Mitchell Hadley's Blog: It's About TV!, page 146

Around the dial

For the first Hitchcock Project of the year, Jack at bare-bones e-zine wraps up his overview of Bernard C. Schoenfeld's work with season five's "Hitch Hike" (which I haven't seen yet, so I'm not going to go to far with it). Schoenfeld strikes me as one of the program's best writers.

The Broadcast Archives at the University of Maryland shares a 1967 ad from Saginaw's WNEM thanking women viewers for making their movies and syndicated programs so successful. They call the ad "patronizing," and perhaps it is; or perhaps it's a fairly accurate assessment of the way things were then, as well as an example of how things have changed in the intervening 52 years.

We haven't heard from Amanda lately, but the "Queen of TV Movie Knowledge" is back at Made for TV Mayhem with this review of "The Scarecrow," which appeared on PBS's excellent Hollywood Television Theater back in 1972. A pity that even PBS doesn't have room for plays like this anymore.

At Bob Crane: Life & Legacy, Carol travels (visually) to Port Clinton, Ohio, home of the Liberty Aviation Museum, repository of the Hogan's Heroes uniforms and props, for a big band version of the "Hogan's Heroes March."

Jodie takes a look back at 2018 at Garroway at Large, along with an update on her Dave Garroway biography . I can't wait to read this; Jodie says she's beginning to understand Garroway, and that should be fascinating.

Martin Grams tells us how we can help save Popeye the Sailor. It has to do with Warners' release of volume four of the Popeye cartoons, which starts in on the 1940s. As seems to be the way of things nowadays, Warners says there will only be additional volumes released if the sales volume demands it. Popeye fans, you know what to do.

Take a listen to the latest edition of TV Confidential; film and television actor Kirk Bovill and television historian Steve Randisi will join Ed Robertson this weekend for a brand new edition , airing January 4-6. Follow the link to find out where and when you can listen.

And by the way, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I'm on Twitter now , so be sure to follow me for treats not available on the website. Speaking of which, there'll be another TV Guide on the website tomorrow; come back then. TV  

Lenny Bruce introduces us to the 1960s

LENNY BRUCE UNDER ARREST—AGAINHappy New Year, kids! Today we're kicking off 2019 with this clip of Lenny Bruce appearing on Steve Allen's show, April 5, 1959—one of only six appearances that Bruce ever made on network television.

I know that there was already a counterculture in the 1950s; Bruce himself was one of its leading lights. But he paved the way for this new brand of comedy—edgy, political, topical, willing to take on sacred cows and taboo subjects—to become a dominant force n the cultural earthquake of the 1960s. (His numerous arrests for obscenity also fit right in.) You can almost feel the tension present in 1959; the established mores of the postwar era trying desperately to hold on against the gathering storm coming from a new generation with a new take on life. The pressure would become unbearable before the dam finally burst, creating a permanent change in our way of life.


Did you catch Bruce's remark about sticking to the script? Yes, such was his reputation that he did have to submit his routine in advance. I can only imagine how even straying slightly from that script must have made the network S&P people very nervous.

As is so often the case, much of Bruce's material seems tame today in light of the hyperpoliticized comedy that seems to be the rule in modern entertainment. But right or wrong, everything has to start somewhere, or with someone.  TV  

What's on TV? Monday, December 30, 1974

Miami must be an interesting place to spend the New Year, if you're into that kind of thing. I can't remember if we've ever traveled there for one of these TV weeks, but here we are now. The next couple of days will be filled with New Year's Eve celebrations, parades and football, so let's take a look at a day uncluttered with such festivities.


 2  WTHS (PBS)
MORNING
     9:30 ELECTRIC COMPANY—Children
   10:00 SESAME STREET
AFTERNOON
     4:00 SESAME STREET
     5:00 MISTER ROGERS
     5:30 VILLA ALEGRE—Children
EVENING
     6:00 ELECTRIC COMPANY
     6:30 ZOOM—Children
     7:00 BOOK BEAT
     7:30 WASHINGTON STRAIGHT TALK
     8:00 QUALITY OF LIFE—ReportSpecial
     9:00 SCHOOL FOR WIVES—BalletSpecial
     9:30 THE SESSION—MusicOliver Lake B.A.G.
   10:00 CHARLIE CHAPLIN—Comedy BW 
   10:30 WOMEN—Discussion


