Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum
Welcome to Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. This website, documents in detail the history of each of the viewable TV stations past and present across mid-Illinois in text, photos and videos as well as each station's current status. This site also includes some local radio history, along with automated analog formats also again told in pictures, videos and text.
Doug Quick
Radio/TV Broadcaster/Historian, Author, Webmaster
complete bio available here.
Videos of the Week
This week through the evening of Saturday, March 23, I spotlight some classic early daytime TV game shows. Below, there are eight examples of some well-known and some perhaps not quite as well-known daytime game shows.
It's hard to believe now, but daytime television schedules during the first forty years were filled to the brim with game shows and daytime dramas. Here are just a few of the game shows.
These will be online through late Saturday, March 23
Supermarket Sweep (1967) ABC Host: Bill Malone
"Supermarket Sweep" was America's first traveling game show. Here's how it worked: The producers would travel to locations around the country and conduct the show with local participants, primarily married couples, and record for broadcast later. Each couple would load up their shopping carts within a certain time, and the couple that collected the most dollar amount would get to keep their groceries and return the next day to compete again. The host was Bill Malone.
The logistics of creating a show like this would require at least one day to tape a week's worth of shows, allowing the store to return to regular business as soon as possible. Plus, a winning couple of contestants could return for the taping of the next session(s). Doing it in one day allowed the production to be torn down, moved to the next city, and set up again the following week.
"Supermarket Sweep" was shown on ABC and over mid-Illinois, weekdays at 10 am on WTVP, WTVH, and KTVI. It aired from December 20, 1965, through July 14, 1967. The shopping game show would reappear later in syndication in the 1970s.
Say When (1961) NBC Episode 5, Host: Art James
This installment of "Say When" was broadcast by NBC on Friday, January 6, 1961. It was hosted by Art James and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions and in color. This is a monochrome kinescope. The show was reportedly similar to the early incarnation of "The Price is Right."
"Say When" premiered on January 2, 1961, and ran through March 26, 1965. It aired at 10 a.m. CT on weekdays on NBC stations WICS, WCHU, WICD, WEEK, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
The Price is Right (1958) NBC Host Bill Cullen Announcer: Don Pardo
NBC premiered "The Price is Right" on November 26, 1956. This episode was broadcast on March 24, 1958, and seen on WICS, WEEK, and KSD-TV. It was seen for nine years on daytime TV early on, through September 6, 1963, hosted by Bill Cullen.
From a local standpoint, an East Central Illinois native auditioned for the early version's host role. Dick Van Dyke auditioned but did not get the job. As it turned out, it was probably best.
Dick, in his book, "My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business," describes what was going on during that time. Early on, he was the announcer of "The CBS Morning Show," joining anchors Walter Cronkite and Charles Collingwood on July 18, 1955, and going head to head with NBC's "Today" with Dave Garroway. Six months later, Cronkite was removed from the show, perhaps because of his schedule for hosting the evening news and his show"You Are There."
Dick went to work one morning and found his office had been taken over by a new producer, and "all of my belongings in the hall." He was assured it wasn't a message of the network not wanting him and was told not to "read anything into the fact they didn't have a place to put me." (The rule, I have found, is never to believe a statement like that from anyone you work for) Dick complained to the CBS vice president of television, Harry Amerly, but never got his own office. A year later, he was removed from "The CBS Morning Show."
In 1956, he hosted the Saturday morning "Cartoon Theater" with Heckle and Jeckle. (A sample of that show has been featured on Videos of the Week at least a couple of times over the last 20 years.)
During that time, he was also a panelist on the "To Tell The Truth" panel show for Goodson-Todman Productions. Even though he seemed to have been ignored by the producers, he was considered as emcee for a new show they were developing called "The Price is Right."
He practiced the show in a studio many evenings with people off the street as "test" contestants. He recalled going home and telling his wife, Margie, "This is the dumbest idea. People are just trying to guess how much things cost. That's a show?" The producers chose Bill Cullen as host, and it became a TV game show classic for decades.
(Above): Dick Van Dyke pictured at the "Price is Right" set auditioning for the role as "host" to the long running game show. This is likely taken in 1957.
"The Price is Right" has the distinction of giving away more merchandise than any other game show. This Goodson-Todman Production has been seen in several different formats over the years, but this early version was much different from what it is now.
Announcer Don Pardo was recognized as NBC's main network New York announcer, a role he began in the 1950s and continued through the first half of "Saturday Night Live!"
Video Village (1960) CBS Host: Jack Narz Announcer: Kenny Williams
"Video Village" was one of my favorite game shows as a kid. It was issued as a Milton Bradley board game with a dice cage, similar to the one used on the show but much smaller. Of course, I had to have the board game, and I received it one Christmas. I was probably 6 or 7 years old.
