1960s Timeline

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Apr 8

Three Sponsors of "The Defenders" Withdraw Sponsorship of Abortion Episode

Apr. 8, 1962 - All three advertisers who regularly sponsor the CBS-TV legal drama “The Defenders” have withdrawn sponsorship of an episode that deals with abortion. Despite this, CBS will televise the episode on April 28. The advertisers — Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, Lever Brothers Company, and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation — told CBS their sponsorship of such a program would be in conflict with corporate policy. The episode is called “The Benefactor.” In it, a d

Apr 7

TV: Tonight on "Gunsmoke"

Apr. 7, 1962 - Tonight on “Gunsmoke,” a group of women are going by wagon train to Colorado, lured by the promise of marrying rich miners. Matt learns that the leader's actual plan for the women is quite different. With Constance Ford (left). 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD

Apr 6

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

Apr. 6, 1962 - Tonight on “The Twilight Zone,” an obsessed man (Theodore Bikel, pictured) wants to expose evil in the world. So, he investigates people he sees as murderers, subversives, perverts, and communists. Then he does what he can to ruin their lives. 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD #twilightzone

Apr 6

TV: Jack Webb To Host Dramatic Series on CBS Next Season

Apr. 6, 1962 - Jack Webb, who achieved television eminence in “Dragnet,” will return as host of a General Electric dramatic series on CBS-TV next season. In addition to introducing the teleplays, Mr. Webb will appear in about one-third of them and will direct several. His Mark VII Productions will make the shows at the Warner Brothers Studio in Hollywood. The current “General Electric Theatre” series will conclude its eight-year run in September. #tv #classictv #1960s #classi

Apr 4

Joey Bishop's Show to Return on NBC in the Fall with Changes

Apr. 4, 1962 - Joey Bishop’s show will return in the fall but with major changes. First of all, Joey Barnes, played by Mr. Bishop, will no longer be a press agent. He will become a TV entertainer who has his own show in New York. Second, the show will shift from Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. to Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Third, it will shed lackluster black-and-white for color. Fourth, it will have a new director, James V. Kern, and fifth, it will have a new batch of writers: Iz Elinson,

Apr 2

TV: Harry Belafonte on "The Ed Sullivan Show"

Apr. 2, 1962 - Harry Belafonte will have 15 minutes of the “Ed Sullivan Show” all to himself on Easter Sunday, April 22. The singer will perform American folk songs, including a currently popular one, “Michael Row the Boat Ashore.” Mr. Belafonte’s solo segment, unusual in the series, will probably be in the last half of the show. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvprogram #OTD

Apr 2

TV: Tonight on "The Andy Griffith Show"

Apr. 2, 1962 - Tonight on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Clara (Hope Summers, second from left) convinces Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier, left) that her presence is keeping Andy from finding a wife. When Mr. Goss (Fred Sherman, right) shows interest in her, she pretends to be interested in him and nearly ends up married. 9:30 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #tvcomedy #sitcom

Mar 31

ABC-TV Will Broadcast Select Shows in Color This Fall

Mar. 31, 1962 - ABC-TV will begin televising a limited number of its programs in color in the fall. The only network now televising in color is NBC. Initially, ABC’s color programs will include “The Flintstones” and “Mattie’s Funnies with Beany and Cecil,” both animated cartoons, and some of the motion pictures to be presented on Sunday nights. The schedule will be expanded in the 1963-64 season. NBC, manufacturer of color receivers, now televises about 44 hours of color a we

Mar 30

Jack Paar Does Final Late Show on NBC

Mar. 30, 1962 - Jack Paar did his final late show for NBC last night after a run of almost five years. The concluding telecast combined tributes to the star with comedy, sentiment, and music. Among those who paid their respects in a filmed segment of the program were Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former Vice President Richard M. Nixon, and the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham. All had appeared on Paar programs in the past. Although the telecast was in the nature of a farewell to M

Mar 29

TV: Tonight on "The Untouchables"

Mar. 29, 1962 - Tonight on “The Untouchables,” when junkie Benny Rivas is stopped by Ness and his men, he tells them in his dying breath that the source of his heroin is the 808 Club. Ness knows the club's hostess, Maggie Storm (Patricia Neal). She's married to the frequently absent owner and denies any knowledge of drugs being sold on the premises. In fact, she has set up a very clever trading floor where mobsters place bids for anything from drugs to counterfeit money. 10 p

