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.
Note that this website displays best on a full-size monitor, desktop, or laptop computer. If you are using your phone, use the "desktop" view. You can zoom in on the page if needed. Also, you may have to sign in to YouTube to view some videos. Some browsers do not allow some embedded videos to play, so click on the "YouTube" logo on the video to view it from YouTube.
Doug Quick anchoring the WCCU Newscast on July 23, 2021. The complete video is below.
Doug Quick
Radio/TV Broadcaster/Historian, Author, Webmaster
complete bio available here.
Check out a proposed new feature at Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum! It's called "TV Time Capsule" and will feature a monthly look at a TV listing from the past. It could be from the TV Listing Magazine above or an area newspaper listing. I comment and explain "points of interest" on each page, tell the cover story, and also list the stations included in the listings. This month's listings are from June 13, 1954, and include stations from the Quad Cities to St. Louis and Peoria to Champaign. Then let me know if you want this feature to continue in the months ahead.
Click on the TV set above to get to the "TV Time Capsule,"
or click on TV History, and just below is a link!
Videos of the Week
Now through January 28th, a selection of "winners and losers" in the game to qualify for a position in a network's primetime schedule. I know I usually change the posting on Saturday evening, but I won't be able to do that until midweek next week.
Each year, the networks work with producers to prepare new TV shows that will hopefully attract a large audience. Pilot shows are produced, often financed by the networks and the producers, to create a show that will sell a concept, along with the characters in the show that will generate viewership for the networks. The pilot show is the initial story explaining the plot and the characters, from which many storylines can be written to maintain or grow the audience in the future.
Many pilot shows have been created over the years, with most never being sold to a network and thus never being seen by viewers. Many of these unsold pilots starred major stars or up-and-coming stars.
So, over the period ending sometime during the week of January 27th, I present several pilots, including some very early episodes of what would become a hit show that is slightly different from what you might remember. Plus, a pilot starring an east central Illinois comedian/actor failed to get attention, and another one includes stars who seemingly disappeared.
If you like videos, you should visit my YouTube channel. Explore it, give me a "LIKE" for the videos you watch, and subscribe to it. Click on the "YouTube" logo below to go directly to my Channel.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Nero Wolf (1959) CBS Unsold Pilot
This unsold pilot was the first TV proposed to carry on the story of "Nero Wolf," a brilliant fictional detective who never left his brownstone apartment on West 35th Street in New York. He was also obese and eccentric. Instead of leaving his comfortable confines, he had a young assistant, Archie Goodwin, who was just as brilliant as he was but also dapper, confident, and always had an eye for women. He also narrated the cases for the viewer.
Rex Stout created the characters in over 70 novels and short stories beginning in the 1930s. The characters were also featured in films and radio shows. In this proposed series, Nero was played by Kurt Kasznar, and Canadian actor William Shatner had the role of Archie.
Not much is known about this pilot show, but it was the first of several throughout the years. The most successful was in 1981 when "Nero Wolfe" starred William Conrad as Nero (who else?), and Lee Horsley played Archie. One interesting note is that in the 1959 version, guest star George Voskovec also appeared in the 1981 version as Fritz Brenner, Nero's cook.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills (1962) CBS First Pilot
This proposed TV series title was later changed to "The Beverly Hillbillies." It aired in its final form on CBS from September 1962 through September 7, 1971. It was the first of several "rural comedies" produced by Filmways Productions and Al Simon. I have more about Al Simon below, as he produced "My Boy Goggle."
You'll recognize this as a slightly different version of the first episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" that aired on September 7, 1962. The major stars were Buddy Ebson as widorer Jed Clampet and Irene Ryan as his mother-in-law, Granny. Jed's daughter, Elly May, was played by Donna Douglas. Bea Benaderet was Cousin Pearl Bodine, the mother of twins Jethro and Jethrine, played by Max Baer, Jr.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
My Boy Goggle (1964) CBS Jerry Van Dyke
"My Son Goggle" was another attempt to capitalize on the personality of Jerry Van Dyke. From his initial exposure on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," in which his real-life brother gave him the show, one would guess that he had a great career with hosting his own show. That exposure continued with him guest starring on other shows, including CBS vehicles such as "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Judy Garland Show," and many others. He also would star in several pilot shows, including one featured several weeks ago on Videos of the Week.
