March 14, 2016

What's on TV? Monday, March 13, 1972

One of these days I'm going to enlist some help from you all out there. I know some of you are far more familiar with these markets than I am, so if you'll email or comment here and volunteer for the task, I'll share these listings with you prior to posting them, so you can provide the local details and color I probably don't have. While my areas of interest remain Minneapolis-St. Paul (my old home) and Dallas-Fort Worth (my new home), I've got issues from all kinds of markets throughout the country, and your input would make these weekly features even more enjoyable than they (presumably) are now. So if you have the courage, let me know - you too can be a star!

This week, we come to you from Pittsburgh.


KDKA, Channel 2 (CBS)

Morning

05:55a
Farm Report

06:00a
Thing About Money

06:30a
Sunrise Semester

07:00a
CBS Morning News with John Hart

08:00a
Captain Kangaroo

09:00a
Contact

10:00a
The Lucy Show

10:30a
My Three Sons

11:00a
Family Affair

11:30a
Love of Life

Afternoon

12:00p
News (local)

12:30p
Search for Tomorrow

01:00p
David Frost

02:30p
The Guiding Light

03:00p
The Secret Storm

03:30p
The Edge of Night

04:00p
Mike Douglas (co-host Shirley Bassey)

05:30p
I Dream of Jeannie

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

06:30p
CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

07:00p
News (local)

07:30p
David Frost Revue (guests Robert Klein, Charles Nelson Riley)

08:00p
Gunsmoke

09:00p
Here’s Lucy

09:30p
Doris Day

10:00p
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (guests George Burns, David Clayton Thomas)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
Movie – “Penelope”

I just barely remember David Frost's talk show, which airs in many markets either at the same time or after The Tonight Show. Here, it shows at 1:00pm. But for the life of me, I have absolutely no recollection of the David Frost Revue. Do you? Is it true that there's no such thing as too much David Frost?



WPSX, Channel 3 (University Park) (PBS)

Morning

08:30a
Classroom (B&W)

10:00a
Sesame Street

11:00a
The Electric Company

11:30a
Classroom (B&W)

Afternoon

01:00p
Classroom (B&W)

03:00p
University of the Air

03:30p
Physical Education

04:00p
Sesame Street

05:00p
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

05:30p
The Electric Company

Evening


06:00p
Weather (local)

06:15p
Farm, Home and Garden

06:30p
Commonwealth

07:00p
Hodgepodge Lodge

07:30p
Behind the Lines

08:00p
Between Time and Timbuktu (special)

09:30p
Book Beat (guest Ellie Wiesel)

10:00p
Martin Agronsky: Evening Edition

10:30p
Rogandus

11:00p
Sound of Progress (B&W)

Book Beat was a favorite of my wife's, and for years host Bob Cromie interviewed authors from almost every walk of life; this week, Ellie Wiesel's book Souls on Fire presents portraits of 18th and 19th century Jewish leaders.



WTAE, Channel 4 (ABC)

Morning

06:50a
News (local)

07:00a
New Zoo Revue

07:30a
The Three Stooges (B&W)

08:00a
Romper Room

08:30a
Leave It to Beaver (B&W)

09:00a
Perry Mason (B&W)

10:20a
Lucille Rivers

10:30a
Phil Donahue

11:30a
That Girl

Afternoon

12:00p
News (local)

12:30p
Password (panelists Jack Cassidy, Betty Grable)

01:00p
To Tell the Truth (panelists Kitty Carlisle, Peggy Css, Bill Cullen, Nipsey Russell)

01:30p
Let’s Make a Deal

02:00p
The Newlywed Game

02:30p
The Dating Game

03:00p
General Hospital

03:30p
Hazel

04:00p
The Munsters (B&W)

04:30p
Dick Van Dyke (B&W)

05:00p
The Big Valley

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

06:30p
ABC Evening News with Howard K. Smith and Harry Reasoner

07:00p
Dragnet

07:30p
What’s My Line? (panelists Arlene Francis, Anita Gillette, Gene Rayburn, Gene Shalit)

08:00p
Billy Graham Crusade (special)

09:00p
Movie – “Lord Jim” (conclusion)

10:30p
Who Do You Think You Are? (special)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
Movie – “Untamed Youth” (B&W)

01:10a
Dick Cavett (guest host Florence Henderson, guests James Caan, Hattie Winston)

I've never thought of Florence Henderson as a talk show host, but here she is filling in for Dick Cavett the whole week. I wonder how it went?


