1952–53 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1952 The following is the 1952–53 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1952 through March 1953. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1951–52 season. According to television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982), the fall of 1953 marked a change in television when the networks began filling their schedules with "grade B" material. The networks' "need to fill so many hours of broadcasting each day put the networks and local programmers into the same position that Hollywood had been in years before with its theatrical features." In between big-budget productions, the networks had to keep the public occupied. As the number of hours that the four TV networks offered programs continued to expand, "the appearance of TV equivalents to grade-B films was almost inevitable." Castleman Harry Walter J. Podrazik Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television McGraw-Hill 1982 New York 73–80 https://archive.org/details/watchingtvfourde00cast/page/73 0-07-010269-4 Castleman and Podrazik also point out that another change was taking place around this time. Filmed television series had been seen since the late 1940s, but were "not considered very important to the networks' schedules" because many were of poor quality; live productions from New York were the norm at this time. CBS's success with filmed program I Love Lucy in fall 1951, however, had convinced NBC to add a few filmed series to its fall 1952 schedule. Among NBC's new filmed TV series were My Hero, I Married Joan, and Doc Corkle. The Red Skelton Show, previously airing live, also made the move to film. NBC also moved Skelton's program from its previous late-evening time to 7 p.m. on Sundays, hoping the program would be a "strong lead-in for the entire evening." NBC's Sunday night strategy failed, however, because Red Skelton's program suffered from excessive use of rerun episodes when Skelton unfortunately fell ill. Of the network's other filmed series, My Hero was "a weak slapstick vehicle" while Doc Corkle was "generally regarded as the worst sitcom of the new season". It lasted only three weeks before cancellation (replaced by the return of the live Mister Peepers). With the exceptions of I Married Joan and the revival of The Life of Riley starring William Bendix in January, NBC would have little luck with filmed programs during the 1952–53 season. ABC had more luck with its new filmed series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, while CBS aired the filmed Our Miss Brooks. Another successful CBS filmed show was anthology series Four Star Playhouse, which although not a top-rated show, did prove popular enough to run to 1956. Fall 1952 was a major blow for DuMont, when the network's biggest star, Jackie Gleason, moved from DuMont to CBS. Gleason's new CBS series, The Jackie Gleason Show replaced DuMont's Cavalcade of Stars, airing Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Ted Bergmann, DuMont's general director, stated in 2002 that Gleason's much-heralded move to CBS made DuMont look bad.Bergmann, Ted; Skutch, Ira (2002). The DuMont Television Network: What Happened?. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. 0-8108-4270-X. DuMont aired no programs that fall against Gleason's new TV series.Tim Brooks Tim Brooks (historian) Earle Marsh https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Jackie+Gleason+Show%27&pg=PA1575 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present Prime Time Schedule: FALL 1952 1575 9 2007 Ballantine Books New York 978-0-345-49773-4 2026-02-06 One DuMont show, the 60-minute public affairs program New York Times Youth Forum began airing Sundays at 5 p.m. EST on September 14, 1952—outside of prime time—and ran until June 14, 1953. A notable DuMont series which aired during the season was dramatic anthology series Dark of Night, which was broadcast live from a different real-life location each week instead of being shot on a soundstage (for example, one episode was broadcast from a soft drink bottling plant, while another was broadcast from a castle in New Jersey). 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 and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9th ed.). p. 1680. 