June 5, 2017

What's on TV? Tuesday, June 6, 1961

Ah, it's almost summer, and while there aren't a lot of blockbusters on television this week, there are still a few things to draw the eye. As we get deeper into the season, shows split into two different types: reruns of your favorites, and limited-run summer series, some of which get picked up for the fall, while others disappear into the ether, never to be heard from again. Today, it's just a regular day in TV land. The listings come to us courtesy of the Minnesota State Edition.     
                               
KTCA, Channel 2 (Educ.)
Afternoon
05:30p
Children’s Corner
Evening
06:00p
Survival Preparedness
07:00p
Face of the Earth
07:30p
Origami
08:00p
Music as Language
08:30p
Inquiring Mind
09:00p
Community Delinquency
09:30p
Civil War: Background
10:00p
Yesterday’s World
10:30p
Background
10:40p
American Perspective

As I mentioned on Saturday, KTCA is seen as one of the stations at the forefront of the new national education programming network. Despite that, Channel 2 was one of the last educational channels to join in with NET; it's always had a strong independent streak.

KDAL, Channel 3 (Duluth) (CBS)
Morning
08:00a
CBS Morning News (Richard C. Hottelet)
08:15a
Captain Kangaroo
09:00a
I Love Lucy
09:30a
Video Village
10:00a
Double Exposure
10:30a
Your Surprise Package
11:00a
Love of Life
11:30a
Search for Tomorrow
11:45a
The Guiding Light
Afternoon
12:00p
News 
12:05p
Town and Country
12:30p
As the World Turns
01:00p
Face the Facts
01:30p
House Party (guest Edith Head)
02:00p
The Millionaire
02:30p
The Verdict is Yours
03:00p
The Brighter Day
03:15p
The Secret Storm
03:30p
The Edge of Night
04:00p
Movie – “Escape in the Sun” (English, 1957)
05:25p
Bugs Bunny
05:55p
Mr. Magoo
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather and Sports
06:15p
Douglas Edwards with the News
06:30p
Issues and Ideas   SPECIAL 
07:00p
Father Knows Best
07:30p
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
08:00p
Tom Ewell
08:30p
Red Skelton (guest Vivian Vance)
09:00p
Garry Moore (guests Alan King, Jonah Jones and his quartet, Eileen Farrell)
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:15p
Movie – “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay” (1944)

I don't know why, but I really like the idea of showing Mr. Magoo right before the news. It just fits, you know?

WCCO, Channel 4 (CBS)
Morning
07:00a
Siegfried and His Flying Saucer
08:00a
CBS Morning News (Richard C. Hottelet)
08:15a
Captain Kangaroo
09:00a
News (Dean Montgomery)
09:10a
Dr. Reuben K. Youngdahl
09:20a
What’s New
09:30a
Video Village
10:00a
Double Exposure
10:30a
Your Surprise Package
11:00a
Love of Life
11:30a
Search for Tomorrow
11:45a
The Guiding Light
Afternoon
12:00p
News
12:15p
Something Special
12:20p
Weather (Bud Kraehling)
12:30p
As the World Turns
01:00p
Face the Facts
01:30p
House Party (guest Edith Head)
02:00p
The Millionaire
02:30p
The Verdict is Yours
03:00p
The Brighter Day
03:15p
The Secret Storm
03:30p
The Edge of Night
04:00p
Around the Town
04:30p
Axel and His Dog
05:00p
Clancy the Cop
05:45p
Douglas Edwards with the News
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather and Sports
06:30p
Huckleberry Hound
07:00p
President’s Trip   SPECIAL 
07:30p
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
08:00p
Tom Ewell
08:30p
Red Skelton (guest Vivian Vance)
09:00p
Garry Moore (guests Alan King, Jonah Jones and his quartet, Eileen Farrell)
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:30p
26 Men
11:00p
Weather (Don O’Brien)
11:05p
Movie – “One Body Too Many” (1944)

Eileen Farrell, Garry Moore's guest, was not just a popular music singer, she was also an opera star, performing with the Metropolitan Opera as well as other companies. She was a frequent guest on television shows throughout her career, back in the days when opera stars were also featured on middlebrow television.

