1954–55 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1954 The following is the 1954–55 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1954 through March 1955. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1953–54 season. Fall 1954 marked a big change for television when ABC announced a network deal with a significant Hollywood producer. ABC had contracted with Walt Disney to produce a new series called Disneyland (as part of the deal, the network provided funding towards the construction of Walt's amusement park of the same name, opening in July 1955). The series was an instant hit, and marked the beginning of the networks allowing Hollywood programs into their schedules. Thus, Disney became the third significant Hollywood film producer to venture into television production, after Jerry Fairbanks and Hal Roach. ABC president Leonard Goldenson decided in early 1954 that a television network was not the place for religious programs; as a result, Billy Graham's religious series, Hour of Decision, did not appear on ABC's fall 1954 schedule. Goldenson told Graham that the series was canceled because the poor ratings the series received were hurting the "flow" of ABC's entertainment programs. However, later critics, such as R.D. Heldenfels (1994), reject the stated reason for the cancellation. According to Heldenfels, since Hour of Decision was the last program that ABC aired on Sunday nights (at 10:30), "flow would not have been an issue"; ABC did not air anything in place of the canceled series and gave the slot back to its local affiliates. Heldenfels believes Goldenson "simply felt uncomfortable about organized religion".Heldenfels, R. D. (1994). Television's Greatest Year: 1954. New York: Continuum, pg 79–80. 0-8264-0675-0. Another 1953–54 ABC religious series, This Is the Life, also failed to make the 1954–55 ABC schedule. DuMont's 1954–55 schedule would be the last year the failing television network planned a seven night program schedule, and even this schedule was full of holes. Heldenfels states that the 1954 DuMont schedule "was a checkerboard of programs and empty spaces for [local] stations to fill".Heldenfels, pg 24. DuMont did not bother to schedule anything against ABC's Disneyland, NBC's new series Caesar's Hour, or either of CBS's Arthur Godfrey programs, conceding those slots (and others) to the bigger networks. However, DuMont continued to air Bishop Fulton Sheen's program Life Is Worth Living against NBC's popular The Buick-Berle Show. DuMont's counter-programming strategy, scheduling a religious program against Milton Berle's bawdy show, had met with success in previous years. The rivalry between the programs had caused Berle to joke, "He uses old material, too." Sheen, for his part, once introduced himself as "Uncle Fultie".Pride of Peoria. AmericanCatholic.com Still, DuMont's limited success in counter-programming a few slots would not be enough to save the network; Heldenfels states that the DuMont network's programs "resemble the grasping of program straws as much or more as they look like a strategic plan."Heldenfels, pg 194. DuMont would cancel Life Is Worth Living in April 1955, along with most of its remaining programs.Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1984). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. 0-345-31864-1. New fall series are highlighted in bold. 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. yellow darkgray Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season. cyan darkgray Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season. FF22FF darkgray Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season. Sunday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC You Asked For It The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse Flight No. 7 The Big Picture The Walter Winchell Show (9:00) / The Martha Wright Show (9:15) Soldier Parade Break the Bank Local CBS Fall Lassie The Jack Benny Show (7/38.3) / Private Secretary (19/32.2) Toast of the Town (5/39.6) General Electric Theater (17/32.6) Honestly, Celeste! Father Knows Best What's My Line? Spring Appointment with Adventure NBC Fall People Are Funny Mister Peepers The Colgate Comedy Hour (27/28.0) The Philco Television Playhouse / Goodyear Television Playhouse The Loretta Young Show (28/27.7) The Hunter Winter The Bob Cummings Show DMN Local Opera Cameos Local Rocky King, Inside Detective Life Begins at Eighty The Music Show Local On NBC, The Roy Rogers Show (30/26.9) aired 6:30–7:00 pm, and the Sunday edition of Max Liebman Presents made its debut as a monthly series, airing 7:30–9:00 pm On CBS, beginning this season, The Jack Benny Program alternated with Private Secretary as a bi-weekly series. Appointment with Adventure, an anthology series, appeared for the first of fifty-three episodes on the CBS 1954–1955 Sunday schedule at 10:00 pm EST, beginning April 3, 1955. Monday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC Fall Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) Jamie Come Closer The Voice of Firestone College Press Conference Boxing from Eastern Parkway October The Name's the Same CBS Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (26/29.0) Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (18/32.5) I Love Lucy (1/49.3) December Bride (10/34.7) Westinghouse Studio One NBC Local The Tony Martin Show (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) Caesar's Hour Medic Robert Montgomery Presents Local DMN Captain Video (7:00) / DuMont Evening News (7:15) Local The Ilona Massey Show Local Boxing From St. Nicholas Arena Note: On NBC, Producers' Showcase made its debut as a monthly series, airing 8:00–9:30 pm Tuesday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) Cavalcade of America Local Twenty Questions Make Room for Daddy The United States Steel Hour / The Elgin TV Hour Stop the Music CBS Fall Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Jo Stafford Show (7:45) The Red Skelton Show The Blue Angel Meet Millie Danger Life with Father See It Now Follow-up The Halls of Ivy Summer Music 55 The $64,000 Question NBC Local The Dinah Shore Show (7:30) / Plymouth News Caravan (7:45) The Buick-Berle Show (11/34.6) / The Bob Hope Show / The Martha Raye Show Fireside Theatre (20/31.1) Armstrong Circle Theatre Truth or Consequences It's a Great Life DMN Captain Video (7:00) / DuMont Evening News (7:15) Local Life Is Worth Living Studio 57 One Minute Please Local Note: Beginning this season, Chrysler's Plymouth division alternated with R.J. Reynolds as sponsor of Camel News Caravan on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Bob Hope Show and The Martha Raye Show each appeared monthly. Wednesday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) Disneyland (6/39.1) The Stu Erwin Show Masquerade Party EnterpriseLocal CBS Fall Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (22/29.8) Strike It Rich I've Got a Secret (13/34.0) Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts (10:00) (25/29.1) / Sports Spot (10:45) / The Best of Broadway (10:00–11:00) (once a month) Winter The Millionaire (16/33.0) NBC Fall Local Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) I Married Joan My Little Margie (29/27.1) Kraft Television Theatre This Is Your Life (12/34.5) Big Town Winter Norby (In COLOR) Spring Kodak Request Performance (In COLOR) DMN Captain Video (7:00) / DuMont Evening News (7:15) Local Concert Tonight (Chicago Symphony) Down You Go Local Thursday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) The Lone Ranger The Mail Story Treasury Men in Action So You Want to Lead a Band Kraft Television Theatre Local CBS Fall Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Jane Froman Show (7:45) The Ray Milland Show* Climax! / Shower of Stars (once a month) Four Star Playhouse The Public Defender Name That Tune Spring Willy Summer The Bob Cummings ShowNBC Local The Dinah Shore Show (7:30) / Plymouth News Caravan (7:45) You Bet Your Life (4/41.0) Justice Dragnet (3/42.1) Ford Theatre (In COLOR) (9/34.9) Lux Video TheatreDMN Captain Video (7:00) / DuMont Evening News (7:15) Local They Stand Accused What's the Story Local * formerly Meet Mr. McNutley Note: On CBS, Willy moved from Saturday to Thursday in April. Friday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC Kukla, Fran and Ollie (7:00) / John Daly and the News (7:15) The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (23/29.5) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Ray Bolger