drama, Rex Reason
Route 66 – 1960–1964, CBS, adventure, Martin Milner, George Maharis
Surfside Six – 1960–1962, ABC, detective drama, Van Williams
The Tall Man – 1960–1962, NBC, western, Clu Gulager, Barry Sullivan
Thriller – 1960–1962, NBC, suspense anthology, Boris Karloff
Cancelled TV shows
Aquanauts – CBS, adventure, Keith Larson
The Barbara Stanwyck Show – NBC, dramatic anthology, Barbara Stanwyck
Bringing Up Buddy – CBS, comedy, Frank Aletter
Dan Raven – NBC, police drama, Skip Homeier
Dante – NBC, mystery adventure, Howard Duff
Guestward Ho! – ABC, comedy, Joanne Dru
Harrigan and Son – ABC, comedy, Pat O’Brien
Hong Kong – ABC, adventure, Rod Taylor
The Islanders – ABC, adventure, William Reynolds
Klondike – NBC, adventure, Ralph Taeger
Michael Shayne – NBC, detective drama, Richard Denning
Mr. Garlund – CBS, adventure, Charles Quinlivan
My Sister Eileen – CBS, comedy, Elaine Stritch
The Nation's Future – NBC, debate, LIVE
Peter Loves Mary – NBC, comedy, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy
Presidential Countdown – CBS, political, Walter Cronkite
Stagecoach West – ABC, western, Wayne Rogers
The Tab Hunter Show – NBC, comedy, Tab Hunter
The Tom Ewell Show – CBS, comedy, Tom Ewell
The Walter Winchell Show – ABC, news/commentary, Walter Winchell
The Westerner – NBC, western, Brian Keith, John Dehner
The Witness – CBS, courtroom anthology, Verne Collett
21 out of 43 new series SURVIVED for 1961/62
ABC – 11/16, The Bugs Bunny Show, Expedition, Fight of the Week,
The Flintstones, The Law and Mr. Jones, Make That Spare, Matty's Funday Funnies, My Three Sons, Naked City, The Roaring Twenties
and Surfside Six
CBS – 6/13, The Andy Griffith Show, Candid Camera, Checkmate,
Eyewitness To History, Pete & Gladys and Route 66
NBC – 4/14, National Velvet, The Outlaws, The Tall Man and Thriller
Mid season shows
CBS Reports – January 1961–1971, CBS; documentary
Focus On America – 1961–1963, ABC, documentary
Kraft Mystery Theater – 1961–1963, NBC, dramatic anthology, Frank Gallop
Purex Summer Specials – July 1961–1963, NBC, anthology
Sing Along With Mitch – Jan 1961–1964, NBC, variety, Mitch Miller
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
Acapulco – NBC, adventure, Telly Savalas
The Americans – NBC, civil war drama, Darryl Hickman
The Asphalt Jungle – ABC, police drama, Jack Warden
Danger Man – CBS, international intrigue, Patrick McGoohan
Editor's Choice – ABC, news analysis, Fendall Yerxa
Five Star Jubilee – NBC, musical variety, Tex Ritter
Frontier Justice – CBS, western anthology, reruns, Ralph Bellamy
Glenn Miller Time – CBS, music, LIVE, Johnny Desmond
Great Ghost Tales – NBC, occult anthology, LIVE
Gunslinger – CBS, western, Tony Young
Holiday Lodge – CBS, comedy, Johnny Wayne
The Jackie Gleason Show – CBS, talk, Jackie Gleason
One Happy Family – NBC, comedy, Dick Sergant
The Summer Sports Spectacular – CBS, sports anthology, Bud Palmer
Way Out – CBS, dramatic anthology, Roald Dahl
Westinghouse Playhouse – NBC, comedy, Nanette Fabray
Westinghouse Preview Theatre – NBC, comedy anthology
Whispering Smith – NBC, western/detective, Audie Murphy
Winston Churchill–The Valiant Years – ABC, documentary, Richard Burton
You’re In The Pictures – January 20, 1961, CBS, game, 1 episode, Jackie Gleason
Syndication
The Blue Angels – syndication, adventure, Dennis Cross
Mr. Ed – January 1961, Syndication; 1961–1965, CBS, comedy, Alan Young
The Third Man – 1960–1962, syndication, intrigue, Jonathan Harris
Two Seasons (1959/60)
Adventures in Paradise – 1959–1962, ABC, adventure
Bell Telephone Hour – 1959–1968, NBC, music
Bonanza – 1959–1973, NBC, western
Comedy Spotlight – 1960–1962, CBS, comedy anthology
Dennis The Menace – 1959–1963, CBS, comedy
The Deputy – 1959–1961, NBC, western
The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor – 1959–1961, ABC; 1961/62, NBC, crime drama
The DuPont Show with June Allyson – 1959–1961, CBS, dramatic anthology
Happy –June 1960–1961, NBC, comedy
Hawaiian Eye – 1959–1963, ABC, drama
Hennessey – 1959–1962, CBS, comedy/drama
Laramie – 1959–1963, NBC, western
Lock Up – 1959–1961, syndication, crime drama
Manhunt – 1959–1961, syndication, crime drama
Many Loves of Dobie Gillis – 1959–1963, CBS, comedy
Riverboat – 1959–1961, NBC, adventure
Shotgun Slade – 1959–1961, syndication, western
Silents Please – August 1960–1961, ABC, silent movies
The Spike Jones Show – August 1960–1961, CBS, comedy/variety
The Third Man – 1959–1962, syndication, intrigue
The Twilight Zone – 1959–1965, CBS, anthology
The Untouchables – 1959–1963, ABC, crime drama
Three Seasons (1958/59)
The Ann Sothern Show – 1958–1961, CBS, comedy
Bat Masterson – 1958–1961, NBC, western
Bronco – 1958–1962, ABC, western
The Donna Reed Show – 1958–1966, ABC, comedy
The Garry Moore Show – 1958–1964, CBS, variety
The Lawman – 1958–1962, NBC, western
Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle – January 1959–1961, NBC, sports
Peter Gunn – 1958–1961, NBC, detective drama
Rawhide – January 1959–1966, CBS, western
The Rifleman – 1958–1963, ABC, western
77 Sunset Strip – 1958–1964, ABC, drama
The Shirley Temple Show – January 1959–1960, ABC; 1960/61, NBC, children’s anthology
Take A Good Look – 1959–1961, ABC, quiz
Wanted: Dead or Alive – 1958–1961, CBS, western
Four Seasons (1957/58)
Bachelor Father – 1957–1959, CBS; 1959–1961, NBC; 1961/62, ABC; comedy
Have Gun, Will Travel – 1957–1963, CBS, western
It Could Be You – July 1958–1961, NBC, audience participation
Leave It To Beaver – 1957/58, CBS; 1958–1963, ABC, comedy
Perry Mason – 1957–1966, CBS, drama
Maverick – 1957–1962, ABC, western
The Price Is Right – 1957–1963, NBC; 1963/64, ABC, game
The Real McCoys – 1957–1962, ABC; 1962/63, CBS, comedy
Sea Hunt – January 1958–1961, syndication, adventure
Sugarfoot – 1957–1961, ABC, western
Wagon Train – 1957–1962, NBC; 1962–1965, ABC, western
Five Seasons (1956/57)
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre – 1956–1961, CBS, western anthology
The Dinah Shore Show – 1956–1963, NBC, variety
Playhouse 90 – 1956–1961, CBS, dramatic anthology
Tales Of Wills Fargo – March 1957–1962, NBC, western
To Tell The Truth – December 1956–1967, CBS, game
Six Seasons (1955/56)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents – 1955–1960, CBS; 1960–1962, NBC; 1962–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, suspense
anthology
Cheyenne – 1955–1963, ABC, western
Gunsmoke – 1955–1975, CBS, western
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – 1955–1961, ABC, western
Seven Seasons (1954/55)
Father Knows Best reruns – 1960–1962, CBS; 1962/63, ABC, comedy
Lassie – 1954–1971, CBS; 1971–1974, Syndication, adventure
The Lawrence Welk Show – 1954–1971, ABC, music
People are Funny – 1954–1961, NBC, quiz
The Jack Paar Show – July 1957–1962, NBC, talk/variety
Walt Disney Presents – 1954–1983, anthology
Eight Seasons (1953/54)
The Danny Thomas Show – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy
The Loretta Young Show – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology
Person to Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview
U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Nine Seasons (1952/53)
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy
Death Valley Days – 1952–1975, syndication, western anthology
General Electric Theater – February 1953–1962, CBS, dramatic anthology
This Is Your Life – 1952–1961, NBC, testimonial
Ten Seasons (1951/52)
I’ve Got A Secret – June 1952–1967, CBS, game
The Red Skelton Show – 1951–1953, NBC; 1953–1970, CBS, 1970/71, NBC; variety
Eleven Seasons (1950/51)
The Groucho Show – 1950–1961, NBC, quiz
The Jack Benny Show – 1950–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, comedy
Twelve Seasons (1949/50)
Armstrong Circle Theatre – June 1950–1957, NBC; 1957–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology
What’s My Line? – February 1950–1967, CBS, game
Thirteen seasons (1948/49)
The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS, 1955–1963, NBC, variety
Meet The Press – November 1947–1965, NBC, interview
Fourteen seasons (1947/48)
The Ed Sullivan Show – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety
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