What's (not) on TV? Saturday, June 8, 1968

It's a very odd day today; virtually all network programming is preempted for coverage of Robert F. Kennedy's funeral. It wasn't supposed to be that way; as I mentioned on Saturday, programming was supposed to resume at 6:30 p.m. CT (the start of prime time), but because the Kennedy funeral train was so far behind schedule, the networks wound up staying with the story until it was time for the late local news.

Therefore, what you're about to see is a broadcast schedule that was never aired, at least not in the same way in which it's presented here. I'm sure all of these episodes wound up being telecast eventually, but not in the same order, not with the same vibe, so to speak; the waves being transmitted from the antennas were, like snowflakes, similar but different. You didn't have this specific episode of Lawrence Welk on at the same time as that specific episode of Get Smart, for example, and the scheduled baseball Game of the Week on NBC (Cleveland vs. Detroit) was never aired at all.*

*Nor was the Minnesota Twins game vs. the Washington Senators, which was to be played at Washington's D.C. Stadium. By this same time next year, the Senators were playing in Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.

Look on at what follows, courtesy of the Minnesota State Edition.

KGLO, Channel 3 (Mason City, IA) (CBS) Morning
07:00a	Captain Kangaroo (guest soccer player George Kirby)   COLOR
08:00a	Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles   COLOR
08:30a	The Herculoids   COLOR
09:00a	Shazzan!   COLOR
09:30a	Space Ghost and Dino Boy   COLOR
10:00a	Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor   COLOR
10:30a	The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure   COLOR
11:30a	Jonny Quest   COLOR
Afternoon
12:00p	The Lone Ranger   COLOR
12:30p	The Road Runner   COLOR
01:00p	Here’s Allen   COLOR
01:15p	Movie – “Dakota Incident” (1956)
02:45p	Movie – “Accused of Murder” (1957)
04:00p	Movie – “Dakota Incident” (1956)
05:30p	CBS Saturday News (Roger Mudd)   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	News   COLOR
06:30p	The Prisoner   COLOR
07:30p	My Three Sons   COLOR
08:00p	Hogan’s Heroes   COLOR
08:30p	Petticoat Junction   COLOR
09:00p	Mannix   COLOR
10:00p	News   COLOR
10:30p	Movie – “Across the Bridge” (English, 1958)

Following RFK's assassination, violence on television would again be under the microscope, but prior to that it was the Saturday morning cartoon, and the concern over superheroes and other supernatural types, as we saw here. With this lineup, it's easy to see why.

KDAL, Channel 3 (Duluth) (CBS) Morning
07:00a	Farm and Home
07:15a	Treetop House
07:30a	Captain Kangaroo (guest soccer player George Kirby)   COLOR
08:00a	Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles   COLOR
08:30a	The Herculoids   COLOR
09:00a	Shazzan!   COLOR
09:30a	Space Ghost and Dino Boy   COLOR
10:00a	Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor   COLOR
10:30a	The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure   COLOR
11:30a	Jonny Quest   COLOR
Afternoon
12:00p	The Lone Ranger   COLOR
12:30p	The Road Runner   COLOR
01:00p	Stories of Success   COLOR
01:30p	Movie – “Varan the Unbelievable” (Japanese-American, 1962)
02:45p	Movie – “When the Girls Take Over” (1962)
04:00p	Upbeat   COLOR
05:00p	All-Star Wrestling
Evening
06:00p	CBS Saturday News (Roger Mudd)   COLOR
06:30p	The Prisoner   COLOR
07:30p	My Three Sons   COLOR
08:00p	Hogan’s Heroes   COLOR
08:30p	Petticoat Junction   COLOR
09:00p	Mannix   COLOR
10:00p	News   COLOR
10:15p	Movie – “Bonjour Tristesse” (English, 1957)

The Prisoner - it's still hard to believe that CBS used this as the summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show. In other ways, though, it was perfect for the paranoia of the era.

