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All CBS, all the time… and often controversial
The Columbia Broadcasting System was founded in 1927 as a radio network and expanded its holdings to include the CBS Television Network on July 1, 1941. The story of CBS could only be completely told in several volumes. My small capsule of CBS background will skim the surface of a very long and complicated story.
In September of 1928, William S. Paley became the president of the radio network and was the majority owner of the company. He would continue to lead both the radio and television networks for decades through the 1980s. He died at the age of 89 on October 26, 1990. It was during his tenure that CBS earned the nickname “The Tiffany Network.”
Looking back over his career and the story of CBS Radio/Television, and primarily the news operations of both, history has a favorable reputation for being fair and accurate and for bringing truth to power, especially during the 1950s, with the controversies surrounding claims of Senator Joseph McCarthy that the government and entertainment fields were infiltrated by communists who were trying to introduce communism as a way of life for the US. The Wisconsin Senator’s beliefs became known as “McCarthyism.”
In 1937, Edward R. Murrow served as director of European operations for CBS. During World War II, Colonel Edward R. Murrow served as director of a branch of the Office of War Information at Allied Force Headquarters in London. CBS and William Paley expanded coverage of the war in England with Murrow and a team of radio journalists known as “The Murrow Boys.” He would go on to become Vice President of CBS and head of CBS News operations.
In the 1940s, Murrow, in addition to his administrative duties at CBS, would also host a series of in-depth news reports called “Hear It Now,” produced with Fred W. Friendly. In 1951, the series became “See It Now.” By 1953, he also hosted an interview series with celebrities called “Person to Person.”
Meanwhile, during the early 1950s, “See It Now” began to focus on controversial subjects. On March 9, 1954, William Murrow and Fred Friendly broadcast “A Report of Senator Joseph McCarthy.” That video is shown below. Both Murrow and Friendly felt so strongly about the planned program that they invested their own money to run a full-page ad in a New York newspaper to promote the show, but couldn’t include the CBS logo.
This edition of “See It Now” helped turn public opinion against the Wisconsin Senator. In that show, Murrow offered McCarthy an opportunity to respond, which he did on April 6, 1954. McCarthy accused Murrow of being a communist and called him the “cleverest of the jackal pack which is always found at the throat of anyone who dares to expose individual Communists and traitors.” Saying that, McCarthy only added to the public’s growing negative opinion of himself, which eventually brought an end to the “McCarthyism Era.”
William Paley and Edward R. Murrow did not always see eye to eye. Paley once stated that he did not “want a constant stomach ache every time Murrow covered a controversial subject.”
Paley would also force the network to cancel “The Smothers Brothers Show” in April of 1969 for its satire of the Administration and its many anti-Vietnam War references. CBS used a little-used clause in the show’s contract to cancel the series. The Smothers Brothers held a press conference about the cancellation, and it is shown below.
Later, Paley would insert himself into CBS coverage of the Watergate story and cast a favorable light on the Nixon administration. With the recent cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” we’re now looking at a near-complete shake-up of “60 Minutes.” The current Administration is indirectly responsible for the most recent events.
I recommend viewing the 2005 theatrical film “Good Night and Good Luck,” starring David Strathaims as Murrow, or even the 2025 live TV broadcast of the Broadway play with the same title, starring George Clooney as Murrow.
Also from CBS News is the actual broadcast on CBS at the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, as Walter Cronkite narrated the reports from Dallas, Texas, as they were being released. I also include the Cronkite newscast that changed the course of the Vietnam War, as well as the day of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. There is also a very early 15-minute sponsored CBS Television Newscast anchored by Douglas Edwards.
Included in the collection below are samples or complete episodes of landmark CBS shows from the 1950s and 1960s.
Classic Television
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Red Skelton Show (1951) CBS First Episode
This was Red Skelton's first television appearance, on Oct 21, 1951, in the episode “Smokeless Sunday.” Unfortunately, this episode was probably never seen across Mid-Illinois, as there were no area TV stations on the air at that time.
The Red Skelton Show was an American comedy and variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. It became a CBS favorite for many viewers during those years. In the ratings, it ranked just behind Gunsmoke and The Ed Sullivan Show.
Over its run, the show won three Emmy Awards, including Best Comedian for Skelton, Best Comedy Show in its first season, and an award for comedy writing in 1961. Skelton also won a Golden Globe for Best TV Show in 1959.
Mr. Skelton appeared at the Palmer Civic Center in Danville in the early 1980s and brought the house down! He also made several public appearances before his show in and around Danville, including at the local K-Mart, where he bought props for his show later that evening.
The scene is from the first monologue Red Skelton delivered on television. His comedy show began on CBS Radio on January 7, 1939.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS News (1952) Douglas Edwards with the News
The separation of news and sponsor wasn't yet fully enforced, as this news broadcast was sponsored by Oldsmobile. Pictured is Douglas Edwards.
(YouTube screen grab)
This was broadcast on CBS on Thursday, May 15, 1952, and like the video above of “The Red Skelton Show”, this also wasn’t seen across Mid-Illinois as no stations were broadcasting yet across the region.
This 15-minute newscast, anchored by 34-year-old Douglas Edwards, would have aired during the era of Edward R. Murrow, while others like Walter Cronkite were beginning. The list of veteran CBS newscasters was growing during this time, and we would see most of them working well into the 1960s, 70s, and even the 1980s.
The CBS nightly newscast aired from 1948 through 1962 and was 15 minutes long until Walter Cronkite took over in 1962. Douglas Edwards would continue doing short daytime newscasts on CBS until his retirement in 1988.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
I Love Lucy (1953) Segment “At the Chocolate Factory”
What can I say about “I Love Lucy” that hasn’t already been said? Unfortunately, complete episodes are not available on YouTube, but what I share with you here is a segment called “Lucy and Ethyl at the Chocolate Factory” from the first episode of the second season of the series titled “Job Switching.”
