1956–57 United States network television schedule

US primetime television schedule for the fall of 1956 March 2025 1956 The following is the 1956–57 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1956 through March 1957. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1955–56 season. This was the first season after DuMont ceased operations, leaving ABC, CBS, and NBC as the only major U.S. television networks (collectively becoming known as the "Big Three") until Fox began airing prime time programming in April 1987. The 1956–57 network television schedule continued the trend of the previous season, with ABC and CBS scheduling more and more westerns and adventure series during prime time. In addition to its current stable of Westerns, which included Cheyenne, The Lone Ranger, and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, ABC scheduled two new Western TV series: Broken Arrow and The Adventures of Jim Bowie, while CBS added Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre to its line-up, which already included Gunsmoke and Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. Castleman and Podrazik (1984) called the rush to schedule Western series on network television during this era "a virtual stampede".Castleman, H. and Podrazik, W. (1984) The TV Schedule Book: Four Decades of Network Programming from Sign-on to Sign-off. McGraw-Hill. pg 79-85. 0-07-010277-5 CBS "inherited Sunday afternoon NFL contests from the defunct DuMont network in the fall of 1956". Accordingly, "the expansion into Sunday sports by CBS (and NBC) meant that the traditional afternoon 'egghead' slots for highbrow programming had to be broken up, pushing those shows into the few odd spots still open in the day, or eliminating them completely. This reflected the networks' shift in emphasis during the mid-1950s, slanting television much more toward broad-based popular entertainment. Increasingly, this meant television programming produced in Hollywood [...] In 1957, the amount of prime time programming originating on the West Coast jumped from 40% to 71%." a change in no small part accelerated by the fact DuMont produced a large portion of its programming in Chicago and to a lesser extent Washington in addition to New York. NBC, behind CBS in the network Nielsen ratings, hired Robert Kintner to revamp NBC's schedule. According to Castleman and Podrazik (1982), NBC's plan was to launch a program which would compete directly with CBS's second most popular series, The Ed Sullivan Show, on Sunday, the most heavily viewed TV night: "Sullivan's show was popular enough to boost the ratings of the programs on both before and after his; as a result, CBS had a chain of hits to begin the evening." NBC's strategy was designed to weaken CBS's Sunday night line-up. NBC's new program, The Steve Allen Show, debuted in the summer to get a head start on the competition. Castleman Harry Walter J. Podrazik Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television https://archive.org/details/watchingtvfourde00cast registration McGraw-Hill 1982 New York 109–115 0-07-010269-4 Although the two programs enjoyed a fierce rivalry, Sullivan's program would remain wildly popular, finishing second among all TV programs in the ratings that year, while Allen's show missed the top 30.Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. p 1681. 0-345-31864-1. Beginning this season, NBC had at least one show in color for every day of the week. Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.Highest-rated series is based on the annual top-rated programs list compiled by Nielsen Media Research and reported in: Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. 978-0-345-49773-4. Legend #abbfff darkgray Light blue indicates local programming. #C0C0C0 darkgray Gray indicates encore programming. #6699CC darkgray Blue-gray indicates news programming. lightgreen darkgray Light green indicates sporting events. #FA8072 darkgray Red indicates series being burned off and other irregularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies. #FFE082 darkgray Light gold indicates programming produced outside of the United States. light white darkgray highlight lime Lime highlights indicates the number-one most watched program of the season. light white darkgray highlight yellow Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season. light white darkgray highlight cyan Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season. light white darkgray highlight magenta Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season. light white darkgray highlight black Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories. Schedule