What's on TV? Thursday, September 12, 1957

Television was still making itself known throughout Minnesota in 1957, and so this week's issue features stations not only from the state, but from Iowa and Wisconsin as well. You had to be a little more regional back then; I remember in the days of living in The World's Worst Town™, we got our CBS programming from one of the KELOland stations in South Dakota, and accepted the news and weather from that part of the area as, if not your own, at least kind of like an adopted family.

Finding your favorite shows is a little more complicated here than you might think; a note at the top of the page reminds us that all times listed are Central Daylight; for Standard Time subtract one hour. Unless my Minnesota history fails me, Daylight Savings Time - or "Fast Time," as it was known, was limited to Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the counties that contain Minneapolis and St. Paul, and plus the city of Duluth, while the rest of the state was on Standard Time. The state wasn't standardized until later; don't ask me what it was like in Iowa and Wisconsin.

	3   KGLO (MASON CITY, IA) (CBS)
	MORNING
	9:55	THIS I BELIEVE – Religion
	10:00	CHRISTOPHERS – Religion
	10:30	STRIKE IT RICH – Quiz
	11:00	HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN
	11:15	LOVE OF LIFE – Serial
	11:30	SEARCH FOR TOMORROW – Serial
	11:45	GUIDING LIGHT – Serial
	AFTERNOON
	12:00	ACCENT – Joan Morris
	12:25	NEWS – Walter Cronkite
	12:30	AS THE WORLD TURNS
	1:00	MY LITTLE MARGIE – Comedy
	1:30	MARKETS, WEATHER, NEWS
	2:00	BIG PAYOFF – Quiz
	2:30	VERDICT IS YOURS
	3:00	BRIGHTER DAY – Serial
	3:15	SECRET STORM – Serial
	3:30	EDGE OF NIGHT – Serial
	4:00	JIMMY DEAN – Music
	4:45	INDUSTRY ON PARADE
	5:00	BOB CAVANAUGH – Variety
	EVENING
	6:00	WILD BILL HICOCK – Western
	6:30	YARD LIGHT – Heinz
	6:45	NEWS – Doug Edwards
	7:00	FARM REPORTER – Al Heinz
	7:05	NEWS, WEATHER, MARKETS
	7:30	ANNIE OAKLEY – Western
	8:00	BOB CUMMINGS – Comedy
	8:30	PLAYHOUSE 90 – Drama
	10:00	CLIMAX! – Drama
	11:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	11:30	MY HERO – Comedy

Here's an example of what I was talking about above. If you subtract one hour from these listings, you'll find that the 11:00 news was on at 10:00, bringing everying into alignment. Is that the way it was supposed to be? Don't know.

	4   WCCO (CBS)
	MORNING
	7:00	JIMMY DEAN - Music
	7:45	NEWS – Richard Hottelet
	8:00	CAPTAIN KANGAROO – Kids
	8:45	NEWS – Richard Hottelet
	9:00	GARRY MOORE – Variety
	9:30	ARTHUR GODFREY
	10:30	STRIKE IT RICH – Quiz
	11:00	HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN
	11:15	LOVE OF LIFE – Serial
	11:30	SEARCH FOR TOMORROW – Serial
	11:45	GUIDING LIGHT – Serial
	AFTERNOON
	12:00	NEWS, WEATHER
	12:15	TAKE FIVE – Cedric Adams
	12:20	WEATHER – Kraehling
	12:30	AS THE WORLD TURNS
	1:00	OUR MISS BROOKS – Comedy
	1:30	HOUSE PARTY – Linkletter
	2:00	BIG PAYOFF – Quiz
	2:30	VERDICT IS YOURS
	3:00	BRIGHTER DAY – Serial
	3:15	SECRET STORM – Serial
	3:30	EDGE OF NIGHT – Serial
	4:00	AROUND THE TOWN – Haeberle
	4:30	BUGS BUNNY – Comm. Cappy
	4:55	WATCH THE BIRDIE – Quiz
	5:00	AXEL AND DOG – Clellan Card
	5:30	POPEYE CLUBHOUSE – Kids
	5:55	WEATHER, NEWS, SPORTS
	EVENING
	6:15	NEWS – Doug Edwards
	6:30	SGT. PRESTON – Adventure
	7:00	BOB CUMMINGS – Comedy
	7:30	CLIMAX! – Drama
	8:30	PLAYHOUSE 90 – Drama
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:30	MOVIE – Musical Comedy “Crazy House” (1943)

It's hard to imagine watching a music-variety show at 7:00 in the morning, isn't it? Let alone one by an outsized pesonality like Jimmy Dean.

