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 Series:
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
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
Do You Trust Your Wife? – January 1956–1957, CBS, quiz, Edgar Bergen
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
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