Another show that did air that was hosted by Jerry Van Dyke was "Picture This," a quiz show airing on CBS in 1963. After starring in several unsold pilots, he landed on "My Mother the Car" for NBC. After the cancellation of "My Mother the Car," he did "Accidental Family" featured on Videos of the Week just a few weeks ago. A link to that series is under "Previously on Videos of the Week." After canceling that one-season series, he reunited with Andy Griffith on the drama "The Headmaster." In this one, he played a coach and a physical education teacher at a high-performance private institution, the Concord School. This one only lasted one season. During the 1960s, he did five movies for Universal, including "McLintock" with John Wayne, Patrick Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, and Yvonne DeCarlo.
Danville, Illinois' own Jerry Van Dyke as Google's dad, and his wife, played by Jeanne Rainier. It is a family sitcom that failed to sell on CBS. NBC would later buy "My Mother the Car" and would never live that one down...even 60 years later.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Run Jack Run (1966) Unknown Network
David Astor and Adam Keefe star in "Run Jack Run," an unsold pilot series produced and directed by Edward J. Montagne Jr. and filmed at Universal Studios. If that name Montagne sounds familiar to you, he was also behind the "The Phil Silvers Show," "The Tall Man," and McHale's Navy." He also directed the two movies based on the "McHale's Navy" TV franchise. But that's not all. He produced several films for Universal that starred Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, and Tim Conway.
The cast members were David Astor and Adam Keefe, for whom neither I could find any information. The guest cast included Robert Middleton as Smiley John Grizioni. Middleton was often a supporting player in "The Honeymooners" and many other TV shows, almost always playing a "heavy."
PLease SUBSCRIBE to my
YouTube Channel
Click on the picture above of my Facebook Channel Home Page and click on the Subscribe button like the one below.
Much of the information on the history of TV pages on this site comes directly from my 2016 book "Pictures on the Prairie: The First Ten Years of Mid-Illinois Television." There are many more pictures on this site than in the book as space was limited.
2024-1208 Updated TV Today-Quincy page with updates and corrections for the PBS stations in the Iowa Public TV group. I also added TBD to the KHQA-TV lineup. Viewers in the Quincy area who watch KHQA should note that the local newscasts are now produced at the Sinclair station from Kirksville, MO/Ottumwa, Iowa station KTVO instead at the former WICD studios in Champaign, IL.
2024-1217 Included a late report published in "TV Technology" with the latest news on "Next Gen TV" and what can be expected soon. There are links to that report on the TV Today page in markets where ATSC 3.0 is being broadcast.
2024-0106 More about the offerings soon to come in some markets with ACTS 3.0 or NextGen TV channels available. Read more from the links below.
2024-0111 Updated TV Today pages for Chicago, Mid-Illinois, Quincy, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Peoria. Several new subchannels were added to each page, and I updated facilities for several stations. I also rebuilt the mid-Illinois page to correct a significant omission, the listings for WCCU/WRSP, and hopefully explain the ATSC 3.0 distribution of channels. They are now complete and updated. If you, by chance, see any errors or changes or have any questions, please let me know.
Latest TV
Headlines
The most watched TV networks-the network ratings from Variety.com
Despite what you may be seeing and hearing, you will probably be surprised by the lists in both total viewers and the 18-49 demo.
NextGen TV and getting more from TV
2024-0106 Take a closer look at all the interactive, built-in features that make your favorite over-the-air shows, news, and live events even more entertaining.
ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV Announces New Devices, Interactive Channels, and Enhanced Programming
2024-0106 At the forefront of the NextGen TV revolution is the debut of new ATSC 3.0 receivers, set to be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. These devices range from premium NextGen TV sets to budget-friendly accessories that upgrade existing Android and Fire TV devices. Among the most anticipated launches is the ADTH USB receiver, developed by Tolka, which offers a cost-effective way for users to access NextGen TV. Future updates will include an offline model and software enhancements for existing devices, further broadening accessibility. Expect to see more about the latest NextGen TV offerings at Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum!
2025-0111 ATSC Promotes New NextGen TV Gear, Expanded Services at Consumer Electronic Show
The group will demo enhanced video and audio 3.0 services, interactive gaming, more channels, and TV receivers at the Las Vegas technology show and convention
2025-0115 EdgeBeam Wireless ATSC 3.0 Datacasting Hits the Ground Running EdgeBeam Wireless, the joint venture of E.W. Scripps Co., Sinclair, Gray Media, and Nexstar Media Group aims to deliver datacasting service nationwide via ATSC 3.0
2025-0118 The 1973 CBS Saturday Primetime Lineup returns! The Catchy Comedy Network (a sister network to MeTV owned by Chicago's Weigel Broadcasting) has recreated a classic lineup of hit shows to be broadcast during what is now considered impoverished prime-time real estate, but from where these shows were at the top of the ratings in their day.
Catchy Comedy TV will broadcast the original shows each Saturday in their original time slots. Beginning at 7 p.m., "All in the Family " will be followed by "M*A*S*H," "Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bob Newhart Show," and "The Carol Burnett Show."
So, just how big are these shows? During the 1973-74 Season, "All in the Family" was number one. "M*A*S*H" was number four, "Mary Tyler Moore Show" was number nine, "The Bob Newhart Show" was number 12, and "The Carol Burnett Show" was number 27. All were reaching those high water marks on a night virtually ignored by the networks today!
The next issue is where "Catchy Comedy TV " is seen across mid-Illinois. The answer is probably not what you want to hear, but here it is....NO WHERE!
If you examine TV TODAY at the top of this page and examine each market looking for what station is broadcasting "Catchy Comedy TV," you will only find it in the Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis markets.
The good news is that it is available throughout the area on a streaming service called "Frndly TV." There are 39 other channels available, including the entire Weigel Broadcasting line-up!!
This is not a commercial for Frndly TV, and I receive no compensation for this recommendation. However, if you're interested in a great selection of TV channels in Hi-Def, here's an opportunity for you.
Click here for the chance of 40+ channels for as little as $9.99 a month. Plus, you can stream two screens at a time, unlimited DVR recordings, and you can keep those for 3 months. Click here or on the logo below for 7 days FREE and more details.
2025-0118 Allen Media TV Stations lay off all meteorologists from their newsrooms.
Allen Media, owners of area stations WTHI-TV, Terre Haute, IN, and WLFI-TV, Lafayette, IN, will lay off all of their local weather personnel, choosing instead to hub local weather from The Weather Channel, which Allen Media partly owns.
Allen Media owns 36 stations across the country. The company was reportedly behind on the stations' network compensation fees recently. The group appears to still be under financial pressure from its creditors.
The total number of layoffs is estimated to be around 100. To see more information about each affected station, go to TV TODAY at the top of this page and click on the individual markets.
2025-0109 Another Allen Media Layoff announcement for KADN, Lafayette, LA.
More layoffs have been announced for this NBC/FOX/MyTV affiliated station. This comes after cutting nearly two dozen jobs over the last nine months. Click on the title above for details.
