1954/55 – I Love Lucy was #1 on CBS Monday, third year running.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1954 season; I Married Joan was cancelled
in the third season.
Alternate Series:
The Jack Benny Show and Private Secretary were on CBS Sunday at 7:30 PM.
Philco TV Playhouse and Goodyear TV Playhouse were on NBC Sunday at 9 PM.
Clorets Summer Theatre and Kleenex Summer Theatre were on NBC Tuesday at 9 PM.
The Elgin TV Hour and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS Tuesday at 9:30 PM.
The Best Of Broadway and Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts were on CBS Wednesday at 10 PM. The Best Of Broadway was on every fourth
Wednesday.
Front Row Center and The U.S. Steel Hour were on CBS at Wednesday at 10 PM for the summer.
The Donald O'Connor Texaco Show and The Jimmy Durante Show were on NBC Saturday at 9:30 PM under the umbrella title, Texaco
Star Theatre.
Biggest New Hit: Disneyland was #6 on ABC Wednesday. For some odd reason, Walt Disney created the infomercial by accident.
Yes, Disneyland was a very long commercial for the theme park. It opened on July 17, 1955. The show premiered on October 27,
1955. Walt Disney Studios was the first major studio to make the leap to TV; others fears that TV was the enemy and denied
to put any hit movies on TV. For the biggest coup of Walt Disney, ABC poured some money in the theme park. This was the struggling
ABC's first major hit series. ABC remained a investor for Disneyland and had stock till 1960. Walt Disney was displeased with
ABC's actions with the park. Therefore, Walt Disney moved the series to NBC in 1961. Walt Disney and ABC came a full circle;
Walt Disney brought ABC in 1996.
Original Run:
Climax was on CBS Thursday at 8:30 PM for four seasons.
Damon Runyon Theatre was on CBS Saturday at 10:30 PM for two seasons.
Medic was on NBC Monday at 9 PM for three seasons.
The Millionaire was on CBS Wednesday at 9 PM for six seasons.
Producers' Showcase was on NBC Monday at 8 PM for three seasons.
Shower Of Stars was on CBS Thursday at 8:30 PM for four seasons. It only aired monthly.
Name Change:
The Colgate Comedy Hour to Comedy Variety Hour in the summer of 1955.
Henry Youngman left The Henry And Rocky Show few weeks later after the series premiered. The new name was Rocky's Corner.
Junior Press Conference to College Press Conference.
The Peak Of The Sports News to Red Barber's Corner.
The Buick–Berle Show to The Milton Berle Show.
Your Favourite Playhouse to Stage 7. YFP only shown reruns. Stage 7 was the new ones.
Radio:
The Halls Of Ivy was on NBC from 1950–1952. Ronald Colman and his wife, Benita Hume, reprised their roles for the
TV series.
Reruns:
CBS aired The Pride Of The Family reruns in the summer of 1955.
Kodak Request Performance shown reruns of the episodes from Ford Theatre and Fireside Theater.
Spotlight Playhouse shown reruns of Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars.
Your Play Time shown reruns of Pepsi–Cola Playhouse and Studio 57.
The Return:
ABC revived Horizons for a few months. It was previously on ABC from 1951–1952.
ABC revived Stop The Music for another two years with Bert Parks as the host again.
ABC revived The Stork Club for another year. It was previously on CBS from 1950–1953.
NBC revived Cameo Theatre after a three–year absence. It was their fourth and last season.
Meet Corliss Archer returned to syndication after a two–year absence. It was previously on CBS. Bobby Ellis was the
only cast member to return.
Sammy Kaye returned to ABC in So You Want To Lead A Band, the same name of the 1950 NBC series. He was previously on NBC
in the summer of 1953.
Summer Replacement:
America's Greatest Bands replaced The Jackie Gleason Show. The series only lasted the summer.
And Here's The Show replaced The George Gobel Show. The series only last the summer.
Caesar Presents replaced Caesar’s Hour for the summer.
Cameo Theatre replaced The Loretta Young Show for the summer.
Clorets Summer Theatre and Kleenex Summer Theatre replaced Fireside Theatre for the summer.
Frankie Laine Time replaced Arthur Godfrey And His Friends for the summer.
Spotlight Playhouse replaced The Red Skelton Show for five summers from 1955–1959.
Those Whiting Girls replaced I Love Lucy for the summer.