Show* Dollar a Second The Vise Local CBS Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Mama Topper (24/29.4) Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Our Miss Brooks The Lineup Person to Person NBC Local Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) The Red Buttons Show / The Jack Carson Show (once a month) The Life of Riley (21/30.9) The Big Story Dear Phoebe Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (10:00) / The Greatest Moments in Sports (10:45) DMN Captain Video (7:00) / DuMont Evening News (7:15) Local The Stranger Local Chance of a Lifetime Time Will Tell Local * formerly Where's Raymond? Saturday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC FallLocal Compass The Dotty Mack Show The Saturday Night Fights (9:00) / Fight Talk (9:45) The Stork ClubLocal JanuaryOzark Jubilee CBS Fall The Gene Autry Show Beat the Clock The Jackie Gleason Show (2/42.4) Two for the Money (14/33.9) My Favorite Husband That's My Boy WillyWinter Professional FatherSpring Damon Runyon TheaterSummer America's Greatest Bands NBC Fall Watch Mr. Wizard Ethel and Albert The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan Place the FaceThe Imogene Coca ShowTexaco Star Theater: The Jimmy Durante Show / The Donald O'Connor ShowThe George Gobel Show (8/35.2) Your Hit Parade (15/33.6) SummerThe SoldiersThe Amazing DunningerMusical ChairsAnd Here's the Show DMN Local National Football League Professional Football Note: On NBC, the Saturday edition of Max Liebman Presents debuted as a monthly series, airing 9:00–10:30 pm. On ABC, Ozark Jubilee premiered in January from 9:00–10:00 p.m. On CBS, Willy moved from Saturday to Thursday in April. The Soldiers, a live military sitcom starring Hal March, Tom D'Andrea, and John Dehner, produced and directed by Bud Yorkin, aired eleven episodes on NBC Saturday schedule between June 25 and September 3, 1955. By network ABC Returning Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Bachelor Father The Big Picture Boxing from Eastern Parkway Break the Bank Cavalcade of America Compass Dollar a Second The Dotty Mack Show Enterprise Fight Talk Jamie John Daly and the News Kraft Television Theater Kukla, Fran and Ollie The Lone Ranger Make Room for Daddy The Martha Wright Show Masquerade Party The Name's the Same The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse The Ray Bolger Show The Saturday Night Fights So You Want to Lead a Band Soldier Parade Stop the Music The Stork Club The Stu Erwin Show Treasury Men in Action Twenty Questions The United States Steel Hour The Voice of Firestone The Walter Winchell Show You Asked For It New Series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin College Press Conference Come Closer Disneyland The Elgin TV Hour Flight No. 7 The Jane Pickens Show Key to the Ages * Let's See * The Mail Story Mr. Citizen * Ozark Jubilee Paris Precinct * Pond's Theater * So You Want to Lead a Band Star Tonight * TV Reader's Digest * The Vise What's Going On * Not returning from 1953–54: Answers for Americans At Issue Back That Fact Billy Graham's Hour of Decision Center Stage The Comeback Story Dr. I.Q. The Ern Westmore Hollywood Glamour Show The Frank Leahy Show The George Jessel Show Jukebox Jury Junior Press Conference Leave It to the Girls Madison Square Garden Highlights The Motorola Television Hour Music at the Meadowbrook The Name's the Same Notre Dame Football Of Many Things The Orchid Award Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club The Pride of the Family Quick as a Flash Showcase Theater Sky King Take It from Me Talent Patrol This is the Life Through the Curtain Wrestling from Rainbo Arena CBS Returning Series Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts Beat the Clock The Blue Angel The Bob Cummings Show Danger Douglas Edwards with the News Four Star Playhouse The Garry Moore Show The Gene Autry Show The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show I Love Lucy I've Got a Secret The Jack Benny Show The Jackie Gleason Show The Jane Froman Show The Jo Stafford Show Life with Father Mama Meet Millie My Favorite Husband Name That Tune Omnibus Our Miss Brooks Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts The Perry Como Show Person to Person Private Secretary