	5   KSTP (NBC)
	MORNING
	6:30	DAVID STONE – Variety
	6:40	TELE-FARMER – Seils
	7:00	TODAY – Garroway
	9:00	ARLENE FRANCIS Guests: Susan Strasberg, Mrs. Lee Strasberg
	9:30	TREASURE HUNT
	10:00	PRICE IS RIGHT
	10:30	TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES – Stunts
	11:00	TIC TAC DOUGH
	11:30	IT COULD BE YOU
	AFTERNOON
	12:00	NEWS, WEATHER
	12:15	WEATHER – Johnny Morris
	12:20	TREASURE CHEST - Quiz
	1:00	CLUB 60 – Variety   COLOR
	1:30	BRIDE & GROOM
	2:00	MATINEE THEATER   COLOR  “Son of 37 Fathers”
	3:00	QUEEN FOR A DAY
	3:45	MODERN ROMANCES
	4:00	I MARRIED JOAN
	4:30	SUSIE – Comedy
	5:00	SIDE SHOW – T.N. Tatters
	5:30	WEATHER, SPORTS
	5:45	NEWS – Huntley, Brinkley
	EVENING
	6:00	NEWS, WEATHER
	6:20	YOU SHOULD KNOW – Quiz
	6:30	TIC TAC DOUGH – Quiz   COLOR
	7:00	GROUCHO MARX
	7:30	DRAGNET – Jack Webb
	8:00	PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Comedy
	8:30	HIGH LOW – Quiz
	9:00	LUX VIDEO THEATRE – Drama   COLOR
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:30	HIGHWAY PATROL – Police
	11:00	TONIGHT – Jack Paar

Actress Susan Strasberg (the Home show with Arlene Francis, 9:00 a.m.) is the daughter of Mrs. Lee Strasberg, Paula Miller, who in addition to being married to Lee Strasberg was Marilyn Monroe's acting coach. (We won't hold that against her.) Lee was known as the father of the acting system known as "the Method"; Susan memorably described her mother once as a "combination delicatessen, pharmacist, Jewish mother".

	6   KMMT (AUSTIN) (ABC)
	AFTERNOON
	2:00	MOVIE – Comedy “My Dear Secretary” (1948)
	3:00	AMERICAN BANDSTAND Guests: Nick Nobel and the Tune Weavers
	4:30	MOVIES – Double Feature 1. “Here Comes Trouble” (1948) 2. “A Man’s Affairs”
	5:50	SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER
	EVENING
	6:00	NEWS – John Daly
	6:30	CHINA SMITH – Adventure
	7:00	ABC PRESENTS – Documentary
	7:30	MODERN AMERICANA
	8:00	DANCE BILLBOARD
	8:05	TUNES ON TRIAL – Music
	8:30	INDUSTRIES FOR AMERICA
	9:00	FILM FEATURE
	9:30	UNCOVERED – Mystery
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:30	MOVIE – Mystery “Return of a Stranger” (1937)

Tunes on Trial was not, contrary to what you might think, hosted by Tipper Gore.