Undercurrent replaced The Lineup for the summer.
Windows replaced Person To Person for the summer.
Your Play Time replaced Your Hit Parade for the summer.
Switch Networks:
Big Town went from CBS to NBC.
Down You Go went from DUM to CBS in June 1955.
Ethel & Albert went from NBC to CBS in June 1955.
Lux Video Theatre went from CBS to NBC.
Place The Face went from CBS to NBC.
Red Barber's Corner went from CBS to NBC in May 1955.
The Red Buttons Show went from CBS to NBC.
Treasury Men In Action went from NBC to ABC.
Who Said That went from NBC to ABC.
Tidbits:
This was the last time that four major networks to be in the same season till FOX came to primetime in 1987 with Married
With Children and The Tracey Ullman Show.
NBC added a host, James Mason, to Lux Video Theatre. The CBS version didn’t have one.
Studio 57 was one of the last regular DuMont series.
The Mickey Rooney Show was also known as Hey Mulligan, its subtitle.
Medic was Richard Boone's first starring vehicle.
Clorets Summer Theatre and Kleenex Summer Theatre shown repeats from Four Star Playhouse.
Compass was never seen on ABC's flagship station in New York.
Norby was the first series to be filmed in color. Eastman Kodak Company sponsored it. Back then, all series were still
shown in B/W.
Climax was a LIVE show in the beginning; even some tape productions were added throughout the run.
James Bond was first adapted for an episode, Casino Royale, for Climax. This James Bond was an American, played by Barry
Nelson. Casino Royale finally made it to the big screen in 2006 with the new James Bond, Daniel Craig. Casino Royale is the
first James Bond novel; it came out in 1953. The James Bond movies started in 1962 with Sean Connery in Dr. No, the sixth
James Bond novel.
1954/55 Fall Season
One Season (1954/55)
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin – 1954–1959, ABC, western, Lee Aaker
Caesar’s Hour – 1954–1957, NBC, comedy/variety, Sid Caesar
Climax! – 1954–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE, William Lundigan
Compass – 1954–1957, ABC, travelogue
December Bride – 1954–1959, CBS, comedy, Spring Byington
Disneyland – 1954–1983, ABC, anthology, Walt Disney
Father Knows Best – 1954/55, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC; 1958–1960, CBS, Robert Young
The George Gobel Show – 1954–1959, NBC; 1959/60, CBS, comedy variety, George Gobel
It's A Great Life – 1954–1956, NBC, comedy, Frances Bavier
The Jimmy Durante Show – 1954–1956, NBC, comedy/variety, LIVE, Jimmy Durante
Lassie – 1954–1971, CBS; 1971–1974, Syndication, adventure, Tommy Rettig
The Lawrence Welk Show – 1954–1971, ABC, music, Lawrance Welk
The Lineup – 1954–1960, CBS, police drama, Warner Anderson
People are Funny – 1954–1961, NBC, quiz, Art Linkletter
Shower Of Stars – 1954–1958, CBS, musical variety, LIVE, William Lundigan
Stop The Music – 1954–1956, ABC, quiz, Bert Parks
The Vise – 1954–1955, ABC, suspense anthology, Ron Randell
Cancelled TV Show:
The Best Of Broadway – CBS, anthology, LIVE
Come Closer – ABC, quiz, Jimmy Nelson
Dear Phoebe – NBC, comedy, Peter Lawford
The Donald O'Connor Texaco Show – NBC, comedy, Donald O'Connor
Elgin TV Hour – ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Halls Of Ivy – CBS, comedy, Mary Wickes
Honestly Celeste – CBS, comedy, Celeste Holm
The Ilona Massey Show – DUM, music, Ilona Massey
The Imogene Coca Show – NBC, comedy/variety, Imogene Coca
The Mail Story – ABC, dramatic anthology
The Mickey Rooney Show – NBC, comedy, Mickey Rooney
So You Want To Lead A Band – ABC, musical variety, Sammy Kaye
The Stork Club – ABC, talk, Sherman Billingsley
Studio 57 – DUM, dramatic anthology
Time Will Tell – DUM, quiz, Ernie Kovacs
Willy – CBS, comedy, June Havoc
17 out of 33 new series SURVIVED for 1955/56
ABC – 6/11, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Compass,
Disneyland, The Lawrence Welk Show, Stop The Music & The Vice
CBS – 6/10, Climax!, December Bride, Father Knows
Best, Lassie, The Lineup & Shower Of Stars
DUM – 0/3,
NBC – 5/9, Caesar’s Hour, The George Gobel
Show, It's A Great Life, The Jimmy Durante Show & People are Funny
Mid season shows
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, Bob
Cummings
Country Music Jubilee – January 1955–1960, ABC, country music, Red Foley
Damon Runyon Theatre – April 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, Donald Woods
The Dunninger Show – June–Sept 1955, NBC; 1956, ABC, mind reading, Joseph Dunninger
Frankie Laine Time – July 1955–1956, CBS, musical variety, Frankie Laine
The Johnny Carson Show – June 1955–1956, comedy/variety, Johnny Carson
The Millionaire – January 1955–1960, CBS, dramatic anthology, Marvin Miller
Producers' Showcase – 1954–1957, NBC, anthology
Professional Father – CBS, comedy, Barbara Billingsley
Spotlight – June 1955–1959, CBS, dramatic anthology
Star Tonight – February 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
TV Reader's Digest – January 1955–1956, ABC, dramatic anthology, Hugh Reilly
Talent Varieties – June–November 1955, ABC, variety, Slim Wilson
Tomorrow's Careers – March 1955–1956, ABC, information, Lynn Poole
$64,000 Question – June 1955–1959, CBS, game, Hal March
Undercurrent – July 1955–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
America's Greatest Bands – CBS, music, Paul Whiteman
And Here's The Show – NBC, comedy variety, LIVE, Ransom Sherman
Caesar Presents – NBC, comedy/variety, LIVE, Bobby Sherwood
Cameo Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Clorets Summer Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology
Do It Yourself – NBC, comedy/information, Cliff Arquette
Front Row Center – CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
The Henny And Rocky Show – ABC, comedy/variety, Buddy Weed
Hollywood Backstage – ABC, beauty tips, Erin Westmore
Horizons – ABC, discussion, Dr. Louis H. Bauer
The Ilona Massey Show – DUM, music, Ilona Massey
It's Alec Templeton Time – DUM, music, Alec Templeton
It's Magic – CBS, magic, Paul Tripp
Jan Murray Time – NBC, variety, LIVE, Jan Murray, Tina Louise
The Julius LaRosa Show – CBS, music, LIVE, Julius LaRosa
Key To The Ages – ABC, discussion, Dr. Theodore Low
Kleenex Summer Theatre – NBC, dramatic anthology
Kodak Request Performance – NBC, dramatic anthology, Jack Clark
Let's See – ABC, quiz, John Reed King
Make The Connection – NBC, quiz, LIVE, Jim McKay, Betty White
The Matt Dennis Show – NBC, music, Matt Dennis
Mr. Citizen – ABC, dramatic anthology, Allyn Edwards
Music 55 – CBS, music, LIVE, Stan Kenton
Musical Chairs – NBC, quiz, Bill Leyden, Mel Blanc
Norby – NBC, comedy, David Wayne, Jack Warden
Pall Mall Playhouse – ABC, western anthology
The Pee Wee King Show – ABC, musical variety, Pee Wee King
Penny To A Million – ABC, quiz, Bill Goodwin
President Eisenhower's News Conference – ABC, news
The Search – CBS, documentary, Charles Romine
So This Is Hollywood – NBC, comedy, Mitzi Green
The Soldiers – NBC, comedy, LIVE, Hal March
Soupy Sales – ABC, children's, LIVE, Soupy Sales
Stage 7 – CBS, dramatic anthology
Star Time Playhouse – CBS, dramatic anthology
The Swift Show Wagon – NBC, variety, Horace Heidt
Those Whiting Girls – CBS, comedy, Margaret Whiting, Barbara Whiting
Upbeat – CBS, music, LIVE, Russ Case
What's Going On? – ABC, quiz, 5 episodes, Lee Bowman
Windows – CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Syndication
Eddie Canton Comedy Theatre – syndication, comedy/variety, Eddie Canton
Meet Corliss Archer – syndication, comedy, Ann Baker
Mr. District Attorney – syndication, police drama, David Brian
The New Adventures of China Smith – syndication, adventure, Dan Duryea
Passport To Danger – 1954–1956, syndication, intrigue, Cesar Romero
Science Fiction Theatre – April 1955–1957, syndication, sci fi anthology, Truman Bradley
Soldiers Of Fortune – Early 1955–1956, syndication, adventure, John Russell
Late Night
Tonight – 1954–1957, NBC, talk/variety, Steve Allen
Two 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
Chicago Symphony – January 1954–1955, DUM, music
City Detective – 1953–1955, syndication, crime drama
College Press Conference – 1953–1954, ABC, interview