WDTV, Channel 5 (Weston) (CBS)

Morning

07:00a
CBS Morning News with John Hart

08:00a
Captain Kangaroo

09:00a
Around the Bend (B&W)

09:30a
New Zoo Revue

10:00a
The Lucy Show

10:30a
My Three Sons

11:00a
Family Affair

11:30a
Love of Life

Afternoon

12:00p
Where the Heart Is

12:25p
CBS News

12:30p
Search for Tomorrow

01:00p
News (Wade Dotson)

01:30p
As the World Turns

02:00p
Love is a Many Splendored Thing

02:30p
The Guiding Light

03:00p
The Secret Storm

03:30p
The Edge of Night

04:00p
Jim Bowie (B&W)

04:30p
Movie – “Mr. Moto in Danger Island” (B&W)

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

06:30p
CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

07:00p
The FBI

08:00p
Billy Graham Crusade (special)

09:00p
Here’s Lucy

09:30p
Doris Day

10:00p
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (guests George Burns, David Clayton Thomas)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
Movie – “Penelope”

Nothing says the '70s quite like Sonny & Cher, does it?



WFBG, Channel 10 (Altoona) (CBS)

Morning

06:05a
Farm, Home and Garden (B&W)

06:30a
Sunrise Semester

07:00a
CBS Morning News with John Hart

07:30a
Cartoons

08:00a
Captain Kangaroo

09:00a
Sesame Street

10:00a
The Lucy Show

10:30a
My Three Sons

11:00a
Family Affair

11:30a
Love of Life

Afternoon

12:00p
Where the Heart Is

12:25p
CBS News

12:30p
Search for Tomorrow

01:00p
John Riley

01:30p
As the World Turns

02:00p
Love is a Many Splendored Thing

02:30p
The Guiding Light

03:00p
The Secret Storm

03:30p
The Edge of Night

04:00p
Gomer Pyle, USMC

04:30p
I Love Lucy

05:00p
Green Acres

05:30p
I Dream of Jeannie

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

06:30p
CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

07:00p
Dragnet

07:30p
What’s My Line? (panelists Alan Alda, Arlene Francis, Meredith MacRae, Soupy Sales)

08:00p
Gunsmoke

09:00p
Here’s Lucy

09:30p
Doris Day

10:00p
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (guests George Burns, David Clayton Thomas)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
Movie – “Penelope”

Here's an example - there's another one later on - of a commercial station broadcasting Sesame Street in a market which isn't served by an educational channel. I always find examples like this very interesting - like the case of CBS affiliates showing Lawrence Welk in areas without an ABC affiliate, it's a case of the local station knowing the likes and needs of its audience.



WIIC, Channel 11 (NBC)

Morning

06:25a
Farm Report

06:30a
Quest (B&W)

07:00a
Today (report on Florida primary)

09:00a
Captain Jim

10:00a
Dinah Shore (guests Merv Griffin, Satchel Paige)

10:30a
Concentration

11:00a
Sale of the Century

11:30a
The Hollywood Squares (panelists Virginia Graham, Arte Johnson, Shirley Jones, Paul Lynde, Hugh O’Brian, Karen Valentine)

Afternoon

12:00p
News (local)

12:30p
Who, What or Where Game

01:00p
Somerset

01:30p
Three on a Match

02:00p
Days of Our Lives

02:30p
The Doctors

03:00p
Another World

03:30p
Bright Promise

04:00p
Movie – “The Last Wagon”

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

07:00p
NBC Nightly News with John Chancellor

07:30p
Let’s Make a Deal

08:00p
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In

09:00p
Bob Hope (guests Elke Sommer, Dyan Cannon, Connie Stevens, Eva Gabor) (special)

10:00p
Johnny Carson Presents Sun City Scandals ’72 (guests Bette Davis, Ethel Waters, Jack Oakie, Eddie Foy Jr., Beatrice Kay, Matty Malneck, Harry Ruby, Shelton Brooks, Sammy Fain, Irving Caesar, Gene Sheldon, Sun City Cuties) (special)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (guest host Richard Harris, guest Malachy McCourt)

01:00a
Hotline

Here The Today Show is, in Florida, covering the Florida Primary on March 13. Here we are, on March 15, watching the Florida Primary on television. The more things change...



WQED, Channel 13 (PBS)

Morning

07:45a
Guten Tag

08:00a
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

08:30a
Life Style

09:00a
Classroom (B&W)

11:30a
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Afternoon

12:00p
Sesame Street

01:00p
Classroom (B&W)

03:00p
Hodgepodge Lodge

03:30p
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

04:00p
Sesame Street

05:00p
What’s New

05:30p
Sesame Street

Evening


06:30p
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

07:00p
The Electric Company

07:30p
WPIAL Basketball (special)

09:00p
Newsroom

09:30p
Between Time and Timbuktu (special)

11:00p
Newsroom

WPIAL, which stands for the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League, covers several counties in western Pennsylvania. This high school basketball tournament seems the perfect kind of sports programming for a PBS affiliate.


