1953/54 – I Love Lucy was #1 on CBS Monday, second year running.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1953 season; This Is Show Business was cancelled
in the sixth season.
Alternate Series:
The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM.
General Electric Theater and The Fred Waring Show were on CBS Sunday at 9M.
Philco TV Playhouse and Goodyear TV Playhouse were on NBC Sunday at 9 PM.
Motorola TV Theatre and The U.S. Steel Hour were on ABC Tuesday at 9:30 PM.
Center Stage and The U.S. Steel hour were on ABC Tuesday at 9:30 PM for the summer.
Biggest New Hit: There was no new show in the top 30 ratings.
Local TV: Your Chevrolet Showroom was on local TV in New York in October 1943, then it moved to ABC a month later.
Movies 2 TV:
Life With Father was based on the 1947 movie.
That's My Boy was based on the 1950 Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movie. This is the first movie that Jerry and Dean had "actually"
acting roles. Eddie Mayeoff reprised "Jarring" Jack Jackson for the series.
Topper was based on the 1937 Cary Grant movie.
Name Change:
Campbell Soundstage to Campbell Summer Soundstage in June 1954 as a film series.
A Letter To Loretta to The Loretta Young Show in February 1954.
Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen to The Jane Froman Show
Joseph Schildkraut Presents was also known as Personal Appearance Theatre.
The RCA Victor Show to The Dennis Day Show.
Gillette Summer Sports Reel to Sportsreel.
The Strawhatters to Summer In The Park.
TV Recital Hall to Recital Hall.
Talent Patrol to Soldier Parade in Mid–1954.
Texaco Star Theater to The Buick–Berle Show. Texaco moved the sponsorship to another night and Buick took over the
sponsorship of the newly name show.
Original Run:
Coke Time was on NBC Wednesday/Friday at 7:30 PM for five seasons.
Radio:
Earn Your Vacation was on CBS from 1949–1950.
My Favorite Husband was on CBS from 1948–1951, Lucy Ball and Richard Denning.
Sky King was on the radio from 1946–1954.
Topper was on NBC in 1945.
Reruns: Top Plays Of 1954 shown reruns of Ford Theatre.
The Return:
The Hank McCune Show returned to syndication after a brief run on NBC in 1950. This time, it lasted a year.
ABC revived Leave It To The Girls for another year.
NBC revived Truth Or Consequences in May 1954.
NBC revived Kollage Of Musical Knowledge for the summer; it lost it sparks without Kay Kyser and his maniac crew.
Front Page Detective returned to DUM after a year absence.
CBS revived It's News To Me for the summer with Walter Cronkite as the new host.
The Hunter returned to NBC. It was previously on CBS in 1952.
NBC revived Midwestern Hayride after a year absence.
NBC revived Recital Hall. It was last seen in 1951.
Red Barber's Clubhouse returned to CBS as The Peak Of The Sports News. It was last seen in 1950.
Simultaneous: Jesse White was on Private Secretary and The Danny Thomas Show, both from 1953–1957. Private Secretary
started in February 1953.
Summer Replacement:
The Best In Mystery replaced The Big Story for the summers of 1954–1956.
The Blue Angel replaced See It Now for the summer.
Center Stage replaced Motorola TV Theatre for the summer. Neither series come back next season.
The Jack Paar Show replaced My Favourite Husband for the summer.
Saturday Night Revue replaced Your Show Of Shows for the summer.
Summer Holiday replaced The Jo Stafford Show for the summer on Tuesday.
Song Snapshot On A Summer Holiday replaced The Jane Froman Show for the summer on Thursday.
Top Plays Of 1954 replaced Armstrong Circle Theatre for the summer.
Your Play Time replaced the two alternated series, The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary, for the summer.
Switch Networks:
Bank On The Stars went from CBS to NBC.
On Your Way went from DUM to ABC in January 1954.
Man Against Crime went from CBS to NBC and DUM in the same time period on both networks – Sundays at 10:30 PM.
Mr. & Mrs. North went from CBS to NBC in January 1954.
Place The Face went from NBC to CBS.
Revlon Mirror Theatre went from NBC to CBS. It was no longer LIVE on CBS.
Two For The Money went from NBC to CBS.
Twenty Questions went from DUM to ABC.
Tidbits:
Man Against Crime aired on NBC and DuMont at the same time - Sunday at 10:30 PM.
Life With Elizabeth was Betty White's first series.
In the middle of the season, Pepsi–Cola Playhouse was no longer LIVE.
Joan Crawford was in the first CBS episode of Revlon Mirror Theatre; it was her TV dramatic debut.