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 Fall You Asked For It Enterprise All-Star News America in View This Is the Life Presents "The Fisher Family" Hour of Decision (10:00) / Local (10:15) Anywhere U.S.A. Spring Both Sides CBS Fall The Gene Autry Show This Is Show Business Toast of the Town The Fred Waring Show Break the Bank The Web What's My Line? (20/35.3)(Tied with Strike It Rich) February Private Secretary NBC Fall The Red Skelton Show (28/33.7)(Tied with The Lone Ranger) Doc Corkle The Colgate Comedy Hour (7/44.3) The Philco Television Playhouse (17/37.3) / Goodyear Television Playhouse (15/37.8) The Doctor Local October Mister Peepers Summer Operation Neptune Super Ghost The Big Payoff DMN Georgetown University Forum Local Rocky King, Inside Detective The Plainclothesman The Arthur Murray Party Youth on the March The Jack Benny Program (12/39.0) appeared every fourth week this season at 7:30-8:00 pm, with Private Secretary replacing This Is Show Business in February. On October 26, Doc Corkle was replaced by Mister Peepers after only three episodes. 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 Local Hollywood Screen Test Inspector Mark Saber – Homicide Squad United or Not All-Star News Local CBS Fall Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Lux Video Theatre Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (2/54.7) I Love Lucy (1/67.3) Life with Luigi (13/38.5) Studio One Summer The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Racket Squad Masquerade Party NBC Fall Local Those Two (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) What's My Name? The Voice of Firestone Hollywood Opening Night Robert Montgomery Presents Who Said That? Spring Bob and Ray (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) Eye Witness Summer Juvenile Jury Summer Stock Theatre DMN Fall Captain Video and His Video Rangers Local The Power of Women The Johns Hopkins Science Review Guide Right Football Sidelines (9:30) / Famous Fights From Madison Square Garden (9:45) Boxing From Eastern Parkway Follow-up The Big IdeaSpring This Is the Life Presents "The Fisher Family" What's My Name was subsequently renamed The Paul Winchell Show, after its stars, Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney. 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 Local The Beulah Show Local CBS Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / Heaven for Betsy (7:45) Leave It to Larry The Red Buttons Show (11/40.2) Crime Syndicated / City Hospital Suspense Danger Local NBC Local (7:00) / Short Short Dramas (7:15) The Dinah Shore Show (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) Texaco Star Theater (5/46.7) / The Buick Circus Hour (once a month) (6/46.0) Fireside Theatre (10/40.6) Armstrong Circle Theater Two for the Money Embassy Club (10:30) / On the Line with Considine (10:45) DMN Fall Captain Video and His Video Rangers Local Life Is Worth Living Keep Posted Where Was I? Quick on the Draw Local December Wisdom of the Ages Spring The Big Issue Summer Your Big Moment/Blind Date Local The Big Idea Local Note: On December 16, 1952, Wisdom of the Ages replaced Quick on the Draw. 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 Local The Name's the Same All-Star News The Adventures of Ellery Queen Wrestling From Rainbo Arena CBS Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (3/47.1) Strike It Rich (20/35.3)(Tied with What's My Line?) Man Against Crime Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts (10:00) (14/37.9) / Sports Spot (10:45) NBC Local Those Two (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) I Married Joan Cavalcade of America / Scott Music Hall Kraft Television Theater This Is Your Life Local DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers Pro Football Highlights Local Stage a Number 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 Local The Lone Ranger (28/33.7)(Tied with The Red Skelton Show) All-Star News Chance of a Lifetime Perspectives On Guard Local CBS Fall Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / Heaven for Betsy (7:45) The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Amos 'n' Andy (25/34.4) / Four Star Playhouse Biff Baker, U.S.A. Big Town Racket Squad I've Got a Secret Winter My Little Margie Summer Take a Guess Four Star Playhouse / Tales of the City Lux Video Theatre NBC Local (7:00) / Short Short Dramas (7:15) The Dinah Shore Show (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) You Bet Your Life (9/41.6) Treasury Men in Action (27/34.2) Dragnet (4/46.8) / Gang Busters (8/42.4) Ford Theatre (30/33.6) Martin Kane, Private Eye Local DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers Local Broadway to Hollywood – Headline Clues Trash or Treasure What's the Story Author Meets the Critics Local 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 Local The Stu Erwin Show* The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet All-Star News Tales of Tomorrow Local CBS Local Douglas Edwards with the News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Mama (18/37.0) My Friend Irma Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Our Miss Brooks (22/35.0)(Tied with The Big Story) Mr. and Mrs. North Local NBC Fall The Herman Hickmann Show (7:00) / Local (7:15) Those Two (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) The RCA Victor Show Starring Dennis Day Gulf Playhouse The Big Story (22/35.0)(Tied with Our Miss Brooks) The Aldrich Family Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (10:00) (24/34.7) / Greatest Fights of the Century (10:45) Winter The Life of Riley (16/37.4) DMN Fall Captain Video and His Video Rangers Local This Is the Life Presents "The Fisher Family" Dark of Night Life Begins at Eighty Local Twenty Questions Down You Go Follow-up Steve Randall Winter City Assignment Notes: The RCA Victor Show Starring Dennis Day was aired in the first half of 1952 and was hence not a new series in the 1952-1953 season. It moved to Monday at 9 p.m. on NBC in the 1953-1954 season under the new title The Dennis Day Show, starring singer Dennis Day. On DuMont, City Assignment, which ran from February to July 1953, consisted entirely of reruns of episodes of the CBS series Big Town. * also known as Trouble With Father 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 Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club Live Like a Millionaire Feature Playhouse Local CBS The Stork Club Beat the Clock The Jackie Gleason Show Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen Meet Millie Balance Your Budget Battle of the Ages NBC Fall Watch Mr. Wizard My Little Margie All-Star Revue (26/34.3) Your Show of Shows (19/36.0) Your Hit Parade November My Hero DMN Local The Pet Shop Local Wrestling From Marigold By network ABC Returning Series The Adventures of Ellery Queen America in View The Beulah Show The Big Picture Chance of a Lifetime Feature Playhouse Hollywood Screen Test Hour of Decision Inspector Mark Saber – Homicide Squad Live Like a Millionaire The Name's the Same On Guard Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club The Stu Erwin Show Tales of Tomorrow United or Not The Voice of Firestone The Wednesday Night Fights Wrestling from Rainbo Arena You Asked For It New Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet All-Star News Anywhere U.S.A. Back That Fact Both Sides * The Dotty Mack Show Enterprise Fear and Fancy * Perspectives Plymouth Playhouse * This is the Life Presents "The Fisher Family" Trouble with Father What's Your Bid? * Not returning from 1951–52: Admission Free After the Deadlines The Amazing Mr. Malone America's Health Betty Crocker Star Matinee The Bill Gwinn Show Byline The Carmel Myers Show Celanese Theater Charlie Wild, Private Detective The Clock Crime with Father Curtain Call Curtain Up The Dell O'Dell Show Don McNeill's TV Club Gruen Guild Playhouse Harness Racing Herb Shriner Time Hollywood Premiere Theatre The Jerry Colonna Show Lesson in Safety Life with Linkletter The Marshall Plan in Action Massland at Home Party Mr. Arsenic Mr. District of Attorney Music in Velvet On Trial Other Lands, Other People Out of the Fog Paul Dixon Show Personal Appearance Theater Pulitzer Prize Playhouse Q.E.D. The Ruggles Say It with Acting Studs' Place The Symphony Versatile Varieties What Do You Think? CBS Returning Series Amos 'n' Andy Arthur Godfrey and His Friends Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts Battle of the Ages (moved from DuMont) Beat the Clock Big Town Break the Bank City Hospital Crime Syndicated Danger Douglas Edwards and the News Footlights Theater The Fred Waring Show 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 Lux Video Theatre Mama Man Against Crime My Friend Irma My Little Margie (Moved from NBC mid-season) Our Miss Brooks Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts The Perry Como Show Racket Squad Saturday Night Jamboree Schlitz Playhouse of Stars See It Now Sports Spot The Stork Club Strike It Rich Studio One Suspense This Is Show Business Toast of the Town The Web What in the World? What's My Line? New Series Balance Your Budget