1960s Timeline

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May 10

TV: Tonight on "The Untouchables"

May 10, 1962 - Tonight on “The Untouchables,” the 1933 Chicago World's Fair is about to open. The three Endicott brothers, who have several franchises at the event, expect to make a killing. But the killing that develops is not exactly what they had in mind. With Pat Hingle (left). 9:30 p.m. on #ABC. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #OTD

May 9

TV: "The Movie Star" on "Du Pont Show of the Week"

May 9, 1962 - “The Movie Star,” a drama about public hysteria arising from the death of a motion picture idol, will be televised on NBC’s “Du Pont Show of the Week” on June 10 at 10 p.m. The script, loosely based on the death of James Dean (pictured), will be adapted by Robert J. Crean from an original television play by William Bast. Mr. Bast’s play was televised in England a few years ago. He is the author of a book, “Jimmy Dean — A Biography.” #tv #classictv #1960s #classi

May 9

Soviet Astronaut to Appear on Tennessee Ernie Ford's TV Show

May 9, 1962 - Tennessee Ernie Ford, who runs a down-to-earth television show, will be seen on Monday playing host to Maj. Gherman S. Titov, the Soviet astronaut. The surprise guest appearance of a Russian celebrity on a daytime entertainment program was announced today by ABC. The show, which was taped today in a studio at station KGO-TV, San Francisco, will be televised by the network on Monday at 11 a.m. According to ABC, Mr. Ford got Major Titov on his program by merely se

May 7

TV: Tonight on "The Andy Griffith Show"

May 7, 1962 - On tonight’s season finale of “The Andy Griffith Show,” Otis (Hal Smith) is made a temporary deputy so he can impress his visiting older brother (Stanley Adams). 9:30 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #OTD

May 6

TV: Tonight on "Bonanza"

May 6, 1962 - Tonight on “Bonanza,” Adam has a day and a half to deliver a large bank draft for the purchase of cattle. He is ambushed by an escaped convict (James Coburn, left). When he is mistaken for one of the escapees by the posse, Adam is hard-pressed to prove his identity, and the posse wishes to hang him. 9 p.m. on #NBC. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #OTD

May 5

Dennis Weaver Questionable to Return to "Gunsmoke"

May 5, 1962 - Will “Gunsmoke” be without Chester Goode for the 1962-63 season? A clear answer could not be obtained this week from either Dennis Weaver (pictured with Amanda Blake), who portrays the comic character, James Arness, who stars as Marshal Matt Dillon, or CBS, which televises “Gunsmoke.” “As of now, I am not scheduled to be on the show next season,” said Mr. Weaver. “But I might do some episodes if I get something in return. I can’t say until I see what they have t

May 4

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

May 4, 1962 - Tonight on “The Twilight Zone,” ventriloquist Jerry Etherson (Cliff Robertson) is convinced that his dummy Willie is alive — and evil. He locks Willie in a trunk and makes plans for an act with a new dummy. Unfortunately for Jerry, he didn't clear these plans with Willie first. 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #OTD

May 2

William Gargan, Former T.V. Actor, Gives Back

May 2, 1962 - William Gargan (pictured in 1955) demonstrated today that an actor who loses his voice may still play a useful and communicative role. Mr. Gargan, whose larynx was removed in 1960 because of cancer, spoke for 10 minutes to a class of 14 similarly afflicted persons at the National Hospital for Speech Disorders in New York. In a hoarse but clearly audible tone, he related that he had been touring in “The Best Man,” acting the part of a former President who dies of

May 1

Emmy Nominations Announced for 1961-62 Season

May 1, 1962 - The Television Academy announced its 14th annual Emmy nominations today and did not include the top two stars of the 1961-62 season — Colonel John H. Glenn Jr. and Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy. Most observers agree that Colonel Glenn’s orbital flight and Mrs. Kennedy’s tour of the White House were the biggest attractions of the T.V. season. The academy removed the events from balloting because of cooperative coverage by the networks and said both were being considere

Apr 30

TV: Michael Pollard To Make Guest Appearance on "The Andy Griffith Show"

Apr. 30, 1962 - Tonight on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Barney’s awkward cousin Virgil (Michael Pollard) visits and makes a mess of everything he tries. When Andy finds something that Virgil is good at, he finds a way to teach him self-confidence. 9:30 on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD

Apr 30

John Glenn to Appear with Soviet Cosmonaut Gherman Titov on NBC

Apr. 30, 1962 - Lieut. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. and Maj. Gherman S. Titov, the Soviet astronaut now visiting this country, will make a joint television appearance on Sunday to discuss space exploration. NBC said the program would be taped on Friday in Washington for a telecast on Sunday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. NBC also said that after the astronauts had compared experiences and exchanged views, they would answer questions from a studio audience. Simultaneous translation from Rus

Apr 29

TV: Tonight on "Bonanza"

Apr. 29, 1962 - Tonight on “Bonanza,” the Cartwrights get mixed up in the romance of a phony heiress and an equally phony land baron. With Luciana Paluzzi. 9 p.m. on #NBC. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD

Apr 28

TV: "Rin Tin Tin" Returning to CBS

Apr. 28, 1962 - CBS-TV, long faithful to “Lassie,” becomes a two-dog network next fall when “Rin Tin Tin” comes barking back each Saturday morning. CBS, incidentally, probably will exhibit more animals next season than any other network. In addition to Lassie and Rin Tin Tin, the menagerie will include Mr. Ed, the talking horse, and Alvin, a chipmunk. There is also a rodent, Mighty Mouse. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries

Apr 28

Rod Serling and CBS Considering Hour-Long Episodes of "Twilight Zone"

Apr. 28, 1962 - Although the CBS half-hour series “The Twilight Zone” is not currently scheduled to continue next fall, the network and Rod Serling are discussing plans to film a series of hour-long episodes. The expanded version of “The Twilight Zone” would go on the air midway through the 1962-3 season or in the fall of 1963. The hour-long “Twilight Zone” would be similar in format to the shows now televised on Fridays from 10 to 10:30 p.m. “It would give us a chance for mu

Apr 27

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

Apr. 27, 1962 - Tonight on “The Twilight Zone,” a man from the stars comes with a gift to a small Mexican village. The residents of the village do not welcome the man. 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD #twilightzone

Apr 26

Vivian Vance to Rejoin Lucille Ball on New Show

Apr. 26, 1962 - Vivian Vance, who was featured on “I Love Lucy” as Ethel Mertz, will be in the cast of Lucille Ball’s new television series that begins on CBS next fall. Miss Vance won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1954 and received three other Emmy nominations for her work on “I Love Lucy.” Vance's Ethel Mertz character was the landlady of a New York City apartment that she and her husband Fred owned on East 68th Street. The role of Fred Mert

Apr 26

Ten CBS Affiliates Refuse to Carry Abortion-Themed Episode of "The Defenders"

Apr. 26, 1962 - CBS, which will televise a drama about abortion tomorrow night, announced today that 10 of its affiliated stations had refused to carry the program. The list includes stations in Boston, Providence, Buffalo, Rochester, New Orleans, and Milwaukee. The episode, called “The Benefactor,” is part of the CBS weekly series, “The Defenders,” starring E.G. Marshall (pictured). The episode depicts a physician who is on trial for having performed illegal abortions. Durin

Apr 25

Dick Clark of "American Bandstand" Marries Loretta Martin

Apr. 25, 1962 - Dick Clark, television personality, married his former secretary, Canadian-born Loretta Martin, tonight at Calvary Methodist Church in Philadelphia. It was the second marriage for Mr. Clark and the first for Miss Martin. Mr. Clark has been the host of “American Bandstand,” a music and dance television program, since 1956. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD

Apr 20

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

Apr. 20, 1962 - Tonight on “The Twilight Zone,” an elderly couple shop for younger replacement bodies and then resort to desperate measures to cover the cost. 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD #twilightzone

Apr 19

CBS Obtains Sponsorship for "Defenders" Episode about Abortion

Apr. 19, 1962 - CBS, which lost three sponsors because of a scheduled television drama about an abortionist (Robert F. Simon, pictured), has obtained sponsorship for the program from another advertiser. “The Benefactor,” an episode of the weekly legal drama series called “The Defenders,” will be presented on April 28 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. under the sponsorship of the Speidel Corporation, manufacturer of watch bands. The advertisers who usually sponsor “The Defenders” — Lever