Matinee Theater was an attempt by NBC to present a quality, five-days a week daytime dramatic anthology series; it was the first hour-long daytime series on television. NBC spared no expense in the effort, spending nearly $75,000 per week on the program, which was broadcast live and in color and was heavily promoted; ultimately, the cost became prohibitive, and NBC would cancel the program in June of this year. Today's production, "The Makropoulos Secret," is an example of the diverse programming the network was trying to establish. Based on the 1922 Czech play by Karel Čapek, it's likely more people today are familiar with it because of the opera by Leoš Janáček, which premiered in 1926. Matinee Theater was a bold experiment even during the Golden Age of Television; imagine trying something like it today. The listings are from the New York State edition, which clearly does not include New York City.
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-3- WSYR (Syracuse) (NBC, ABC)
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MORNING
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7:00
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TODAY—Garroway
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9:00
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ALL STAR THEATER—Drama
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9:30
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LADIES’ DAY—Kay Russell
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10:00
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ARLENE FRANCIS
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10:30
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TREASURE HUNT
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11:00
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PRICE IS RIGHT
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11:30
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TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES—Stunts
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AFTERNOON
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12:00
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TIC TAC DOUGH—Quiz
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12:30
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JIM DELINE GANG—Variety
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1:00
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MOVIE—Drama
“Pillow to Post”
(1945)
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2:30
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KITTY FOYLE—Serial
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3:00
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MATINEE THEATER COLOR
“The Makropoulos
Secret”
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4:00
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QUEEN FOR A DAY
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4:45
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MODERN ROMANCES
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5:00
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SIR LANCELOT—Adventure
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5:30
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MICKEY MOUSE
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EVENING
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6:00
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SKY KING—Adventure
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6:30
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NEWS
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6:50
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SPORTS—Bill O’Donnell
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6:55
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WEATHER
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7:00
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MAMA—Peggy Wood
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7:30
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M SQUAD—Police
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8:00
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OMNIBUS—Cooke SPECIAL
Guests: Bert Lahr,
Pat Stanley, Nichols and May
“The George Gobel
Show” will not be seen
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9:00
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McGRAW—Mystery
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9:30
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BOB CUMMINGS
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10:00
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CALIFORNIANS
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10:30
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CODE THREE—Police
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11:00
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MIKE WALLACE—Interview
Guest: Jean Seberg
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11:30
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TONIGHT—Jack Paar
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-5- WROC (Rochester) (NBC, ABC)
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MORNING
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7:00
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TODAY—Garroway
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9:00
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SUSIE—Comedy
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9:30
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MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY
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10:00
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ARLENE FRANCIS
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10:30
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TREASURE HUNT
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11:00
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PRICE IS RIGHT
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11:30
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TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES—Stunts
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AFTERNOON
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12:00
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TIC TAC DOUGH—Quiz
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12:30
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IT COULD BE YOU
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1:00
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MOVIE—Drama
“The Man I Married”
(1940)
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2:30
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HOME COOKING—McNail
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3:00
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MATINEE THEATER COLOR
“The Makropoulos
Secret”
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4:00
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QUEEN FOR A DAY
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4:45
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MODERN ROMANCES
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5:00
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MOVIE—Mystery
“The Caribbean
Mystery” (1945)
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EVENING
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6:10
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JIM BOWIE—Adventure
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6:40
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WEATHER
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6:45
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NEWS
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7:00
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DATE WITH THE ANGELS
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7:30
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NAME THAT TUNE—Quiz
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8:00
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OMNIBUS—Cooke SPECIAL
Guests: Bert Lahr,
Pat Stanley, Nichols and May
“The George Gobel
Show” will not be seen
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9:00
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McGRAW—Mystery
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9:30
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BOB CUMMINGS
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10:00
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CALIFORNIANS
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10:30
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DEATH VALLEY DAYS—Drama
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11:00
