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.
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%."[1]
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.[2] 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.[3] Beginning this season, NBC had at least one show in color for every day of the week.
New fall series are highlighted in bold, while shows ending their runs are highlighted in italics.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.[4]
Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season.
Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season.
Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season.
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.
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.
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.
Note: 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.
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.
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
Referencesedit
^ abCastleman, 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. ISBN0-07-010277-5
^Castleman, Harry; Walter J. Podrazik (1982). Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 109–115. ISBN0-07-010269-4.
^Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. p 1681. ISBN0-345-31864-1.
^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. ISBN978-0-345-49773-4.
McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN0-14-024916-8.
Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN0-345-31864-1.
December 15, 2023
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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 The 1956 57 network television schedule continued the trend of the previous season with two of the three major U S television networks 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 1 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 1 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 2 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 3 Beginning this season NBC had at least one show in color for every day of the week New fall series are highlighted in bold while shows ending their runs are highlighted in italics Each of the 30 highest rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research 4 Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season Contents 1 Sunday 2 Monday 3 Tuesday 4 Wednesday 5 Thursday 6 Friday 7 Saturday 8 By network 8 1 ABC 8 2 CBS 8 3 DuMont 8 4 NBC 9 ReferencesSunday editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC You Asked for It The Original Amateur Hour Press Conference Omnibus Local ProgrammingCBS Lassie 24 29 5 The Jack Benny Show 10 32 3 Private Secretary 25 29 0 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 C O L O R The Alcoa Hour In C O L O R The Loretta Young Show National Bowling ChampionshipsNotes On NBC Hallmark Hall of Fame C O L O R 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 editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC Fall 7 00 Kukla Fran and Ollie 7 15 John Daly and the News Bold Journey The Danny Thomas Show formerly known as Make Room For Daddy The Voice of Firestone Life Is Worth Living Lawrence Welk s Top Tunes and New Talent Local ProgrammingWinter Wire ServiceCBS Fall 7 00 Local 7 15 Douglas Edwards with the News The Adventures of Robin Hood 20 30 3 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 OneSummer Richard Diamond Private DetectiveNBC Fall Local Programming 7 30 The Golden Touch of Frankie Carle 7 45 Huntley Brinkley Report The Adventures of Sir Lancelot Sporadically in C O L O R Stanley Medic Robert Montgomery Presents In C O L O R Local ProgrammingSpring Tales of Wells FargoOn NBC Producers Showcase C O L O R aired as a monthly series from 8 9 30 p m On CBS in some areas Douglas Edwards with the News aired at 6 45 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 editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC 7 00 Kukla Fran and Ollie 7 15 John Daly and the News Cheyenne Conflict The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp 18 31 0 Broken Arrow Du Pont Theater It s Polka Time Local ProgrammingCBS 7 00 Local 7 15 Douglas Edwards with the News 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 C O L O R 15 31 4 Tied with The Lineup The 64 000 Question 4 36 4 Do You Trust Your Wife NBC Fall Local Programming 7 30 The Jonathan Winters Show 7 45 Huntley Brinkley Report The Big Surprise Noah s Ark In C O L O R The Jane Wyman Show Armstrong Circle Theatre The Kaiser Aluminum Hour Break the 250 000 Bank In C O L O R Spring Panic Summer 7 30 The Andy Williams and June Valli Show 7 45 Huntley Brinkley ReportNOTE On March 5 1957 the suspense drama Panic replaced Noah s Ark a Jack Webb production on the NBC schedule Wednesday editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC 7 00 Kukla Fran and Ollie 7 15 John Daly and the News Disneyland 13 31 8 Tied with The Millionaire Navy Log The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Ford Theatre The Wednesday Night FightsCBS Fall 7 00 Local 7 15 Douglas Edwards with the News Pick the Winner The Arthur Godfrey Show Sporadically in C O L O R formerly as 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 HourNovember Giant StepSummer My Friend FlickaNBC Local Programming 7 30 Coke Time with Eddie Fisher 7 45 Huntley Brinkley Report The Adventures of Hiram Holliday Father Knows Best Kraft Television Theatre In C O L O R This Is Your Life Twenty OneNote 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 editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC Fall 7 00 Kukla Fran and Ollie 7 15 John Daly and the News The Lone Ranger Circus Time Wire Service Ozark JubileeDecember Air Time 57 Local ProgrammingWinter The Danny Thomas Show Bold JourneySpring Telephone TimeSummer Cowtown Rodeo