WFMJ, Channel 21 (Youngstown) (NBC)

Morning

07:00a
Today (report on Florida primary)

09:00a
Lucille Rivers

09:10a
Tele-View

09:30a
Sesame Street

10:30a
Concentration

11:00a
Sale of the Century

11:30a
The Hollywood Squares (panelists Virginia Graham, Arte Johnson, Shirley Jones, Paul Lynde, Hugh O’Brian, Karen Valentine)

Afternoon

12:00p
Jeopardy

12:30p
Who, What or Where Game

01:00p
Dinah Shore (guests Merv Griffin, Satchel Page)

01:30p
Three on a Match

02:00p
Days of Our Lives

02:30p
The Doctors

03:00p
Another World

03:30p
Bright Promise

04:00p
Somerset

04:30p
The Virginian

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

06:30p
NBC Nightly News with John Chancellor

07:00p
Get Smart

07:30p
Andy Griffith (B&W)

08:00p
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In

09:00p
Bob Hope (guests Elke Sommer, Dyan Cannon, Connie Stevens, Eva Gabor) (special)

10:00p
Johnny Carson Presents Sun City Scandals ’72 (guests Bette Davis, Ethel Waters, Jack Oakie, Eddie Foy Jr., Beatrice Kay, Matty Malneck, Harry Ruby, Shelton Brooks, Sammy Fain, Irving Caesar, Gene Sheldon, Sun City Cuties) (special)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (guest host Richard Harris, guest Malachy McCourt)

I recall that when Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show, it was thought that he'd do several comedy/variety specials for NBC, much like the one that's being broadcast tonight. To my knowledge, he never did.



WKBN, Channel 27 (Youngstown) (CBS)

Morning

06:30a
Sunrise Semester

07:00a
CBS Morning News with John Hart

08:00a
Captain Kangaroo

09:00a
Romper Room

09:30a
Cartoons

10:00a
Search for Tomorrow

10:30a
As the World Turns

11:00a
The Electric Company

11:30a
Love of Life

Afternoon

12:00p
Where the Heart Is

12:30p
CBS News

12:35p
Movie – “Ma and Pa Kettle”

02:00p
Love is a Many Splendored Thing

02:30p
The Guiding Light

03:00p
The Secret Storm

03:30p
The Edge of Night

04:00p
Gomer Pyle, USMC

04:30p
Movie – “Three Young Texans” (B&W)

Evening


06:00p
News (local)

06:30p
CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite

07:00p
Truth or Consequences

07:30p
I Dream of Jeannie

08:00p
Gunsmoke

09:00p
Here’s Lucy

09:30p
Doris Day

10:00p
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (guests George Burns, David Clayton Thomas)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
Movie – “Penelope”

Here's another commercial station showing PBS programming for kids - in this case, The Electric Company.



WYTV, Channel 33 (Youngstown) (ABC)

Morning

08:00a
Dennis the Menace (B&W)

08:30a
New Zoo Revue

09:00a
The Flintstones

09:30a
Here’s Beverlee

10:00a
Movie –“Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick” (B&W)

11:30a
That Girl

Afternoon

12:00p
Bewitched

12:30p
Password (panelists Jack Cassidy, Betty Grable)

01:00p
All My Children

01:30p
Let’s Make a Deal

02:00p
The Newlywed Game

02:30p
The Dating Game

03:00p
General Hospital

03:30p
One Life to Live

04:00p
Love, American Style

04:30p
Star Trek

05:30p
News (local)

Evening


06:00p
ABC Evening News with Howard K. Smith and Harry Reasoner

06:30p
Billy Graham Crusade (special)

07:30p
Dragnet

08:00p
Monday Night Sports (special)

09:00p
Movie – “Lord Jim” (conclusion)

10:30p
Who Do You Think You Are? (special)

11:00p
News (local)

11:30p
Dick Cavett (guest host Florence Henderson, guests James Caan, Hattie Winston)

Remember the Billy Graham Crusades, which would preempt local programming for three nights straight? You knew it was worthwhile, important programming, and that you ought to watch it - but at the same time you couldn't help but resent how it inevitably preempted your favorite show. TV  

21 comments:

  1. Mitchell, always happy to help you with upstate New York editions.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, John! I may have another one in my batch, but if not I'll look for them when I have to buy some more, which ought to be in the next month or so!

