SEPTEMBER NIGHTS 1947-53
Back for a second season of posting classic prime-time lineups of the tube's first half-century. I kickstarted this "blog" on Friday, September 24th of last year, took a summer hiatus since the end of May, and thought I'd just get back into it for another little while. It'll be more or less the same routine as before, posting lineups from about 1947 to what now will be pushed forward to 1995 from 1993. Expect new lineups two or three times a week, depending on mood. So let's get it all started again right from the beginning, 1947.
TUESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1947
ABC
Not on the air
CBS
7:00 Local
NBC
7:00 Local
DU MONT
7:00 Small Fry Club – kids
7:30 Local
8:00 Western Movie – western films
9:00 Local
WEDNESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1947
ABC
Not on the air
CBS
7:00 Local
NBC
7:00 Local
7:30 Kraft Television Theater – drama anthology
8:30 In the Kelvinator Kitchen – cooking instruction
8:45 Local
DU MONT
7:00 Small Fry Club – kids
7:30 Local
THURSDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1947
ABC
Not on the air
CBS
7:00 Local
NBC
7:00 Local
7:50 The ESSO Newsreel – newsreels
8:00 Local
9:00 You Are an Artist – art instruction
9:15 Local
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1948
ABC
6:00 Local
6:30 Stained Glass Windows – religion (Debut: Sep. 26)
7:00 Local
7:30 Hollywood Screen Test – comedy/drama auditions
8:00 Candid Microphone – comedy pranks
8:30 Actors Studio – drama anthology (Debut: Sep. 26)
9:00 The Southernaires Quartet – music (Debut: Sep. 19)
9:30 Local
CBS
6:00 Scrapbook, Junior Edition – kids
6:30 Local
6:45 U.N. Casebook – documentary (Debut: Sep. 26)
7:15 The Week in Review – newsreels (Debut: Sep. 26?)
7:30 Local
9:00 Toast of the Town – variety
10:00 America Speaks – opinion poll (Debut: Sep. 5)
10:15 Local
NBC
6:00 Local
7:50 Review of the News – newsreels (new time)
8:00 The Author Meets the Critics – book discussion
8:30 Meet the Press – interview
9:00 Variety (a.k.a. NBC Playhouse, The Players, NBC Concert Hall) – anthology
9:30 Local
DU MONT
6:00 Local
6:30 Key to the Missing – missing persons discussion
7:00 The Original Amateur Hour – talent variety
8:00 Local
SUNDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1949
ABC
6:00 Cartoon Teletales – kids
6:30 Action Autographs – documentary (new time)
6:45 Sing-co-pation – music (new time)
7:00 Stained Glass Window – religion
7:30 ABC Penthouse Players – drama anthology
8:00 Think Fast – kids’ quiz (new time)
8:30 The Little Revue – music (Debut: Sep. 4)
9:00 Local
9:30 Jacques Fray Music Room – music (new time)
10:00 Goodrich Celebrity Time – panel quiz
10:30 Bowling Headliners – bowling
CBS
6:00 Local
7:30 Mr. I. Magination – kids
7:55 Ruthie on the Telephone – comedy
8:00 Toast of the Town – variety
9:00 The Fred Waring Show – music
10:00 The Week in Review – newsreels
10:15 Local
NBC
6:00 Local
7:00 Review of the News – newsreels
7:15 Sunday Date – music
7:30 Broadway Spotlight – variety
8:00 Local
8:30 Leave It to the Girls – discussion
9:00 Philco Television Playhouse – drama anthology
10:00 Garroway at Large – variety
10:30 Local
DU MONT
6:00 Local
7:00 The Original Amateur Hour – talent variety
8:00 Chicagoland Mystery Players – mystery anthology (Debut: Sep. 18)
8:30 Cinema Varieties – short films (Debut: ?)
9:00 Cross-Question – law drama/reality (return; previously on CBS)
10:00 Local
SATURDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1950
ABC
6:00 Local
6:30 The Marshall of Gunsight Pass – western
7:00 Buck Rogers – science fiction
7:30 Hollywood Screen Test – drama/comedy auditions
8:00 Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club – talent variety
9:00 Roller Derby – roller derby
CBS
6:00 Lucky Pup – kids (new time)
6:30 Big Top – circus (new time)
7:30 The Week in Review – newsreels (new time)
7:45 The Faye Emerson Show – interview (new time)
8:00 The Ken Murray Show – comedy-variety (return)
9:00 Local
10:00 Sing It Again – music (Debut: Sep. 2)
10:30 Local
NBC
6:00 American Forum of the Air – discussion (new time)
6:30 Smilin’ Ed McConnell and His Buster Brown Gang – kids / The Pinky Lee Show – sitcom (new time)
7:00 The Hank McCune Show – sitcom
7:30 One Man’s Family – family soap drama
8:00 The Jack Carter Show – comedy-variety (return?)
