1963/64 – The Beverly Hillbillies was #1 on CBS Wednesday, second year running.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1963 season. Garry Moore and 77 Sunset
Strip were cancelled in the sixth season.
Alternate Series:
Chronicle and CBS Reports were on CBS Wednesday at 7:30 PM.
The Edie Adams Show and The Sid Caesar Show were on ABC Thursday at 10 PM.
Anniversary:
Lassie celebrated ten years on CBS.
Lawrence Welk celebrated ten years on ABC.
The Tonight Show celebrated ten years on NBC.
Walt Disney celebrated ten years on TV.
What’s My Line celebrated fifteen years on CBS.
Biggest New Hit: Petticoat Junction was #4 on CBS Tuesday. Paul Henning did it once again; he created another monster
rural hit. The first one was The Beverly Hillbillies. Last season, Bea Benaderet was Jethro Bodine’s mother on The Beverly
Hillbillies; she was seriously considered to be Granny, but she looked wrong for the role, according to Paul Henning, who
was her producer on Burns & Allen. Instead, Irene Ryan was more suited for Granny. Petticoat Junction was created as a
starring vehicle for Bea Benaderet. Bea starred as Kate Bradley. Paul Henning’s real daughter, Linda Kaye, played her
daughter, Betty Jo Bradley. Wait till I get to Green Acres, it will be confusing as hell to keep track of things in Hooterville.
British Ties: That Was The Week That Was was based on the BBC version, hosted by David Frost. Elliot Reid was the host
of the NBC version; David contributed to the first season, then hosted the second season. This was the first time that the
political satire came to USA TV in this pioneer NBC series. It was preempted so many times in the fall that after the elections,
the momentum was gone and the viewers watched their competition, Peyton Place and Petticoat Junction. The show ended in the
second season.
Movies 2 TV:
Destry was based on the 1939 James Stewart/Marlene Dietrich classic movie, Destry Rides Again.
The Farmer’s Daughter was based on the 1947 Loretta Young movie. Loretta won an Oscar for her role.
Original Run:
The Danny Kaye Show was on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM for four years.
Mr. Novak was on NBC Tuesday at 7:30 PM for two years.
My Favorite Martian was on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM for three years.
Reruns: Moment Of Fear was the reruns of G.E. Theater, Schlitz Playhouse, Lux Video Theatre and Studio 57.
The Return:
Chuck Connors returned to a failed series, Arrest & Trial. He was in the popular western, The Rifleman, his first series.
Jonathan Harris returned in The Bill Dana Show. He was previously on The Third Man. His greatest role still awaits him
in Lost In Space.
Jimmy Dean returned in The Jimmy Dean Show after a six–year absence.
CBS revived Suspense in 1964 with Sebastian Cabot as host; the LIVE version never had a host before.
NBC revived Moment Of Fear. It was last seen on NBC in 1960.
CBS revived Summer Playhouse. It was last seen on NBC in 1957.
Simultaneous:
Bea Benaderet played Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction; she was the voice of Betty Rubble on The Flintstones since 1960.
Due to her workload, she gave up Betty and only worked on Petticoat Junction the following year. Gerry Johnson took over Betty.
This was her third time to be on different series at the same time; she was on The Flintstones the entire time.
Frank Cady played Sam Drucker on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres for a numerous of years. Hey, he had to! Sam was the
storekeeper in Hooterville. His work was never done.
Spin Off: Redigo from Empire – Jim Redigo went from being a manager on the Garrett ranch to the owner of his
own ranch.
Summer Replacement:
The New Christy Minstrels replaced Hazel for the summer.
Vacation Playhouse replaced The Lucy Show for the summer.
Switch Networks: The Price Is Right went from NBC to ABC
Tidbits:
Petticoat Junction’s Paul & Linda Henning shared the same birthday, September 16.
The unnamed dog on Petticoat Junction was Higgins. He became the TOP DOG in the movies, starting in 1974. Higgins was the
first Benji dog. His PJ human costar, Edgar Buchanan, starred in the first Benji movie.
Charles Bronson tried TV twice again (Empire) in 1963 with The Travels Of Jamie McPheeters, another failed show. The third
time wasn’t the charm. He had much success at the movies. His young costar was the twelve year old, Kurt Russell, who
became a well–known star in his own right. It was Kurt’s first series. Both Charles and Kurt reprised their roles
in the 1964 TV movie, The Guns Of Diablo.
Bill Dana created the popular Jose Jimenez character on The Steve Allen Show; then created the show around the character.
Bill incorporated one of Don Adams’ stand up character, Byron Glick, on the show. They have been friends since childhood.