 4  WTVJ (CBS)
MORNING
     6:30 SUNRISE SEMESTERHistory of African Civilization
     7:00 SKIPPER CHUCK
     8:00 CAPTAIN KANGAROO
     9:00 MIKE DOUGLASCo-host: Joel Grey. Guests: Marvin Hamlish, the Miracles, Sandy Stewart, Furry the Cat
   10:30 GAMBIT—Game
   11:00 NOW YOU SEE IT—Game              11:30 LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
   11:55 WEATHER
AFTERNOON
   12:00 NEWS
   12:30 SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
     1:00 YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS—Serial
     1:30 AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
     2:00 GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
     2:30 EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
     3:00 PRICE IS RIGHT—Game
     3:30 MATCH GAMEJames Darren, Juliet Mills, Betty White, Nipsey Russell, Richard Dawson, Brett Somers
     4:00 TATTLETALES—GameJuliet Prowse and Jon McCook, Marilyn and Monty Hall, Marge and Pat Harington
     4:30 MERV GRIFFINGuests: Peter Falk, Topol, Norm Crosby, Gena Rowlands
     5:55 WEATHER—Bob Weaver
EVENING
     6:00 NEWS
     6:30 CBS NEWS—Walter Cronkite
     7:00 GREAT ADVENTURES
     8:00 GUNSMOKE
     9:00 MAUDE
     9:30 RHODA
   10:00 MEDICAL CENTER
   11:00 NEWS
   11:30 MOVIE—Comedy “Head” (1968)


 5  WPTV (WEST PALM) (NBC)
MORNING
     6:45 MEETING PLACE
     6:50 SOUTH FLORIDA ALMANAC
     7:00 TODAY—Hartz/Walters
     9:00 PERRY MASON BW 
   10:00 NAME THAT TUNE—Game
   10:30 WINNING STREAK—Game
   11:00 HIGH ROLLERS—Game              11:30 HOLLYWOOD SQUARESSandy Duncan, McLean Stevenson, Vincent Price, Connie Stevens, Totie Fields, Florence Henderson
AFTERNOON
   12:30 CELEBRITY SWEEPSTAKES—GameClifton Davis, Vikki Carr, George Hamilton, Dick Martin, Joey Bishop, Carol Wayne
   12:55 NEWS—Edwin Newman
     1:00 SOMERSET—Serial
     1:30 JEOPARDY!—Game
     2:00 DAYS OF OUR LIVES—Serial
     2:30 DOCTORS—Serial
     3:00 ANOTHER WORLD—Serial
     3:30 HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE—Serial
     4:00 MOVIE—Western “The Rare Breed” (1966)
     5:30 NEWS
EVENING
     6:30 NBC NEWS—John Chancellor
     7:00 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
     7:30 SANFORD AND SON
     8:00 BORN FREE—Drama [Last show of the series.]
     9:00 MOVIE—Drama“Frankenstein: The True Story” (Made for TV; 1973)
   11:00 NEWS
   11:30 JOHNNY CARSONGuest hostess: Joan Rivers. Guests: Beatrice Arthur, Mac Davis, Harvey Korman
     1:00 TOMORROW—DiscussionGuest: Dr. Robert Jastrow


 6  WCIX (Ind.)
MORNING
   10:00 AGRICULTURE
   10:30 FRAN CARLSON—Exercise
   11:00 NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY              11:30 COMMUNITY CLOSE-UP
   11:55 CBS NEWS—Edwards
AFTERNOON
   12:00 ROMPER ROOM
   12:30 CELEBRITY SWEEPSTAKES—GameClifton Davis, Vikki Carr, George Hamilton, Dick Martin, Joey Bishop, Carol Wayne
   12:55 NEWS—Edwin Newman
     1:00 MOVIE—Drama“Spanish Affair” (1957)
     3:00 TENNESSEE TUXEDO—Cartoon
     3:30 THREE STOOGES—Children
     4:00 GILLIGAN’S ISLAND BW 
     4:30 FLINTSTONES
     5:00 I LOVE LUCY BW 
     5:30 BEVERLY HILLBILLIES BW 
EVENING
     6:00 BEWITCHED—Comedy BW 
     6:30 I DREAM OF JEANNIE—Comedy
     7:00 HOGAN’S HEROES
     7:30 LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE
     8:00 MOVIE—Drama BW “Come Back, Little Sheba” (1952)
   10:00 NEWS
   10:30 DEALER’S CHOICE—Game
   11:00 BEST OF GROUCHO BW 
   11:30 TWILIGHT ZONE BW 


 7  WCKT (NBC)
MORNING
     6:00 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
     6:30 SUNSHINE ALMANAC
     6:45 COMMUNITY REPORT
     7:00 TODAY—Hartz/Walters
     9:00 BOLD ONES—Drama
   10:00 NAME THAT TUNE—Game
   10:30 WINNING STREAK—Game
   11:00 HIGH ROLLERS—Game              11:30 HOLLYWOOD SQUARESSandy Duncan, McLean Stevenson, Vincent Price, Connie Stevens, Totie Fields, Florence Henderson
AFTERNOON
   12:00 JACKPOT!—Game
   12:30 NEWS
     1:00 SOMERSET—Serial
     1:30 JEOPARDY!—Game
     2:00 DAYS OF OUR LIVES—Serial
     2:30 DOCTORS—Serial
     3:00 ANOTHER WORLD—Serial
     3:30 PHIL DONAHUEGuest: Gloria Steinem
     4:30 DINAH!
EVENING
     6:00 NEWS
     7:00 NBC NEWS—John Chancellor
     7:30 HOLLYWOOD SQUARESEdward Asner, CHaro, Demond Wilson, Sandy Duncan, EdMcMahon, Rich Little, Rose Marie, Charley Weaver, Paul Lynde
     8:00 BORN FREE—Drama [Last show of the series.]
     9:00 MOVIE—Drama“Frankenstein: The True Story” (Made for TV; 1973)
   11:00 NEWS
   11:30 JOHNNY CARSONGuest hostess: Joan Rivers. Guests: Beatrice Arthur, Mac Davis, Harvey Korman
     1:00 TOMORROW—DiscussionGuest: Dr. Robert Jastrow