“I Love Lucy” aired on CBS from 1951 to 1957, when it was replaced later that year by “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” which continued through 1960. After the central Illinois TV stations went on the air, it aired on the CBS stations WCIA, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and later KWK (later KMOX-TV), and on WTVH from 1954 to 1957, then on WMBD-TV beginning in 1958. The series would also air on CBS daytime for years well into the 1960s and on local TV stations in syndication.
Ethyl (Vivian Vance) and Lucy (Lucille Ball) working at the Chocolate candy factory in a classic episdoe.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Stars in the Eye (1952) CBS Special
This one-hour-long special variety show was produced at CBS Television City on November 15, 1952, on CBS Television. This CBS promotional special was not broadcast across Mid-Illinois because local television was not available at the time.
"Stars in the Eye" includes many appearances of CBS personalities such as the stars from “Amos and Andy,” Jack Benny, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Eve Arden, Bob Crosby, Cass Daley, Marvin Kaplan, Florence Halop, Kathy Lewis, William Frawley, Vivian Vance, Art Linkletter, Giselle McKenzie, Margaret Whiting (see History of WCIA for her appearance with Ed Mason on “The Hop”), Alan Reed (voice of Fred Flinstone), Elena Verdugo (future co-star of Marcus Welby MD), Gale Gordon, Danny Kaye, Bob Sweeney (TV’s Fibber McGee) J. Carrol Naish (“Live with Luigi”), Alan Young (“Mr. Ed”), and local dignitaries, including a future US Supreme Court Justice, Earl Warren.
"Eye in the Sky" slide show
Jack Benny
Amos, Andy and Kingfish from "Amos and Andy"
Jack Benny
Hold your cursor over the screen as this slide show continues to read the description of each one.
(YouTube screen grabs)
Most of the production was written and produced by the staff of “The Jack Benny Show” (sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes), but there were segments from “I Love Lucy” (sponsored by Phillip Morris cigarettes). That is a good example of competitors teaming up to create something of even greater significance.
This priceless kinescope is of a one-of-a-kind presentation that also featured many actors as they transitioned from radio to television. As you can see above, many of the stars were still active into the 1960s and 70s!
Now, the TV networks would never air a program that boasted about its production facilities. For more on the famed Television City in Hollywood, see the tours from the following years.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Television City Tour-Part 1 (1953) CBS Edward R. Murrow
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Television City Tour-Part 2 (1953) CBS
This two-part video is a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly constructed CBS Television City that was broadcast in 1953. It was hosted by Edward R. Murrow from CBS News.
To see more about CBS Television City, click on the Historical Television Page here at Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Jack Benny Show (1953) Guest: Marilyn Monroe
The video above is a kinescope from a 1953 live episode of "The Jack Benny Show," which aired on CBS on September 13, 1953. This was the "Honolulu Trip" sketch with guest Marilyn Monroe. Interesting note: Marilyn Monroe's film studio contract didn't allow her to take payment for television appearances, so Jack Benny bought her a new Cadillac instead!
You gotta wonder what Jack's wife, Mary, thought of that kiss between Jack and Marilyn!
This episode did not appear across Mid-Illinois, as no CBS affiliates were on the air yet. Virtually none of the original live or even kinescoped episodes were offered to local stations in the syndication "package." It's quite possible this kinescoped episode was ever broadcast on local television. This video probably wasn't seen until it was posted on YouTube 12 years ago!
She's become an icon since her death in 1962, but 9 years earlier, she was a guest on "The Jack Benny Show." This is from the video of the episode linked above
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS Morning Show-opening segment (1954) CBS Host: Jack Paar
This is from the tvdays YouTube Channel.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS Morning Show-segments (1954) CBS Host: Jack Paar
Both videos above are from different days, but they help to illustrate just what morning TV looked like in the very early years.
“The CBS Morning Show” was CBS’s effort to compete with “The Today Show” on NBC. The CBS series aired from 1954 to 1957 and starred comedian and game show host Jack Paar, then the youngest in the field. This is a kinescope clip from the series, from an undetermined date in early 1954, before Paar moved to a prime-time series later in July of 1954.
Famed CBS newscaster Charles Collingwood was the newscaster. There seem to be some scattered edits, but you’re getting a good taste of morning television at that time, some 72 years ago!
Jack Paar hosted "The Morning Show," CBS's answer to NBC's "Today Show" in 1954.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
See It Now (1954) CBS Edward R. Murrow
This broadcast of CBS’ “See It Now,” hosted by Edward R. Murrow and produced by Fred Friendly, was a landmark broadcast in which they exposed the tactics of Wisconsin Senator Joseph R. McCarthy in his attempt to expose alleged Communists within the U.S. government. Murrow exposed McCarthy’s strong-arm tactics in his badgering of witnesses, his bypassing of evidence, and his bullying of those accused.
In this segment, he accused McCarthy of crossing the line between investigation and persecution. He encouraged the public not to confuse dissent and criticism with being disloyal to the country and accused McCarthy of exploiting the fear of communism to his own advantage.
Murrow used McCarthy’s own words and actions to back up his statements and ended the show with an editorial that has become one of the cornerstones of American Journalism ethics.
Edward R. Murrow, host of "See It Now" on CBS, on March 9, 1954, the news program that made the first dent in "McCarthyism" in the U.S.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
American Masters (1990) PBS Edward R. Murrow
This is a 1990 “American Masters” telecast from PBS, narrated by CBS’ Charles Kuralt. This features a bio of the late Edward R. Murrow and his influence on modern journalism.
This would have been seen on WILL-TV.
I recommend viewing the 2005 theatrical film “Good Night and Good Luck,” starring David Strathaims as Murrow, or even the 2025 live TV broadcast of the Broadway play with the same title, starring George Clooney as Murrow.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Bob Crosby Show (1956) CBS - Special Retrospective by Musicom
"The Bob Crosby Show" was one of the more popular daytime shows broadcast on CBS-TV in the mid-50s. Even though the show was live for the East Coast, it was recorded by kinescope for broadcast on the West Coast. Mr. Crosby moved to television after years on the radio. He led his own band beginning in the mid 1930s, with Doris Day becoming his vocalist in 1940. He also continued to lead a band while he was in the Marines and toured, entertaining troops during World War II. He hosted "The Bob Crosby Show" on radio for both NBC and CBS from 1943 through 1950. In 1952, he replaced Phil Harris on "The Jack Benny Program," where he continued through the end of the radio version of the show in 1955. At that time, he joined Gisele MacKenzie in her CBS daytime show and hosted his own TV show for CBS daytime through 1957. Above the show originally broadcast on April 4, 1956. It's misidentified as 1955 in the video.