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NEWS
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11:30
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MOVIE—Adventure
“Northwest Territory”
(1951)
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-6- WRGB (Schenectady)
(NBC)
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MORNING
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7:00
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TODAY—Garroway
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9:00
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HOUSE FARE—Variety
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9:30
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TV SCHOOLTIME—Education
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10:00
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ARLENE FRANCIS
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10:30
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TREASURE HUNT
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11:00
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TV SCHOOLTIME—Education
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11:30
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TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES—Stunts
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AFTERNOON
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12:00
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TIC TAC DOUGH—Quiz
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12:30
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IT COULD BE YOU
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1:00
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TRADER VAN—Van Patten
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1:30
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HOWARD MILLER
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2:30
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KITTY FOYLE—Serial
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3:00
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MATINEE THEATER COLOR
“The Makropoulos
Secret”
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4:00
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QUEEN FOR A DAY
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4:45
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MODERN ROMANCES
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5:00
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ADVENTURES WITH FREDDIE
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5:15
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MOVIE—Drama
“Tonight We Raid
Calais” (1943)
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EVENING
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6:45
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NEWS
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7:00
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BOOTS AND SADDLES—Western
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7:30
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THIN MAN—Mystery
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8:00
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OMNIBUS—Cooke SPECIAL
Guests: Bert Lahr,
Pat Stanley, Nichols and May
“The George Gobel
Show” will not be seen
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9:00
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McGRAW—Mystery
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9:30
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BOB CUMMINGS
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10:00
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OFFICIAL DETECTIVE—Police
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10:30
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SHERIFF OF COCHISE—Western
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11:00
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NEWS
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11:10
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WEATHER
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11:15
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MOVIE—Mystery
“Panic on the Air”
(1936)
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-7- WCNY (Watertown) (CBS, ABC)
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MORNING
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10:00
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GARRY MOORE—Variety
Guest host: Dick Van
Dyke
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10:30
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ARTHUR GODFREY—Variety
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11:30
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CARTOON THEATER—Kids
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AFTERNOON
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12:00
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HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN—Serial
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12:15
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LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
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12:30
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MOVIE—Drama
“Vagabond Lady” (1935)
Ch. 7 will carry
Walter Cronkite’s newscast at 1:25 P.M., and the movie will be resumed at
1:30 P.M.
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2:00
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BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
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2:30
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HOUSE PARTY—Linkletter
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3:00
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BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
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3:30
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VERDICT IS YOURS—Trial
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4:00
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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4:15
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SECRET STORM—Serial
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4:30
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MOVIE—Comedy
“Who Killed Doc Robbin?”
(1948)
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5:30
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KIDDIES’ KARNIVAL—Cartoons
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EVENING
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6:00
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MY LITTLE MARGIE—Comedy
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6:30
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WEATHER—Dan Burgess
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6:40
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SPORTS—John Urban
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6:45
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NEWS
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7:00
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SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE—Drama
“Guys Like O’Malley”
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7:30
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CHEYENNE—Drama
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8:30
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SHERIFF OF COCHISE--Western
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9:00
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BROKEN ARROW—Western
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9:30
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TELEPHONE TIME—Drama
“Cavalry Surgeon”
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10:00
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$64,000 QUESTION—Quiz
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10:30
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DECOY—Drama
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11:00
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NEWS
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11:05
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SPORTS—John Urban
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11:10
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WEATHER
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11:15
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PASSERBY—Mystery
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11:30
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WRESTLING—Buffalo, N.Y.