Meanwhile, at the actual game show, the studio was a life-size street with blocks that contestants would "travel" as they approached the business district and would choose prizes from the businesses whose storefronts would include windows with the merchandise. The contestants were married couples, with the husband stepping through the spaces along the "streets." At the same time, the wife would roll the dice with the help of assistant Joanne Copeland(the second Mrs. Johnny Carson) or Eileen Barton. The original host was Jack Narz, who Monte Hall later replaced.
There were other versions of "Video Village," including a nighttime version and a junior version for kids that Monte Hall and Stubby Kaye hosted.
Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley produced the CBS game show. The daytime version aired July 11, 1960, and aired through June 15, 1962.
Over central Illinois, it was seen on weekdays at 10 am on WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV. Video Village wasn't seen on WCIA. Channel 3 aired "Know Your Neighbor," a locally produced show, at 10 am, when it aired across the network. A year later, in 1961, the show was at 9:30 am, and the same thing would happen with WCIA broadcasting "Know Your Neighbor." I checked the listings from June of 1962, the last month of the network broadcast, and again, you guessed it, "Video Village" was pre-emptied by WCIA for "Know Your Neighbor."
The obvious question is, how did I see the show when WCIA didn't air it? The logical answer would be that I was more familiar with the "Video Village Junior" show, which aired on Saturday mornings at 9 am on all of the CBS stations, including WCIA, from September 20, 1961, through June 16, 1962.
Hollywood Squares (1966) CBS Pilot Show Host: Burt Parks
Here's a rare video of the "Hollywood Squares" pilot show, produced on August 12, 1966. The show was as we remember seeing it. However, the host was Burt Parks, a longtime game show host and Miss America master of ceremonies. Peter Marshall was the host by the time the show's daytime version premiered in the fall of 1966. This pilot was produced long before Paul Lynde became a "permanent" center square occupant.
You might notice that the squares were loaded with actors who were starring in CBS shows. This pilot was produced at CBS Television City for CBS and Four Star Productions, but as it turned out, CBS rejected the show and it was recast with Peter Marshall, with an entirely new lineup of stars. It was produced for NBC at the Burbank studios.
I'm sure you remember "Hollywood Squares," a giant tic-tac-toe game with celebrities representing each square and two contestants obtaining an "x" or "o" by agreeing or disagreeing with answers to questions given by those celebrities.
This NBC daytime version aired from October 17, 1966, through June 20, 1980. It also was syndicated to local stations from 1972-1980. The show returned from 1983 to 1984 as part of the Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour. Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley produced it.
The daytime version was shown on WICS, WCHU, WICD, WEEK, WGEM-TV, WTWO, and KSD-TV during its run.
Concentration (1958) NBC Host: Hugh Downs
"Concentration" had the longest continuous run of any network game show, premiering on NBC on July 28, 1958. It was also the last NBC network show to convert to color. The conversion happened when host Hugh Downs talked of the conversion and pushed a button on the game show set that instantly changed the video from monochrome to color.
The object of this game was to solve a series of drawn puzzles that illustrated a well-known phrase or saying. A puzzle would be revealed as two contestants matched pairs of squares on a wall display with the same prize. That prize would be posted on a board behind the contestant, who would pair each by remembering the location of the two small squares. The contestant who solved the puzzle during his/her turn would win the prizes.
Longtime host Hugh Downs continued hosting the daytime version of the NBC show and was a main anchor of the Today Show from 1962 to 1971. When Downs left "Concentration" in 1965, several other hosts continued, including Jack Barry, Art James, Bill Mazer, Ed McMahon, and Bob Clayton. Beginning in 1973, Jack Narz hosted a syndicated version.
"Concentration" aired on NBC daytime and was seen across mid-Illinois on WICD, WCHU, WICD, WEEK, WTWO, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
The Match Game (1964) NBC Host Gene Rayburn
This edition of "The Match Game" aired on January 22, 1964. The original version was much different than the one we saw through the 1970s. The host was the same, and the six celebrity panelists would continue. In this early version, we see Betty White, Peggy Cass, Joan Fontaine, Bennet Serf, Henry Morgan, and Robert Q. Lewis. Gene Rayburn was the longtime host of the original and the more recent version. The announcer for both versions was Johnny Olson.
Goodson-Todman Productions produced both old and new versions. Bert Kempfort wrote and orchestrated the theme song for the original, which reached the top of the MOR popular record charts.
Only eleven of these original "Match Game" shows still exist. One 1969 show was recorded in color on video, while the others were all on black-and-white kinescopes. What you see above is one of the kinescopes.
"The Match Game" aired on NBC from December 31, 1962, through September 20, 1969, and was seen on WICS, WCHU, WICD, WEEK, WTWO, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
Treasure Hunt (1958) ABC/NBC Host: Jan Murray
"Treasure Hunt" premiered during prime time on September 7, 1956, and aired on ABC through May 24, 1957. After a short time-out, it returned on NBC daytime with prime run airings from August 12, 1957, through December 4, 1959. The host for both runs was Jan Murray.