From Musicom and YouTube:
"One Morning in Television City in Hollywood...from The Bob Crosby Show with the Modernaires and Paula Kelly. When a live TV performance (and arrangement) matches a recorded studio performance (of the same arrangement), the challenge begins to synchronize them and make everything sound 'present' and live.
"This show was performed on daytime TV LIVE - as a kick-off to the premiere of the 20th Century-Fox CinemaScope film, "Daddy Long Legs" which starred Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron - in 1955. There is a clip of this song, "Slue Foot" performed in the film by Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron on YouTube featuring Ray Anthony and his Orchestra (who also made a record release) with The Pied Pipers (The Modernaires' competition).
"The audio sourced used in this demo is the film soundtrack of the kinescope of the show, multi-tracked, and later during the dance number, mixed with the commercial recording as the following will explain:
"Johnny Mercer's song, Sluefoot, was also performed to sell Bob Crosby's record with The Modernaires - which they had just finished recording at Decca three weeks prior to this TV show broadcast. This also made sure the band had the arrangement fresh in their heads, charts, and in-performance!
"Because of these conditions, you are able to experience the audio simulation you will in watching this nostalgic, retro video (of a poor kinescope film)."
"The dance itself was a failure, since the kids found THIS square, and the real 'hippin' kids rocked to Elvis, not Fred Astaire's gimmicky dance."
Johnny Mercer and Bob Crosby from "The Bob Crosby Show" as broadcast on CBS on April 4, 1956.
(YouTube screen grab)
"The Bob Crosby Show" was seen over Mid-Illinois on WCIA, WTVH-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV afternoons at 2:30pm generally. Some days, it aired in segments, being pre-empted by other locally produced programs. It's unclear as to why that was so.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
A Visit to CBS Color Television (1954) for affiliates only, with Ed Sullivan
This is a color film produced by CBS that was never broadcast, but instead was revealed to CBS affiliates and sponsors, detailing the network’s attempt to bring viewers a color broadcast. This was well after the FCC’s 1953 decision to accept the technical advantages of the RCA Color system and reject CBS’s mechanical color broadcasting system, which was incompatible with the existing broadcast standard.
Note the use of the RCA TK-40 or TK-41 color TV cameras. Each one was around 5 feet long and weighed nearly 400 pounds! The president of CBS, William Paley, still bitter about the FCC’s rejection, insisted that the RCA logos and insignia be removed from the cameras and all other color equipment! To see more about these monster TV color cameras, click here.
Later, William Paley would reduce the broadcast of color programming to a minimum, thinking that it would harm the profits of RCA and NBC, which were producing color sets for the public. He later imposed an excise “tax” on commercials aired in color and on producers of shows airing on the network. He also limited CBS’s studios’ ability to be equipped for color, which forced at least one CBS star, Red Skelton, in the mid-1950s, to use an independent Hollywood studio to produce his show in color. Being charged extra for sending the show in color across CBS, Skelton would eventually return to have his show produced at CBS Television City in black and white.
It wasn’t until the mid-1960s that Paley finally lifted the near-ban on color broadcasting on CBS and then purchased other color TV production equipment rather than RCA’s.
Unfortunately, some classic TV series, popular today, would be even more successful in syndication if they had been produced in color. Others, though, retain a certain “quaintness” by still being seen in black and white. What do you think?
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS Color Eye Logo (1956)
This retrospective video of the CBS color logo was produced by Musicom. Visit the Musicom YouTube Channel linked here for other incredible videos.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Gunsmoke (1955) John Wayne’s Introduction
“Gunsmoke” was far from new in 1955, having aired on CBS Radio since April 26, 1952. The original stars included William Conrad as Matt Dillon, Parley Baer as Chester Proudfoot, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Howard McNear as Doctor Charles Adams. It was billed as an adult western, unlike others like “Roy Rogers,” “The Cisco Kid,” or “Hoppalong Cassidy.”
This Western dealt with real issues like racism, marital conflict, abuse, and violent actions. The concept was originally conceived by Harry Ackerman (“Father Knows Best,” “Leave it to Beaver,” “The Donna Reed Show,” “Hazel,” “Bewitched,” “The Monkees,” and “The Partridge Family,” among many others. His second wife was Elinor Donahue (“Father Knows Best” and "The Andy Griffith Show).
Ackerman’s original concept was called “Gunsmoke,” with the main character being Mark Dillon, starring Howard Culver in June of 1949. The idea faded initially, but producer-director Norman Macdonnell (later on “The Virginian”) and writer John Meston worked to develop an “adult” western radio series. Both Macdonnell and Meston worked the idea of an adult series into a couple of the other radio anthology series they worked on in the early 1950s.
When Norman Macdonnell approached CBS Radio with the idea, the network jumped at the chance but gave the pair only a week to develop a script. During the week, they had to find another writer, a script concept, and actors to fill the roles.
Every detail was planned out, including exaggerated sound effects, with every possible action having a strong one. Dodge City, Kansas, was chosen because they pictured it as “a suburb of hell,” open to infinite story lines. William Conrad was chosen as the sheriff, with a name similar to the original character, but Mark became Matt. Other typical characters were chosen to complement Matt Dillion and open up opportunities for more storylines. The time setting was during the years following the Civil War.
CBS objected to William Conrad because of his history of playing gangsters and killers. Because he was being used on many CBS Radio shows, he risked overexposure on the CBS Radio schedule, plus he even moonlighted on NBC under another name, Julius Krelboyne (pronounced Craw-bine).
When the idea of a TV companion series emerged at CBS, the network adopted the concept away from Norman Macdonnell and ran with it. The original cast wasn’t considered. William Conrad was short, overweight, and not exactly what the producers or the network had pictured the U.S. Marshal Dillon as. There were rumors that John Wayne was considered, but people connected to the show said that wasn’t true.