WCCO, Channel 4 (CBS) Morning
06:00a	Summer Semester   COLOR
06:30a	Siegfried and His Flying Saucer   COLOR
07:00a	Captain Kangaroo (guest soccer player George Kirby)   COLOR
08:00a	Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles   COLOR
08:30a	The Herculoids   COLOR
09:00a	Shazzan!   COLOR
09:30a	Space Ghost and Dino Boy   COLOR
10:00a	Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor   COLOR
10:30a	The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure   COLOR
11:30a	Jonny Quest   COLOR
Afternoon
12:00p	News   COLOR
12:30p	Marshal Dillon
01:00p	Jobs Now!   COLOR
01:30p	Movie – “Master of the World” (1961)   COLOR
03:30p	Cimarron Strip   COLOR
05:00p	The Outdoorsman   COLOR
05:30p	CBS Saturday News (Roger Mudd)   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	News   COLOR
06:30p	The Prisoner   COLOR
07:30p	My Three Sons   COLOR
08:00p	Hogan’s Heroes   COLOR
08:30p	Petticoat Junction   COLOR
09:00p	Mannix   COLOR
10:00p	News   COLOR
10:30p	Movie – “The Road to Rio” (1947)
12:30a	News, Weather   COLOR
12:45a	This Must Be the Place   COLOR
01:15a	Nite Kapers

I do remember this much - well, other than my grandfather coming up from the basement, where he had his workbench, every few hours to ask "is that still on?" - I stayed up past midnight to see The Bedtime Nooz, Dave Moore's satirical program, only to find that because of the day's events he was delivering a straight news broadcast. It was a bitter disappointment, but then what did I know? I was only eight.

KSTP, Channel 5 (NBC) Morning
07:00a	Movie (Western)
08:00a	The Super 6   COLOR
08:30a	Super President   COLOR
09:00a	The Flintstones   COLOR
09:30a	Young Samson   COLOR
10:00a	Birdman and the Galaxy Trio   COLOR
10:30a	George of the Jungle   COLOR
11:00a	Cool McCool   COLOR
11:30a	West Point
Afternoon
12:00p	Science Fiction Theater   COLOR
12:30p	Branded   COLOR
01:00p	Baseball (Indians at Tigers)   COLOR
04:00p	Porter Wagoner (guest Diana Trask)   COLOR
04:30p	The Outer Limits
05:30p	NBC News (Frank McGee)   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	News   COLOR
06:30p	The Saint   COLOR
07:30p	Get Smart   COLOR
08:00p	Saturday Night at the Movies – “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1962)   COLOR
10:00p	News   COLOR
10:30p	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (guests Alan King, Della Reese, Rhodes Brothers)   COLOR
12:00a	Alan Burke (guests Roger Puggart, Pauline Peavy)   COLOR

Since NBC's coverage continued until midnight, it's possible that the nationally-syndicated Alan Burke could have presented a special show, or it could have been replaced by local news. Because the funeral coverage ran so far over, even a look at the morning's TV listings wouldn't tell us for sure what the station had planned. 

WDSM, Channel 6 (Duluth) (NBC) Morning
07:00a	Film Feature
07:30a	Cartoon Theater   COLOR
08:00a	The Super 6   COLOR
08:30a	Super President   COLOR
09:00a	The Flintstones   COLOR
09:30a	Young Samson   COLOR
10:00a	Birdman and the Galaxy Trio   COLOR
10:30a	George of the Jungle   COLOR
11:00a	Cool McCool   COLOR
11:30a	Film Feature
Afternoon
12:30p	Film Feature
01:00p	Baseball (Indians at Tigers)   COLOR
04:00p	Film Feature
05:00p	Danger is My Business   COLOR
05:30p	NBC News (Frank McGee)   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	News   COLOR
06:15p	Cartoon Carnival   COLOR
06:30p	The Saint   COLOR
07:30p	Get Smart   COLOR
08:00p	Saturday Night at the Movies – “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1962)   COLOR
10:00p	News   COLOR
10:30p	Cameo Theater   COLOR
11:30p	Wendy and Me
12:00a	Focus   COLOR

Danger is My Business was produced and hosted by Col. John Craig, a man who was no stranger to either danger or adventure. This series, one of five he did, documented what could be said to have been dangerous occupations - lion tamer, for example. He was also responsible for a show that we see frequently in listings from this era - Of Lands and Seas.

KAUS, Channel 6 (Austin) (ABC) Morning
08:00a	The New Casper Cartoon Show   COLOR
08:30a	The Fantastic Four   COLOR
09:00a	Spider-Man   COLOR
09:30a	Journey to the Center of the Earth   COLOR
10:00a	King Kong   COLOR
10:30a	Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel   COLOR
11:00a	The Beatles   COLOR
11:30a	American Bandstand ’68 (guests the People, B.J. Thomas)   COLOR
Afternoon
12:30p	Happening ’68   COLOR
01:00p	Movie – “The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas” (1957)
02:30p	Food and Fiber
03:00p	The Racers: Craig and Lee Breedlove   SPECIAL   COLOR
04:00p	Wide World of Sports (Indianapolis 500, U.S. Open preview)   COLOR
05:30p	Death Valley Days   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	News   COLOR
06:30p	The Dating Game (guest Annemarie Huste)   COLOR
07:00p	The Newlywed Game   COLOR
07:30p	Lawrence Welk   COLOR
08:30p	The Hollywood Palace (host George Gobel, guests the King Family, Enzo Stuarti, Lainie Kazan, Desmond and Marks, Baby Sabu)   COLOR
09:30p	Western Star Theater
10:00p	ABC Weekend News (Keith McBee)   COLOR
10:15p	News   COLOR
10:30p	Movie – “The Egyptian” (1954)
12:00a	News   COLOR