Two contestants would participate in a question-answer segment, with the winner choosing one of 30 "treasure boxes" containing prizes they would win.
This show is from the NBC run airing on WICS, WEEK, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
(Source: YouTube and various posters and contributors.
They may be removed without notice)
Classic Radio
Truth or Consequences (1947) NBC Radio
Life Magazine described the radio version of "Truth or Consequences" as "the nearest thing to insanity in radio today." The magazine also described the series as "boisterous, rowdy, and full of custard-pie humor."
Contests from the audience would be asked questions by Ralph Edwards that were impossible to answer and, with their wrong answers, would be set to complete outrageous tasks. Examples included washing an elephant, kissing a skunk, or making a phone call heard by the audience (and listeners) that would propose marriage or some other significant act. Some stunts would go on for weeks or even months, with the most outrageous ones getting national attention and featured in newsreels and seen at theaters. A town even met a challenge to change its name to "Truth or Consequences, New Mexico."
The host, Ralph Edwards, began at KROW in Oakland, California, and hitchhiked to New York with no money or job. Within three weeks, he was on the radio as an announcer with several different shows. Soon after, he developed the format of "Truth or Consequences." By 1941, "Truth or Consequences" was a major national hit for NBC Radio. It would air sponsored by Duz Laundry Detergent from August 17, 1940, through June 24, 1950, and it would continue with other sponsors through 1956.
By the way, Ralph mentions "The Walking Man" contest. That was a popular contest held on NBC Radio in which listeners would guess the identity of the source of the sound of footsteps. A lucky radio listener won a jackpot of over $22,000 from entries that identified Jack Benny as "The Walking Man."
This stunt show moved to television in 1950-51 for CBS, then NBC, and in syndication from 1952 on and off through 1974. Ralph Edwards and Jack Bailey originally hosted it. By 1956, it was hosted by Bob Barker, who continued on NBC and in syndication.
(Source: YouTube and various posters and contributors.
They may be removed without notice)
"Pictures on the Prairie: The 70th Anniversary of Central Illinois Television" by Doug Quick
I am a frequent contributor to the Prime Life Times monthly newspaper. You can see all of my columns in back issues at Primelifetimes.com.
My latest column is in the March edition of Prime LifeTimes. Watch this space for future articles.
I hope to have a new edition of my book "Pictures on the Prairie: The First Ten Years of Mid-Illinois Television" e-book set for purchase sometime during the Spring of 2024.
Previously on Videos
of the Week...
If you've missed any of the "Videos of the Week" or "Classic Radio" recordings, you'll find them here. Unfortunately, there's no narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
The Red Skelton Show (1954) CBS
Wlat Disney Disneyland (1958) ABC From All of Us to All of You
Bob Hope Christmas Special (1976) NBC
Fibber McGee and Molly (1940s) NBC Radio
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (1978-79) ABC
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (1981-82) ABC
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (1993-94) ABC
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Clip (2011-12) ABC Dick's Final Appearance
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1965-66) NBC
Rhoda (1976) CBS New Year's Eve
Smother's Brothers Comedy Hour (1967) CBS
WDBR Recycled 1976 with Rich Styles
The Green Hornet (1966) ABC Van Williams
The Green Hornet (1966) ABC "The Ray is for Killing"
Batman (1966) ABC Guests: Van Williams, Bruce Lee
Batman (with Batgirl-1966) ABC Yvonne Craig
The Green Hornet (1948) Classic Radio episode
The Green Hornet (1940) Gordon Jones, Keye Luke
Batman and Robin (1949) Robert Lowery, Johnny Duncan
Camp Runamuck (1965) NBC
Hawk (1966) ABC Burt Reynolds
The Dana Carvey Show (1996) ABC Dana Carvey
Davis Rules (1991) ABC/CBS Randy Quaid, Jonathan Winters
Ferris Bueller (1990) NBC Charlie Schlatter, Jennifer Aniston
Jack Benny Program (1950) CBS First Show
Oldest Surviving Video Tape Recording (May 22, 1958) WRC-TV
The Ford Show (1961) NBC Guest: Sheri Lewis
Johnny Midnight (1960) Syndicated Edmund O'Brien
ABC News (1971) Anchor Harry Reasoner
TV Commercials/Promos (1977) ABC
The Howdy Doody Show (1958) NBC
Popeye Cartoons (1938) WCIA Paramount Studios