KSTP, Channel 5 (NBC)
Morning
07:00a
Today (guest Dr. James Conant)
09:00a
Say When
09:30a
Play Your Hunch   COLOR 
10:00a
The Price is Right   COLOR 
10:30a
Concentration
11:00a
Truth or Consequences
11:30a
It Could Be You   COLOR 
11:55a
NBC News (Ray Scherer)
Afternoon
12:00p
News and Weather
12:15p
Treasure Chest (guest Regis Toomey)
01:00p
Jan Murray   COLOR 
01:30p
Loretta Young
02:00p
Young Dr. Malone
02:30p
From These Roots
03:00p
Make Room for Daddy
03:30p
Here’s Hollywood (guest Marilyn Maxwell)
04:00p
Topper
04:30p
T.N. Tatters
05:15p
City Detective
05:45p
The Huntley-Brinkley Report
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather
06:30p
Laramie
07:30p
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
08:00p
Thriller
09:00p
Summer on Ice (guests Peter Lawford, Peggy  SPECIAL   COLOR 
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:30p
Jack Paar Tonight (guests Diahann Carroll, Jack E. Leonard, Cliff Arquette)  COLOR 
12:00a
News and Weather

Treasure Chest was a local program, hosted by Jim Hutton (who later would host Dialing for Dollars. According to this website, the live daily broadcast was "very popular with the ladies, attracting a daily studio audience of 100-150."


WDSM, Channel 6 (Duluth) (NBC)
Morning
07:00a
Today (guest Dr. James Conant)
09:00a
Say When
09:30a
Play Your Hunch   COLOR 
10:00a
The Price is Right   COLOR 
10:30a
Concentration
11:00a
Truth or Consequences
11:30a
It Could Be You   COLOR 
11:55a
NBC News (Ray Scherer)
Afternoon
12:00p
News and Weather
12:15p
Comedy Time
12:30p
Our Miss Brooks
01:00p
Jan Murray   COLOR 
01:30p
Loretta Young
02:00p
Young Dr. Malone
02:30p
From These Roots
03:00p
Make Room for Daddy
03:30p
Here’s Hollywood (guest Marilyn Maxwell)
04:00p
Captain Q
05:30p
Rocky and His Friends
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather and Sports
06:15p
The Huntley-Brinkley Report
06:30p
Laramie
07:30p
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
08:00p
Thriller
09:00p
Summer on Ice (guests Peter Lawford, Peggy Lee)  SPECIAL   COLOR 
09:30p
The Pioneers
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:15p
Jack Paar Tonight (guests Diahann Carroll, Jack E. Leonard, Cliff Arquette)  COLOR 
12:00a
News and Weather

Summer on Ice was an annual showcase for the Ice Capades; the Ice Follies would have similar programs during the years. These shows always had big name guests; Tony Randall hosted the previous year's edition, with Rosemary Clooney as the singing star. Interestingly enough, that show appears on YouTube, incorrectly identified as being this show. IMDb makes an even bigger mistake, combining the casts of the two shows into one. How do these things happen? As I've said before, these outfits need to have TV experts like me on the payroll.

KMMT, Channel 6 (Austin) (ABC)
Morning
10:30a
Fun Time
11:00a
Gale Storm
11:30a
Love That Bob!
Afternoon
12:00p
Camouflage
12:30p
Number Please
01:00p
About Faces
01:25p
ABC News (Al Mann)
01:30p
News and Weather
01:35p
Community Highlights
01:40p
TV Trading Time
01:45p
Coffee Club
02:00p
Day in Court
02:30p
Seven Keys
03:00p
Queen for a Day
03:30p
Who Do You Trust?
04:00p
American Bandstand (guests Carl Dobkins Jr., Mary Petti)
05:00p
Rocky and His Friends
05:30p
Laurel and Hardy
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather
06:15p
ABC Evening Report (Bill Shadel)
06:30p
Bugs Bunny
07:00p
The Rifleman
07:30p
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
08:00p
Stagecoach West
09:00p
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:25p
World Almanac
10:30p
My Little Margie
11:00p
Uncovered
11:30p
News and Weather

Bill Shadel, anchor of the ABC Evening Report, isn't very well-known today, obscured by some of his more famous colleagues on the nightly news (John Daly, Howard K. Smith, Harry Reasoner, Frank Reynolds, Peter Jennings), but he was a well-respected journalist; he covered D-Day for CBS Radio was the first host of Face the Nation, and moderated the third Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960.