The Public Defender The Ray Milland Show The Red Skelton Show Schlitz Playhouse of Stars See It Now Sports Spot Strike It Rich That's My Boy Toast of the Town Topper Two for the Money Westinghouse Studio One What in the World? Willy Your Play Time New Series The $64,000 Question * America's Greatest Bands * Appointment with Adventure * The Best of Broadway Climax! Damon Runyon Theater * December Bride Father Knows Best Frankie Laine Time * The Halls of Ivy * Honestly, Celeste! Lassie The Lineup The Millionaire * Music 55 * Professional Father * Shower of Stars Stage 7 * Stage Show Windows * Not returning from 1953–54: The Fred Waring Show The Gene Autry Show The Jane Froman Show The Man Behind the Badge Medallion Theatre Meet Mr. McNutley My Friend Irma Pentagon U.S.A. The Perry Como Show (returned in 1955 on NBC) Philip Morris Playhouse The Public Defender Quiz Kids The Revlon Mirror Theater Suspense This is Show Business The Web DuMont Returning series Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena Captain Video Chance of a Lifetime Concert Tonight Down You Go The Ilona Massey Show Life Begins at Eighty Life is Worth Living The Music Show National Football League Professional Football One Minute Please Opera Cameos Rocky King, Inside Detective The Stranger They Stand Accused What's the Story? New series DuMont Evening News Flash Gordon Have a Heart * It's Alec Templeton Time * The Paul Dixon Show * Studio 57 Time Will Tell Not returning from 1953–54: Better Living TV theatre The Big Issue Broadway to Hollywood – Headline Clues Colonel Humphrey Flack (returned in 1958 in syndication) Front Page Detective Gamble on Love Guide Right The Johns Hopkins Science Review The Igor Cassini Show Joseph Schildkraut Presents Love Story Man Against Crime Marge and Jeff Melody Street Night Editor Nine Thirty Curtain On Your Way Pantomime Quiz The Plainclothesman Pro Football Highlights Pulse of the City Stars on Parade The Strawhatters Washington Exclusive NBC Returning Series Armstrong Circle Theatre The Big Story Big Town The Bob Hope Show The Buick-Berle Show Camel News Caravan Cameo Theatre Coke Time with Eddie Fisher The Colgate Comedy Hour The Dinah Shore Show Dragnet Ethel and Albert Fireside Theatre Ford Theatre Gillette Cavalcade of Sports Goodyear Television Playhouse The Greatest Moments in Sports The Hunter I Married Joan The Jack Carson Show Justice Kraft Television Theatre The Life of Riley The Loretta Young Show Lux Video Theatre (moved from CBS) The Martha Raye Show Mister Peepers My Little Margie The Philco Television Playhouse Place the Face The Red Buttons Show (moved from CBS) Robert Montgomery Presents The Roy Rogers Show Texaco Star Theater This Is Your Life The Tony Martin Show Truth or Consequences Watch Mr. Wizard The World of Mr. Sweeney You Bet Your Life Your Favorite Story Your Hit Parade New Series The Amazing Dunninger * And Here's the Show * The Bob Cummings Show * Caesar's Hour Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe * The Donald O'Connor Show The George Gobel Show The Imogene Coca Show The Jimmy Durante Show Make the Connection * Max Liebman Spectaculars Medic The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan Mister Peepers Musical Chairs * Norby * Producers' Showcase The Soldiers * Not returning from 1953–54: Bank on the Stars The Best in Mystery Bonino Campbell Sounstage Cheer Television Theatre The Dave Garroway Show The Dennis Day Show Inner Sanctum It Happened in Sports Judge for Yourself The Kate Smith Evening Hour Letter to Loretta Man Against Crime The Marriage Martin Kane, Private Eye On the Line with Considine The Spike Jones Show Summer Playhouse (returned in 1957) Your Favorite Story Your Show of Shows Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. Notes 2 References McNeil, Alex. (1996). Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. 0-14-024916-8. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1984). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. 0-345-31864-1. Heldenfels, R(ichard) D. (1994). Television's Greatest Year: 1954. New York: Continuum. 0-8264-0675-0. Category:United States primetime network television schedules United States network television schedule United States network television schedule