	7   KWWL (WATERLOO, IA) (NBC, ABC)
	MORNING
	7:00	TODAY – Garroway
	9:00	ARLENE FRANCIS Guests: Susan Strasberg, Mrs. Lee Strasberg
	9:30	TREASURE HUNT
	10:00	PRICE IS RIGHT
	10:30	TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES – Stunts
	11:00	TIC TAC DOUGH
	11:30	IT COULD BE YOU
	AFTERNOON
	12:00	TEX AND JINX – Interviews
	12:30	CLUB 60 – Variety   COLOR
	1:30	BRIDE & GROOM
	2:00	MATINEE THEATER   COLOR  “Son of 37 Fathers”
	3:00	QUEEN FOR A DAY
	3:45	MODERN ROMANCES
	4:00	I MARRIED JOAN
	EVENING
	6:55	WEATHER, SPORTS, NEWS
	7:15	NEWS – Huntley, Brinkley
	7:30	TIC TAC DOUGH
	8:00	ANNIE OAKLEY – Western
	8:30	HIGH LOW – Quiz
	9:00	LUX VIDEO THEATRE – Drama   COLOR
	10:00	GROUCHO MARX - Quiz
	10:30	DRAGNET – Jack Webb
	11:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	11:30	INTERNATIONAL PLAYHOUSE
	12:00	TONIGHT – Jack Paar
	1:00	NEWS – Tom Miller

"Son of 37 Fathers," this afternoon's episode of Matinee Theater, is not, I swear, a porn film. It's actually the story of a young Korean boy who's adopted by 37 American troops and later becomes the prime suspect when a classified map goes missing from camp. Think Dondi, or maybe The Manchurian Candidate.

	8   WKBT (LA CROSSE, WI) (ALL NETWORKS)
	MORNING
	11:00	HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN
	11:15	LOVE OF LIFE – Serial
	11:30	SEARCH FOR TOMORROW – Serial
	11:45	FILM SHORT
	11:55	TROUBLE WITH FATHER
	AFTERNOON
	12:25	NEWS – Walter Cronkite
	12:30	STRIKE IT RICH – Quiz
	1:00	OUR MISS BROOKS – Comedy
	1:30	HOUSE PARTY – Linkletter
	2:00	BIG PAYOFF – Quiz
	2:30	VERDICT IS YOURS
	3:00	BRIGHTER DAY – Serial
	3:15	SECRET STORM – Serial
	3:30	EDGE OF NIGHT – Serial
	4:00	MOVIE – To Be Announced
	5:00	KIDDIES HOUR – Kids
	5:30	FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRE
	EVENING
	6:00	FARM DIGEST – Martin
	6:05	SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER
	6:30	LONE RANGER – Western
	7:00	WEB - Drama
	7:30	CLIMAX! – Drama
	8:30	DRAGNET – Jack Webb
	9:00	GROUCHO MARX
	9:30	STAGE 7 – Drama
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:20	THIS IS YOUR LIFE Guest: Lou Costello
	10:50	INNER SANCTUM - Mystery

In all the years I've done this, I've never seen a station with the affiliate description "all networks." But it's brilliant - it's the only station providing coverage into the viewing area, and undoubtedly it can bill itself as providing the best programming from each of the networks. Kind of like an all-star network.

	9   KMGM (IND.)
	AFTERNOON
	5:00	MOVIE – Drama “Fury” (1936)
	EVENING
	6:30	MOVIE – Comedy “Guardsman” (1931)
	8:00	MR. AND MRS. NORTH – Mystery
	8:30	SCIENCE FICTION THEATER
	9:00	MOVIE – Mystery “Hunt the Man Down” (1951)
	10:30	MOVIE – Drama “Undercurrent” (1946)

In years to come, KMGM will become KMSP, and will move from independent status to an ABC affiliate, and then turn indepenedent again before becoming part of the Fox network. When I compare their prime time lineup to that of WTCN's, I'm not that sure that they're not getting the better deal at this point in time.

	10   KROC (ROCHESTER) (NBC)
	MORNING
	7:00	TODAY – Garroway
	9:00	ARLENE FRANCIS Guests: Susan Strasberg, Mrs. Lee Strasberg
	9:30	TREASURE HUNT
	10:00	PRICE IS RIGHT
	10:30	TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES – Stunts
	11:00	TIC TAC DOUGH
	11:30	IT COULD BE YOU
	AFTERNOON
	12:00	NEWS, WEATHER
	12:15	CHANNEL TEN CALLING
	12:30	CLUB 60 – Variety   COLOR
	1:30	BRIDE & GROOM
	2:00	MATINEE THEATER   COLOR  “Son of 37 Fathers”
	3:00	QUEEN FOR A DAY
	3:45	MODERN ROMANCES
	4:00	I MARRIED JOAN
	4:30	FOREST FRONTIERS
	5:00	MOVIE – Western “Pioneers of the West” (1940)
	EVENING
	6:00	NEWS, WEATHER
	6:15	NEWS – Huntley, Brinkley
	6:30	LOONEY TUNES – Cartoon
	6:45	DUFFER’S DIGEST
	7:00	GROUCHO MARX
	7:30	DRAGNET – Jack Webb
	8:00	FRONTIER DOCTOR
	8:30	HIGH LOW – Quiz
	9:00	LUX VIDEO THEATRE – Drama   COLOR
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:30	MOVIE – Drama “Minesweeper” (1943)