10 WPLG (ABC)
MORNING
     6:05 EVERYDAY COMMUNICATIONS
     6:35 NEWS—Spanish
     6:45 JOB LINE
     7:00 CBS NEWS—Hughes Rudd
     8:00 A.M. MIAMI—Frank Lynn
     9:00 ARTHUR AND COMPANY
   10:00 ONE LIFE TO LIVE—Serial
   10:30 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
   11:00 PASSWORD ALL STARSWilt Chamberlain, Florence Henderson, Vicki Lawrence, Dick Gautier, Susan Oliver, Richard Dawson              11:30 LUCY SHOW
AFTERNOON
   12:00 NEWS
   12:30 SPLIT SECOND
     1:00 ALL MY CHILDREN—Serial
     1:30 LET’S MAKE A DEAL
     2:00 $10,000 PYRAMIDTony Randall, Adrienne Barbeau
     2:30 BIG SHOWDOWN—Game
     3:00 GENERAL HOSPITAL—Serial
     3:30 MOVIE—Comedy BW “Don’t Give Up the Ship” (1959)
     5:00 RAYMOND BURR—Crime Drama
EVENING
     6:00 NEWS
     6:30 ABC NEWS—Smith/Reasoner
     7:00 BOWLING FOR DOLLARS
     7:30 TO BE ANNOUNED
     8:00 ROOKIES
     9:00 GATOR BOWLSpecial: Texas vs. Auburn
   12:00 NEWS
   12:30 MOD SQUAD
     1:30 NEWS—Spanish


12 WPEG (WEST PALM) (ABC)
MORNING
     6:45 SUNSHINE ALMANAC
     7:00 NEW ZOO REVUE
     7:30 I DREAM OF JEANNIE—Comedy
     8:00 GREEN ACRES—Comedy
     8:30 OZZIE AND HARRIET BW 
     9:00 NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY
     9:30 WALLY’S WORKSHOP
   10:00 HIGH CHAPARRAL—Western
   11:00 MONEY MAZE—Game              11:30 BRADY BUNCH
AFTERNOON
   12:00 PASSWORD ALL STARSNancy Walker, Peter Bonerz, Don Galloway, James Shigeta, Dick Gautier, Joyce Bulifant
   12:30 SPLIT SECOND
     1:00 ALL MY CHILDREN—Serial
     1:30 LET’S MAKE A DEAL
     2:00 $10,000 PYRAMIDTony Randall, Adrienne Barbeau
     2:30 BIG SHOWDOWN—Game
     3:00 GENERAL HOSPITAL—Serial
     3:30 ONE LIFE TO LIVE—Serial
     4:00 MIKE DOUGLASCo-host: Joel Grey. Guests: Marvin Hamlish, the Miracles, Sandy Stewart, Furry the Cat
     5:30 NEWS
EVENING
     6:30 ABC NEWS—Smith/Reasoner
     7:00 HOGAN’S HEROES
     7:30 LAST OF THE WILD
     8:00 ROOKIES
     9:00 GATOR BOWLSpecial: Texas vs. Auburn
   12:00 NEWS
   12:30 IT TAKES A THIEF—Adventure


23 WLTV (Ind.)
AFTERNOON
     5:00 SUBE PELAYO
EVENING
     6:00 NEWS
     7:00 SOLTERO Y SIN COMPROMISO—Comedy
     7:30 LA HIENA—Novela
     8:30 EL SHOW DE ROSITA
     9:30 El amor tiene cara de mujer
   10:00 ANA DE AIRE—Novela
   11:00 NEWS
   11:30 CULTURA CUBANA


34 WTVX (FT. PIERCE) (CBS)
MORNING
     7:00 CBS NEWS—Hughes Rudd
     8:00 CHAMPIONS
     9:00 CAPTAIN KANGAROO
   10:00 JOKER’S WILD—Game
   10:30 GAMBIT—Game
   11:00 NOW YOU SEE IT—Game              11:30 LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
   11:55 CBS NEWS—Edwards
AFTERNOON
   12:00 YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS—Serial
   12:30 SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
     1:00 LADIES DAY
     1:30 AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
     2:00 GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
     2:30 EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
     3:00 PRICE IS RIGHT—Game
     3:30 MATCH GAMEJames Darren, Juliet Mills, Betty White, Nipsey Russell, Richard Dawson, Brett Somers
     4:00 TATTLETALES—GameJuliet Prowse and Jon McCook, Marilyn and Monty Hall, Marge and Pat Harington
     4:30 SWAP SHOP 34
     5:00 BARON
EVENING
     6:00 NEWS
     7:00 CBS NEWS—Walter Cronkite
     7:30 PROTECTORS
     8:00 GUNSMOKE
     9:00 MAUDE
     9:30 RHODA
   10:00 MEDICAL CENTER
   11:00 NEWS
   11:30 MOVIE—Comedy “Head” (1968)