The Three Stooges Film Festival (televised 1960s) WICS/WCHU/WICD
Hercules Cartoons ()1960s) WTVP(later WAND)
Bugs Bunny (1943) WICS/WCHU/WICD
Popeye Cartoons (1960s) WICS/WCHU/WICD
DIck Tracy Show Intro (1960s) WTVP(later WAND)
Dick Tracy Cartoon (1960s) WTVP(later WAND)
Space Angel (1960s) WTVP(later WAND)
Woody Woodpecker (1960) ABC/Syndication
Huckleberry Hound Show (1958-62) Syndicated
Deputy Dog (1960-62) CBS/Syndicated
Rocky and Friends (1959-64) ABC/NBC/Syndication
The Little Rascals (1922-44) Theatrical Features/Syndicated
King Leonardo/King and Odie (1960s) CBS/Syndicated
Candid Camera (1960) CBS Arthur Godfrey
The Martin Short Show (1994) NBC
The Name of the Game (1971) NBC Robert Stack
Aircheck (1987) WCIA
Reach for the Stars (1982) WCIA
The Hop Interview with Margaret Whiting-Part 1 (1964) WCIA Ed Mason
Weather Rewind (2014) WICS Joe Crain
Station Break/ID (1991) WAND/ABC
Commercial Reel (1980s) Doug Quick
Dave Shaul's 25th Anniversary (1987) WCIA
Schlitz Beer Commercial (early 1960s) Gene Robinson
The Hop (early 1960s) Ed Mason Interview
Paul Davis/Mr. Roberts (1970s) WCIA
WAND Aircheck (1982) ABC Monday Night Movie
WAND Aircheck (1982) Late Night Vegas
WAND Aircheck (1985) ABC during 45/85
WICS 60th Anniversary Logo Montage (2014)
70 Years of WICS (2023) Doug Quick Interview
Roundtable PA Program (1983) WICD
6pm News Segment (1999) Urbana Sweetcorn Festival
Sunrise Clips (1998-2002) WICD
Dick Van Dyke Show (1962) CBS Classic Episode
WKRP in Cincinnati (1982) CBS To Err is Human
NewsRadio (1995) NBC Pilot Show
Mary Tyler More Show (1973) CBS Walter Cronkite
Lou Grant (1977) CBS Pilot Show
The Green Hornet (1966) Episode 2
Goodnight Beantown (1983) Open/Close
WLS Radio (1973) John Landecker
Hollywood Squares (1966) NBC Pilot
Truth or Consequences (1947) NBC Radio
New Stuff on this Site
I added program schedules to WTVP and WCIA pages with some overlap. That overlap includes other stations in some cases. You'll see listings for WICS and KSD-TV on some of the other listings posted. It's complicated! It's best seen on a large-screen computer monitor. Don't try to read them on your phone!
More pictures added to WTIM/WEEE history.
Additional info was added to the History of WBLN and WCIA. Two more station profiles were added to WCIA from 1954-55 and 1955-56 from Broadcasting Yearbook. Also, network microwave and coaxial diagrams were added to show the paths of network video. I added information on an early morning ABC show from Chicago that was broadcast on WBLN for a single year. See that info, plus a sample of the TV show.
Updated Chicago TV Today and the listings for WCHU-LD
There are still questions about WTVK as far as its status in the Peoria market. If you know anything, please let me know.
I updated the TV Now Pages to show some new sub-channels that are and will be added to the lineups of many of the channels throughout the region.
The "Twist" channel is no more as of Jan 1. So, in many markets, it's being replaced by other selections. More on that during the month of January. The added channels include "The365," which is a channel featuring shows that include those programs of interest to African Americans. There is also "Outlaw," a channel that includes Western movies and shows. To see more, go to their respective websites below:
Click on The365 and Outlaw for more information.
A newspaper story from 2/13/1966 was added to the WTVP/WAND page announcing the call letter change for the following day. Also, an ad sponsored by WDZ Radio announces an appearance of the new WAND VP and general manager Len Carl. See both on the History of WAND page.
An ad published in the Broadcasting Yearbook in 1954-55 placed by the WTVH-Peoria national advertising firm has been added to a gallery on the History of WTVH.
Chicago finally has ATSC 3.0 TV that's broadcast from the facilities of WBBM-TV. The only major network affiliate NOT broadcasting a Next Generation signal is WLS-TV. Go to TV Now and Chicago to see the changes throughout the market.
Coming soon is a complete narrative on the history of the 1980s edition of WBLN-TV and its change into WYZZ. Be watching for it!
Next Week on
Videos of the Week
Beginning late Saturday, March 23, 2024, I'll present eight more classic game shows as Videos of the Week!
They will include the pilot show for a long-running CBS panel quiz, "To Tell the Truth."
Also the initial introduction of Bob Barker on a classic game/stunt show that premiered in the 1950s.
And that's just the beginning! Be sure to stop into the Museum next week, beginning late Saturday evening, March 23, 2024!
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at: