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 local radio history and automated analog formats, again told in pictures, videos, and text.
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Doug Quick
Radio/TV Broadcaster/Historian, Author, Webmaster
complete bio available here.
Doug as WCCU News Anchor in 2021
Videos of the Week
Thanksgiving week, the week after next, while not quite the most popular holiday of the season, still offers a string of possible storylines for any TV show, especially sitcoms.
This week, I present several sitcoms about Thanksgiving whose plots are virtually timeless. I also include one of the classic Warner Brothers short animated cartoons with Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, along with a prime-time animated series called "Calvin and the Colonel," featuring the creators of a classic radio and television sitcom. There's also the presentation of a Kraft Music Hall featuring Perry Como (you'll probably hear him a lot this Holiday season).
If that's not enough Thanksgiving this week, check back next week for more turkey day surprises!
If you like videos, you should visit my YouTube Channel. Explore my channel, give me a "LIKE" for the videos you watch, and subscribe to the channel. Just click on the "YouTube" logo below to go directly to my Channel—and enjoy!
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952) ABC Thanksgiving
I bring you Thanksgiving with another episode from "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." The action occurs the day after Thanksgiving, with a discussion of leftovers.
This episode aired on ABC on November 28, 1952, so it was not seen in mid-Illinois when there weren't any TV stations in Central Illinois. It didn't appear regularly across most of mid-Illinois until October 1, 1958.
This video may be the first time it has been designated as available to viewers across mid-Illinois.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Looney Tunes (1954) Syndicated Daffy Duck Thanksgiving
This would have been one of the syndicated cartoons by Warner Brothers that went from first-run Movie Theater presentations to TV syndication.
Stations in Central Illinois that aired cartoons from the Warner Brothers syndication catalog were WICS, WCHU, and WICD, among others in other TV markets.
In this one, Daffy Duck protects a Turkey from being hunted by Porky Pig... or does he?
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Kraft Music Hall-Perry Como Show (1961) NBC Thanksgiving
This NBC black-and-white kinescope was presented live and in color for the 1961 Thanksgiving Holiday, but it was recorded for affiliates who could not air the show live.
Dorothy Collins, Gwen Verdon, and the Kane Triplets are guests on this show. Series regulars include Don Adams, Kaye Ballard, Paul Lynde, and Sandy Stewart.
This show would have been seen live and in color (from Burbank, California) on WICS, WEEK-TV, WCHU, WICD(in black and white), WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
The TV listings from the Bloomington Pantagraph showing the broadcast date-time (November 22, 1961, 8pm (CT) and channels of the actual "Kraft Music Hall-Perry Como Show" you can view above.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Calvin and the Colonel (1961) CBS Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving episode is from an interesting Radio/TV series from the 1930s through the 1950s. "Amos and Andy" was one of the most controversial TV series of the golden era. In the 1930s and 40s, it was one of the most popular radio series. It was created by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, who played the two leading black characters of the radio series who were actually white.
When the TV series came along, they were finally played by black actors. Many of the characters and situations were considered degrading to African Americans.
Even though the TV series was a rating winner for CBS, it was canceled and continued to air in syndication through the early 1960s. (WTVP aired reruns for several years)
This animated series took the voices of the creators of the original series, and instead, the characters were played as a gathering of animals. The Colonel was a fox, Calvin was a bear, and their lawyer was a weasel. By making the cast a bunch of animals, this animated series avoided the racial issues of the original series. Even considering the changes, it might still be considered culturally outdated and offensive to some.
This particular episode drew on an original script written for an Easter broadcast of "Amos and Andy" in 1953. It also starred Frank Nelson (of the "Jack Benny Program") in the same role as the original radio broadcast.
This Thanksgiving episode is quite funny. It appears it aired well before the holiday on November 7, 1961. It was the last new episode until January 1962. "Calvin and the Colonel" aired on ABC from October 3, 1961, through September 22, 1962, and on WTVP, WTVH, and KTVI.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
That Girl (1967) ABC Thanksgiving
"That Girl" starred Marlo Thomas, a former co-star of "The Joey Bishop Show," as Ann Marie. In real life, she was Danny Thomas's daughter. Ann was a struggling actor in New York who lived quite well, considering her financial status. Oh, I forgot—this is television.