Compass Industries for America FocusCBS 7 00 Local 7 15 Douglas Edwards with the News Sergeant Preston of the Yukon The Bob Cummings Show Climax 26 28 9 Tied with What s My Line In C O L O R Shower of Stars once a month In C O L O R Playhouse 90NBC Fall Local Programming 7 30 The Dinah Shore Show 7 45 Huntley Brinkley Report 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 C O L O R Summer 7 30 The Andy Williams and June Valli Show 7 45 Huntley Brinkley ReportNote 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 Friday editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC Fall 7 00 Kukla Fran and Ollie 7 15 John Daly and the News The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin The Adventures of Jim Bowie Crossroads Treasure Hunt The Vise The Ray Anthony ShowSpring The Ray Anthony Show Date with the AngelsSummer The Big BeatCBS Fall 7 00 Local 7 15 Douglas Edwards with the News My Friend Flicka through February 1 The West Point Story Dick Powell s Zane Grey Theatre Crusader Schlitz Playhouse formerly Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars The Lineup 15 31 4 Tied with The Red Skelton Show Person to PersonWinter Mr Adams and EveNBC Fall Local Programming 7 30 Coke Time with Eddie Fisher 7 45 Huntley Brinkley Report The Life of Riley Sporadically in C O L O R The Walter Winchell Show The Joseph Cotten Show formerly known as On Trial The Big Story 10 00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports 10 45 Red Barber s Corner In C O L O R 10 11 00 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show once a month Spring BlondieSummer The Big MomentDMN Fall Local Programming Ethel Barrymore Theatre Local ProgrammingWinter Local ProgrammingNote On CBS Mr Adams and Eve premiered on January 4 1957 Saturday editNetwork 7 00 PM 7 30 PM 8 00 PM 8 30 PM 9 00 PM 9 30 PM 10 00 PM 10 30 PMABC Fall Local Programming Famous Film Festival Lawrence Welk s Dodge Dancing Party Masquerade Party Local ProgrammingSummer The Billy Graham CrusadeCBS 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 FinanceDecember Local ProgrammingMarch My Friend FlickaApril Beat the ClockSummer The Jimmy Dean ShowNBC Fall Local Programming People Are Funny 21 30 2 The Perry Como Show 9 32 6 In C O L O R Caesar s Hour The George Gobel Show Your Hit Parade In C O L O R Summer The Julius LaRosa Show In C O L O R The George Sanders Mystery Theater Dollar a Second Encore Theatre Adventure TheaterFollow up Various Dollar a SecondNotes On NBC Saturday Color Carnival C O L O R 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 editABC edit Returning Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Break the Bank Cheyenne Compass Crossroads The Danny Thomas Show Date with the Angels 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 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 Deadline for Action 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 General Electric 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 edit 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 The Garry Moore Show General Electric Theatre 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 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 Theater 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 The Vincent Lopez Show The West Point Story You re On Your Own Not returning from 1955 56 The Adventures of Champion Beat the Clock Brave Eagle CBS Cartoon Theatre Crusader Damon Runyon Theater Four Star Playhouse The Gene Autry Show Hollywood Summer Theater The Honeymooners It s Always Jan The Johnny Carson Show Mama Meet Millie My Favorite Husband Our Miss Brooks Shower of Stars Stage Show Two for the Money Wanted You ll Never Get Rich DuMont edit New series Ethel Barrymore Theatre Not returning from 1955 56 At Ringside Boxing from St Nicholas Arena Hollywood Preview What s the Story NBC edit 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 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 Producer s Showcase Red Barber s Corner Robert Montgomery Presents This Is Your Life Wide Wide World You Bet Your Life Your Hit Parade New Series The Adventures of Hiram Holiday The Big Moment Blondie Caesar s Hour Circus Boy The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Dollar a Second The Ford Show The George Sanders Mystery Theater The Huntley Brinkley Report It s a Great Life The Jonathan Winters Show The Joseph Cotten Show The Kaiser Aluminum Hour 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 Wire Service Not returning from 1955 56 Adventure Theater The Best in Mystery Big Town Camel News Caravan Dear Phoebe 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 Director s Playhouse Star Stage The Tony Martin Show Truth or Consequences Note The indicates that the program was introduced in midseason References edit a b 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 ISBN 0 07 010277 5 Castleman Harry Walter J Podrazik 1982 Watching TV Four Decades of American Television New York McGraw Hill pp 109 115 ISBN 0 07 010269 4 Brooks Tim amp Marsh Earle 2007 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 9th ed New York Ballantine p 1681 ISBN 0 345 31864 1 Highest rated series is based on the annual top rated programs list compiled by Nielsen Media Research and reported in Brooks Tim amp Marsh Earle 2007 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 9th ed New York Ballantine ISBN 978 0 345 49773 4 McNeil Alex Total Television Fourth edition New York Penguin Books ISBN 0 14 024916 8 Brooks Tim amp Marsh Earle 1964 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 3rd ed New York Ballantine ISBN 0 345 31864 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1956 57 United States network television schedule amp oldid 1184216116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