One of the few programs that we know for certain aired today was the ABC Weekend News with Keith McBee. Not surprisingly, the broadcast consisted of a wrapup of the day's events. Here's a clip from the broadcast.

KCMT, Channel 7 (Alexandria) NBC/ABC Morning
08:00a	The Super 6   COLOR
08:30a	Super President   COLOR
09:00a	The Flintstones   COLOR
09:30a	Young Samson   COLOR
10:00a	Birdman and the Galaxy Trio   COLOR
10:30a	George of the Jungle   COLOR
11:00a	Cool McCool   COLOR
11:30a	American Bandstand ’68 (guests the People, B.J. Thomas)   COLOR
Afternoon
12:30p	Happening ’68   COLOR
01:00p	Baseball (Indians at Tigers)   COLOR
04:00p	Sergeant Preston
04:30p	Film Feature   COLOR
05:00p	Dream House
05:30p	NBC News (Frank McGee)   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	News, Weather, Sports
06:30p	The Saint   COLOR
07:30p	Get Smart   COLOR
08:00p	Saturday Night at the Movies – “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1962)   COLOR
10:00p	News
10:30p	Movie – “Inside Detroit” (1956)

Not much to say about Channel 7 this week. No, really, nothing to say.

WKBT, Channel 8 (La Crosse) (CBS) Morning
07:00a	Captain Kangaroo (guest soccer player George Kirby)   COLOR
08:00a	Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles   COLOR
08:30a	The Herculoids   COLOR
09:00a	Shazzan!   COLOR
09:30a	Space Ghost and Dino Boy   COLOR
10:00a	Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor   COLOR
10:30a	The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure   COLOR
11:30a	Jonny Quest   COLOR
Afternoon
12:00p	The Lone Ranger   COLOR
12:30p	The Road Runner   COLOR
01:00p	Music Carousel
01:30p	Movie – “The Unseen”
03:00p	The Racers: Craig and Lee Breedlove   SPECIAL   COLOR
04:00p	Wide World of Sports (Indianapolis 500, U.S. Open preview)   COLOR
05:30p	Hogan’s Heroes   COLOR
Evening
06:00p	Bewitched   COLOR
06:30p	The Prisoner   COLOR
07:30p	Lawrence Welk   COLOR
08:30p	Petticoat Junction   COLOR
09:00p	Mannix   COLOR
10:00p	News
10:30p	Movie – “Walk on the Wild Side” (1062)

Craig Breedlove, the focus of the ABC profile The Racers, was at the time the holder of the world land speed record, breaking the 600 mph barrier in his Spirit of America. His wife Lee held the women's world land speed record at over 300 mph, making the Breedloves the world's fastest couple (a record they still hold). This program will be rescheduled for a later date.

KMSP, Channel 9 (ABC) Morning
07:30a	Cartoons
08:00a	The New Casper Cartoon Show   COLOR
08:30a	The Fantastic Four   COLOR
09:00a	Spider-Man   COLOR
09:30a	Journey to the Center of the Earth   COLOR
10:00a	King Kong   COLOR
10:30a	Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel   COLOR
11:00a	The Beatles   COLOR
11:30a	American Bandstand ’68 (guests the People, B.J. Thomas)   COLOR
Afternoon
12:30p	Happening ’68   COLOR
01:00p	Kit Carson
01:30p	Arrest and Trial
03:00p	The Racers: Craig and Lee Breedlove   SPECIAL   COLOR
04:00p	Wide World of Sports (Indianapolis 500, U.S. Open preview)   COLOR
05:30p	Route 66
Evening
06:30p	The Dating Game (guest Annemarie Huste)   COLOR
07:00p	The Newlywed Game   COLOR
07:30p	Lawrence Welk   COLOR
08:30p	Movie – “The Bravados” (1958)   COLOR
10:30p	Movie – “Too Late Blues” (1962)
12:25a	ABC Weekend News (Keith McBee)   COLOR

Annemarie Huste was Jacqueline Kennedy's chef while she was in the White House. According to her obit, highlighted above, she talked maybe a little too much. It's just slightly ironic that her appearance was scheduled for what turned out to be the date of the funeral of her former employer's brother-in-law.