9:00 Local & Trotting RacesYour Show of Shows – comedy-variety (return)
10:30 Your Hit Parade – music
DU MONT
6:00 Local
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction (new time)
7:30 Local
8:00 Country Style – country music
9:00 Cavalcade of Stars – comedy-variety
10:00 Wrestling from the Marigold in Chicago – wrestling
THURSDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1951
ABC
7:00 After the Deadline – newscast
7:15 Local
7:30 The Lone Ranger – western
8:00 Stop the Music – quiz/music
9:00 Don Ameche’s Musical Playhouse – music-variety
9:30 Crawford Myster Theater – drama/quiz (Debut: Sep. 6)
10:00 The Jerry Colonna Show – comedy-variety
10:30 Masland At Home Party – music
10:45 Sports Camera – sports films (return; new time)
CBS
7:00 Local
7:30 Douglas Edwards and the News – newscast
7:45 The Stork Club – music
8:00 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show – sitcom / Starlight Theater – drama anthology
8:30 Amos ‘n’ Andy – sitcom
9:00 The Alan Young Show – comedy-variety (return)
9:30 Big Town – newspaper drama
10:00 Racket Squad – police
10:30 Crime Photographer – newspaper drama
NBC
7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie – kids
7:30 The Little Show – music (return)
7:45 The Camel News Caravan – newscast
8:00 It Pays to Be Ignorant – game
8:30 Treasury Men in Action – crime
9:00 Ford Festival – variety
10:00 Martin Kane, Private Eye – private eye (return)
10:30 Wayne King – music (return; midwest network only)
DU MONT
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction
7:30 Local
7:45 Not for Publication – newspaper drama
8:00 Local
8:30 Broadway to Hollywood-Headline Clues – magazine
9:00 The Adventures of Ellery Queen – mystery sleuth (return)
9:30 Local
10:00 The Bigelow Theater – drama anthology (return; previously on CBS)
10:30 Local
FRIDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1952
ABC
7:00 After the Deadline – newscast
7:15 Local
7:30 The Stu Erwin Show – sitcom
8:00 Local
8:30 Encore Playhouse – short films
9:00 Local
9:30 Tales of Tomorrow – science fiction anthology
10:00 Local
CBS
7:00 Local
7:30 Douglas Edwards and the News – newscast
7:45 The Perry Como Show – music (return)
8:00 Mama – comedy-drama (return)
8:30 My Friend Irma – sitcom (return)
9:00 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars – drama anthology
9:30 Footlights Theater – drama anthology
10:00 Police Story – police anthology
10:30 It’s News to Me – panel quiz (new time)
NBC
7:00 Up to Paar – comedy-variety
7:30 Those Two – music
7:45 The Camel News Caravan – newscast
8:00 Curtain Call – drama anthology
8:30 We, the People – interview
9:00 The Big Story – newspaper drama anthology (return)
9:30 The Aldrich Family – sitcom (return)
10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports – boxing (return)
10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century – boxing films (return)
DU MONT
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction
7:30 Local
8:00 This Is the Life Starring the Fisher Family – religious drama
8:30 Twenty Questions – panel quiz
9:00 Life Begins at Eighty – discussion
9:30 Local
10:00 Cavalcade of Stars – comedy-variety
TUESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1953
ABC
7:00 Local
7:15 John Daley and the News – newscast
7:30 Cavalcade of America – drama anthology (return; new time; previously on NBC)
8:00 Local
9:00 Make Room for Daddy – sitcom (Debut: Sep. 29)
9:30 Little Theater – short films
10:00 Little Theater – short films
10:30 The Name’s the Same – panel quiz
CBS
7:00 Local
7:30 Douglas Edwards and the News – newscast
7:45 Jane Froman's USA Canteen – music (return)
8:00 The Gene Autry Show – western
8:30 The Red Skelton Show – comedy-variety (return; previously on NBC)
9:00 This Is Show Business – variety (return)
9:30 Suspense – suspense anthology
10:00 Danger – mystery anthology
10:30 See It Now – documentary (return; new time)
NBC
7:00 Local
7:30 The Eddy Arnold Show – music
7:45 The Camel News Caravan – newscast
8:00 My Son Jeep – sitcom (new time)
8:30 The Wonderful John Acton – family drama (new time)
8-9:00 The Milton Berle Show – comedy-variety (return) (previously The Berle Buick Hour)
9:00 Fireside Theater – drama anthology (return)
9:30 Armstrong Circle Theater – drama anthology (return)
10:00 Judge for Yourself – talent competition
10:30 On the Line with Considine – news/interview
10:45 It Happened in Sports – sports commentary (new time)
DU MONT
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction
7:15 Marge and Jeff – sitcom (Debut: Sep. 22)
7:30 Local
8:00 Life is Worth Living – religion (return)
8:30 The Music Show – music
9:00 Local
9:30 Where Was I? – panel quiz
10:00 Local
TUESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1947
ABC
Not on the air
CBS
7:00 Local
NBC
7:00 Local
DU MONT
7:00 Small Fry Club – kids
7:30 Local
8:00 Western Movie – western films
9:00 Local
WEDNESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1947
ABC
Not on the air
CBS
7:00 Local
NBC
7:00 Local
7:30 Kraft Television Theater – drama anthology
8:30 In the Kelvinator Kitchen – cooking instruction
8:45 Local
DU MONT
7:00 Small Fry Club – kids
7:30 Local
THURSDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1947
ABC
Not on the air
CBS
7:00 Local
NBC
7:00 Local
7:50 The ESSO Newsreel – newsreels
8:00 Local
9:00 You Are an Artist – art instruction
9:15 Local
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1948
ABC
6:00 Local
6:30 Stained Glass Windows – religion (Debut: Sep. 26)
7:00 Local
7:30 Hollywood Screen Test – comedy/drama auditions
8:00 Candid Microphone – comedy pranks
8:30 Actors Studio – drama anthology (Debut: Sep. 26)
9:00 The Southernaires Quartet – music (Debut: Sep. 19)
9:30 Local
CBS
6:00 Scrapbook, Junior Edition – kids
6:30 Local
6:45 U.N. Casebook – documentary (Debut: Sep. 26)
7:15 The Week in Review – newsreels (Debut: Sep. 26?)
7:30 Local
9:00 Toast of the Town – variety
10:00 America Speaks – opinion poll (Debut: Sep. 5)
10:15 Local
NBC
6:00 Local
7:50 Review of the News – newsreels (new time)
8:00 The Author Meets the Critics – book discussion
8:30 Meet the Press – interview
9:00 Variety (a.k.a. NBC Playhouse, The Players, NBC Concert Hall) – anthology
9:30 Local
DU MONT
6:00 Local
6:30 Key to the Missing – missing persons discussion
7:00 The Original Amateur Hour – talent variety
8:00 Local
SUNDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1949
ABC
6:00 Cartoon Teletales – kids
6:30 Action Autographs – documentary (new time)
6:45 Sing-co-pation – music (new time)
7:00 Stained Glass Window – religion
7:30 ABC Penthouse Players – drama anthology
8:00 Think Fast – kids’ quiz (new time)
8:30 The Little Revue – music (Debut: Sep. 4)
9:00 Local
9:30 Jacques Fray Music Room – music (new time)
10:00 Goodrich Celebrity Time – panel quiz
10:30 Bowling Headliners – bowling
CBS
6:00 Local
7:30 Mr. I. Magination – kids
7:55 Ruthie on the Telephone – comedy
8:00 Toast of the Town – variety
9:00 The Fred Waring Show – music
10:00 The Week in Review – newsreels
10:15 Local
NBC
6:00 Local
7:00 Review of the News – newsreels
7:15 Sunday Date – music
7:30 Broadway Spotlight – variety
8:00 Local
8:30 Leave It to the Girls – discussion
9:00 Philco Television Playhouse – drama anthology
10:00 Garroway at Large – variety
10:30 Local
DU MONT
6:00 Local
7:00 The Original Amateur Hour – talent variety
8:00 Chicagoland Mystery Players – mystery anthology (Debut: Sep. 18)
8:30 Cinema Varieties – short films (Debut: ?)
9:00 Cross-Question – law drama/reality (return; previously on CBS)
10:00 Local
SATURDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1950
ABC
6:00 Local
6:30 The Marshall of Gunsight Pass – western
7:00 Buck Rogers – science fiction
7:30 Hollywood Screen Test – drama/comedy auditions
8:00 Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club – talent variety
9:00 Roller Derby – roller derby
CBS
6:00 Lucky Pup – kids (new time)
6:30 Big Top – circus (new time)
7:30 The Week in Review – newsreels (new time)
7:45 The Faye Emerson Show – interview (new time)
8:00 The Ken Murray Show – comedy-variety (return)
9:00 Local
10:00 Sing It Again – music (Debut: Sep. 2)
10:30 Local
NBC
6:00 American Forum of the Air – discussion (new time)
6:30 Smilin’ Ed McConnell and His Buster Brown Gang – kids / The Pinky Lee Show – sitcom (new time)
7:00 The Hank McCune Show – sitcom
7:30 One Man’s Family – family soap drama
8:00 The Jack Carter Show – comedy-variety (return?)