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-8- WHEN (Syracuse) (CBS, ABC)
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MORNING
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7:00
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BREAKFAST BAR—O’Donnell
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7:45
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NEWS—Frank Oliver
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8:00
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CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
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8:45
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NEWS
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9:00
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THESE THINGS WE SHARE
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9:10
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PARTY LINE—Discussion
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9:20
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MAGIC TOY SHOP—Kids
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9:45
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GAL NEXT DOOR—Kay Larson
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10:00
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GARRY MOORE—Variety
Guest host: Dick Van
Dyke
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10:30
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ARTHUR GODFREY—Variety
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11:30
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DOTTO
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AFTERNOON
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12:00
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HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN—Serial
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12:15
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LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
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12:30
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SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
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12:45
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GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
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1:00
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KAY’S KITCHEN—Kay Larson
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1:30
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AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
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2:00
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BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
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2:30
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HOUSE PARTY—Linkletter
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3:00
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BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
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3:30
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VERDICT IS YOURS—Trial
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4:00
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BRIGHTER DAY—Serial
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4:15
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SECRET STORM—Serial
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4:30
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EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
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5:00
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MOVIE—Drama
“Robin Hood of El
Dorado” (1936)
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EVENING
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6:30
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NEWS
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6:40
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WEATHER
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6:45
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NEWS
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7:00
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BROKEN ARROW—Western
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7:30
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NAME THAT TUNE—Quiz
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8:00
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PHIL SILVERS—Comedy
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8:30
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EVE ARDEN—Comedy
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9:00
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TO TELL THE TRUTH—Panel
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9:30
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RED SKELTON—Comedy
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10:00
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$64,000 QUESTION—Quiz
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10:30
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WHIRLYBIRDS—Adventure
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11:00
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NEWS
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11:15
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MOVIE—Drama
“Outcast of the
Islands” (English; 1953)
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10 WHEC (Rochester) (CBS, ABC)
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MORNING
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7:00
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MOVIE—Daily Feature
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8:00
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CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
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8:45
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MOVIE—Daily Feature
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10:00
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GARRY MOORE—Variety
Guest host: Dick Van
Dyke
|
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10:30
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ARTHUR GODFREY—Variety
|
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11:30
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DOTTO
|
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AFTERNOON
|
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12:00
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HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN—Serial
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12:15
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LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
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12:30
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SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
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12:45
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GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
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1:00
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WOMAN’S WORLD—Jean Harden
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1:30
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AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
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2:00
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BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
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2:30
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HOUSE PARTY—Linkletter
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3:00
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BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
|
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3:30
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VERDICT IS YOURS—Trial
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4:00
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BRIGHTER DAY—Serial
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4:15
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SECRET STORM—Serial
|
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4:30
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EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
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5:00
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SIR LANCELOT—Adventure
|
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5:30
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MICKEY MOUSE
|
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EVENING
|
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6:00
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LONE RANGER—Western
|
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6:30
|
NEWS
|
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6:45
|
NEWS
|
|
7:30
|
SUGARFOOT—Western
|
|
8:00
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PHIL SILVERS—Comedy
|
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8:30
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EVE ARDEN—Comedy
|
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9:00
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TO TELL THE TRUTH—Panel
|
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9:30
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NEWS
|
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10:00
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$64,000 QUESTION—Quiz
|
|
10:30
|
CHARLIE CHAN—Mystery
|
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11:00
|
NEWS
|
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11:10
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WEATHER
|
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11:20
|
MOVIE—Drama
“20,000 Men a Year”
(1939)
|
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10 WTEN (Albany) (CBS)
|
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MORNING
|
|
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7:55
|
NEWS
|
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8:00
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CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
|
|
8:45
|
ROMPER ROOM—Kids
|
|
9:30
|
ALL STAR THEATER
|
|
10:00
|
GARRY MOORE—Variety
Guest
host: Dick Van Dyke
|
|
10:30
|
ARTHUR GODFREY—Variety
|
|
11:30
|
DOTTO
|
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AFTERNOON
|
|
|
12:00
|
HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN—Serial
|
|
12:15
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LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
|
|
12:30
|
SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
|
|
12:45
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GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
|
|
1:00
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TROUBLE WITH FATHER—Comedy
|
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1:30
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AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
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2:00
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BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
|
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2:30
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HOUSE PARTY—Linkletter
|
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3:00
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BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
|
|
3:30
|
VERDICT IS YOURS—Trial
|
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4:00
|
BRIGHTER DAY—Serial
|
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4:15
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SECRET STORM—Serial
|
|
4:30
|
EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
|
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5:00
|
POPEYE—Cartoons
|
|
5:30
|
MOVIE—Comedy
“Broadway Melody”
(1940)
|
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EVENING
|
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7:10
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WEATHER—Bradley
|
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7:15
|
NEWS
|
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7:30
|
NAME THAT TUNE—Quiz
|
|
8:00
|
PHIL SILVERS—Comedy
|
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8:30
|
EVE ARDEN—Comedy
|
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9:00
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TO TELL THE TRUTH—Panel
|
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9:30
|
RED SKELTON—Comedy
|
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10:00
|
$64,000 QUESTION—Quiz
|
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10:30
|
SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE—Drama
“Guys Like O’Malley”
|
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11:00
|
NEWS
|
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11:15
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MOVIE—Drama
“Dr. Kildare’s
Wedding Day” (1941)
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11 CKWS (Kingston, Ont.)