51 WKID (FT. LAUDERDALE) (Ind.)
MORNING
     9:00 TELE-TRADE
   10:00 STOCK MARKET REPORT
AFTERNOON
     3:00 STOCK MARKET TODAY—Inger
     3:30 WALL STREET ROUNDUP
     4:00 NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSE
     4:30 FUNHOUSE—Bernardi/Dale
     5:30 BERNARDI AND DALE—Variety
EVENING
     6:00 TELE-BINGO
     7:00 LOU EPTON
     8:00 ESMERALDA—Novela
     9:00 PADRIA GUAJIRA—Music
     9:30 SHOW INTERNATIONAL
   10:00 MI DULCE ENAMORADA—Novela
   11:00 WALL STREET ADVENTURE
   11:30 HORSE RACING—Bob Savage
   12:00 JUNE COLLINS




  TV  

This week in TV Guide: December 28, 1974

I've talked at length about the awful year 1968, and I suppose that in my lifetime, it ranks with 1963 and 2001 in terms of sheer awfulness, although one could argue that 1968 has the added agony of having been horrible for pretty much the whole year, instead of just a few months.

But 1974 was a pretty bad year too, and we're reminded of that this week, as various news sources take stock of the year in review. It was a year in which impeachment was in the air, when the relationship between president and press was at its most adversarial, there was war in the Middle East, and the inflation rate was more than 11%. By the time it was all over, President Nixon had resigned, President Ford had pardoned him, the Republicans were trounced in the midterm elections, and few were in the mood for the yearlong buildup to 1976's Bicentennial celebration. Oh, and fashions were terrible. As Judith Crist says of a certain movie, "Maybe we do need a Frankenstein to help us see the old year out."

This is no way to start an article, though—I might as well feed everyone Prozac. And that's not even considering how much 1974 resembles 2018. We'll come back to all this shortly; let's celebrate the new year first.

Around the dial

Well, it's the final spin around the dial for 2018, and this seems to be an appropriate time to look at David's latest at Comfort TV, in which he reflects on " things you can only see on classic TV. " For example, pay phones and phone boots. It's certainly evocative for me, since I fit into that demographic that remembers when things like this were real. Another example of how the cultural archaeologist has to consider classic TV when trying to understand the past.

Speaking of evocative, at Garroway at Large Jodie shares with us something that Dave Garroway's daughter Paris shared with her : a card that her father liked to send out. So simple and yet, as Jodie says, so appropriate to this time of the year.

The Broadcast Archives at the University of Maryland shows us a title slide that used to be a staple of local stations everywhere: the late show. I suppose in most ways watching movies on television is better now than it was then, with the movies now generally shown uncut and without commercial interruption. And yet there was just something charming about those times, back when late night TV meant more than infomercials and talk show hosts who barely know how to keep up a conversation.

"Maverick Mondays" have returned to The Horn Section, and this week Hal looks at " The Maverick Line, " a tale that stars both James Garner and Jack Kelly, and features a typically fanciful story that includes characters such as Atherton Flaygur, Rumsey Plumb and Shotgun Sparks. Ah, as Mason Adams would say, with names like that it has to be good.

I suspect that at least one of you caught part of the A Christmas Story marathons running on TBS and TNT on Christmas, but how many of you are familiar with director Bob Clark's other Christmas movie? At The Last Drive In, read about Black Christmas , a very different Yuletide story.

Winter is the perfect time for the Rock Hudson-helmed flick Avalanche , described by The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of the "100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made." Find out what makes it bad—and what makes it enjoyable—by reading Rick's review at Classic Film and TV Café.

At Television Obscurities, it's your turn to share your memories of color TV. I still remember my first encounter with color television, other than that in the homes of friends. It was in my grandparents' apartment, which was fortunately just downstairs from ours, and I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, even though it gave me a headache the first time I watched a football game on it. (Vikings vs. Bears at Wrigley Field.) Back then it was great that technology could still surprise and please.

Television's New Frontier: the 1960s turns the spotlight on Leave it to Beaver , the series that—contrary to those who scoff at the world of classic TV—"demonstrated a remarkable true-to-life depiction of children's perspective on growing up," It's never been a favorite of mine, but I've never ridiculed anyone who loves it, nor would I.

