1961 in American television

none 1961 This is a list of American television-related events in 1961. Events Date Event Ref. January 20 President John F. Kennedy becomes the first president to be inaugurated with a color telecast. NBC's news division provided coverage in color. January 25 John F. Kennedy held the first live televised presidential press conference. March 5 The launch of the spacecraft Freedom 7 in a 15-minute sub-orbital spaceflight is seen by 45 million American television viewers.Swenson Grimwood Alexander 1966 360–361 Alan B. Shepard becomes the first U.S. astronaut in space. He was the second person to travel into space, Burgess 2014 99–100following the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Swenson Grimwood Alexander 1966 332–333 May 5 In a speech on "Television and the Public Interest" to the National Association of Broadcasters, Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton N. Minow describes commercial television programming as a "vast wasteland" and tells the broadcasters that they could do a better job of serving the public. May 29 Dave Garroway announces that he would be leaving the Today show on NBC. July 1 The Brighter Day airs its first episode after moving to Los Angeles from New York City. The move also marks the writing out of Baby Dennis and his love interest, because the actors who played them didn't want to relocate. September 23 NBC begins its long-running series of movie presentations under the umbrella banner, NBC Saturday Night at the Movies. The first movie to be broadcast was the 1953 film How to Marry a Millionaire, starring Marilyn Monroe. November 19 Lucille Ball marries Gary Morton Other events in 1961 The Sports Broadcasting Act was passed into law. Television programs Debuts Date Debut Network January 1 The Dick Tracy Show Broadcast syndication January 5 Mister Ed Broadcast syndication January 20 Time Listings: Jan. 20, 1961 Time http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,872017,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080308125945/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,872017,00.html dead March 8, 2008 January 20, 1961 2009-10-11 You're in the Picture CBS January 23 The Americans NBC January 30Erickson Hal Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 2005 2nd McFarland & Co 978-1476665993 929–933 The Yogi Bear Show Broadcast syndication February 9 Gunslinger CBS February 27 Acapulco NBC March 17 Five Star Jubilee NBC March 31 'Way Out CBS AprilRico, Diana. Kovacsland. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990. Retrieved January 22, 2019 The Ernie Kovacs Show ABC April 2McNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, p. 64.Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present, Sixth Edition, New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, 0-345-39736-3, p. 63. The Asphalt Jungle ABC April 2950th Anniversary of Wide World of Sports Celebrated http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/04/21/50th-anniversary-of-wide-world-of-sports-celebrated/ ESPN MediaZone April 21, 2011 Information about the broadcasters obtained directly from the original telecast. Wide World of Sports ABC May 8 Whispering Smith NBC June 3 Ripcord Broadcast syndication July 6 Great Ghost Tales NBC July 14 Westinghouse Preview Theatre NBC September 1 Tales of the Wizard of Oz Broadcast syndication September 17 Car 54, Where Are You? NBC September 17The DuPont Show of the Week: Awards at the Internet Movie Database The DuPont Show of the Week NBC September 17Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, 2009, p. 486. Follow the Sun ABC September 19 Cain's Hundred NBC September 20 The Joey Bishop Show NBC September 25McNeil Alex Total Television 1996 Penguin Books USA, Inc. New York, New York 0-14-02-4916-8 254 4th 87th Precinct NBC September 26 Ichabod and Me CBS September 26Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present June 24, 2009 355 Random House Publishing Group 978-0-307-48320-1 https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Dick+Powell+Show%22&pg=PA355 June 22, 2022 en The Dick Powell Show NBC September 27 Top Cat ABC September 28 Hazel NBC September 29 Target: The Corruptors! ABC October 1 Bus Stop ABC October 2 Ben Casey ABC October 2 Password CBS October 2McNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, Fourth Edition, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 0 14 02 4916 8, p. 917.Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (Sixth Edition), New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, 0-345-39736-3, p. 1138.http://ctva.biz/US/Drama/WindowOnMainStreet.htm CTVA US Drama - "Window on Main Street" (1961-62) starring Robert Young ctva.biz 2020-09-10 Window on Main Street CBS October 3 Calvin and the Colonel ABC October 3 The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS October 3 The New BreedABC October 4Perlmutter David The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows 2018 Rowman & Littlefield 978-1538103739 24 The Alvin Show CBS October 4 Mrs. G. Goes to College CBS October 5 Frontier Circus CBS October 5 The Investigators CBS October 5 The New Bob Cummings Show CBS October 6 The Hathaways ABC October 6 Straightaway ABC October 9 The Everglades Broadcast syndication October 10 Alcoa Premiere ABC October 11 The Bob Newhart Show NBC October 12Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present 2009 853 Random House Publishing Group 978-0-307-48320-1 https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=margie+%22Cynthia+Pepper%22&pg=PA853 November 22, 2021 en Margie ABC December 11 The Mike Douglas Show Broadcast syndication Changes of network affiliation Show Moved from Moved toWalt Disney PresentsABC NBC The DetectivesABCNBCRocky and His FriendsABCNBCThe Wonderful World of DisneyABCNBCBachelor FatherNBCABCMister EdSyndicationCBS Ending this year Date Show Network Debut Notes January 2 Riverboat NBC September 12, 1959 January 6 Dan Raven NBC September 23, 1960 January 27 You're in the Picture CBS January 20, 1961 February 9 Take a Good Look ABC October 22, 1959 February 13 Klondike NBC October 10, 1960 March 29 Wanted Dead or Alive CBS September 6, 1958 March 30 The Ann Sothern Show CBS October 6, 1958 March 31 DuPont Show of the Month CBS September 24, 1957 April 3 The DuPont Show with June Allyson CBS September 21, 1959 April 7 Happy NBC June 8, 1960 April 12 My Sister Eileen CBS October 5, 1960 April 16 Omnibus NBC November 9, 1952 (on CBS) April 17 Sugarfoot ABC September 17, 1957 April 24 Acapulco NBC February 27, 1961 April 30 The Tab Hunter Show NBC September 18, 1960 May 1 The Play of the Week NTA Film Network October 12, 1959 May 15 The Americans NBC January 1961 May 18 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre CBS October 5, 1956 May 23 The Tom Ewell Show CBS September 27, 1960 May 31 Peter Loves Mary NBC October 12, 1960 June 1 Bat Masterson NBC October 8, 1958 June 3 Gunslinger CBS February 9, 1961 June 17 Lock-Up Syndication September 26, 1959 June 18 The Rebel ABC October 4, 1959 June 25 The Asphalt Jungle CBS April 2, 1961 June 27 Stagecoach West ABC October 4, 1960 June 27 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ABC September 6, 1955 June 29 The Ford Show NBC October 4, 1956 July 1 The Deputy NBC September 12, 1959 July 3 Bringing Up Buddy CBS October 10, 1960 July 4 Alcoa Presents One Step Beyond ABC January 20, 1959 July 14 'Way Out CBS March 31, 1961 July 16 Shirley Temple's Storybook CBS January 12, 1958 September 9 The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole First-run Syndication September 6, 1958 September 18 Peter Gunn NBC September 22, 1958 September 21 Great Ghost Tales NBC July 6, 1961 September 22 Five Star Jubilee NBC March 17, 1961 September 22 The Lawless Years NBC April 22, 1959 September 22 Westinghouse Preview Theatre NBC July 14, 1961 September 23 Sea Hunt First-run Syndication January 4, 1958 September 28 Frontier Justice CBS July 7, 1958 October 20 The Quick Draw McGraw Show First-run Syndication September 28, 1959 October 30 Whispering Smith NBC May 8, 1961 December 1 The Huckleberry Hound Show First-run Syndication September 29, 1958 December 15Sam and Friends WRC-TV (Washington, D.C.) May 9, 1955 December 28The Investigators CBS October 5, 1961 December 30 Matty's Funday Funnies ABC October 11, 1959 Unknown date Shotgun Slade Syndication October 24, 1959 Unknown date This Is Your Life NBC October 1, 1952 Network launches Network Type Launch date Notes Christian Broadcasting Network Religious-formatted television