(Independent, CBC)
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AFTERNOON
|
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2:30
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MOVIE—To Be Announced
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4:00
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OPEN HOUSE—Interviews
|
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4:30
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HOWDY DOODY—Kids
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5:00
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EARTH AND ITS PEOPLE—Education
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5:30
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ADVENTURE SERIAL—Kids
|
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EVENING
|
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6:00
|
ANNIE OAKLEY—Western
|
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6:30
|
NEWS
|
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7:00
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TURN OF FATE—Drama
|
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7:30
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SIR LANCELOT—Adventure
|
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8:00
|
POLITICAL CONVENTION
Liberal Party
Leadership Convention
|
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10:00
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CONCERT HOUR—Music
|
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11:00
|
NEWS
|
|
12 WNBF (Binghamton)
(ABC, CBS, NBC)
|
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MORNING
|
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7:00
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TODAY’S FARM—Agriculture
|
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7:15
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BREAKFAST TIME
|
|
8:00
|
CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
|
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8:45
|
NEWS
|
|
9:00
|
STOP, LOOK ‘N’ COOK
|
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9:15
|
TREASURE HOUSE—Kids
|
|
9:30
|
EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
|
|
10:00
|
GARRY MOORE—Variety
Guest host: Dick Van
Dyke
|
|
10:30
|
RALPH CARROLL—Interviews
|
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11:00
|
ARTHUR GODFREY—Variety
|
|
11:30
|
DOTTO
|
|
AFTERNOON
|
|
|
12:00
|
HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN—Serial
|
|
12:15
|
LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
|
|
12:30
|
SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
|
|
12:45
|
GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
|
|
1:00
|
MOVIE—Drama
“The Postman Didn’t
Ring” (1942) Part 2
|
|
1:30
|
AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
|
|
2:00
|
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR
|
|
2:30
|
HOMEMAKING AND YOU
|
|
2:45
|
HOUSE PARTY—Linkletter
|
|
3:00
|
ELECTRIC KITCHEN PARTY
|
|
3:30
|
VERDICT IS YOURS—Trial
|
|
4:00
|
BRIGHTER DAY—Serial
|
|
4:15
|
SECRET STORM—Serial
|
|
4:30
|
MOVIE—Western
“Prairie Thunder”
(1937) Part 2
|
|
5:00
|
POPEYE—Cartoons
|
|
5:30
|
MICKEY MOUSE
|
|
EVENING
|
|
|
6:00
|
CARROLL CARAVAN—Variety
|
|
6:15
|
NEWS—Lee Hickling
|
|
6:30
|
ROBIN HOOD—Adventure
|
|
7:00
|
OZZIE AND HARRIET—Comedy
|
|
7:30
|
NAME THAT TUNE—Quiz
|
|
8:00
|
PHIL SILVERS—Comedy
|
|
8:30
|
EVE ARDEN—Comedy
|
|
9:00
|
TO TELL THE TRUTH—Panel
|
|
9:30
|
RED SKELTON—Comedy
|
|
10:00
|
$64,000 QUESTION—Quiz
|
|
10:30
|
FATHER KNOWS BEST—Comedy
|
|
11:00
|
NEWS
|
|
11:10
|
WEATHER
|
|
11:15
|
SPORTS—Art Wolfe
|
|
11:20
|
MOVIE—Drama
“Marriage is a
Private Affair” (1944)
|
|
13 WKTV (Utica) (ABC, CBS, NBC)
|
|
|
MORNING
|
|
|
7:00
|
TODAY—Garroway
|
|
9:00
|
STRIKE IT RICH—Quiz
|
|
9:30
|
GOOD LIVING—Jean Phair
|
|
10:00
|
ARLENE FRANCIS
|
|
10:30
|
TREASURE HUNT
|
|
11:00
|
PRICE IS RIGHT
|
|
11:30
|
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES—Stunts
|
|
AFTERNOON
|
|
|
12:00
|
NEWS—Jerry Fiore
|
|
12:15
|
A TIME APART—Religion
|
|
12:30
|
IT COULD BE YOU
|
|
1:00
|
TEX AND JINX—Interviews
|
|
1:30
|
HOWARD MILLER
|
|
2:00
|
YOUR EXTENSION SERVICE
|
|
2:15
|
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
|
|
2:30
|
KITTY FOYLE—Serial
|
|
3:00
|
MATINEE THEATER COLOR
“The Makropoulos
Secret”
|
|
4:00
|
QUEEN FOR A DAY
|
|
4:45
|
MODERN ROMANCES
|
|
5:00
|
DEAR PHOEBE—Comedy
|
|
5:30
|
SUSIE—Comedy
|
|
EVENING
|
|
|
6:00
|
NEWS—Lyle Bosley
|
|
6:10
|
WEATHER—Jerry Fiore
|
|
6:15
|
SPORTS—Pete Brown
|
|
6:30
|
FILM SHORT
|
|
6:45
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NEWS
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7:00
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ADVENTURES IN MENUS
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7:15
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INSIDE BEAUTIFUL HOMES
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7:30
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PAT BOONE—Variety
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8:00
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OMNIBUS—Cooke SPECIAL
Guests: Bert Lahr,
Pat Stanley, Nichols and May
“The George Gobel
Show” will not be seen
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9:00