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    2. I will round up a couple of mine from the 60's and loan them to you.

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    3. Just found the March 16-22, 1968 upstate NY edition. featuring The Flying Nun on the cover..a young Sally Field and Alejandro Rey. I am happy to "loan" it to you.

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    4. And a future college coach of renown is listed as a guard for the Army basketball team that is playing Notre Dame in the NIT.....

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    5. Plus a lot of "Save Star Trek" in the Letters...

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  2. "The David Frost Revue" was produced in New York and lasted for two years (1971-73), co-produced by Group W/Westinghouse (which distributed his 1969-72 syndicated U.S. talk/variety show) and London Weekend Television (the Metropolitan London franchisee for Britain's commercial ITV network from Friday evening to late Sunday night; Thames had the London ITV franchise from Monday morning until early Friday evenings). Group W syndicated it in the 'States; LWT fed it to ITV in Britain.

    It was a satirical comedy/variety show, much like the kind Frost did in England during the 1960's, but not topical. It was taped, and it was impractical in the early 1970's to make 200 copies of a tape and send them by air express to as many stations to allow a program of a topical nature distributed by copying and sending tapes to air within 48 hours of taping.

    My late Mom was an avid David Frost fan (going back to the days of the U.S. version of Frost's "That Was The Week That Was" in 1964), and of course, she enjoyed "The David Frost Revue".

    Had "The David Frost Revue" been produced in the mid-1980's instead of the early 1970's, it would have been much more topical since it could have been distributed by satellite. If the show were done "live-on-tape" and taped early enough in the day, it might have been shown on a same-day basis in both the U.S. (early-evening) and the UK (late-evening).

    It would have been a heck of a lot more topical, and probably would've been far more successful.

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    Replies
    1. Very interesting! Your thought at the end, that it would have been more successful if done in the mid '80s, makes a lot of sense to me. Love the info!

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  3. Hoping you have Michigan Edition TV GUIDE's with the emphasis in my case on the Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo market(email me at cr3861@yahoo.com if you need any technical assistance): Your readers can get plenty of Pittsburgh listings by going to news.google.com/newspapers with daily listings from back in the day from the Post-Gazette and Press. Keep up the good work!

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    Replies
    1. I will look for issues from that area when I make my next buy, which should be in the next little while - I'll let you know when I do. Thanks much!

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  4. Did Warner Brothers sell THE F.B.I. into syndication before it ended its network run? Otherwise, why is a CBS affiliate being airing it--on Monday in prime access? And what did WTAE put into the extra 20 minutes of PERRY MASON?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Paul,
      I'm not sure about the extra 20 minutes in Perry Mason, although I'm hoping someone from the area might know. In the absence of any other info, I'd take a guess that they might have filled it with some kind of local filler - possibly a local host with some kind of "Dialing for Dollars"-type feature.

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  5. This is a slice of my Upper Ohio Valley youth that I was thrilled to read. I was a devoted Dragnet fan as a pre-teenager, and remember that WTAE ran it for years. The one odd thing is that Wheeling WV's WTRF, the local NBC affilate at the time, and Steubenville OH's WSTV, which was the local CBS affilate at the time. (They switched in 1979.) And both were a lot closer than WDTV in Weston,WV is practically in the middle of West Virginia, near Clarksburg.

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  6. Great stuff as always Mitchell. How weird is it to see a 1970's CBS daytime schedule without "The Price Is Right," which wouldn't debut until September, or an ABC morning schedule without "Good Morning America?"

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  7. I would be happy to help sometime with some listings around Pennsylvania/Baltimore/DC in the '60s and '70s. I very much enjoyed this one! I also think it's worth noting that of the CBS stations that you listed in this entry, WTAJ was the *only* one that ran the entire CBS daytime schedule in pattern. KDKA pre-empted the 1:30-2:30pm and 4:00 CBS offerings, Channel 5 pre-empted the 4:00 "Gomer Pyle" rerun, and Channel 27 pre-empted the 10:00-11:30am offerings in order to timeshift soaps and also toss "The Electric Company" in.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Aaron - I'm likely to take you up on that!

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  8. Florence Henderson had two stints on "Today", first in the 60s as the "Today Girl" (doing light features) and then in '99 for "Later Today", an hour-long talker that eventually got folded into (or consumed) by "Today" in 2000.

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    Replies
    1. I wonder if that was the longest stretch between appearances as a "regular" on "Today," or on any other show for that matter?

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  9. Where's Channel 6 from Johnstown? When I grew up in the 70's in Pittsburgh they were our "backup" NBC affiliate. Weren't they around in 1972?

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Thanks for writing! Drive safely!