The quiz show High Low is hosted by Jack Barry; it only runs for the Summer and doesn't even appear in his Wikipedia article. Of course, he's preoccupied with other things right now - it will be next year that the Quiz Show Scandals, in which he plays a significan role, will explode.

In all the years I've done this, I've never seen a station with the affiliate description "all networks." But it's brilliant - it's the only station providing coverage into the viewing area, and undoubtedly it can bill itself as providing the best programming from each of the networks. Kind of like an all-star network.

	11   WTCN (ABC)
	AFTERNOON
	11:45	NEWS – Al Paulson
	11:55	THIS IS THE STORY - Drama
	EVENING
	12:00	CASEY JONES – Rog Awsumb
	12:30	ROMPER ROOM – Miss Phyllis
	1:00	MOVIE – Historical Drama “Elizabeth the Queen” (1939)
	2:50	NEWS – Bob West
	3:00	AMERICAN BANDSTAND Guests: Nick Nobel and the Tune Weavers
	4:30	CARTOON CARNIVAL – Kids
	5:00	MICKEY MOUSE CLUB – Kids
	EVENING
	6:00	NEWS, WEATHER
	6:15	NEWS – John Daly
	6:30	LONE RANGER – Western
	7:00	ABC PRESENTS – Documentary
	7:30	MODERN AMERICANA
	8:00	MOVIE – War Drama “Flying Tigers” (1942)
	9:30	DICK POWELL – Drama
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:15	MOVIE – Drama “Hell’s Kitchen” (1939)

You recall how I said that Channel 9 had the better of the deal with Channel 11 - well, if you look at what ABC's prime time schedule actually was at the time, you'll see that WTCN has almost none of it on right now, except for John Daly's news and The Lone Ranger. Was it because it was Summer? Possibly; the shows don't appear on KMMT, the area's other full-time ABC affiliate, either. Of course, local stations didn't always run to associate themselves with ABC back then.

	13   WEAU (EAU CLAIRE) (NBC, ABC)
	MORNING
	7:00	TODAY – Garroway
	9:00	ARLENE FRANCIS Guests: Susan Strasberg, Mrs. Lee Strasberg
	9:30	TREASURE HUNT
	10:00	PRICE IS RIGHT
	10:30	TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES – Stunts
	11:00	TIC TAC DOUGH
	11:30	IT COULD BE YOU
	AFTERNOON
	12:00	OPERATION SUCCESS
	12:30	CLUB 60 – Variety   COLOR
	1:30	BRIDE & GROOM
	2:00	MATINEE THEATER   COLOR  “Son of 37 Fathers”
	3:00	QUEEN FOR A DAY
	3:45	MODERN ROMANCES
	4:00	I MARRIED JOAN
	4:30	CARTOONS – Kids
	4:55	SHERIFF BOB – Kids
	5:30	FILM FEATURE
	EVENING
	6:00	LONE RANGER – Western
	6:30	FILM SHORT
	6:45	WEATHER, NEWS
	7:00	GROUCHO MARX
	7:30	DRAGNET – Jack Webb
	8:00	SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE - Drama
	8:30	HIGH LOW – Quiz
	9:00	LUX VIDEO THEATRE – Drama   COLOR
	10:00	NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
	10:30	SPORTS HORIZONS
	10:45	LAWRENCE WELK - Music

I like these brief descriptions that accompany the shows here; it's one reason I switched over to this method. You know: Lawrene Welk - Music. Schlitz Playhouse - Drama. Dragnet - Jack Webb. Not "Police," not "Drama." "Jack Webb." As my wife commented, what else is there to say? TV