Ann's boyfriend, Don Hollinger (played by Ted Bessell), was a junior executive at a news magazine. From September 8, 1966, through September 10, 1972, "That Girl" aired on ABC. Ann and Don became engaged in 1970, but the couple never got married because of its cancellation. I'll leave the jokes to you, but I always felt sorry for Don.
This Thanksgiving episode deals with who spends the Thanksgiving holiday with whom. It includes the parents of both Ann and Don getting together at Ann's apartment.
"That Girl" was seen across mid-Illinois on WAND, WIRL(later changed to WRAU), WJJY, and KTVI.
Marlo Thomas and Ted Bessell are the stars of "That Girl." Marlo got her start on a program produced by her dad, Danny Thomas, that starred Joey Bishop, "The Joey Bishop Show" aired in 1961-62. Her character was written off during the second season of the sitcom.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Dharma and Greg (1997) ABC Thanksgiving
"Dharma and Greg" aired on ABC from September 24, 1997, through April 30, 2002, for 119 episodes. It starred Jenna Elfman as Dharma Montgomery and Thomas Gibson as Greg Montgomery. Their marriage was unusual in that it took place on their first date.
On a topical note, series semi-regular Alan L. Rachins, formerly of "LA Law," passed away on November 2 this year. He was cast as Dharma's 1960s radical hippie father.
ABC aired "Dharma and Greg," being seen across Mid-Illinois on WAND, WHOI, WBAK, and KDNL.
The listings for November 26, 1997 from the Bloomington Pantagraph Newspaper
Click on the image to watch the video directly on YouTube.
The King of Queens (2001) CBS Thanksgiving
This series was called "A modern-day Honeymooners " and starred Kevin James (as Doug) and Leah Remini (playing Carrie) as a middle-class married couple (the Heffernanas) from Queens, New York. Jerry Stiller (as Arthur) played Carrie's father. This episode was from the third season and aired on November 20, 2000.
"The King of Queens" aired on CBS for nine seasons for 207 episodes. It was seen accross mid-Illinois on WCIA, WMBD-TV, KHQA, WTHI-TV, and KMOV.
Classic Radio
Click on the images to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Lucky Strike Program-Jack Benny Program (1952) CBS Radio Thanksgiving
The Jack Benny Program, "The Lucky Strike Show," moved from NBC Radio to CBS on January 2, 1949, as part of the CBS "talent raid" on NBC stars. By coming to CBS, the legal arrangement was such that the income tax was much lower with CBS than with NBC. He continued with CBS Radio with current programs through May 22, 1955. After that, "The Best of Benny" aired, featuring former shows from 1953 to 1955. That run was sponsored by State Farm Insurance, which would go on to sponsor his TV shows during the late 1950s through the early 1960s.
This Thanksgiving show features Jack with his stable of regulars. This episode includes Mary Livingston (Jack's real-life wife), Bob Crosby, Artie Auerbach as Mr. Kitzel, Dennis Day, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Don Wilson.
This episode of "The Lucky Strike Program" aired on CBS Radio on November 30, 1952, and was probably heard on KMOX, WBBM, WTAX, WSOY, WDAN, WDWS, WMBD, and WTHI.
Television Christmas Gifts for the Family...
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I hope to have a new edition of my book Pictures on the Prairie: The First Ten Years of Mid-Illinois Television available as an e-book sometime in 2024.
Latest Updates to the Museum
2024-1114 New material for the history of WTIM/WEEE. That material includes a newspaper ad announcemeing the new Frisina Hotel studio open house from 1956. Also some revisions and additions to the photo gallery from the 1950s-early 1960s.
2024-1116 Updated a few subchannels on TV Today as Scripps News ceased operations and was replaced with other avialble sub-channel networks.
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 Untouchables (1960) ABC Robert Stack
The Fugitive Finale (1967) ABC
Classic Radio
AFRTS Saigon Gary Owens (1967) August The Music Guy Show
ABC Movie of the Week title sequence (1969) ABC
Wake Me When it's Over (1969) ABC
But I Don't Want to Get Married (1970) ABC
Honeymoon With a Stranger (1969) ABC
Classic Radio
WLRW, 94.5FM Champaign, IL (1969)
In Name Only (1969) ABC Movie of the Week
Night Slaves (1970) ABC Movie of the Week
Assault on the Wayne (1971) ABC Movie of the Week
The Feminist and the Fuzz (1971) ABC Movie of the Week
Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones (1971) ABC Movie of the Week
Killdozer (1974) ABC Movie of the Week
Classic :Radio
WLS 890AM Chicago (1972) John Landecker
M Squad/Police Squad Comparison
McHale's Navy (1962) ABC Pilot Ernest Borgnine
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1963) ABC The Nelsons
Temperatures Rising (1972) ABC Cleavon Little
WILL-TV Pioneer Stories (2010)
Classic Radio
WIL Radio, 1430AM, St. Louis (1962) Ron Lundy Show
Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1952) DuMont
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1967) ABC
The Invaders (1968) ABC Roy Thinnes
Ark II (1976) CBS Saturday Morning
Otherword (1985) CBS Sam Groom, Gretchen Corbett
Classic Radio
Best Old Time Radio Sci-fi shows
Fall Promo Collection (1961) ABC
Fall Premiere Special (1963) ABC
Fall Premiere Special (1970) ABC
Fall Premiere Special (2021) ABC
Fall Premiere Special (1961) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (1966) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (1968) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (2001) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (1969) NBC
Fall Premiere Special (1984) NBC
Fall Premiere Special (1998) NBC
Fall Premiere Special (2019) NBC
Fall Premiere Special (1964) ABC
Fall Premiere Special (1974) ABC
Fall Premiere Special-Part 1 (1979) ABC
Fall Premiere Special-Part 2 (1970) ABC
Fall Premiere Theme-Part 1 (1985) ABC
Fall Premiere Theme-Part 2 (1985) ABC
Fall Premiere Special (1970) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (1974) CBS
Fall Pre;miere Special (1976) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (1981) CBS
Fall Premiere Special (1965) NBC
Fall Premiere Special (1975) NBC
Fall Premiere Special (1978) NBC
NBC 60th Annioversary Special (1986)
WICD Summertime Memories from 2001
Jack Benny Program (CBS) Feb 22, 1959
Temperatures Rising (ABC) 1972
Classic Radio
Dick Clark's Beech-Nut Show (1958) ABC
ABC Movie of the Week (1971) Intro
WICD Local Commercials from December 1987
Classic Radio
Drake Chenault 1974 Hit Parade
Trackdown (1958) CBS Robert Culp
Run Buddy Run (1966) CBS Episode 1
Run Buddy Run (1966) CBS Episode 8
Route 66 (1960) CBS Pilot Show
It's About Time (1966) CBS Pilot Show
Classic Radio
Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (1967) NBC Special and Pilot
TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes (1985) NBC
Supertrain (1979) NBC "A Cup of Kindness"
Classic Radio
Illinois Radio ID Airchecks (2000-2024)
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (originally in1958) ABC
My Three Sons (1960) ABC (season one, all episodes)
Courtship of Eddies Father (1970) ABC (ep 1-7)
Love American Style (1972) Pilot for "Happy Days"
Classic Radio
KXOK Radio Halloween Monster Rally (1964)
KXOK Radio and Johnny Rabbitt "Midnight Confessions" (1968)
The TAMI Show (1964) Theater Pay-Per-View H.D.
#1 Shindig! (1964) ABC The Beatles and More
#2 Shindig! 60s Superstars (1964-66) ABC Compilation
#1 Where the Action Is (1966) ABC August 11
#2 Where the Action Is (1966) ABC September 26
Hullabaloo (1965) NBC Gary and Jerry Lewis
American Bandstand 40th Anniversary (1992) ABC Dick Clark
Classic Radio
WLS AM890 Chicago (1989) New Year's Montage
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952) ABC Thanksgiving
Looney Tunes (1954) Syndicated Daffy Duck Thanksgiving
Kraft Music Hall-Perry Como Show (1961) NBC Thanksgiving
Calvin and the Colonel (1961) CBS Thanksgiving
That Girl (1967) ABC Thanksgiving
Dharma and Greg (1997) ABC Thanksgiving
The King of Queens (2001) CBS Thanksgiving
The Lucky Strike Program-Jack Bennty Program (1952) CBS Radio Thanksgiving
Next Week on
Videos of the Week
Starting on Saturday evening, November 23rd, it's all about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Check out a selection of complete parade broadcasts from 1976 through 2021. Plus, a classic radio broadcast from 1948, the Pepsodent Show!
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