John Wayne introduced "Gunsmoke" for CBS Television, even after it had been a staple for CBS Radio for years.
(YouTube screen grab)
John Wayne was asked to introduce the show, endorsing it, even though most everyone had been familiar with the radio series for years. The video above is the result of John Wayne’s involvement in the series. Others in the cast included, of course, James Arness as U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, Milburn Stone as Galen “Doc” Adams, Amanda Blake as Kathleen “Kitty” Russell, and Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode. There were a few cast changes as the main characters left the series. Ken Curtis was Festus Haggen, Burt Reynolds was Quint Asper, Roger Ewing was Thad Greenwood, Pat Hingle was Dr. John Chapman, and Buck Taylor was Newly O’Brien.
The series ran from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, for a total of 635 episodes! Across Mid-Illinois, it was seen on WCIA, WTVH (later WMBD-TV after a network switch on Jan 1, 1958), WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KWK-TV (from 1955-1958, before an ownership change and a call letter switch to KMOX-TV in 1958).
The famous gunfight shown in the opening credits shows a street often used in westerns of the era. You're getting a backside view of James Arness.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Andy Griffith Show (1962) CBS segment Ep 1
The video above is a segment from the first episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” as broadcast on CBS on October 3, 1960. Sheldon Leonard created the concept and used it in an episode of “The Danny Thomas Show” that aired on CBS at the time (after it had aired on ABC from 1953 to 1957). In “The Danny Thomas Show,” Danny, played by DannyThomas was arrested after running a stop sign in Mayberry, North Carolina, by the town Sheriff, Andy Taylor, played by Andy Griffith.
Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Ronny Howard and Mary Treen from the first regular episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" video linkded above airing in 1960.
(YouTube screen grab)
In that episode, we were introduced to his son Opie, played by Ronny Howard. Even though Francis Bavier was in the episode, she was playing a different character. Don Knotts as Barney Fife was not in the original concept.
The series, filmed in black and white, probably adds to its “quaint charm,” airing for 249 episodes through 1968. It was sponsored by General Foods, which also sponsored “The Danny Thomas Show.” The main characters often starred in commercials during the final commercial break of many episodes, eating General Mills cereals and other products. The show was filmed at Desilu Studios in Hollywood and at the Forty Acres lot at Culver City, California.
Don Knotts was added when he lobbied Andy Griffith for a role in the series, pitching himself as a comedy sidekick. They were well acquainted at that time, having appeared on Broadway and in the feature film “No Time for Sergeants.” Andy agreed and sold the idea to the show’s producers, including Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard. Good move!
Others in the cast over the years included Howard McNear, Jim Nabors, Dick Elliott, Hal Smith, Parley Baer, Hope Summers, Betty Lynn, Aneta Corsaut, Elinor Donahue, Joanna Moore, Jack Dodson, Paul Hartman, and Jack Burns.
I mentioned earlier CBS's reluctance to broadcast color programming, with many shows probably being better in black and white, as they offered a “quaintness” that you don’t pick up in color programs of the era. This is a prime example of that. The color shows are often considered the “less desirable” episodes in the series. The absence of Don Knotts is probably the main reason for that, but I would also suggest that the later shows being in color contribute to that preference.
“The Andy Griffith Show” also spun off “Gomer Pyle” with Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton, as well as “Mayberry R.F.D.” starring Ken Barry, Jack Dodson, George Lindsey, Buddy Foster, Alice Ghostley, Francis Bavier, and Arlene Golonka.
The classic and much-beloved series aired on CBS prime time on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV. It also aired on CBS in the daytime as “Andy of Mayberry.” It also aired on many local stations in syndication and continues to air today as part of the MeTV prime-time lineup. It’s also considered to be the first of the CBS “rural comedies.”
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Beverly Hillbillies (1963) CBS "Clampetts in Court"
“The Beverly Hillbillies” was another of CBS’s successful “rural comedies” of the era. The series aired from September 26, 1962, through September 7, 1971. The critics hated it, but America loved it! The president of CBS-TV, James Aubrey, pushed the series through into the network schedule, and it quickly climbed to the top of the ratings and remained there through 1964. This episode above is episode 32, near the end of season 1.
It was created by Paul Henning, who also wrote for “Fibber McGee and Molly,” “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” and “The Real McCoys.” He also produced “Petticoat Junction” and “Green Acres,” which were based on a short-lived radio show created by Jay Sommers, titled “Granby’s Green Acres,” from 1950.
The two veteran actors led the series, with Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett and Irene Ryan as Jed’s mother-in-law, Daisy “Granny” Moses. The co-stars were Donna Douglas as Jed’s daughter Elly May, Max Baer Jr. as Jed’s sister’s son Jethro Bodine, Bea Benaderet as Jed’s sister, Pearl Bodine, and the mother of twin siblings Jethro and Jethrine (both played by Max Baer Jr.). The other regular cast members included Raymond Baily as banker Millburn Drysdale, Harriet MacGibbon as his wife, Margaret, and Nancy Kulp as Drysdale’s loyal secretary, Jane Hathaway. There were countless other guest stars over the years, with the most famous being Sharon Tate, one of the murder victims of the Charles Manson “family” in March of 1969.
“The Beverly Hillbillies” is still easily seen on a couple of nostalgia cable/satellite/streaming service networks, including MeTV. It was originally seen on CBS and across Mid-Illinois on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV. It has also been seen countless times on local TV stations in syndication over the years. It was ranked among the Top 20 most-watched TV series of all time.
This series aired on all of the CBS affiliates across Mid-Illinois and on many other stations in off-network syndication.
"The Beverly Hillbillies" cast members.
(YouTube screen grab)
It seemed to be quite common that the stars of the CBS shows, especially sitcoms, would also star in character for comercials of the sponsors products. Here Buddy Ebsen is starring in a commecials for Winston cigarettes.