Life With Father was the first ever series to be film in color, but was shown in B/W.
Helen Grayco starred with her husband, Spike Jones, in The Spike Jones Show in four different seasons.
Gene Autry discovered Gail Davis. She was featured in his movies and his series, then she got her own series, Annie Oakley,
in 1954. Gene produced the series.
1953/54 Fall Season
One Season (1953/54)
The Big Picture – 1953–1959, ABC, documentary, Capt. Carl Zimmerman
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, Jan Murray
A Letter To Loretta – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology
Jamie – 1953–1954, ABC, comedy, LIVE, Brandon De Wilde
Junior Press Conference – 1953–1954, ABC, interview, Ruth Geri Hagy
Make Room For Daddy – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy, Danny Thomas
My Favorite Husband – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, Joan Caulfield
Omnibus – 1953–1956, CBS; 1956/57, ABC, culture, Alistair Cooke
The Peak Of The Sports News – 1953–1955, CBS; 1955–1958, sports commentary, Red Barber
Pepsi–Cola Playhouse – 1953–1955, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE, Arlene Dahl
Person To Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview, Edward R. Murrow
Topper – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, Anne Jeffreys
U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Where's Raymond – 1953–1955, ABC, comedy, Ray Bolger
Cancelled TV Shows:
Back That Fact – ABC, quiz, Joey Adams
Bonino – NBC, comedy, LIVE, Ezio Pinza
Colonel Humphrey Flack – DUM, comedy, LIVE, Alan Mowbray
The Comeback Story – ABC, drama/interview, LIVE, George Jessel
The Dave Garroway Show – NBC, variety, Dave Garroway
The Frank Leahy Show – ABC, sports commentary, Frank Leahy
Front Page Detective – DUM, newspaper drama, Edmund Lowe
Leave It To The Girls – ABC, discussion, Maggi McNellis
Joseph Schidkraut Presents – DUM, dramatic anthology, Joseph Schikraut
Judge for Yourself – NBC, quiz, Fred Allen
Man Behind The Badge – CBS, police anthology, LIVE, Norman Rose
Melody Street – DUM, music, Allan Brown
Meet Mr. McNutley – CBS, Ray Milland
Motorola TV Theatre – ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Nine Thirty Curtain – DUM, dramatic anthology
Of Many Things – ABC, discussion, Dr. Bergen Evans
On Your Way – DUM, quiz, Bud Collyer
Phillip Morris Playhouse – CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Pride Of The Family – ABC, comedy, Fay Wray, Natalie Wood
Sky King – ABC, western, Kirby Grant
Showcase Theater – ABC, dramatic anthology
Stars On Parade – DUM, musical variety, Don Russell
Through The Curtain – ABC, discussion, George Hamilton Combs
14 out of 37 new series SURVIVED for 1954/55
ABC – 8/18,
The Big Picture, Jamie, Junior Press Conference, Make Room For Daddy, Pepsi–Cola Playhouse, Topper, U.S. Steel Hour
& Where's Raymond
CBS – 4/7,
My Favorite Husband, Omnibus, The Peak Of The Sports News & Person To Person
DUM – 1/8, Dollar A Second
NBC – 1/4, A Letter To Loretta
Mid season shows
The Best In Mystery – 1954–1956, NBC, dramatic anthology
Better Living TV Theatre – DUM, documentary/discussion, Fischer Black
Center Stage – ABC, dramatic anthology
Chicago Symphony – January 1954–1955, DUM, music, Fritz Reiner
Doctor I.Q. – November 1953–1954, ABC, quiz, Jay Owen
The Dotty Mack Show – February–August 1953, DUM; 1953–1956, ABC, music, Dotty Mack
Flight #7 – June 1954–1955, ABC, travelogue
The Hunter – July-December 1954, NBC, international intrigue, Keith Larsen
It's News To Me – July 1951–1953, CBS, quiz, Walter Cronkite
The Jo Stafford Show – February 1954–1955, music, LIVE, Jo Stafford
Justice – April 1954–1956, NBC, law drama, LIVE
Kollage Of Musical Knowledge – NBC, quiz, Tennessee Ernie Ford
Life With Father – November 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, LIVE, Marion Ross
The Martha Wright Show – April–December 1954, ABC, music, LIVE, Martha Wright
Medic – 1954–Nov 1956, medical drama, Richard Boone
Midwestern Hayride – June 1954–1956, NBC; July 1957–1958, ABC; 1959, NBC, musical variety, Bill Thall
One Minute Please – July 1954–1955, DUM, quiz, John K. McCaffery
Opera Cameos – January–November 1954, DUM, music, Giovanni Martinielli
Public Defender – March 1954–1955, CBS, legal drama, Reed Hadley