KCMT, Channel 7 (Alex.) NBC/ABC
Morning
08:00a
Today (joined in progress)
09:00a
Say When
09:30a
Play Your Hunch   COLOR 
10:00a
The Price is Right   COLOR 
10:30a
Concentration
11:00a
Truth or Consequences
11:30a
It Could Be You   COLOR 
11:55a
NBC News (Ray Scherer)
Afternoon
12:00p
News, Markets, Weather
12:20p
Extension News and Views
12:30p
Number Please
01:00p
Jan Murray   COLOR 
01:30p
Loretta Young
02:00p
Young Dr. Malone
02:30p
From These Roots
03:00p
Make Room for Daddy
03:30p
Here’s Hollywood (guest Marilyn Maxwell)
04:00p
American Bandstand (guests Carl Dobkins Jr., Mary Petti)
05:00p
Yogi Bear
05:30p
Community Billboard
05:40p
Theater Billboard
05:45p
The Huntley-Brinkley Report
Evening
06:00p
News, Sports and Weather
06:20p
Farm Market Report
06:30p
Laramie
07:30p
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
08:00p
Thriller
09:00p
Summer on Ice (guests Peter Lawford, Peggy Lee)  SPECIAL   COLOR 
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:25p
Almanac Newsreel
10:30p
The Lawless Years
11:30p
Jack Paar Tonight (guests Diahann Carroll, Jack E. Leonard, Cliff Arquette)  COLOR 

Signing on at 8:00 a.m. so that they have to join Today in progress - that's my KCMT.

KMSP, Channel 9 (ABC)
Morning
07:55a
Chapel of the Air
08:00a
Breakfast with Cap'n Ken
08:30a
How to Marry a Millionaire
09:00a
Jack LaLanne
09:30a
Movie – “Singapore” (1947)
11:00a
Gale Storm
11:30a
Love That Bob!
Afternoon
12:00p
Camouflage
12:30p
Number Please
01:00p
About Faces
01:25p
ABC News (Al Mann)
01:30p
Our Miss Brooks
02:00p
Day in Court
02:30p
Seven Keys
03:00p
Queen for a Day
03:30p
Who Do You Trust?
04:00p
American Bandstand (guests Carl Dobkins Jr., Mary Petti)
05:00p
Susie
05:30p
Rocky and His Friends
Evening
06:00p
Looney Tuners Club
06:30p
Bugs Bunny
07:00p
The Rifleman
07:30p
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
08:00p
Stagecoach West
09:00p
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond
09:30p
Tallahassee 7000
10:00p
Trackdown
10:30p
The Californians
11:00p
News, Sports and Weather
11:30p
Racket Squad

Tallahassee 7000 was a police drama set in - surprise! - Florida. It was produced directly for syndication by Herbert B. Leonard of Route 66 and Naked City fame, and is noteworthy for being Walter Matthau's only television series. 

KROC, Channel 10 (Rochester) (NBC)
Morning
07:00a
Today (guest Dr. James Conant)
09:00a
Say When
09:30a
Play Your Hunch   COLOR 
10:00a
The Price is Right   COLOR 
10:30a
Concentration
11:00a
Truth or Consequences
11:30a
It Could Be You   COLOR 
11:55a
NBC News (Ray Scherer)
Afternoon
12:00p
News and Weather
12:15p
Industry on Parade
12:30p
Burns and Allen
01:00p
Jan Murray   COLOR 
01:30p
Loretta Young
02:00p
Young Dr. Malone
02:30p
From These Roots
03:00p
Make Room for Daddy
03:30p
Here’s Hollywood (guest Marilyn Maxwell)
04:00p
What’s Next?
04:30p
The Lone Ranger
05:00p
The Three Stooges
05:30p
Quick Draw McGraw
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather
06:15p
The Huntley-Brinkley Report
06:30p
Laramie
07:30p
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
08:00p
Thriller
09:00p
Summer on Ice (guests Peter Lawford, Peggy Lee)  SPECIAL   COLOR 
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:30p
Jack Paar Tonight (guests Diahann Carroll, Jack E. Leonard, Cliff Arquette)  COLOR 

I joked above about Mr. Magoo being on before the news, but here we have a terrific after-school lineup: The Lone Ranger, The Three Stooges, and Quick Draw McGraw. 