(YouTube screen grab)
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Newsflash (1963) CBS Kennedy Assassination
The first reports were done using a video "Bulletin News Slide," with Walter Cronkite providing voice-over reports. Later, though, he would be seen from the working newsroom giving the latest on the events.
(YouTube screen grab)
If you or anyone you know was watching CBS on November 22, 1963, and “As The World Turns,” you would have seen what is on the video above. This was taped live from CBS. It includes many initial reports that were later discarded during the investigation. It also shows how the press was totally unprepared and limited by the technology of the day. Despite that, CBS, in my opinion, was the better source of information about the earth-shattering events.
Virtually anybody alive and over the age of 4 probably remembers what they were doing and where they were at the time. I was in the fourth grade at Hewitt School just south of Taylorville, Illinois. Our school principal, Mr.Lloyd Solomon, was checking into each classroom to relay the initial news. My teacher, Mrs. Yvonne Newlin, had a classroom radio, and we listened quietly and closely to the live reports for a while before the principal returned to the room to dismiss classes for the day. I went home and watched the coverage for days on my parents’ 1950s-vintage Sylvania “halo-light” black-and-white console TV. I also recall the live shooting of Oswald later. I still find this difficult to watch…
All of the videos in this section would have been broadcast on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS News Capsule (1963) CBS News Capsule
This video is from a recap of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on the day after. Long-time CBS Radio anchor Robert Trout introduced it. It includes a statement from the new President, Lyndon B. Johnson.
Robert Trout anchored the News Capsule above.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS Evening News (1963) CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
This is a special one-hour edition of the nightly newscast anchored by Walter Cronkite. Notably, many veteran journalists are listed at the beginning of the program, including Marvin Kalb, Roger Mudd, George Herman, Neil Strawser, Dan Rather, Lew Wood, and Harry Reasoner.
CBS Reporters 1963 slide show
Walter Cronkite
Roger Mudd
Walter Cronkite
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1965) CBS "Coast to Coast Big Mouth"
This video is from another CBS classic program that had a shaky start when it first aired on October 3, 1961. The now classic series was almost canceled after its first season. Sheldon Leonard went to bat for the show at the network and with the show’s original sponsor, Procter & Gamble, giving them a chance to grow its ratings. As luck would have it, the series’ summer reruns grew its audience, reaching a much larger audience by the time of the second season’s premiere.
Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke and Larry Matthews from "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
(CBS)
"The Dick Van Dyke Show” didn’t even place in the top 30 during its first season, but by the second season, 1962-63, it climbed to number nine for the year! The following year, it was number three, then number 7 in 1964-65, number 16 in 1965-66, its final season.
The “show within a show” starred Danville, Illinois native Dick Van Dyke as Robert “Rob” Simpson Petrie (also a fictional native of Danville), Mary Tyler Moore as his wife Laura Petrie, and Larry Mathews as Richard “Richie” Rosebud Petrie.
His “at work” cast were show-biz veterans: Rose Marie as Sally Rogers and Morey Amsterdam as Maurice “Buddy” Sorrell, both writers with Rob on the fictional Alan Brady Show. Carl Reiner (who also created the sitcom concept with himself as the star) played Alan Brady, whose face was initially never shown but became visible in later episodes. Richard Deacon played the brother-in-law of Alan Brady, as well as the producer for the show, Melvin Cooley.
Rob Petrie’s “home cast” included Jerry Paris (who also directed many episodes) as neighbor and best friend Jerry Helper with Ann Morgan Guilbert as his wife, Millie.
“The Dick Van Dyke Show,” originally titled “Head of the Family,” starring Carl Reiner, who also created the concept of the sitcom, was produced by Sheldon Leonard in association with Danny Thomas. Carl Reiner produced each year, but teamed with Bill Persky and Sam Denoff during its final season. It was filmed in a single-camera style (as in most motion pictures) in black and white at the Desilu-Cahuenga Studios in Hollywood, California.
I mention this because I refer to the lack of series produced and aired in color by CBS during the late 1950s and early 1960s in some of the videos above. It’s been reported that Carl Reiner considered producing the show in color as early as the third season, but the actual film and processing costs would have added another $7,000 to each episode. I don’t think that it would have been a good idea to go to color during the run of the show, but I do think it would have been advantageous to produce all of the shows in color as they were originally produced. Some episodes were colorized by West Wing Studios in 2016. They were shown on CBS as special broadcasts during that season.
“The Dick Van Dyke Show” aired on CBS from October 3, 1961, through September 7, 1966, when the producers and stars voluntarily ceased production. It was also seen on CBS daytime during the mid-1960s and in local TV syndication for years. It is now available on a dedicated channel of constant episodes, the Filmrise Dick Van Dyke Channel.
It was originally seen on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV across Mid-Illinois.
Two of CBS's most popular sitcoms aired in the daytime in the 1960s. "The Andy Griffith Show" was retitled "Andy of Mayberry" when it entered syndication, and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was retitled "The Dick Van Dyke Dyatime Show."
"Andy of Mayberry" aired on CBS daytime from September 21, 1964, to September 11, 1970, at 10 am CT, with
"The Dick Van Dyke Daytime Show" aired from August 16, 1965, to September 5, 1969, at 10:30 am CT. Both shows reverted to their prime time names after the original series ended.
(from the Facebook group "Classic Television Shows")
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS News (1968) Walter Cronkite Calls for US to leave Vietnam
It was in February of 1968 that Walter Cronkite called for the US military to leave Vietnam. Here is the statement he made as an editorial on the CBS Nightly News. President Johnson said after that if he’d lost (the support of) Walter Cronkite, he’d lost middle America.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS News (1968) Walter Cronkite/Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Report
Walter Cronkite on the “CBS Evening News” reporting Martin Luther King’s assassination. His report detailed the shooting and the nation’s reaction to the tragedy.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1969) CBS The Never Aired Episde
This is the final show that was never shown on CBS, which canceled it because of the network's claim that the producers didn't deliver the show on time (for the network to review before it would air). The real reason was network censorship of the show's controversial inclusion of objections to the Vietnam War and other topical subjects such as civil rights.