Finally, because it's Christmas, I thought I'd include this link from Silver Screen to a 1963 film from British Pathé entitled " Christmas is for All. " a look at London's Christmas light displays. Did they do this in the big city when you were growing up? They sure did in Minneapolis , back when I was growing up. They still do it in some of the smaller cities and towns around the country. It still pains me that cities like Minneapolis don't do it anymore. Are they afraid of offending people, or is the budget just not there anymore? Either way, I hate things that change when they don't have to, don't you? TV  

Season's Greetings!

From 1966, CBS's famous Christmas interstitials, pen-and-ink drawings designed by R.O. Blechman and animated by Willis Pyle, with musical accompaniment arranged by Arnie Black. I can't think of anything better to share on the day after Christmas.

This is the best-remembered and most-loved:


However, this one is no slouch:


This copy is kind of fuzzy, but you get the idea:


There were four altogether; I haven't been able to locate the fourth, which features reindeer and poinsettias. Fortunately, CBS has updated their iconic bumpers:


No matter how you say it, the important thing is that you say it. After all, this is only the second day of Christmas! TV  

What's on TV? Wednesday, December 25, 1957

It's Christmas Day, 1957, and there's plenty of festive programming to help make for a relaxing day. Many of the regularly scheduled serials are being shown; I'd suspect they might be filler episodes in which not much happens (other than cast members celebrating the holiday themselves), so that anyone missing their story today wouldn't find themselves behind on the storyline. Anyway, enjoy; this week's listings are from Cleveland, with Akron, Youngstown, and Erie thrown in as part of the deal.



 3  KYW (NBC)
    MORNING   
    7:00 TODAY—Garroway
    8:55 NEWS—Tom Haley
    9:00 CASH ON THE LINE—Quiz “We’re Rich Again” (1934)
  10:25 WINDOW—Women
  10:30 TREASURE HUNT—Quiz
  11:00 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE—Washington   SPECIAL 
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 TIC TAC DOUGH—Quiz
  12:30 IT COULD BE YOU
    1:00 MOVIE—Drama “David Copperfield” (1934)
    3:00 MATINEE THEATER   SPECIAL    COLOR “Amahl and the Night Visitors”
    4:00 QUEEN FOR A DAY
    4:45 MODERN ROMANCES
    5:00 DEAR PHOEBE—Comedy
    5:30 POPEYE—Kids
     EVENING    
    6:00 SIX O’CLOCK ADVENTURE
    6:55 NEWS—Pete French
    7:00 CAPT. DAVID GRIEF—Adventure
    7:30 WAGON TRAIN—Western
    8:30 FATHER KNOWS BEST
    9:00 KRAFT THEATRE   COLOR “The Other Wise Man”
  10:00 THIS IS YOUR LIFE
  10:30 MEN OF ANNAPOLIS—Drama
  11:00 NEWS—Pete French
  11:10 WEATHER—Joe Finan
  11:15 SPORTS—Bob Neal
  11:20 MOVIE—Musical Comedy“Babes in Arms” (1939)
Sportscaster Bob Neal is no relation to the Bob Neal who's been a fixture on TBS and TNT for years. This Bob Neal also did sideline reporting for college football on ABC and CBS.

 5  WEWS (ABC)
    MORNING   
    8:55 NEWS—Court Stanton
    9:00 FUN FARM—Kids
    9:30 PAIGE PALMER—Woman
  10:00 MOVIE—Comedy“Dreaming” (English; 1945)
  11:00 CHRISTMAS CHOIRS—Music
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 NEWS—Court Stanton
  12:05 NOON SHOW—Kids
    1:00 ONE O’CLOCK CLUB—Variety
    2:00 STU ERWIN—Comedy
    2:30 BEULAH—Comedy
    3:00 AMERICAN BANDSTANDGuest: Santa Claus
    3:30 DO YOU TRUST YOUR WIFE?—Quiz
    4:00 AMERICAN BANDSTAND—MusicGuest: Mike Pedicine
    5:00 WILD BILL HICKOK
    5:30 MICKEY MOUSE CLUB
     EVENING    
    6:00 CAPT. PENNY—Kids
    6:30 NEWS—Dorothy Fuldheim
    6:45 WEATHER—Bill Prentice
    6:50 SPORTS—Wilcox, Penfound
    7:00 O. HENRY PLAYHOUSE—Drama
    7:30 DISNEYLAND“Dumbo”
    8:30 TOMBSTONE TERRITORY
    9:00 OZZIE AND HARRIET
    9:30 WALTER WINCHELL FILE“The Steep Hill”
  10:00 BISHOP SHEEN   SPECIAL “Christmas and the Peace You Are Looking For”
  10:45 TELESPORTS DIGEST—Sports
  11:00 NEWS—John B. Hughes
  11:15 TONIGHT—Jack Paar
    1:00 NEWS—Bill Prentice
The 3:00 p.m. edition of American Bandstand is the show's annual Christmas party. It's only right that Santa is one of the guests.