New series are highlighted in bold. Repeat airings or same-day rebroadcasts are indicated by (R). All times are U.S. Eastern and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska and Hawaii–Aleutian times. Sunday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC You Asked for It The Original Amateur Hour Press Conference Omnibus Local programming CBS Lassie (24/29.5) The Jack Benny Show (10/32.3) / Private Secretary (25/29.0)Biweekly shows Both programs aired on alternating weeks The Ed Sullivan Show (2/38.4) General Electric Theater (3/36.9) Alfred Hitchcock Presents (6/33.9) The $64,000 Challenge (22/29.7)(Tied with The Phil Silvers Show) What's My Line? (26/28.9)(Tied with Climax!) NBC Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Circus Boy The Steve Allen Show Goodyear Television Playhouse (In COLOR) / The Alcoa Hour (In COLOR)Biweekly shows The Loretta Young Show National Bowling Championships Notes: On NBC, Hallmark Hall of Fame (In COLOR) aired as a monthly series, 7:30–9 p.m. On CBS, Air Power, narrated by Walter Cronkite, aired from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on November 11, 1956, and from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. from November 18, 1956 to May 5, 1957. Monday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Fall Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) #6699CC Bold Journey The Danny Thomas ShowDanny Thomas formerly known as Make Room For Daddy The Voice of Firestone Life Is Worth Living Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent Local programming Mid-winter Wire Service CBS Fall Local programming (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15)CBS News On CBS, in some areas, Douglas Edwards with the News aired at 6:45 p.m. #6699CC The Adventures of Robin Hood (20/30.3) #00FFFF The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (28/27.8) Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (12/31.9) I Love Lucy (1/43.7) December Bride (5/35.2) Studio One Summer Richard Diamond, Private Detective NBC Fall Local programming The Golden Touch of Frankie Carle (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (Sporadically in COLOR) Stanley Medic Robert Montgomery Presents (In COLOR) Local programming Spring Tales of Wells Fargo Notes: On NBC, Producers' Showcase (COLOR) aired as a monthly series, from 8–9:30 p.m. On March 18, 1957, the popular Western series Tales of Wells Fargo debuted, replacing Stanley Monday nights on NBC at 8:30 PM EST. From July 1 to September 23, 1957, the summer series Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring David Janssen, aired on CBS at 8:30-9 p.m. It returned for a second irregular season on the CBS Thursday schedule from January 2 to June 26, 1958. Tuesday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) #6699CC Cheyenne / ConflictBiweekly shows The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (18/31.0) Broken Arrow Du Pont Theater It's Polka Time Local programming CBS Local programming (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) #6699CC Name That Tune (30/27.2) The Phil Silvers Show (22/29.7)(Tied with The $64,000 Challenge) The Brothers The Herb Shriner Show The Red Skelton Show (In COLOR)(15/31.4)(Tied with The Lineup) The $64,000 Question (4/36.4) Do You Trust Your Wife? NBC Fall Local programming The Jonathan Winters Show (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC The Big Surprise Noah's Ark (In COLOR) The Jane Wyman Show Armstrong Circle Theatre / The Kaiser Aluminum HourBiweekly shows Break the $250,000 Bank (In COLOR)Spring Panic!Summer The Andy Williams and June Valli Show (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC Summer Playhouse (R) The Nat King Cole Show Notes: On March 5, 1957, the suspense drama Panic! replaced Noah's Ark, a Jack Webb production, on the NBC schedule. On NBC, Summer Playhouse was a summer anthology series made up of reruns of episodes of other anthology series. Wednesday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) #6699CC Disneyland (13/31.8)(Tied with The Millionaire) Navy Log The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Ford Theatre The Wednesday Night Fights CBS Fall Local programming (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) #6699CC Pick the Winner The Arthur Godfrey Show (Sporadically in COLOR)Arthur Godfrey Formerly Arthur Godfrey and His Friends The Millionaire (13/31.8)(Tied with Disneyland) I've Got a Secret (7/32.7)(Tied with Gunsmoke) The United States Steel Hour / The 20th Century Fox HourBiweekly shows November Giant Step Summer My Friend Flicka (R) The Vic Damone Show NBC Local programming Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC The Adventures of Hiram Holliday Father Knows Best Kraft Television Theatre (In COLOR) This Is Your Life Twenty-One Note: On CBS, Pick the Winner aired as an interim U.S. election coverage series in September and October from 7:30 to 8 p.m. It previously had aired in 1952. Thursday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Fall Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) #6699CC The Lone Ranger Circus Time Wire Service Ozark Jubilee December Air Time '57 Local programming Mid-winter The Danny Thomas Show Bold Journey Spring Telephone Time Summer Cowtown Rodeo Compass / Industries for AmericaABC Thursday 9:30 Summer 1957 On ABC, Compass and Industries for America shared the 9:30–10:00 p.m. time slot from June to July 1957. Compass aired only in markets where the local affiliate did not choose to air local programming. Industries for America continued to air in the time slot until September 1957. Focus CBS Local programming (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) #6699CC Sergeant Preston of the Yukon The Bob Cummings Show Climax! (26/28.9)(Tied with What's My Line?) (In COLOR) Playhouse 90 NBC Fall Local programming The Dinah Shore Show (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC You Bet Your Life (17/31.1) Dragnet (11/32.1) The People's Choice The Ford Show (19/30.7) Lux Video Theatre (In COLOR)Summer The Andy Williams and June Valli Show (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC Note: On CBS, Shower of Stars (In COLOR) aired once a month, 8:30–9:30 p.m. Friday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Fall Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) #6699CC The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin The Adventures of Jim Bowie Crossroads Treasure Hunt The Vise The Ray Anthony Show Spring The Ray Anthony Show Date with the Angels Summer The Big Beat CBS Fall Local programming (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) #6699CC My Friend Flicka The West Point Story Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Crusader Schlitz PlayhouseSchlitz Formerly Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars The Lineup (15/31.4)(Tied with The Red Skelton Show) Person to Person Winter Mr. Adams and Eve Late winter Various specials DMN Fall Local programming Ethel Barrymore TheatreEthel Barrymore It is disputed between television historians if the Ethel Barrymore Theatre was networked by the by now moribund DuMont Television Network or if it was merely syndicated Local programming Winter Local programming NBC Fall Local programming Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (7:30) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:45) #6699CC The Life of Riley (Sporadically in COLOR) The Walter Winchell Show The Joseph Cotten ShowJoseph Cotten Formerly known as On Trial The Big Story Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (10:00) / Red Barber's Corner (10:45) (In COLOR) Spring Blondie Summer The Big Moment Notes: On CBS, Mr. Adams and Eve premiered on January 4, 1957. On NBC, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (In COLOR) aired once a month, 10–11 p.m. Saturday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Fall Local programming Famous Film Festival Lawrence Welk's Dodge Dancing Party Masquerade Party Local programming Summer The Billy Graham Crusade CBS Fall Beat the Clock The Buccaneers The Jackie Gleason Show (29/27.6) The Gale Storm Show Hey, Jeannie! Gunsmoke (7/32.7)(Tied with I've Got a Secret) High Finance Winter Local programming Spring My Friend Flicka (R) Mid-spring Beat the Clock Summer The Jimmy Dean Show NBC Fall Local programming People Are Funny (21/30.2) The Perry Como Show (9/32.6) (In COLOR) Caesar's Hour The George Gobel Show Your Hit Parade (In COLOR) Summer The Julius LaRosa Show (In COLOR) The George Sanders Mystery Theater Dollar a Second Encore Theatre (R) Adventure Theater Mid-summer Various programming Dollar a Second Notes: On NBC, Saturday Color Carnival (COLOR) aired as a monthly series, 9:00–10:30 p.m. The 1957 version of the NBC summer series Encore Theatre consisted of reruns of episodes of Ford Theatre. By network ABC Returning Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin Break the Bank Cheyenne Compass Crossroads The Danny Thomas Show Disneyland Dollar a Second Du Pont Theater Famous Film Festival Focus Ford Theatre Industries for America It's Polka Time John Daly and the News Kukla, Fran and Ollie Lawrence Welk's Dodge Dancing Party The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Life Is Worth Living The Lone Ranger Masquerade Party Navy Log (moved from CBS) Omnibus (moved from CBS) The Original Amateur Hour Ozark Jubilee Press Conference (moved from NBC) Telephone Time (moved from CBS) The Vise The Voice of Firestone The Wednesday Night Fights You Asked for It New Series The Adventures of Jim Bowie Air Time '57 * The Big Beat * The Billy Graham Crusade * Bold Journey * Broken Arrow Circus Time Conflict Date with the Angels * The Gale Storm Show Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent Open Hearing * The Ray Anthony Show Treasure Hunt Wire Service Not returning from 1955–56: The Big Picture Casablanca Chance of a Lifetime Combat Sergeant The Dotty Mack Show Down You Go Ethel and Albert G.E. Summer Originals Grand Ole Opry King's Row Life Begins at Eighty Medical Horizons MGM Parade Outside U.S.A. Paris Precinct Star Tonight Stop the Music Talent Varieties Tomorrow's Careers TV Reader's Digest Warner Brothers Presents CBS Returning Series The 20th Century Fox Hour The $64,000 Challenge The $64,000 Question The Adventures of Robin Hood Alfred Hitchcock Presents Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts Arthur Godfrey and His Friends Beat the Clock The Bob Cummings Show Climax! Crusader December Bride Do You Trust Your Wife? The Ed Sullivan Show General Electric Theater The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Gunsmoke High Finance I Love Lucy I've Got a Secret The Jack Benny Show Joe and Mabel Lassie The Lineup The Millionaire My Friend Flicka Person to Person Pick the Winner Private Secretary The Red Skelton Show Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Shower of Stars Studio One The United States Steel Hour What's My Line? New Series The Brothers The Buccaneers Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Dr. Christian The Gale Storm Show Giant Step * The Herb Shriner Show Hey, Jeannie! The Jimmy Dean Show * Mr. Adams and Eve * Playhouse 90 Richard Diamond, Private Detective * The Spike Jones Show * To Tell the Truth * The Vincent Lopez Show * The West Point Story You're on Your Own * Not returning from 1955–56: The Adventures of Champion Brave Eagle CBS Cartoon Theatre Damon Runyon Theater Four Star Playhouse The Gene Autry Show Hollywood Summer Theater The Honeymooners It's Always Jan The Johnny Carson Show Mama (moved to Sunday afternoons) Meet Millie My Favorite Husband Our Miss Brooks Shower of Stars Stage Show Two for the Money Wanted DuMont New series Ethel Barrymore Theatre Not returning from 1955-56 At Ringside Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena Hollywood Preview What's the Story NBC Returning Series The Alcoa Hour Armstrong Circle Theatre The Big Story The Big Surprise Break the $250,000 Bank Caesar's Hour Coke Time with Eddie Fisher The Dinah Shore Show Dollar a Second Dragnet Father Knows Best The George Gobel Show Gillette Cavalcade of Sports The Golden Touch of Frankie Carle Goodyear Television Playhouse The Jane Wyman Show The Julius LaRosa Show The Kaiser Aluminum Hour Kraft Television Theatre The Life of Riley The Loretta Young Show Lux Video Theatre Medic National Bowling Championships People Are Funny The People's Choice The Perry Como Show Producers' Showcase Red Barber's Corner Robert Montgomery Presents Summer Playhouse (last aired in 1954) This Is Your Life Wide Wide World You Bet Your Life Your Hit Parade New Series The Adventures of Hiram Holliday The Big Moment * Blondie * Circus Boy The Dinah Shore Chevy Show The Ford Show The George Sanders Mystery Theater * The Huntley–Brinkley Report The Jonathan Winters Show The Joseph Cotten Show The Nat King Cole Show Noah's Ark Panic! * Saturday Color Carnival * Stanley Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Tales of Wells Fargo * Twenty-One The Web * Not returning from 1955–56: Adventure Theater The Best in Mystery Big Town Camel News Caravan Dear Phoebe (repeats) Frontier Hollywood Today It's a Great Life Justice The Martha Raye Show Max Liebman Presents The Milton Berle Show The NBC Comedy Hour Screen Directors Playhouse Sneak Preview Star Stage The Tony Martin Show Truth or Consequences Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. See also 1956–57 United States network television schedule (daytime) 1956–57 United States network television schedule (late night) Notes References McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. 0-14-024916-8. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. 0-345-31864-1. Category:United States primetime network television schedules United States network television schedule United States network television schedule