If you've missed any of the "Videos of the Week" or "Classic Radio" recordings, you'll find them here. Unfortunately, there's no written narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
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
The Perry Como Christmas Show (1953) CBS
Holiday Time at Disneyland (1962) NBC
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1963) Christmas Episode
Dean Martin Christmas Show with the Sinatras (1967) NBC
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) CBS
The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait (1978) ABC
SNL-It's a Wonderful Life: The Lost Ending (1986) NBC
Classic Radio
WWII Broadcast hosted by Bob Hope and Bing Crosby (1943) All Radio Networks
A Date With the Angels (1957) ABC Christmas
The Danny Kaye Show (1963) CBS Christmas
The Dean Martin Show (1968) NBC Christmas
The Hollywood Palace (1968) ABC Christmas Show
Andy Williams Christmas Special (1971) NBC Christmas
Classic Radio
It's a Wonderful Life (1947) CBS Radio
The Lawrence Welk Show (1959) ABC Christmas
The Lucy Show (1962) CBS Christmas
Hollywood Palace (1965) ABC Christmas
Bob Hope Christmas Special (1969) NBC
The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1972) CBS Christmas
Sonny and Cher (1973) CBS Christmas
Mork and Mindy (1978) ABC Christmas
Classic Radio
Jack Benny Program (1938-1943) NBC Radio Christmas
New Year's Eve Party with Guy Lombardo (1957-58) CBS
New Year's Rockin' Eve (1976-77) ABC
New Year's Eve with Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians (1978-79) CBS
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (1981-82) ABC
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve '86 (1985-86) ABC
Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve 2012 segment (2012-13) ABC Dick's Final Goodbye
Dick Clark's New Year's Eve - 50 Years a Retrospective (1973-2022)
Recycled 1973 New Year's Eve Show (1973) WDBR Rich Styles
Recycled 1976 New Year's Eve Show (1976) WDBR Rich Styles/Sam Kaiser
Playhouse 90 (1958) CBS Color "The Nutcracker"
Accidental Family (1967) NBC Jerry Van Dyke
Commercials/Promos of the 1960s
Mighty Mouse Playhouse (1964) CBS
Operation Petticoat (1977) ABC "Life in the Pink"
Classic Radio
Doug's Last Day (2002) WDNL(D-102)
WKRP in Cincinnati (1980) CBS "Baby It's Cold Inside"
Friday Night Videos (1984) NBC
Classic Radio
All Night Old Time Radio Shows- Mega Mystery Compilation-11 Hours
Nero Wolf (1959) CBS Unsold Pilot
The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills (1962) CBS First Pilot
My Boy Goggle (1964) CBS Jerry Van Dyke
Run Jack Run (1966) Unknown Network
Three's Company (1976) ABC Unaired First Pilot Show
Bob Sirott (1977) WLS, 890AM Chicago
The next update will be a little later than usual. The next update will be sometime during the week of January 27th.
So far the plan is to include additional unsold pilot shows, a few more losers and winners!
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
This pilot show of "Nero Wolf" from 1959 co-starred a young Canadian actor, William Shatner who would go on to star in one of the most famous episodes of "The Twilight Zone" called "Nightmare at 20-thousand Feet" and about 7 years later a sci-fi classic that made him famous.
The stars of "Run Buddy Run" are pictured here. They are David Astor and Adam Keefe. I have not found any information on either of these guys. If you know anything about them, please send me a note using the form below.
Others in the cast included Raymond Bailey as bank president Milburn Drysdale and Nancy Kulp as secretary Jane Hathaway. Harriet MacGibbon played Drysdale's wife, Margaret, and Frank Wilcox played Mr. Brewster, an oil company executive.
This pilot show explains how the Clampett family moved to Beverly Hills. The most apparent changes in the final version of the series pilot from the first pilot shown here included a different music score, the theme with Earl Scruggs being absent, and the most annoying difference was the excessive use of the laugh track.
The series aired on CBS affiliates across mid-Illinois, WCIA, WMBD-TV, KHQA, WTHI-TV, and KMOX-TV.
"My Son Goggle" was a rare pilot show that did air on the CBS schedule once during the Summer of 1967 under the umbrella title of "Vacation Playhouse." In this pilot, Jerry Van Dyke, as Bill Wallace, is faced with some alleged school disciplinary problems with his son Cameron, also known as "Goggle and played by Teddy Eccles. Jerry's wife and Cameron's mom was Kate, played by Jeanne Rainier."
You might recognize some names in the credits connected to other shows. The executive producer was Al Simon, who also produced "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "Mister Ed," "The Jack Benny Program," "I Love Lucy," "I Married Joan," and "The Bob Cummings Show." As president of Filmways Productions, he oversaw "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Petticoat Junction," and "Green Acres" and this pilot show "My Son Goggie." The assistant director, Mark Evans, was also associated with many other TV series, including "M*A*S*H."