network October 1 First religious broadcasting network in the United States Network closures Network Type End date Notes NTA Film Network Broadcast November Launched in October 1956, the NTA Film Network was another attempt to create a fourth television network in the wake of the closing of the DuMont Television Network two months prior. The network relied on filming the programming before sending it to air on its affiliates. Networks and services Closures Network Type Closure date Notes Source NTA Film Network Cable television November Television stations Station launches Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. January 21 Idaho Falls, Idaho KIFI 8 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) January 30 Phoenix, Arizona KAET 9 NET February 1 Hot Springs, Arkansas KFOY-TV 9 NBC February 6 Portland, Oregon KOAP-TV 10 NET Flagship of Oregon Public Broadcasting February 27 Douglas, Arizona KCDA 3 Independent March 29 Kansas City, Missouri KCSD-TV 19 NET June 18 Beaumont, Texas KBMT 12 ABC July 5 Vermillion, South Dakota KUSD-TV 2 NET Later became the flagship of the South Dakota Public Broadcasting television network July 22 Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands WBNB-TV 10 CBS (primary) NBC (secondary) First licensed television station in the Virgin Islands August 7 Elk City, Oklahoma KSWB 8 CBS September 5 Charlotte, North Carolina WUTV 36 ABC (primary) NBC/CBS (secondary) September 16 Louisville, Kentucky WLKY 32 ABC September 25 Tacoma, Washington KTPS 28 NET September 27 Norfolk, Virginia WHRO-TV 15 NET October 2 Washington, D.C. WETA 26 NET October 3 Medford, Oregon KMED-TV 10 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) October 10 Richland, Washington KNDU 25 ABC (primary) NBC (secondary) November 5 New York City WUHF 31 Independent November 6 Carbondale, Illinois WSIU-TV 15 NET November 13 Augusta/Portland, Maine WCBB 10 NET Maine's first educational station; now part of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network November 19 Waycross/Valdosta, Georgia WXGA-TV 8 NET Part of the Georgia Public Broadcasting television network November 27 Hilo, Hawaii KHAW-TV 11 NBC Satellite of KONA (now KHON-TV)/Honolulu December 18 Flagstaff, Arizona KVLS 13 Independent Fresno, California KAIL 53 Network affiliation changes Date City of license/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. April 2 Milwaukee, Wisconsin WISN-TV 12 ABC CBS WITI 6 CBS (primary) NTA Film Network (secondary) ABC (exclusive) September 16 Louisville, Kentucky WAVE 3 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) NBC (exclusive) October 3 Klamath Falls, Oregon KOTI 2 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) ABC (primary) NBC (secondary) Medford, Oregon KOBI 5 CBS (primary) ABC/NBC (secondary) CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) Unknown date Lexington, Kentucky WKYT-TV (formerly WKXP-TV) 27 CBS (exclusive) ABC (primary) CBS (secondary) Mankato, Minnesota KEYC-TV 12 NBC CBS Ogden, Utah KVOG-TV 9 NTA Film Network Independent Station closures Date City of license/Market Station Channel Affiliation First air date Notes/Ref. February 16 Fort Pierce, Florida WTVI 19 CBS November 23, 1960 August Douglas, Arizona KCDA 3 Independent February 27, 1961 Rochester, New York WVET-TV 10 CBS/ABC November 1, 1953 Merged operations with current CBS affiliate WHEC-TV Births 1961 in television#Births Deaths 1961 in television#Deaths References Sources https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&pg=PA486 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present Tim Brooks Earle F. Marsh 2009 Random House 9780307483201 Burgess Colin Freedom 7: The Historic Flight of Alan B. Shepard Jr. New York; London Springer 2014 Springer-Praxis books in space exploration 978-3-319-01155-4 902685533 Swenson Loyd S. Jr. James M. Grimwood Charles C. Alexander This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4201/cover.htm June 28, 2007 The NASA History Series 1966 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, DC 569889 NASA SP-4201 June 17, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100617075825/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4201/cover.htm dead External links List of 1961 American television series at IMDb 1961 *