 8  WJW (CBS)
    MORNING   
    8:00 CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
    8:45 HOW THE ANIMALS DISCOVERED CHRISTMAS
  10:00 GARRY MOORE—Variety
  10:30 ARTHUR GODFREY
  11:30 STRIKE IT RICH—Quiz
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN
  12:15 LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
  12:30 SEARCH FOR TOMORROW
  12:45 GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
    1:00 MOVIE—Drama“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)
    2:30 HOUSE PARTY
    3:00 BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
    3:30 VERDICT IS YOURS
    4:00 BRIGHTER DAY—Serial
    4:15 SECRET STORM—Serial
    4:30 EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
    5:00 AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
    5:30 BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
     EVENING    
    6:00 THE STAR SHALL RISE
    6:30 THE LITTLEST ANGEL
    6:40 CLEVELAND TODAY
    6:45 NEWS—Doug Edwards
    7:00 SAN FRANCISCO BEAT—Police
    7:30 I LOVE LUCY—Comedy
    8:00 BIG RECORD—MusicGuests: Terry Moore, Lloyd Nolan, Gene Austin, Sammy Kaye, Paul Anka, Danny and the Juniors
    9:00 MILLIONAIRE—Drama
    9:30 I’VE GOT A SECRET
  10:00 CIRCLE THEATER“The Shepherd of Paris”
  11:00 NEWS—Warren Guthrie
  11:10 SPORTS—John Fitzgerald
  11:15 WEATHER—Ken Armstrong
  11:20 MOVIE—Drama“I’ll Be Seeing You” (1944)
  12:45 Movie—To Be Announced
Terry Moore (aka Mrs. Howard Hughes ) and Lloyd Nolan are movie stars, and Gene Austin and Sammy Kaye are stars of the past. That leaves young Paul Anka, who appears to have quite a future ahead of him. 

12 WICU (ERIE, PA) (ABC-NBC)
    MORNING   
    7:00 TODAY—Garroway
    8:45 YOUR CHURCH—Religion
    9:00 MOVIE—To Be Announced
  10:00 ARLENE FRANCIS—Variety
  10:30 TREASURE HUNT—Quiz
  11:00 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE—Washington   SPECIAL 
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 TIC TAC DOUGH—Quiz
  12:30 IT COULD BE YOU
    1:00 YOUR OWN HOME
    1:15 TEX AND JINX—Interviews
    1:30 HOWARD MILLER   COLOR 
    2:30 BRIDE AND GROOM
    3:00 MATINEE THEATER   SPECIAL    COLOR “Amahl and the Night Visitors”
    4:00 QUEEN FOR A DAY
    4:45 MODERN ROMANCES
    5:00 WILD BILL HICKOK
    5:30 MICKEY MOUSE CLUB
     EVENING    
    6:00 CANDY CANE LANE
    6:30 SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER
    6:45 NEWS—Huntley, Brinkley
    7:00 REAL McCOYS—Comedy
    7:30 WAGON TRAIN—Western
    8:30 FATHER KNOWS BEST
    9:00 KRAFT THEATRE   COLOR “The Other Wise Man”
  10:00 BISHOP SHEEN   SPECIAL “Christmas and the Peace You Are Looking For”
  10:45 FAMOUS FIGHTS—Sports
  11:00 NEWS, SPORTS
  11:30 TONIGHT—Jack Paar
"The Other Wise Man," based on the much-loved short story by Henry Van Dyke, is the moving story of Artaban, the "fourth" wise man, who for various reasons is unable to catch up with his three compatriots, and spends the rest of his life searching for the Christ. Richard Kiley is Artaban, and the incomparable Alexander Scourby narrates.

21 WFMJ (YOUNGSTOWN) (NBC)
    MORNING   
    7:00 TODAY—Garroway
    9:00 ADELAIDE SNYDER—Woman
  10:00 ARLENE FRANCIS—Variety
  10:30 TREASURE HUNT—Quiz
  11:00 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE—Washington   SPECIAL 
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 TIC TAC DOUGH—Quiz
  12:30 IT COULD BE YOU
    1:15 KITCHEN CORNER—Mariner
    2:00 HOWARD MILLER   COLOR 
    2:30 BRIDE AND GROOM
    3:00 MATINEE THEATER   SPECIAL    COLOR “Amahl and the Night Visitors”
    4:00 QUEEN FOR A DAY
    4:45 MODERN ROMANCES
    5:00 FUN HOUSE GANG—Kids
    5:45 POPEYE—Kids
     EVENING    
    6:30 SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER
    6:45 NEWS—Huntley, Brinkley
    7:00 MAINSTREET YOUNGSTOWN
    7:30 WAGON TRAIN—Western
    8:30 FATHER KNOWS BEST
    9:00 KRAFT THEATRE   COLOR “The Other Wise Man”
  10:00 THIS IS YOUR LIFE
  10:30 BADGE 714—Jack Webb
  11:00 NEWS, SPORTS
  11:20 TRAVELS IN SPACE
  11:30 TONIGHT—Jack Paar
I believe I've mentioned this before, but the Christmas service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. was always a lovely Christmas morning tradition. It was shown nationally on NBC and in syndication from 1953 to 2010, and it's streamed on the Cathedral's website even today. Unfortunate that there doesn't seem to be any room for it on TV today. It's followed later in the day by Amahl and the Night Visitors, and then "The Other Wise Man"—what a good day of programs.

27 WKBN (YOUNGSTOWN) (CBS-ABC)
    MORNING   
    8:00 CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
    8:45 CARTOON CLASSICS
    9:00 CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
    9:45 CARTOON CLASSICS
  10:00 GARRY MOORE—Variety
  10:30 ARTHUR GODFREY
  11:30 STRIKE IT RICH—Quiz
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 CARTOON CARNIVAL
  12:15 LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
  12:30 MOVIE—Comedy “It’s a Pleasure” (1945)
    2:00 BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
    2:30 HOUSE PARTY
    3:00 BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
    3:30 VERDICT IS YOURS
    4:00 CARTOON CLASSICS
    4:15 SECRET STORM—Serial
    4:30 GRIZZLY PETE—Adventure
     EVENING    
    6:00 MY LITTLE MARGIE—Comedy
    6:30 SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER
    6:45 NEWS—Doug Edwards
    7:00 CITY DETECTIVE—Police
    7:30 I LOVE LUCY—Comedy
    8:00 BIG RECORD—MusicGuests: Terry Moore, Lloyd Nolan, Gene Austin, Sammy Kaye, Paul Anka, Danny and the Juniors
    9:00 MILLIONAIRE—Drama
    9:30 I’VE GOT A SECRET
  10:00 CIRCLE THEATER“The Shepherd of Paris”
  11:00 NEWS—Warren Guthrie
  11:15 MOVIE—Comedy“Good Sam” (1948)
Captain Kangaroo twice in two hours? I can't believe it's a typo, since it's that way every day of the week. They must have had a good reason—anyone out there with a good idea?

35 WSEE (ERIE, PA) (CBS)
    MORNING   
    9:00 CAPTAIN KANGAROO—Kids
    9:30 NEWS—Hottelet
  10:00 GARRY MOORE—Variety
  10:30 ARTHUR GODFREY
  11:30 STRIKE IT RICH—Quiz
  AFTERNOON 
  12:00 HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN
  12:15 LOVE OF LIFE—Serial
  12:30 SEARCH FOR TOMORROW
  12:45 GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
    1:00 HY YAPLE—Variety
    1:30 AS THE WORLD TURNS
    2:00 BEAT THE CLOCK—Games
    2:30 HOUSE PARTY
    3:00 BIG PAYOFF—Quiz
    3:30 VERDICT IS YOURS
    4:00 BRIGHTER DAY—Serial
    4:15 SECRET STORM—Serial
    4:30 EDGE OF NIGHT—Serial
    5:00 MOVIE—Western“Triggerman” (1948)
     EVENING    
    6:00 POPEYE—Kids
    6:30 RANGE RIDER—Western
    7:00 NEWS—Doug Edwards
    7:30 RED SKELTON—Comedy
    8:00 BIG RECORD—MusicGuests: Terry Moore, Lloyd Nolan, Gene Austin, Sammy Kaye, Paul Anka, Danny and the Juniors
    9:00 MILLIONAIRE—Drama
    9:30 I’VE GOT A SECRET
  10:00 CIRCLE THEATER“The Shepherd of Paris”
  11:00 NEWS, SPORTS
  11:15 MOVIE—Drama“Heidi” (1937)
I think we can be sure that the 11:15 p.m. showing of Heidi isn't going to be interrupted for football.

45 WKST (YOUNGSTOWN) (ABC)
  AFTERNOON 
    3:00 AMERICAN BANDSTANDGuest: Santa Claus
    3:30 DO YOU TRUST YOUR WIFE?—Quiz
    4:00 AMERICAN BANDSTAND—MusicGuest: Mike Pedicine
    5:00 WILD BILL HICKOK
    5:30 MICKEY MOUSE CLUB
     EVENING    
    6:00 NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
    6:45 AMOS ‘N’ ANDY—Comedy
    7:15 NEWS—John Daly
    7:30 DISNEYLAND“Dumbo”
    8:30 TOMBSTONE TERRITORY
    9:00 OZZIE AND HARRIET
    9:30 WALTER WINCHELL FILE“The Steep Hill”
  10:00 BISHOP SHEEN   SPECIAL “Christmas and the Peace You Are Looking For”
  10:45 NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS
  11:00 PARIS PRECINCT—Police
  11:30 FILM DRAMA
I'd imagine this might have been the television premiere of Dumbo, though I'll happily stand to be corrected; if true, it must have been a big deal for one of Disney's more beloved short cartoons. Would it be unfair of me to prefer it to the new one coming out, site unseen?