WDIO, Channel 10 (Duluth) (ABC) Morning
08:00a	The New Casper Cartoon Show   COLOR
08:30a	The Fantastic Four   COLOR
09:00a	Spider-Man   COLOR
09:30a	Journey to the Center of the Earth   COLOR
10:00a	King Kong   COLOR
10:30a	Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel   COLOR
11:00a	The Beatles   COLOR
11:30a	American Bandstand ’68 (guests the People, B.J. Thomas)   COLOR
Afternoon
12:30p	Happening ’68   COLOR
01:00p	Movie – “Dakota Incident” (1956)
02:30p	To Be Announced
03:00p	The Racers: Craig and Lee Breedlove   SPECIAL   COLOR
04:00p	Wide World of Sports (Indianapolis 500, U.S. Open preview)   COLOR
05:30p	Polka Varieties   COLOR
Evening
06:30p	The Dating Game (guest Annemarie Huste)   COLOR
07:00p	The Newlywed Game   COLOR
07:30p	Lawrence Welk   COLOR
08:30p	The Hollywood Palace (host George Gobel, guests the King Family, Enzo Stuarti, Lainie Kazan, Desmond and Marks, Baby Sabu)   COLOR
09:30p	Dream House   COLOR
10:00p	ABC Weekend News (Keith McBee)   COLOR
10:15p	News   COLOR
10:30p	Movie – “The Emperor Waltz” (1948)   COLOR

Dream House is one of those game shows that appeared in both primetime and daytime versions. The primetime version, which was first, ran from March to September 1968, while the daytime edition made its debut earlier this month, settling in until January 1970. One of the grand prizes was a new house worth more than $40,000, plus $7,000 to purchase the land. I wonder how much that would be worth in today's dollars?

WTCN, Channel 11 (Ind.) Morning
09:00a	Flower Gardening   COLOR
09:30a	Farm Forum   COLOR
10:00a	Whirlybirds
10:30a	Cartoon Cut-Ups   COLOR
11:00a	Lunch with Casey
Afternoon
12:00p	Harmon Killebrew   COLOR
12:10p	Halsey Hall   COLOR
12:25p	Baseball (Twins at Senators)   COLOR
03:00p	Scoreboard (time approximate)
03:15p	Movie – “The Bacchantes” (Italian, 1961)   COLOR
05:00p	The Rifleman
05:30p	All-Star Wrestling
Evening
07:00p	Movie – “Leave Her to Heaven”
09:00p	Movie – “Pork Chop Hill” (1959)
11:00p	News, Weather, Sports
11:30p	Bat Masterson

I'll be honest - I'm not sure what Channel 11 did today. They might have covered the funeral through some kind of syndicated coverage, or by piggybacking on one of the network feeds, or they could have continued with their regularly scheduled programming - either as-is, or adjusted to fit the more somber mood. (For some reason, I seem to faintly recall Lunch with Casey being more serious, carrying on without the usual tomfoolery, but perhaps I'm just projecting my expectations.) Maybe some of you can shed some light on it.

WEAU, Channel 13 (Eau Claire) (NBC) Morning
07:00a	Salvation Army
07:15a	Light Time
07:30a	Cartoons
08:00a	The Super 6   COLOR
08:30a	Super President   COLOR
09:00a	The Flintstones   COLOR
09:30a	Young Samson   COLOR
10:00a	Birdman and the Galaxy Trio   COLOR
10:30a	George of the Jungle   COLOR
11:00a	Cool McCool   COLOR
11:30a	George of the Jungle   COLOR
Afternoon
12:00p	Discovery ‘68
12:30p	Harbor Lights
01:00p	Baseball (Indians at Tigers)   COLOR
04:00p	Rugby League Cup (Leeds vs. Wakefield-Trinity) (joined in progress)   SPECIAL
05:00p	Polka Varieties
Evening
06:00p	Campus Comment
06:15p	Sports, Weather, News
06:30p	The Saint   COLOR
07:30p	Get Smart   COLOR
08:00p	Saturday Night at the Movies – “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1962)   COLOR
10:00p	News
10:30p	Wagon Train   COLOR
12:00a	Movie – “Andy” (1965)

The Rugby League Cup final between Leeds and Wakefield-Trinity was originally played on May 11 and appeared on Wide World of Sports on May 18; today, it was to have finally made it to Channel 13. I always enjoyed rugby, as I did many of the other exotic sports (which continues to this day), and would have watched this if I could. Leeds wins a thriller, 11-10. TV