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 Quick and Jay Leno discuss a plan for a promo featuring NewsChannel 15 News and "The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno."
(from 1995)
Videos of the Week
Click on the image above to watch a complete episode of "Space Patrol" directly on YouTube.
Space Patrol (1951) ABC
Long before Central Illinois had any local TV viewers, the ABC television network in 1951 brought what few viewers the network had, "Space Patrol" for viewers on the West Coast.
ABC's 1951-52 season included shows like "You Asked for It," "Sky King," "Make Room for Daddy," "The Lone Ranger," "The Stuart Erwin Show," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," and "Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club." None were seen at that time across Mid-Illinois.
"Space Patrol" was called a "children's show" airing during the summer of 1951 on Saturday evenings at 6 - 6:30 pm (PT). Then, from December 1951 through June 1952, the sci-fi show airs on Sundays from 6 - 6:30 pm (CT). Reruns of the show were shown to a future generation of young viewers through 1955 in syndication from coast to coast.
If you're like me and remember the kid's shows from the 60s called "Fireball XL-5," "The Thunderbirds," "Captain Scarlet," and "Stingray," you'll understand the production method used for "Space Patrol" in that the characters were string puppets shown on mostly dark backgrounds to hide the strings. It was pretty well done for the time, as the mouths and eyes of the puppets moved as well. The sets were quite good; even the rocket ship models were impressive. Those shows were produced in Great Britain by Gerry Anderson, who went on, with his wife Sylvia, to create "Space 1999." The pilot episode of that series is shown below. You can visit his YouTube Channel by clicking here.
The voices were provided by several voice-over artists whose identities probably won't trigger any memories other than that of Marvin Miller ("The Millionaire") as Dr. Peroteus.
If you're into UFOs, you know what I'm talking about when I mention "greys." That describes the physical anatomy of many "real-life aliens" sighted over the years. You'll notice a character that fits that description!
Don't write this one off. It's better than I expected, and it has sound special effects for the time. If you want to watch a colorized episode of "Space Patrol," you can watch episode 31, "Deadly Whirlwind," by clicking here.
Click on the image above to watch "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" directly on YouTube.
Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1952) DuMont Network
"Captain Video and His Video Rangers" appeared on the schedules of several stations across mid-Illinois in the 1950s. It was generally a kids show produced by the DuMont Television Network from 1949 through 1955. In television production circles, it's known as the lowest-budget television show of all time. It's reported that the show had a weekly prop budget of $25!
It was a live-action series that starred Richard Coogan as Captain Video from 1949-1950 and Al Hodge (the voice of "The Green Hornet" on radio) as the Captain from 1951-55. Others in the cast included 15-year-old Don Hastings as "the Ranger" (later a long-time actor on "As the World Turns" and brother of Bob Hastings (voice of "Archie Andrews" on radio 1945-53, NBC, and on "McHale's Navy" as Lt. Carpenter-featured in last week's Videos).
The prop master's main challenge was to devise all kinds of scientific contraptions to help conquer the evil masters of the universe. It was among the first to offer premiums to the kids watching the show. Items like plastic recreations of the weapons used, a decoder ring, or even a space helmet are products that could be purchased through Post cereal box tops.
Captain Video would be syndicated to local stations via kinescope (16mm films shot from video screens) for years, and across Mid-Illinois, it was seen on WICS and WCIA.
Click on the image above to watch "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" directly on YouTube.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1967) ABC
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" was one of TV's most popular sci-fi adventure series. It was created by Irwin Allen, the creator-producer of similar adventure shows like "The Time Tunnel," "The Land of the Giants," and "Lost in Space."
This episode above, "No Escape from Death," aired on February 19, 1967, on mid-Illinois ABC affiliates WAND, WIRL-TV, and KTVI. Even though this episode was broadcast in color, for some reason, a black and white kinescope (16mm film copy) was made that included commercials. Since it isn't a pristine copy, it remains available on YouTube so we can all enjoy it. "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" is shown on MeTV on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings at 1 am (CT). Set up your DVR to record!
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" starred Richard Basehart as Admiral Harriman Nelson, David Hedison as Commander/Captain Crane, Robert Dowdell as Lt. Commander Chip Morton, and Henry Kulky, Terry Becker, Allan Hunt, Del Monroe, Paul Trinka, Arch Whiting and Richard Bull as other crew members of the atomic research submarine, The Seaview. The series aired on September 14, 1964, and aired through September 15, 1968.
Click on the image above to watch "The Invaders" directly on YouTube.