Mar 23

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

Mar. 23, 1962 - Tonight on “The Twilight Zone,” David Gurney (Richard Long, pictured) wakes up to another ordinary day. But something is wrong. Nobody knows who he is. 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #classictvshow #1960s #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #TVNews #tvdrama #TwilightZone #twilightzonemarathon #TwilightZoneAmerica #twilightzoneish #TwilightZoneTowerOfTerror

Mar 22

TV: Tonight on "The Untouchables"

Mar. 22, 1962 - Tonight on “The Untouchables,” Victor Rait (Lee Marvin) has developed a new method of converting opium to heroin, and he and his partner Arnold Stegler (Victor Jory) hope to make a handsome profit. 10 p.m. on #ABC. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #tvdrama #crimeshow #crimeseries

Mar 22

TV: Tonight on "The Dick Van Dyke Show"

Mar. 22, 1962 - “The Dick Van Dyke Show” has found a future — for next season, at least. It will continue to be televised in the 1962-63 season on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10 p.m. on CBS. Mr. Van Dyke’s comedy program made its debut last fall under the full-time sponsorship of the Procter & Gamble Company. Recently, the advertiser told CBS that it wanted to continue the show next fall but cut its sponsorship in half. Yesterday, the P. Lorillard Company agreed to pick up the re

Mar 21

TV: Tonight on "Naked City"

Mar. 21, 1962 - Tonight on “Naked City,” a man (Robert Duvall, pictured right with Madeleine Sherwood) steals records from the orphanage where he grew up, hoping to find his father. At the same time, the age of his young female companion gets him in trouble with the police. 10 p.m. on #ABC. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #tvdrama

Mar 21

TV: Tonight on "The Dick Van Dyke Show"

Mar. 21, 1962 - Tonight on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” Rob's brother Stacey (Jerry Van Dyke) has a two-week furlough and sends Rob a telegram that he's coming for a visit. Rob isn't thrilled. He explains to Laura that his shy brother has a problem. 8 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #tvdrama #tvcomedy

Mar 20

TV: "Empire" to Debut on NBC Next Season

Mar. 20, 1962 - “Empire,” a one-hour Western television series set on a 500,000-acre ranch in New Mexico, is planned for the NBC schedule next season. It will appear Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. and will star Richard Egan as the general manager of the ranch. Also appearing in the series will be Charles Bronson, Ryan O’Neal, and Terry Moore. Produced by Screen Gems, it will be sponsored on alternate weeks by the Chrysler Corporation. On other weeks, General Mills and the American Tob

Mar 19

TV: Tonight on "The Andy Griffith Show"

Mar. 19, 1962 - Tonight on “The Andy Griffith Show,” when local farmer Rafe Hollister refuses to take his tetanus shot, Andy and Barney try to convince him he should. 9:30 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #tvdrama #tvcomedy

Mar 18

TV: Tonight on "Bonanza"

Mar. 18, 1962 - Tonight on “Bonanza,” the Cartwrights encourage young genius Albert Michelson (Douglas Lambert) to pursue his scientific experiments. They also try to discover why schoolmaster George Norton expelled Albert from school and seems determined to stand in the way of his appointment to the prestigious Annapolis Naval Academy. 9 p.m. on #NBC. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprog

Mar 17

TV: "Ben Casey" and "Dr. Kildare" Renewed, "Kildare" Moves to 9 p.m.

Mar. 17, 1962 - NBC-TV’s “Dr. Kildare” has been renewed for next season. “Ben Casey” will also continue his practice on ABC-TV, but at a new hour — 9 to 10 p.m. Mondays. #tv #classictv #1960s #classictvshow #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #tvdrama #tvcomedy

Mar 16

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

Mar. 16, 1962 - Tonight on “The Twilight Zone,” a father (Robert Sampson) who is awakened in the middle of the night by the cries of his daughter enters the girl's room to find that she has vanished — even though he can still hear her crying out for help. What is going on? 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #classictvshow #1960s #classictvshows #classictvcommercial #ClassicTvSeries #tvshow #tvseries #tvshows #tvprogram #TVNews #tvdrama #TwilightZone #twilightzonemarathon #Twilig