The network caught wind of a potentially troublesome sketch with David Steinberg, plus Pete Seeger's performance of a very strong anti-war song.
In this video, Tom and Dick introduced their final show produced by the comedians, which CBS left unaired.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Smothers Brothers Show Cancellation Press Conference (1969)
From YouTube and the Smothers Brothers YouTube Channel
"In 1969, CBS abruptly canceled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The network cited an unrelated contractual violation as the reason for the cancellation, but many people believe that the real reason was the show’s political content. CBS executives had become increasingly unhappy with the show’s satirical sketches, which often poked fun at the Vietnam War and other social issues.
"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour had been a platform for free speech, and its cancellation sent a message to other broadcasters that they should be careful about airing controversial content.
"The cancellation of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was a watershed moment in the history of television. The show’s demise showed that even the most popular shows were not immune to censorship.
“The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is still remembered today as a landmark show that challenged the status quo. The show’s cancellation was a major setback for free speech, but it also helped to pave the way for more open and honest discourse on television.”
If you watch the final segment with comments from Tom, Dick, and the other cast members and writers, you'll hear something interesting. According to both Tom and Dick, they were "fired," not canceled. They took CBS to court and won, so CBS had to pay everyone for another season, since the network had just signed a contract for one more season. For those of you keeping score, Stephen Colbert was "canceled," not fired. CBS probably felt that by saying the show was losing money, they could justify the "cancellation" to the public and avoid admitting it was indirectly done to appease the Administration and secure approval of the merger of Paramount and CBS, while reducing "blowback" from viewers. So how did that work out?
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Classic Radio
Click on the image to watch the video from YouTube
CBS News-Chicago (2016) CBS Radio Signs off after 100 years
This report aired on CBS Chicago, reporting the sign-off of CBS News Radio.
During the Summer of 1976, when I was between years at Western Illinois University, I worked at WTAX/WDBR Radio, owned by Sangamon Broadcasting and Shelby Harbison, in Springfield, Illinois. I did a little of everything during that Bicentennial summer, mostly with WTAX(AM). One week, I’d do the afternoon and evening drive newscasts for both WTAX and WDBR. Another week, I’d fill in for the afternoon jock shift on WTAX, where I would jock an open format of MOR music, local news reports, conversations with newsman Coley Cowan, and meet the top-of-the-hour CBS Radio Newscasts. It was a union shop, but I would spin records and play carted spots with the engineers inserting the network news.
The only guidance I got on the format was “to go directly to music after a spot set.” It was one of the most enjoyable radio station shifts I ever had. I’d play music from big band to contemporary MOR to segments from old comedy radio shows like Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, and others. I would get a sports update and chat with Coley at the bottom each hour. Keep in mind, I know nothing about sports, but Coley was great to talk with on any subject. Then I would program up to the top of the hour; I’d give the ID, and they would bring up CBS News. Hearing that CBS News Sounder was really special, as I’d heard it for years on great radio stations like KMOX, WBBM, and others. I really felt like “the big time!”
For WDBR newscasts, I would cut up CBS newscast reports and air them as part of those newscasts. I’m not sure that was “legal,” but that’s what I was trained to do, and I did it. I would later shift over to WDBR and jocked weekends, recording talk tracks for broadcast on Saturday for Sunday afternoon airtime through the Fall. I learned so much at WTAX, and many there would serve as mentors to me for years to come. I left not because I wanted to, but because the weekly trips back home from WIU and the weekend shifts at Taylorville’s WTIM/WEEE became too much for me. I was planning to continue at the Taylorville station when I finished at WIU, so that’s where I would invest my efforts as a PD for the automated WEEE, which was soon to become a CHR/Oldie station.
During the summer of 1977, personal life changes would take me away from my hometown to work for Sangamon Braodcasting when the company purchased WDAN/WMBJ(later WDNL) in Danville, Illinois, in September of 1977. Once again, I would hear the CBS News sounder right before WDNL went on the air in late October. I was running the board on WDAN, airing a mix of music almost entirely (as I was told not to speak on WDAN unless necessary, since I would become a jock on WDNL) until the CBS Radio Mystery Theater aired. On Friday nights, I’d be on the board for high school football games, airing commercials and producing and (would speak) in reporting the nightly recap of area scores.
I’ll always connect the CBS News sounder with the events mentioned above…
Announcing...
I’m now associated with a new radio consulting company called “Open-Source Radio Group.” Their website states: “At Open-Source Radio Group, we believe in the power of open, flexible radio formats that give stations the freedom to create unique sounds without constraints. Our professionally programmed music formats are tailored to local markets, blending familiarity and innovation to connect with listeners.”
My association focused on developing a mass appeal format for radio listeners whom contemporary music formats have left behind. “Doug Quick’s Golden Classics” is available to small-market, low-power, and large-to-medium-market radio stations with HD channels and offers stations ultimate program flexibility, with 100% of the commercial time going to the station. Each format is available in three service tiers. It offers a station an automation-ready, custom, personality-driven format with music from the mid-60s, 70s, and early 80s. For more information, click on the logos above.
So, what does Doug Quick's Golden Classics sound like? Click on the Video above for a sample!
NEW AUDIO!
Recorded May 31, 2026
This is a one-hour sample of "Golden Classics" with complete songs, and only the commercials are edited out. The call letters and the radio station are for demonstration purposes only and does not exist.
TV Time Capsule
In this rerun from November 2025, you'll find a treasure trove of additional historical artifacts from Danville, Illinois' original TV station, dating back to December 1953.
During the month of June, enjoy this rerun of the "TV Time Capsule" from Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum!
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will appear here soon.
Click on the NWS logo above to get the Lincoln, IL site and/or
click on the links below the logo for the latest weather story and current radar view of Mid-Illinois.
Support the National Weather Service! Contact your Congressional Representatives
CBS News when it was honored and respected as the jewel of the "Tiffaney network" and featured America's most trusted man, Walter Cronkite. It appears that's no longer the case.