Doctor I.Q. – November 1953–1954, ABC, quiz
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
Flight #7 – June 1954–1955, ABC, travelogue
Greatest Sport Thrills – January 1954–1956, sports
I Lead Three Lives – 1953–1956, syndication, intrigue
Life With Father – November 1953–1955, CBS, comedy, LIVE
The Loretta Young Show – 1953–1961, NBC, dramatic anthology
The Hunter – July-December 1954, NBC, international intrigue
Jamie – 1953–1954, ABC, comedy, LIVE
Janet Dean, Registered Nurse – February 1954–1955, syndication, medical drama
The Jo Stafford Show – February 1954–1955, music, LIVE
Justice – April 1954–1956, NBC, law drama, LIVE
Life With Elizabeth – 1953–1955, syndication, comedy
Make Room For Daddy – 1953–1957, ABC; 1957–1965, CBS, comedy
The Martha Wright Show – April–December 1954, ABC, music, LIVE
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
One Minute Please – July 1954–1955, DUM, quiz
Opera Cameos – January–November 1954, DUM, music
Pepsi–Cola Playhouse – 1953–1955, ABC, dramatic anthology, LIVE
Person to Person – 1953–1961, CBS, interview
Public Defender – March 1954–1955, CBS, legal drama
The Ray Bolger Show – 1953–1955, ABC, comedy
Red Barber's Corner – 1953–1955, CBS; 1955–1958, NBC, sports commentary
The Stranger – June 1954–1955, DUM, crime drama
That's My Boy – April 1954–1955, CBS, comedy
The Tony Martin Show – April 1954–1956, NBC, music, LIVE
Topper – 1953–1955, CBS, comedy
Truth Or Consequences – May 1953–1956, NBC, quiz
U.S. Steel Hour – 1953–1955, ABC; 1955–1963, CBS, dramatic anthology, LIVE
The Vaughn Monroe Show – August 1954–1955, CBS, musical variety, LIVE
Waterfront – February 1954–1956, syndication, adventure
Three Seasons (1952/53)
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – 1952–1966, ABC, comedy
The Adventures Of Superman – 1952–1958, syndication, adventure
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
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
Meet Millie – 1952–1956, CBS, comedy
Music Show – May 1953–1954, DUM, music
Name That Tune – June 1953–1954, NBC; 1954–1959, CBS, game
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
The Red Buttons Show – 1952–1954, CBS; 1954/55, NBC, comedy/variety
Saturday Night Fights – January 1953–1955, ABC, boxing
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
Your Play Time – June 1953–1954, ABC; 1955, NBC, dramatic anthology
Four Seasons (1951/52)
The Adventures Of Kit Carson – 1951–1955, syndication, western
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
Foreign Intrigue – 1951–1955, syndication, intrigue
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
Mr. Peepers – July 1952–1955, NBC, comedy, LIVE
My Little Margie – June 1952–1955, NBC, comedy
Name's The Same – December 1951–1955, ABC, quiz
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
Five 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 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
Lux Video Theatre – 1950–1954, CBS; 1954–1957, NBC, LIVE
Mr. Wizard – May 1951–1955, NBC, educational
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
Six 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
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
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
What’s My Line? – February 1950–1967, CBS, game
Your Hit Parade – summer of 1950–1958, NBC; 1958/59, CBS, music
Seven 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
Mama – July 1949–1956, CBS, comedy/drama, LIVE
The Perry Como Show – 1948–1950, NBC; 1950–1955, CBS; 1955–1963, NBC, variety
Philco TV Playhouse – 1948–1955, NBC, dramatic anthology
Studio One – 1948–1958, CBS, dramatic anthology
Who Said That? – December 1948–1954, NBC, 1955, ABC, quiz
Eight seasons (1947/48)
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
Toast Of The Town – June 1948–1971, CBS, variety
Nine seasons (1946/47)
Gillette Cavalcade Of Sports – 1946–1960, NBC, boxing
Kraft Television Theatre – May 1947–1958, NBC, dramatic anthology
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