One other notable character playing a thug was Len Lesser, who appeared as a character actor in many movies and TV shows over the years but is probably best known as "Uncle Leo" on Seinfeld. Marilyn Hanold, who was a regular on the "Sid Caesar Show" during the 1963-64 season, played the woman who tricked the guys into the attempted murder.
The narrator and newscaster's voice was long-time cartoonist Paul Frees, who also voiced many Jay Ward Production cartoons, including Rocky and Bullwinkle and related animated series.
This pilot led into a potential continuing story, much like "Run Buddy Run," featured the week of October 12, 2024, on Videos of the Week. The star witnessed an event in the aired series that some underworld characters wanted to hide. In "Run Jack Run," the two lead characters were involved in an assassination attempt on a retiring underworld character. Retaliation motivated the bad guys to do away with the two lead characters who could testify against them. From the initial pilot, the plot would move on to be a "chase" situation comedy.
Unfortunately, it didn't sell to a network or sponsor. However, I found it entertaining and certainly better than "Run Buddy Run."
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Three's Company (1976) Unaired First Pilot Show
This hit show and sometimes edgy sitcom aired on ABC from March 15, 1977, through September 18, 1984. Before it aired on the network, it was conceived a bit differently than the finished product. This is the original pilot with John Ritter as David (later Jack Tripper), who was studying to become a filmmaker. His career was changed in the final version to his studying to become a chef.
The Ropers were still the same, played by Norman Fell and Audra Lindley as George (changed to Stanley) and Helen. The two female roommates were played by Valerie Curtin as Jenny and Suzanne Zenor as Samantha. In the final series, the women were played by Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow and Joyce DeWitt as Janet Wood.
Those weren't the only changes. This pilot's single-floor apartment was originally in Hollywood, but in the final version, it was multi-floored and in Santa Monica.
It's been reported that three pilot shows were produced for ABC. It seems that ABC saw that this original British show titled "Man About the House" could be made a little more risqué, and that's what they did. You'll notice the comedy pushed the envelope as double entendres poured out of the show during production. Once the show was finalized, it aired on ABC for a limited run in the spring of 1977. It was later chosen as part of the 1978-79 fall season and ended up as the number three show for that, the show's first season. That's quite an accomplishment!
Unfortunately, the YouTube contributor used a free file conversion software version, leaving an occasional watermark in the video. I posted it anyway, following the rule that even a bad video is better than none. I hope you enjoy it.
"Three's Company" aired over central Illinois on WAND, WRAU, WIIL (later WBAK-TV), and KTVI.
Classic Radio
Click on the image to listen to the video directly from YouTube.
Bob Sirott (1977) WLS, 890AM Chicago
Ellis Feaster tells the story of former WLS DJ Bob Sirott and his journey through radio and television. This aircheck is from WLS from June 16, 1977, when he filled in on the morning show for Larry Lujack.
Ellis is the morning jock at Z88.3, Orlando, FL, and is heard throughout central Florida on their network of stations. He maintains an incredible selection of radio airchecks and archives them on his YouTube Channel.
This aircheck is from the Kenneth Hawkins Collection.
The guy in the middle of the picture is Robert Middleton. He often played crooks, gangsters, and the like, but he was frequently on "The Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, where he played either a police chief or the boss of the bus company where Ralph worked.
On the left is Len Lesser (the guy in the sling, whom you might recognize as a semi-regular in one of the most popular and highest rated sitcoms of all time, "Seinfield" where he played Uncle Leo.
In later pilots and throughout the series John Ritter's name was Jack Tripper. Here in the first pilot is hame was David.
The female room mates in the first pilot were played by Valerie Curtin and Suzanne Zenor shown here.
Mr. Roper had a different first name too. Here in the first pilot they were George and Helen Roper. George was later changed to Stanley.
Bob Sirott on the air at "Music Radio-WLS."
Pictured here with Bob Sirott, is the world famous WLS DJ from the early 1960s, Dick Biondi.
Bonus Video
Here is a bonus video from July 23, 2021. I know it's cold now, but I will post this from the middle of summer to help warm you. The news items include a story from the Illinois State Fairgrounds, too. This newscast features yours truly doing double duty as anchor and weathercaster for a one-hour newscast.
Be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe by clicking here!