The Stranger – June 1954–1955, DUM, crime drama, Robert Carroll
That's My Boy – April 1954–1955, CBS, comedy, Eddie Mayeoff
The Tony Martin Show – April 1954–1956, NBC, music, LIVE Tony Martin
Truth Or Consequences – May 1953–1956, NBC, quiz, Jack Bailey
The Vaughn Monroe Show – August 1954–1955, CBS, musical variety, LIVE
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
The American Week – CBS, news/commentary, Eric Sevareid
Answers For Americans – ABC, discussion, Hardy Burt
Background – NBC, mews/documentary, Joseph C. Harsch
The Blue Angel – CBS, variety, Orson Bean
Cheer Television Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology, 5 episodes
Comment – NBC, public affairs
Droodles – NBC, cartoon quiz, Roger Price, Carl Reiner
The Duke – NBC, comedy, Paul Gilbert
Earn Your Vacation – CBS, quiz, Johnny Carson
Gamble On Love – DUM, quiz, 4 episodes, Denise Darcel
Greatest Sport Thrills – January 1954–1956, sports, Stan Lomax
It's About Time – ABC, quiz, Dr. Bergen Evans
The Jack Paar Show – CBS, variety, LIVE, Jack Paar
The Jane Pickens Show – ABC, music, Jane Pickens
Let's Dance – ABC, music, LIVE, Julius LaRosa
Love Story – DUM, anthology, LIVE
The Marriage – NBC, comedy, 8 episodes, Jessica Tandy
The Mask – ABC, crime drama, LIVE, Gary Merrill
Melody Tour – ABC, musical variety, Stan Freeman
Men Of Tomorrow – ABC, documentary
Motorola TV Theatre – ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Night Editor – DUM, dramatic anthology, Hal Burdick
Now – ABC, documentary
On The Boardwalk With Paul Whiteman – ABC, variety, LIVE, Paul Whiteman
Open Hearing – ABC, documentary, John Daly
The Spike Jones Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Spike Jones
Summer Holiday – CBS, music, LIVE, Merv Griffin
Summer Playhouse – NBC, anthology, reruns, Nelson Case
Recital Hall – NBC, music, LIVE
Take It From Me – ABC, comedy, Jean Carroll
The Telltale Clue –CBS, crime drama, Anthony Ross
This World–1954 – ABC, documentary
Time Will Tell – DUM, quiz, Ernie Kovacs
Top Plays Of 1954 – NBC, dramatic anthology
Travel Corner – ABC, documentary
Two In Love – CBS, quiz, Bert Parks
U.S. Highway 1954 – ABC, travelogue
Vaudeville Show – ABC, musical variety, 4 episodes, Glenn Osser
Viceroy Star Theatre – CBS, dramatic anthology
What Do You Have In Common? – CBS, quiz, Ralph Story
What's In A Word – CBS, quiz, Audrey Meadows
Who's The Boss? – ABC, quiz, Walter Kiernan
The World Of Mr. Sweeney – NBC, comedy, Helen Wagner
Your Chevrolet Showroom – ABC, variety, Cesar Romero
Syndication
Annie Oakley – January 1954–1957, syndication, western, Gail Davis
Flash Gordon – syndication, sci fi, Steve Holland
City Detective – 1953–1955, syndication, crime drama, Rod Cameron
The Hank McCune Show – syndication, comedy, Hank McCune
I Lead Three Lives – 1953–1956, syndication, intrigue, Richard Carlson
Janet Dean, Registered Nurse – February 1954–1955, syndication, medical drama, Ella Raines
Life With Elizabeth – 1953–1955, syndication, comedy, Betty White
Waterfront – February 1954–1956, syndication, adventure, Preston Foster
Two Seasons (1952/53)
The Abbott And Costello Show – 1952–1954, syndication, comedy
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy
The Adventures Of Superman – 1952–1958, syndication, adventure
At Issue – July 1953–1954, ABC, interview
The Big Issue – April 1953–1954, DUM, public affairs
Bank On The Stars – 1953, CBS, 1954, NBC; quiz
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
It Happened In Sports – July 1953-1954, NBC, sports commentary
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
Madison Square Garden Highlights – June 1953–1954, ABC, sports commentary
Medallion Theater –July 1953–1954, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Meet Millie – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy
Meet Your Congress – July 1953–1954, DUM, debate
Mr. & Mrs. North – 1952/53, CBS; 1954, NBC, comedy/mystery
Music At The Meadowbrook – May–December 1953, ABC, musical variety, LIVE
Music Show – May 1953–1954, DUM, music
Name That Tune – June 1953–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, CBS, game
New York Giants Quarterback Huddle – 1952–1953, DUM, sports commentary
Orchid Award – May 1953–1954, ABC, musical variety
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
Quick As A Flash – March 1953–1954, ABC, quiz, LIVE
The Red Buttons Show – 1952–1954, CBS; 1954/55, NBC, comedy/variety
Ramar Of Jungle – 1952–1954, syndication, adventure
The Range Rider – 1952–1954, syndication, western
Revlon Mirror Theatre – June–Sept 1953, NBC; 1953, CBS, dramatic anthology
Saturday Night Fights – January 1953–1955, ABC, boxing
Saturday Night Revue – June 1953–1954, NBC, variety
Summer In The Park – May 1953–1954, DUM, variety
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
Washington Exclusion – June–November 1953, DUM, discussion
Your Play Time – June 1953–1954, ABC; 1955, NBC, dramatic anthology
Three Seasons (1951/52)
The Adventures Of Kit Carson – 1951–1955, syndication, western
Campbell Soundstage – June 1952–1954, NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Chance Of A Lifetime – May 1952–1953, ABC; 1953–1955, DUM; 1955/56, ABC, talent
The Dennis Day Show – November 1951–1954, NBC, various
The Dinah Shore Show – November 1951–1957, NBC, music
Dragnet – January 1952–1959, NBC, police drama
Goodyear TV Playhouse 1951–1960, NBC, dramatic anthology
Foreign Intrigue – 1951–1955, syndication, intrigue
Hour Of Decision – 1951–1954, ABC, religion
I Love Lucy – 1951–1957, CBS, comedy
I’ve Got A Secret – June 1952–1967, CBS, game
Inspector Mark Saber–Homicide Squad – 1951–1954, ABC, detective drama
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 Friend Irma – January 1952–1954, CBS, comedy
My Little Margie – June 1952–1955, NBC, comedy
Name's The Same – December 1951–1955, ABC, quiz
On Guard – April 1952–1954, ABC, documentary
On The Line With Considine – January 1952–1954, NBC, news interview
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
The Week In Religion – March 1952–1954, DUM, religion
Four Seasons (1950/51)
The Adventures Of Wild Bill Hickok – April 1951–1958, syndication, western
America In View – May 1951–1953, ABC, travelogue
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
The John Hopkins Science Review – 1950–1954, DUM, information
Lux Video Theatre – 1950–1954, CBS; 1954–1957, NBC, LIVE
Mr. Wizard – May 1951–1955, NBC, educational
The Paul Winchell–Jerry Mahoney Show – 1950–1954, NBC, comedy/variety
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
Five 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
Broadway To Hollywood–Headline Clues – July 1949–1954, DUM, magazine
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
Martin Kane – 1949–1954, NBC, detective drama, LIVE
Man Against Crime – 1949–1953, CBS; 1953/54, NBC/DUM, detective drama
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
The Plainclothesman – 1949–1954, DUM, police drama
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
The Web – July 1950–1954, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
What’s My Line? – February 1950–1967, CBS, game
Your Hit Parade – summer of 1950–1958, NBC; 1958/59, CBS, music
Your Show Of Shows – February 1950 – 1954, NBC, comedy/variety
Six 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
The Fred Waring Show – April 1949–1954, CBS, musical variety
The Goldbergs – January 1949–1951, CBS; 1952–1953, NBC; 1954, DUM, comedy, LIVE
Greatest Fights Of The Century – 1948–1954, NBC, boxing
Mama – July 1949–1956, CBS, comedy/drama, LIVE
Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club – April 1949–1954, ABC, talent, LIVE
The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS; 1955–1963, NBC, variety
Philco TV Playhouse – 1948–1955, NBC, dramatic anthology
Quiz Kids – March 1949–1952, NBC; Jan–Nov 1953, CBS, quiz
Studio One – 1948–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology
This Is Show Business – July 1949–1954, CBS, variety
Who Said That? – December 1948–1954, NBC, 1955, ABC, quiz
Seven seasons (1947/48)
Author Meets The Critics – April 1948–1949, NBC; 1949/50, ABC; 1951/52, NBC, 1952–1954, DUM, book discussion
The Buick–Berle Show – June 1948–1956, NBC, comedy/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
Toast Of The Town – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety
Eight seasons (1946/47)
Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports – 1946–1960, NBC, boxing
Kraft Television Theatre – May 1947–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology
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