Don got his start on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scout, collaborating with Bill, which he won in 1954. Don was on his way
of being a star.
Where did we saw the premise of Arrest & Trial before? Hmm, hey, I know now! Law & Order on NBC in the 1990’s
and beyond. They were basically the same exact show for a different time. The only difference was Arrest & Trial is a
ninety-minute police drama; Law & Order is one full hour. In those days, Ed Sullivan and Bonanza murdered Arrest &
Trial in the ratings on Sundays. Even Judy Garland was murdered.
Many young stars on On Broadway Tonight later became successful – Rich Little, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jo Anne
Worley, Marilyn Michaels, Rodney Dangerfield and Renee Taylor.
1963/64 Fall Season
One Season (1963/64)
The Bill Dana Show – 1963–1965, NBC, comedy, Bill Dana, Don Adams, Jonathan Harris
Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre – 1963–1967, NBC, dramatic anthology, Bob Hope
Burke’s Law – 1963–1966, ABC, crime drama, Gene Barry, Gary Conway
The Danny Kaye Show – 1963–1967, CBS, variety, Danny Kaye, Harvey Coleman
The Farmer’s Daughter – 1963–1966, ABC, comedy, Inger Stevens
The Fugitive – 1963–1967, ABC, drama, David Janssen, Barry Moore
The Great Adventure – 1963–1965, CBS, dramatic anthology, Van Heflin
The Jimmy Dean Show – 1963–1966, ABC, variety, Jimmy Dean
Kraft Suspense Theater – 1963–1965, NBC, dramatic anthology
Mr. Novak – 1963–1965, NBC, drama, James Franciscus, Marion Ross
My Favorite Martian – 1963–1966, CBS, comedy, Bill Bixby, Ray Walston
The Outer Limits – 1963–1965, ABC, sci-fi anthology
The Patty Duke Show – 1963–1966, ABC, comedy, Patty Duke, William Schallert
Petticoat Junction – 1963–1970, CBS, comedy, Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Linda Kaye
Cancelled TV shows
Arrest And Trial – ABC, crime drama, Ben Gazzara, Chuck Connors
Breaking Point – ABC, medical drama, Paul Richards, Eduard Franz
Channing – ABC, drama, Henry Jones, Jason Evers
Chronicle – CBS, documentary, Charles Collingwood
East Side/West Side – CBS, drama, George C. Scott, Cicely Tyson
The Edie Adams Show – ABC, musical variety, Edie Adams
Espionage – NBC, spy drama
Glynis – CBS, comedy, Gynis Johns, Keith Andes
The Greatest Show On Earth – ABC, circus drama, Jack Palance, Stu Erwin
Grindl – NBC, comedy, Imogene Coca
Harry’s Girls – NBC, comedy, Larry Blyden, Susan Silo
Hollywood And The Stars – NBC, documentary, Joseph Cotten
The Jerry Lewis Show – ABC, talk/variety, 13 episodes, Jerry Lewis
The Judy Garland Show – CBS, musical variety, Judy Garland
The Lieutenant – NBC, drama, Gary Lockwood, Robert Vaughn
100 Grand – ABC, game, 3 episodes, Jack Clark
Redigo – NBC, western, Richard Egan
The Richard Boone Show – NBC, dramatic anthology, Richard Boone
The Sid Caesar Show – ABC, comedy/variety, Sid Caesar
Temple Houston – NBC, western, Jeffrey Hunter, Jack Elam
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters – ABC, western, Dan O’Herlihy, Kurt Russell
14 out of 35 new series SURVIVED for 1964/65
ABC – 6/15, Burke’s Law, Farmer’s Daughter,
The Fugitive, The Jimmy Dean Show, Outer Limits & The Patty Duke Show
CBS – 4/8, The Danny Kaye Show, The Great Adventure,
My Favorite Martian & Petticoat Junction
NBC – 4/12, The Bill Dana Show, Bob Hope Presents
The Chrysler Theatre, Kraft Suspense Theater, & Mr. Novak
Mid season shows
The Celebrity Game – April 1964–1965, CBS, quiz, Carl Reiner
Moment Of Fear – July 1964–1965, NBC, dramatic anthology, reruns
On Broadway Tonight – July 1964–1965, CBS, talent/variety, Rudy Valle
Summer Playhouse – July 1964–1965, CBS, anthology, unsold pilots
That Was The Week That Was – January 1964–1965, NBC, news satire, Elliot Reid
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
Destry – ABC, western, John Gavin
High Adventure With Lowell Thomas – CBS, adventure/travelogue, Lowell Thomas
The Humble Report – NBC, documentary
Laughs For Sale – ABC, comedy, Hal March
Made In America – CBS, quiz, 5 episodes, Hans Conried
The New Christy Minstrels – NBC, musical variety, 5 episodes, Randy Sparks
On Parade – NBC, musical variety
Suspense – CBS, dramatic anthology, Sebastian Cabot
Tell It To The Camera – CBS, interview, Red Rowe
You Don't Say – NBC, quiz, Tom Kennedy
Your Hit Parade – CBS, music
Two Seasons (1962/63)
ABC News Reports – July 1963–1964, ABC, documentary
The Andy Williams Show – 1962–1967, NBC, musical variety
The Beverly Hillbillies – 1962–1971, CBS, comedy
Combat! – 1962–1967, ABC, drama
The Eleventh Hour – 1962–1964, NBC, drama
Hootenanny – April 1963–1964, ABC, music
The Jack Paar Show – 1962–1965, NBC, variety
The Jackie Gleason Show – 1962–1970; CBS, variety
The Lucy Show – 1962–1968, CBS, comedy
McHale’s Navy – 1962–1966, ABC, comedy
The Nurses – 1962–1965, CBS, drama
Vacation Playhouse – July 1963–1967, CBS, anthology
The Virginian – 1962–1971, NBC, western
Three Seasons (1961/62)
Ben Casey – 1961–1966, ABC, drama
Biography – February 1962–1964, syndication, documentary
The Defenders – 1961–1965, CBS, drama
The Dick Van Dyke Show – 1961–1966, CBS, comedy
Dr. Kildare – 1961–1966, NBC, drama
DuPont Show of The Week – 1961–1964, NBC, various
Hazel – 1961–1965, NBC; 1965/66, CBS, comedy
International Showtime – 1961–1965, NBC, variety
The Joey Bishop Show – 1961–1964, NBC; 1964/65, CBS, comedy
Marshal Dillon – 1961–1964, CBS; Gunsmoke’s reruns, western
Open End – 1961–1987, syndication, talk
Password – Jan 1962–1965, CBS, game
Four Seasons (1960/61)
The Andy Griffith Show – 1960–1968, CBS, comedy
CBS Reports – Jan 1961–1971, CBS, documentary
Candid Camera – 1960–1967, CBS, humor
Fight of the Week – 1960–1964, ABC, sports boxing
The Flintstones – 1960–1966, ABC, cartoon
Make That Spare – 1960–1964, ABC, sports
Mr. Ed – January 1961, Syndication; 1961–1965, CBS; comedy
My Three Sons – 1960–1965, ABC; 1965–1972, CBS, comedy
Route 66 – 1960–1964, CBS, adventure
Sing Along With Mitch – Jan 1961–1964, NBC, variety
Five Seasons (1959/60)
Bell Telephone Hour – 1959–1968, NBC, music
Bonanza – 1959–1973, NBC, western
The Twilight Zone – 1959–1965, CBS, anthology
Six Seasons (1958/59)
The Donna Reed Show – 1958–1966, ABC, comedy
The Garry Moore Show – 1958–1964, CBS, variety
Rawhide – Jan 1959–1966, CBS, western
77 Sunset Strip – 1958–1964, ABC, drama
Seven Seasons (1957/58)
Perry Mason – 1957–1966, CBS, drama
The Price Is Right – 1957–1963, NBC; 1963/64, ABC, game
Wagon Train – 1957–1962, NBC; 1962–1965, ABC, western
Eight Seasons (1956/57)
To Tell The Truth – Dec 1956–1967, CBS, game
Nine Seasons (1955/56)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – 1955–1960, CBS; 1960–1962, NBC; 1962–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, suspense
anthology
Gunsmoke – 1955–1975, CBS, western
Ten Seasons (1954/55)
Lassie – 1954–1971, CBS; 1971–1974, Syndication; adventure
The Lawrence Welk Show – 1954–1971, ABC, music
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – 1962–1992, NBC, talk/variety
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color – 1954–1983, anthology
Eleven Seasons (1953/54)
The Danny Thomas Show – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy
Twelve Seasons (1952/53)
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy
Death Valley Days – 1952–1975, syndication, western anthology
Thirteen Seasons (1951/52)
I’ve Got A Secret – June 1952–1967, CBS, game
The Red Skelton Hour – 1951–1953, NBC; 1953–1970, CBS; 1970/71, NBC, variety
Fourteen Seasons (1950/51)
The Jack Benny Show – 1950–1964, CBS; 1964/65, NBC, comedy
Fifteen Seasons (1949/50)
What’s My Line? – Feb 1950–1967, CBS, game
Seventeen seasons (1947/48)
The Ed Sullivan Show – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety
Meet The Press – November 1947–1965, NBC, interview
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