1960s Timeline

Jan. 1, 1962 - Tonight on “The Andy Griffith Show,” local farmer Jeff Pruitt (Alan Hale Jr., right) comes to town to pick a wife....

Jan. 1, 1962 - Tonight on “The Rifleman,” when Mark goes missing during a hunting trip, Lucas tries to get help to look for his missing...

Dec. 28, 1961 - Tonight on “Dr. Kildare,” a young man is admitted to Blair General Hospital after being stabbed by a street gang. The...

Dec. 24, 1961 - Tonight on “Bonanza,” the Cartwrights take in a young orphaned blind girl (Diane Mountford, pictured right with Dan...

Dec. 21, 1961 - Tonight on “Dr. Kildare,” a bitter, alcoholic department-store Santa is admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve. The...

Dec. 18, 1961 - Tonight on “Ben Casey,” Billy Harris (Bruce Dern) is shot three times while holding up a liquor store. He and the cop...

Dec. 14, 1961 - Tonight on “Dr. Kildare,” after his son's arm is paralyzed in a car accident, a man refuses to allow doctors to perform...

Dec. 7, 1961 - A son was born on Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Orbach (pictured at their 1958 wedding) at New York’s Lenox Hill...

Dec. 7, 1961 - Tonight on “Dr. Kildare,” a surgeon is diagnosed with a progressive paralytic disease and fears its effect on his career...

Dec. 4, 1961 - Tonight on “The Rifleman,” Lucas and Mark meet writer Mark Twain (Kevin McCarthy). Later they find out that he has a sad...

Dec. 4, 1961 - Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (pictured), star of television’s “77 Sunset Strip,” was divorced today by Mrs. Stephanie Zimbalist....

Dec. 4, 1961 - Tonight on “The Andy Griffith Show,” handyman Henry Wheeler (Edgar Buchanan, left) enters the Taylors' life, and Aunt Bee...

Dec. 4, 1961 - Many television stations affiliated with ABC canceled Sunday evening’s episode of the show “Bus Stop” because they...