PLease SUBSCRIBE to my
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Latest TV
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Headlines
More Shake-Ups at CBS, This Time with 60 Minutes
2026-0604
Trouble had been seen at “60 Minutes” for over a year after President Donald Trump sued the show over its editing of a 2024 interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. This was part of broader changes at CBS News following Weiss's appointment as editor-in-chief in October 2025 by the parent company, Paramount, after David Ellison became the network’s corporate leader.
Ellison’s company, Skydance, joined with CBS’s parent company, Paramount, which later paid $16 million to settle the Trump lawsuit. This upset some people at “60 Minutes” and indirectly led to the “cancellation” of the popular, ratings-leader “CBS Late Night,” with host Stephen Colbert, last month. Colbert had called the settlement “a big fat bribe.”
Discord at “60 Minutes” burst into public view last Thursday, when Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski announced their adjustments designed to build “a show that succeeds in the 21st century.”
They brought in Nick Bilton, a former technology writer and filmmaker with no television journalism experience, as executive producer, replacing Tanya Simon, who had worked on the show for 30 years and had been in charge for about a year. They also fired correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, whose report about Trump administration deportees in a Salvadoran prison was suddenly pulled by Weiss before airing a month later, and Cecilia Vega. Many did, though, see that report as it was broadcast on Canadian TV before it aired in the US.
Four days later, at the Monday morning staff meeting, Pelley confronted Bilton, saying he had little relevant experience for the job. When Bilton told the meeting that “Bari loves this institution,” Pelley countered, according to accounts of recordings: “She’s murdering ‘60 Minutes.’ She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it, and she’s doing exactly that.”
That led Weiss, Bilton, and others to call Pelley in for the Tuesday meeting, after which he was fired.
Update 2026-0609: Questions remained after Scott Pelly left the “60 Minutes” fold about the other veteran staffers and whether they would leave too. After a memo was released by Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker to fellow “60 Minutes” staff, expressing their own anger and grief over the recent firings ordered by the new CBS News editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, and the new executive producer, Nick Bilton. In the memo, the three stated that they had difficulty deciding whether to leave or remain.
They have now announced they will remain with the news magazine, saying, “We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die.” The memo from the group, though, went on to state, “If we can continue doing the work that made the show what it is - committing acts of independent, fearless journalism and storytelling - we’re here for it. If not, we leave.” There’s no doubt the next few months will be challenging for the remaining veteran staff members. But perhaps an even larger challenge for Bari Weiss, whose influence we all know she is under.
Nexstar Makes a Claim That They Hope Will Clear a Path
to the Merger
Updated 2026-0522
Nexstar is fighting back against the filings of DirecTV and the attorneys general of several states hoping to end the merger of Nexstar and Tegna that amounts to over $6 billion.
Nexstar is now asking for an expedited appeal with the 9th Circuit Court saying that the preliminary injunction filed by a federal judge is damaging the company's future health.
Nexstar is accusing the US District Court's ruling is an overreach. Nexstar claims that their need to increase their station holdings well beyond what the FCC rules permit is causing "unrecoverable harm" to both companies. and their future operations.
Previous Information:
The merger would bring the total number of stations owned by one company to a number previously deemed illegal under FCC rules and regulations. The merger, according to the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, “is illegal and will give Nexstar and Tegna the ability to control and raise prices, fire journalists, and dominate the media landscape.” He went on to describe the merger as “a rotten deal for consumers, for workers, for affordability and for our local news.”
Nexstar currently owns/operates the TV stations WICA and WCIX (Champaign, IL) WMBD-TV and WYZZ (Peoria-Bloomington, IL) WTVO and WQRF (Rockford), WHBF-TV and KLJB(Quad Cities), WTTV, WTTK, and WXIN(Indianapolis), KPLR-TV and KTVI (St. Louis, MO).
Tegna currently owns/operates the TV stations WQAD (Quad Cities), KSDK-TV (St. Louis) and WTHR, WALV-CD (Indianapolis).
The Radio Hall of Fame Announces its Class of 2026
2026-0522
The Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 were announced earlier this week. They include at couple of former WLS DJs probably familier to Top 40 radio listeners in the 70s and 80s.
The group includes:
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Boomer Esiason: WFAN-AM/FM, New York City
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Dennis Green: COO, Sun & Fun Media/Key Networks
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Shotgun Tom Kelly: SiriusXM's '60s on 6
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Helen Little: WLTW-FM, New York City
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Bob Pittman: Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.
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Rickey Smiley: Urban One/Reach Media
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Charlie Van Dyke: Major-market Top 40 radio DJ, former WLS
and station voice for WICS
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Fred Winston: Chicago Top 40 radio, WLS
Congratulations to them all from Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum.
FCC Plans to Auction FM Radio Construction Permits to
Perspective Radio Owners
2026-0512
The Federal Communications Commission plans to auction FM radio construction permits beginning in February 2027.
“Auction 114 would make available for bidding construction permits for vacant FM radio channels,” it said in the announcement.
It will offer 132 CPs, including 99 not previously offered; 33 of them were offered at auction before but unsold.
Most are Class A or Class C; there is a Class B1 in Illinois. That is for 96.9FM licensed to Mattoon, IL. Save your money, though, the bidding begins at $25,000.
WICS and WICD Changing Owners Again
Updated for more information
2026-0527
The Transfer of Ownership application of the sale of WICS/WICD from the FCC,
The application also includes details on the continuation of the "shared services agreement" with GoCom Media in the operation of WRSP, WCCU, and WBUI.
2026-0331
Springfield based Illinois Times reported the proposed sale of WICS, Channel 20, Springfield and WICD, Channel 15, Champaign. This sale follows an earlier sale of the stations just over a year ago to Rincon Broadcasting (president Todd Parkin) which purchased the station duo among other TV stations previously owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Others in original sale included ones in Hannibal, MO-Quincy IL (KHQA), Kirksville, MO-Ottumwa, IA (KTVO). That sale to Rincon was reported to total $29.5 million.