Bank on the Stars * Battle of the Ages Biff Baker, U.S.A. Four Star Playhouse General Electric Theater * Heaven for Betsy The Jackie Gleason Show Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen The Larry Storch Show * Leave It to Larry Life with Luigi Medallion Theatre * Meet Millie Mr. and Mrs. North Omnibus The Red Buttons Show Willys Theatre Presenting Ben Hecht's Tales of the City * Your Jeweler's Showcase Your Play Time * Not returning from 1951–52: The Al Pearce Show CBS Television Workshop Crime Photographer The Eddy Arnold Show Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town The Garry Moore Evening Show Hollywood Opening Night It's News to Me The Ken Murray Show MLB Police Story The Sammy Kaye Variety Show The Show Goes On Songs for Sale Star of the Family DuMont Returning series The Arthur Murray Party (moved from ABC) Author Meets the Critics The Big Idea Boxing from Eastern Parkway Broadway to Hollywood – Headline Clues Captain Video and His Video Rangers Charlie Wild, Private Detective (moved from ABC) City Assignment Down You Go Ford Festival Georgetown University Forum Guide Right The Johns Hopkins Science Review Keep Posted Life Begins at Eighty Life Is Worth Living Not for Publication The Pet Shop The Plainclothesman The Power of Women Pro Football Highlights Quick on the Draw Rebound (moved from ABC) Rocky King, Inside Detective This Is the Life Presents The Fisher Family Trash or Treasure Twenty Questions What's the Story Wrestling From Marigold Your Big Moment (aka Blind Date) Youth on the March (moved from ABC) New series The Big Idea * Dark of Night The Dave Garroway Show * The Dotty Mack Show * Drama at Eight * Football Sidelines Jimmy Hughes, Rookie Cop * The Old American Barn Dance * One Woman's Experience The Paul Dixon Show The Power of Women Report Card for Parents * Stage a Number Steve Randall * The Strawhatters * This Is the Life Presents "The Fisher Family" Trash or Treasure Where Was I? Wisdom of the Ages * Not returning from 1951–52: The Bigelow Theatre The Cases of Eddie Drake Cosmopolitan Theatre Crawford Mystery Theatre Football This Week The Gallery of Mme. Liu-Tsong Guess What Hands of Mystery Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers News Gal The Pet Shop Public Prosecutor Shadow of the Cloak The Talent Shop This is Music NBC Returning Series The Aldrich Family All-Star Revue Armstrong Circle Theater The Big Payoff The Big Story Camel News Caravan Cameo Theatre The Colgate Comedy Hour The Dinah Shore Show Dragnet Fireside Theatre Gang Busters Gillette Cavalcade of Sports Goodyear Television Playhouse Greatest Fights of the Century Hollywood Opening Night The Kate Smith Evening Hour Kraft Television Theatre Martin Kane, Private Eye My Little Margie On the Line with Considine The Philco Television Playhouse Public Prosecutor The RCA Victor Show Starring Dennis Day The Red Skelton Show Robert Montgomery Presents Summer Stock Theatre Texaco Star Theater This Is Your Life Those Two Treasury Men in Action The Voice of Firestone Watch Mr. Wizard What's My Name Who Said That? You Bet Your Life Your Hit Parade Your Show of Shows New Series The Buick Circus Hour The Campbell Playhouse Cavalcade of America Coke Time with Eddie Fisher * Ding Dong School Doc Corkle The Doctor Embassy Club Eye Witness * Gulf Playhouse The Herman Hickmann Show I Married Joan The Life of Riley * Mister Peepers * My Hero My Son Jeep * Operation Neptune * The Revlon Mirror Theater * Scott Music Hall Short Short Dramas Super Ghost * Those Two Victory at Sea Your Favorite Story * Not returning from 1951–52: All-Star Revue American Youth Forum The Bill Goodwin Show Bob and Ray Boss Lady Chesterfield Sound-off Time Duffy's Tavern The Freddie Martin Show The Halls of Ivy Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt The Kate Smith Evening Hour Lights Out The Little Show Mohawk Showroom One Man's Family Somerset Maugham TV Theatre The Speidel Show/The Paul Winchell Show Wayne King We, the People Young Mr. Bobbin Your Prize Story Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. References Notes Bibliography McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. 0-14-024916-8. Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present, Ninth edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 2007) 978-0-345-49773-4 . Category:United States primetime network television schedules United States network television schedule United States network television schedule