9:00 Local & Trotting RacesYour Show of Shows – comedy-variety (return)
10:30 Your Hit Parade – music
DU MONT
6:00 Local
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction (new time)
7:30 Local
8:00 Country Style – country music
9:00 Cavalcade of Stars – comedy-variety
10:00 Wrestling from the Marigold in Chicago – wrestling
THURSDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1951
ABC
7:00 After the Deadline – newscast
7:15 Local
7:30 The Lone Ranger – western
8:00 Stop the Music – quiz/music
9:00 Don Ameche’s Musical Playhouse – music-variety
9:30 Crawford Myster Theater – drama/quiz (Debut: Sep. 6)
10:00 The Jerry Colonna Show – comedy-variety
10:30 Masland At Home Party – music
10:45 Sports Camera – sports films (return; new time)
CBS
7:00 Local
7:30 Douglas Edwards and the News – newscast
7:45 The Stork Club – music
8:00 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show – sitcom / Starlight Theater – drama anthology
8:30 Amos ‘n’ Andy – sitcom
9:00 The Alan Young Show – comedy-variety (return)
9:30 Big Town – newspaper drama
10:00 Racket Squad – police
10:30 Crime Photographer – newspaper drama
NBC
7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie – kids
7:30 The Little Show – music (return)
7:45 The Camel News Caravan – newscast
8:00 It Pays to Be Ignorant – game
8:30 Treasury Men in Action – crime
9:00 Ford Festival – variety
10:00 Martin Kane, Private Eye – private eye (return)
10:30 Wayne King – music (return; midwest network only)
DU MONT
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction
7:30 Local
7:45 Not for Publication – newspaper drama
8:00 Local
8:30 Broadway to Hollywood-Headline Clues – magazine
9:00 The Adventures of Ellery Queen – mystery sleuth (return)
9:30 Local
10:00 The Bigelow Theater – drama anthology (return; previously on CBS)
10:30 Local
FRIDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1952
ABC
7:00 After the Deadline – newscast
7:15 Local
7:30 The Stu Erwin Show – sitcom
8:00 Local
8:30 Encore Playhouse – short films
9:00 Local
9:30 Tales of Tomorrow – science fiction anthology
10:00 Local
CBS
7:00 Local
7:30 Douglas Edwards and the News – newscast
7:45 The Perry Como Show – music (return)
8:00 Mama – comedy-drama (return)
8:30 My Friend Irma – sitcom (return)
9:00 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars – drama anthology
9:30 Footlights Theater – drama anthology
10:00 Police Story – police anthology
10:30 It’s News to Me – panel quiz (new time)
NBC
7:00 Up to Paar – comedy-variety
7:30 Those Two – music
7:45 The Camel News Caravan – newscast
8:00 Curtain Call – drama anthology
8:30 We, the People – interview
9:00 The Big Story – newspaper drama anthology (return)
9:30 The Aldrich Family – sitcom (return)
10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports – boxing (return)
10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century – boxing films (return)
DU MONT
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction
7:30 Local
8:00 This Is the Life Starring the Fisher Family – religious drama
8:30 Twenty Questions – panel quiz
9:00 Life Begins at Eighty – discussion
9:30 Local
10:00 Cavalcade of Stars – comedy-variety
TUESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1953
ABC
7:00 Local
7:15 John Daley and the News – newscast
7:30 Cavalcade of America – drama anthology (return; new time; previously on NBC)
8:00 Local
9:00 Make Room for Daddy – sitcom (Debut: Sep. 29)
9:30 Little Theater – short films
10:00 Little Theater – short films
10:30 The Name’s the Same – panel quiz
CBS
7:00 Local
7:30 Douglas Edwards and the News – newscast
7:45 Jane Froman's USA Canteen – music (return)
8:00 The Gene Autry Show – western
8:30 The Red Skelton Show – comedy-variety (return; previously on NBC)
9:00 This Is Show Business – variety (return)
9:30 Suspense – suspense anthology
10:00 Danger – mystery anthology
10:30 See It Now – documentary (return; new time)
NBC
7:00 Local
7:30 The Eddy Arnold Show – music
7:45 The Camel News Caravan – newscast
8:00 My Son Jeep – sitcom (new time)
8:30 The Wonderful John Acton – family drama (new time)
8-9:00 The Milton Berle Show – comedy-variety (return) (previously The Berle Buick Hour)
9:00 Fireside Theater – drama anthology (return)
9:30 Armstrong Circle Theater – drama anthology (return)
10:00 Judge for Yourself – talent competition
10:30 On the Line with Considine – news/interview
10:45 It Happened in Sports – sports commentary (new time)
DU MONT
7:00 Captain Video and His Video Rangers – science fiction
7:15 Marge and Jeff – sitcom (Debut: Sep. 22)
7:30 Local
8:00 Life is Worth Living – religion (return)
8:30 The Music Show – music
9:00 Local
9:30 Where Was I? – panel quiz
10:00 Local