49 WAKR (AKRON) (ABC)
  AFTERNOON 
    1:00 MOVIE—Drama“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)
    2:30 MOVIE—Drama “The Man I Married” (1940)
    4:00 AMERICAN BANDSTAND—MusicGuest: Mike Pedicine
    5:00 MOVIE—Western “Six Gun Man” (1946)
     EVENING    
    6:00 LOONEY TUNES—Cartoons
    6:40 SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER
    7:15 NEWS—John Daly
    7:30 DUFFY’S TAVERN—Comedy
    8:00 SCOTLAND YARD
    8:30 MOVIE—Comedy“The Cockeyed Miracle” (1946)
  10:00 BISHOP SHEEN   SPECIAL “Christmas and the Peace You Are Looking For”
  10:30 LIFE WITH ELIZABETH
  11:00 MOVIE—Drama“Red Dust” (1932)
Bishop Sheen's special Christmas message is broadcast live from New York, replacing ABC's regular Wednesday night fight. The topic tonight refers to the anxieties that so many felt in the late '50s; the threat of nuclear war, disease, juvenile delinquency, Communism. That episode doesn't appear to exist, at least on YouTube; why not watch this one  instead? The message is still a powerful one. TV  

This week in TV Guide: December 21, 1957

Isn't this a great cover? Colorful and joyful and just a bit goofy. That's how Christmas seems when you're a kid, and even though I won't be born for another 2½ years, things won't be a whole lot different then, or for a few years afterward.

As Merrill Panitt notes in this week's editorial, it is a paradox of the human species that peace on earth, good will to men—a sentiment as joyous as any that humans can desire—is, by those same humans, relegated to "one small fraction of the year." And though Christmastime is always welcome, it seems even more welcome in 1957, in a world that is "tense, suspicious, strife-torn"—in other words, a time not unlike our own today.

The way in which man has symbolized this message through the ages, Panitt points out, is through the giving of gifts. And in that spirit he offers the following gifts which TV Guide wishes for all. For the sponsors of today's hits, that gift would be responsibility in the way they recognize their "tremendous influence over the American mind," and patience "to give the aspiring new show an honest chance to find its audience." For producers and writers, it's the courage to put on new, imaginative programming. For inventors and technicians, a thanks for having made the last ten years of entertainment and information possible. And for viewers—the indispensable factor—a lifetime of "peaceful viewing in a peaceful world."

The question is whether or not today's television is capable of fulfilling Panitt's wish. The history of violence on television is no secret, and the programming of 1957 is unremarkable in that respect. But there seems, at least to me, a different kind of violence today; call it psychic, emotional, spiritual, even though there there is seldom anything actually spiritual on television today. The so-called new Golden Age is praised as edgy, gritty, realistic, and to the extent that it reflects today's world, it probably is.* Is it peaceful, though? I know I'm not saying anything I haven't said countless times in the past, but it is the kind of thing one tends to dwell on at this time of the year. It's hard to even imagine someone seeing television as an instrument of peace today, although the programs are there if you look hard enough for them. Indeed, the programs most likely to bring about such peace are the ones that have been most certainly banished from the airwaves. We can't bring them back by living in the past, but by taking an occasional vacation there, we can rediscover the color and joy of this joyful season. Well, what does the song say, just like the ones we used to know? At least when we were kids, right?

*It is, after all, an electronic mirror.

Around the dial

Well, we're just four days from Christmas, so here's an early Christmas present: this week's look around the dial.

I've always appreciated the concept of Robert Lansing's spy series The Man Who Never Was; because it's premise is bound in the question of identity, it makes a small appearance in my novel The Car. As Rick points out in his article at Classic Film and TV Café, precious little of the one-season series is out there, and that's too bad, because Lansing is very good in almost everything he's in, and Dana Wynter isn't bad either. But unless it makes a miraculous appearance on DVD, we'll have to be content with the bit of it on YouTube.

"Out There—Darkness" is a fourth-season episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and the subject of Jack's latest at bare-bones e-zine. I'm in this season of Hitchcock right now myself (although we're off for the all-Christmas TV show break), so because I didn't recognize the title right away I wondered if I'd seen it yet. As it turns out, I have seen it, and Jack's writeup certainly does it justice. But then, that's always the case with his pieces.

At Garroway at Large, Jodie tells of the time Dave Garroway played Santa , in NBC's adaptation of the Victor Herbert operetta "Babes in Toyland," also starring Wally Cox, Jack E. Leonard, Dennis Day, and the Baird Marionettes. So successful was it that it was shown, live, twice—in 1954 and 1955. Thankfully, both versions are available on DVD .

Television Obscurities looks back at "Man on a Mountaintop," a 1961 episode of The United States Steel Hour, one of the great (and last) anthologies of the Golden Age. "Man on a Mountaintop" stars future Oscar winner Cliff Robertson and Salome Jens, and can be seen on UCLA's Film and TV Archive at YouTube.

I've come to appreciate A Shroud of Thoughts as a go-to site for thoughtful obituaries; thus, I wasn't at all surprised to find one this week on the late, great Penny Marshall . Ah, the end of another era, isn't it?

And that's all I have time for today, but I do promise there will be more tomorrow. TV  

TV Jibe: The true meaning of Christmas

TV