Compare that to the most recent announcement of the sale being $116.5 million for the Springfield and Champaign stations and many others located in Memphis, TN; Omak-Okanogan, Washington; Milwaukee, Wi; Lincoln, NE; Prosser, WA; Sandpoint, ID; Colville, WA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Grangeville, ID; Pendleton, OR; Spokane, WA; Lewiston, ID; New Bedford, MA; Yuma, AZ; Richland, WA; Yakima, WA; Coeur D’Alene, ID; Tulsa, OK; and Paducah, KY. The sale also includes a number of translator stations that rebroadcast the main stations owned by Rincon to hard to reach areas in the Rockies.
The purchaser is Community News Media LLC. It’s website states that it is “a leading multimedia company providing local news and information through a wide range of print, digital, and radio products...”
The local newspapers owned by Community News Media in our region include the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, The Iroquois Times-Republic (Watseka, IL), Piatt County (Monticello, IL) Journal-Republican, and Fountain County Neighbor (Covington, IN).
Local radio stations owned by Community News Media include: WDWS (AM-FM), WHMS (FM), Champaign, IL; WKIO (FM), Monticello, IL; WDAN (AM), WDNL (FM), WRHK (FM), Danville, IL, WSOY (AM) and (FM), WDZ (AM), WDZQ (FM).
This purchase of the Rincon TV stations by Community News Media, LLC, appears to be the first venture into television for the company.
The ownership change is pending FCC approval.
More TV stations could appear soon in the Central Illinois market
2026-0319
In Illinois, filings were made for new TV transmitters including 1 each for Springfield and Champaign.
The applications for both Springfield and Champaign were submitted by the same person/group, whose address is 26 N. Halsted, Chicago.
That is the home of Weigel Broadcasting. Two of the contacts listed in the application are with Weigel Broadcasting.
Weigel is the owner of MeTV, MeTV Toons, Movies!, H&I, StartTV, Story Television, Catchy Comedy, Dabl, West, and MeTV+. I'm assuming it's their intention to place all, or at least some, of those TV networks on each designated channel as digital subchannels.
In Springfield, the application is for Channel 14 with a power of 15kW from a tower/antenna height of 489-feet.
For Champaign the group is seeking Channel 33 with a power of 15kW from an tower/antenna, 450 feet high.
So far there has been confirmation of the approval of the petitions for those new low power TV transmitters.
Now Streaming Nationally
Click on the image above to listen to MeTVFM. It's the popular music companion to MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, America’s #1 all classic television network. Launched at 87.7FM in late February, 2015, MeTVFM features a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music.
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 written narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
Cowboy G-Men (1952) Syndicated
Laredo (1966) NBC “Rendezvous at Arillo”
Happy Days (1974-2005) ABC 30th Anniversary Special, Part 1
Happy Days (1974-2005) ABC 30th Anniversary Special, Part 2
Love American Style (1972) ABC “Love and the Television Set”
Classic Radio
Larry Ware Interview with Harry Harrison
WIL Radio (1961) St. Louis with Dan Ingram
WIL Radio (1962) St. Louis with Ron Lundy
WABC Radio (1970) New York with Ron Lundy and Dan Ingram
Fame is the Name of the Game (1966) NBC Pilot
Movin' On (1974) NBC
ABC Sunday Night Movie (1978) “Crash”
CBS Tuesday Night Movies (1979) “Speedtrap”
ABC Sunday Night Movie (1980) “Fighting Back”
ABC Summer Movie (1980) “Make Me an Offer”
CBS Special Movie Presentation (1981) “The Other Victim”
Search for Tomorrow (1953) CBS
Art Linkletter’s House Party (1955) CBS Art Linkletter
The Match Game (1962), NBC Gene Rayburn
The Match Game (1964) NBC Gene Rayburn
You Don’t Say (1963) NBC Tom Kennedy
Art Linkletter’s House Party (1966) CBS Art Linkletter
Temptation (1968) ABC Art James
The Baby Game (1968) ABC Richard Hayes
Classic Radio
The Breakfast Club (ABC Radio and Television) Don McNeil
The Fugitive (1967) ABC The Judgment Parts 1 & 2
The Fugitive (1963) ABC Pilot episodes
The Prisoner (1968) CBS Pilot
Secret Agent (1965) CBSD opening credits for the US version of the UK series
The Outer Limits (1995) Showtime
The Time Tunnel (2002) Unsold Pilot Update
Classic Radio
The Steve Allen Show (1956) NBC Elvis
The Ed Sullivan Show (1956) CBS Elvis
Ozzie and Harriet (1958) ABC Rick Nelson
Dick Clark’s Beech-Nut Show (1959) ABC Paul Anka
American Bandstand (1963) ABC The Orlons
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There” in color
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beatles Complete Live Performance
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2026) CBS The Final Show Paul McCartney
The T.A.M.I Show (1964) Theatrical Film Assorted Performances
Hollywood Palace (1964) ABC Host: Dean Martin The Rolling Stones
The Ed Sullivan Show (1967), CBS, The Rolling Stones, “Let’s Spend the Night (Some Time) Together.”
Shindig (1964-66) ABC Variety of Performances
Hullabaloo (1965) NBC hosted by Gary and Jerry Lewis
The Hollywood Palace (1966) ABC Host Arthur Godfrey, The Mama's and the Papa's
The Smothers Brothers Show (1968) CBS The Association
This is Tom Jones (1969) ABC Tom Jones with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Midnight Special (1975) NBC Rod Stewart and Faces
Classic Radio
WRLL, 1690AM, Berwyn-Chicago, IL (recreated 1958) countdown
KFWB, 980AM, Los Angeles (1958) B. Mitchell Reed and Bill Ballance
KXOK, 630AM, St. Louis (1961) Jack Elliot
WLS, 890AM, Chicago (1960s) Compilation of “The Lost 60s.”
WLS, 890AM, Chicago (1967) Art Roberts
KXOK, 630AM, St. Louis (1968) Johnny Rabbitt
Next Regular Update Comes July 3rd
to be announced....
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
National Academy
of Television Arts
and Sciences
Mid-America Chapter
Silver Circle Award
Winner 2013
Doug Quick, the 2017
Medium market TV
Best TV News Anchor Sliver Dome Award from the Illinois Broadcasters Association
for his work with WCCU-TV
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're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site. 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.