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TO TELL THE TRUTH—Panel
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9:30
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BOB CUMMINGS
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10:00
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CALIFORNIANS
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10:30
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SHERIFF OF COCHISE—Western
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11:00
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WEATHER—Jerry Fiore
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11:05
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NEWS—Lyle Bosley
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11:30
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TONIGHT—Jack Paar
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35 WTRI (Menards) (ABC)
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AFTERNOON
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12:00
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FARM FARE
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12:30
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TV SCHOOLTIME—Education
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1:00
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MOVIE—Drama
“The Case of the
Velvet Claws” (1936)
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2:30
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FORREST WILLIS—Variety
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3:00
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AMERICAN BANDSTAND—Music
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3:30
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DO YOU TRUST YOUR WIFE?
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4:00
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AMERICAN BANDSTAND—Music
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5:00
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SIR LANCELOT—Adventure
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5:30
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MICKEY MOUSE
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EVENING
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6:00
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MAJOR QUINN--Adventure
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6:50
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WEATHER—Dave Sauter
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6:55
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NEWS—Will Ketterson
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7:00
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SPORTS—Howard Cosell
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7:15
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NEWS
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7:30
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CHEYENNE—Drama
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8:30
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MARTIN KANE—Mystery
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9:00
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BROKEN ARROW—Western
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9:30
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TELEPHONE TIME—Drama
“Cavalry Surgeon”
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10:00
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WEST POINT—Drama
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10:30
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O. HENRY PLAYHOUSE—Drama
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11:00
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MOVIE—Drama
“Singapore Woman”
(1941)
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TV
The NY State Edition covered the Capital District (Albany/Schenectady/Troy), Syracuse, Rochester, and Watertown, most of the central part of the state. WTRI (in Menands, not Menards) moved to channel 13 the next year, after WKTV moved to channel 2. It remained on channel 35 for a few more years. WTEN was simulcast to channels 19 (where it remained a few more decades) & 41 (where it originated and remained a few more years), explaining the 10-19-41 identical listings. WRGB was among many NBC affiliates that didn't carry Jack Paar's show at its premiere, as Paar's predecessor, TONIGHT: AMERICA AFTER DARK, had flopped badly the year before.
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up near Syracuse then, Channel 8 (Syracuse) and Channel 5 (Rochester) eventually switched because in 1962, Channel 9 was approved as the ABC affiliate in Syracuse. Channel 8 was too close to the new ABC station so the two locations were exchanged. I vividly remember the first show on Channel 9 in September 1962---the premiere of "The Jetsons."
ReplyDeleteUtica (where I live now) was moved to Channel 2 because the ABC station in Albany was given channel 13. Dick Clark started his career in Utica on Channel 13. ABC wanted to establish its own stations in upstate NY which caused many of these changes. Binghamton would eventually get Channel 34 for ABC in the southern Tier.
WCNY eventually became PBS on Channel 24 in Syracuse.
ReplyDelete