WTCN, Channel 11 (Ind.)
Morning
08:30a
Cartoon Circus
09:00a
Romper Room (Miss Betty)
09:45a
Shape Up
10:15a
Ways With Food
10:30a
The Life of Riley
11:00a
Hello, Minnesota
11:45a
News (Jack Huston)
Afternoon
12:00p
Lunch with Casey
01:00p
Movie – “Blonde Venus” (1932)
02:30p
Dr. Hudson’s Secret Journal
03:00p
Burns and Allen
03:30p
Amos ‘n’ Andy
04:00p
Popeye
04:40p
Movie – “Lone Cowboy” (1934)
05:30p
News and Sports
Evening
06:00p
U.S. Border Patrol
06:30p
Harmon Killebrew
06:40p
Baseball Warmup
06:55p
Baseball (Minnesota vs. New York)
09:45p
Scoreboard
10:00p
News, Sports and Weather
10:30p
Theater 11 – “The Birth of the Blues” (1941)
12:00a
News and Weather

Harmon Killebrew, host of the Harmon Killebrew Show at 6:30 p.m., is probably the greatest of the Minnesota Twins. His ten-minute show consisted of interviews with fellow baseball players, and though Harmon was no great television interviewer, his warm personality still came through on the small screen.

KEYC, Channel 12 (Mankato) (NBC)
Afternoon
02:00p
Industry on Parade
02:15p
Movie – “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” (1942)
04:00p
Lorraine’s Home
04:30p
Rumpus Room
05:00p
Freddy the Fireman
05:55p
Farm Markets
Evening
06:00p
News, Weather
06:25p
Greatest Headlines
06:30p
Playhouse 12
07:00p
Baseball (Minnesota vs. New York)
10:00p
Weather, News and Sports
10:30p
Movie – “My Own True Love” (1048)

KEYC was an NBC affiliate when it first started up in 1960, but by the fall of 1961 it had switched to CBS. Consequently, although it maintains the NBC affiliation at this point, it's airing no network programming. TV  

2 comments:

  1. Here and There and Anywhere:

    - Eileen Farrell was principally a star of the Metropolitan Opera, but many of her colleagues there were frequent players in TV variety.
    The first time I recall seeing Farrell on TV, she was performing with (or maybe against) Spike Jones and the City Slickers, on one of their various shows.
    Spike had a big thing with opera stars; on my DVD wall, I've got a show wherein Spike and the Slickers do their warhorse "Cocktails For Two" - and doing the gulping sounds is Lauritz Melchoir, taking time off from Wagner.
    For years, Robert Merrill made the variety rounds, taking falls and/or pies between operatic solos; he often observed that the Opera Stage was populated by comedians just waiting for opportunities to cut loose.
    In later years, Tony Randall used to strongarm The Odd Couple producers into doing at least one opera-themed show a season.

    - The Life and Legend Of Wyatt Earp is winding up its long run this month with a five-part "mini-series" about the Gunfight at the OK Corral; this week they're up to part two.
    Meanwhile, Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond is also rounding the far turn. This season, John Newland, the host/producer/director of AP:OSB, thought to bring costs down by making the last few episodes in Britain (had the show been renewed, Newland was seriously thinking of moving across the Atlantic permanently; that didn't happen).
    This week, one of the young British actors appearing is Michael Crawford, who in later years became a major star of British TV comedies, and even more major on stage - he was the original Phantom Of The Opera on the West End.

    - Walter Matthau's Tallahassee 7000 only ran for one season, but not because it was a flop.
    Bert Leonard filmed the series entirely in Florida, during the Spring and early Summer.
    It's been reported that between racetracks, dog tracks, jai-alai, and baseball spring training, Walter Matthau lost twice his salary to Florida's thriving bookmakers. His wife called a halt to his continued participation.
    Incidentally, Tallahassee 7000 is now on my DVD wall (bootleg, not complete, but an artifact nonetheless).

    - I'd forgotten that 1961 was the first year of the Minnesota Twins (who determinedly put the Washington Senators out of their heads and history as soon as possible). The following year ('62) the Twins suddenly got good (which dismayed their old DC fans no end), and although no one realized it at the time, the decline of the Yankees had begun ...
    ... but that's another story ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Twins did show some glimmers of their '65 pennant-winning team back in '62, and I think the change in managers from Cookie Lavagetto to Sam Mele probably had a lot to do with it. (Although any team with Killebrew, Allison, and Oliva, all under 30, is going to be a force to be reckoned with.)

      As for the decline of the Yanks, aka The Twilight of the Gods, you're right - Johnny Keane sure didn't see it coming in 1965, did he?

      Delete

Thanks for writing! Drive safely!