The Invaders (1968) ABC Roy Thinnes
Similar to "The Fugitive," "Run for Your Life," and "The Immortal" are all from what I call "the running man" genre. "The Invaders" was yet another series from that same genre. In this ABC Sci-fi series, Roy Thinnes as architect David Vincent, "the running man," after he sees the landing of a flying saucer one night as he was traveling across unfamiliar countryside, he goes on to learn that the aliens have taken human form and have plans to conquer the earth. He's the only one that knows the truth and proceeds to alert the authorities.
He encountered guest stars who were often average citizens or even aliens each week. So, how did he tell aliens from ordinary earthlings? In their human form, the aliens would each have a defective little finger, slightly bent and unusable.
Like "The Fugitive," "The Invaders" was produced by Quinn Martin, who has been profiled several times over the last year on Videos of the Week. This episode, The Inquisition" includes Susan Oliver (the green girl in an episode of "Star Trek" and as a guest on just about every hour-long drama, western, from the 1960s), Kent Smith, Mark Richman, and Alex Gerry. What is shown here is the last episode produced, but does it conclude the storyline? Watch it to find out. This episode aired on March 26, 1968, across mid-Illinois on WAND, WIRL-TV, and KTVI. By the way, "The Invaders" still airs on MeTV Saturday night-Sunday morning at 4 am (CT). Set your DVR to record!
Click on the image above to watch the pilot show of "Space 1999" from YouTube.
Space 1999 (1975) Syndicated
The new popularity of Star Trek in syndication in the 1970s generated a new sci-fi series that was, to date, the most expensive show of its kind in history. The cost was over $300,000 per episode, and it's easy to see why. The special effects, the sets, and the costumes were top-notch throughout the series' run, with all 48 episodes produced from 1974 through 1976.
All three U.S. TV networks turned it down, probably because of the cost. Maybe they weren't impressed by the hardware presented by the series's British producers, but it was more likely the lack of character development. Almost all the first season episodes were already completed, making it too late to add some "personality" to the episodes, so plans were made to add more personal stories to the second season shows. Unfortunately, it was too late, and by the second season, the ratings did not see an increase, and the producers canceled the series.
It would be released in September of 1975 to an expensive promotional effort. There was much talk of the designer uniforms of the series stars; Martin Landau and his real-life wife Barbara Bain (direct from "Mission Impossible") were cast as Commander John Koenig and Dr. Helena Russell. Barry Morse (from "The Fugitive") was Professor Victor Bergman, Catherine Schell as Maya, and other crew members played by Tony Arnholt, Nick Tate, Clifton James, Zienia Merton, and Prentis Hancock. The series also included many British stars who were well-known to U.S. viewers. That list includes Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Sarah Douglas, Peter Bowles, and Christopher Lee. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson created the series. Gerry was the creator of many of the kid's sci-fi series mentioned above for the video of "Space Patrol."
The story began at Moonbase Alpha, a colony used for research built on the moon. An atomic accident brought about an explosion, which sent a deep space probe and all of the crew at Alpha out into space and out of the solar system. Of course, like on "Star Trek," they would encounter various life forms.
The hard-to-answer question is where "Space 1999" was seen across mid-Illinois or if it was at all. I found a listing for the sci-fi syndicated show on WIIL, Channel 38, and Terre Haute listings. It aired on Sunday evenings at 6 pm (CT), preempting "Swiss Family Robinson" from ABC. In St. Louis, KDNL, Channel 30, when it was just a local independent, began to air "Space 1999" on Sundays at 5 pm starting September 7, 1975.
From the September 7, 1975 edition of
the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Click on the image above to watch "Arc II" directly from YouTube.
Ark II (1976) CBS Saturday Morning
It's not often I include a Saturday morning series on the Videos of the Week, but this one just popped up out of nowhere, so it appears that someone was trying to tip me off on this "gem" called Ark II. It premiered on CBS on September 11, 1976, and aired through November 13, 1977. It was a lesson about what happens to the planet after a global war and how the earth's ecology is trashed. How topical!
It occurs in the 25th century when a traveling laboratory with a youthful crew reminds young viewers to care for their environment. The opening episode, which aired on September 11, 1976, also includes Jonathan Harris, a former star of "Lost in Space," as a guest star. The regulars in the series were Terry Lester as Jonah, the Captain; Jean Marie Hon as Ruth; Jose Flores as Samuel; and what would a Saturday morning live-action show be without a talking chimp? This one is named Adam.
"Ark II" would air on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV as part of their Saturday morning "kids block."
Click on the image above to watch "Otherworld" from YouTube
Otherworld (1985) CBS Sam Groom, Gretchen Corbett
Somehow, I missed this one. "Otherworld" was a sci-fi series in which a family touring Egypt was drawn to the Great Pyramid of Cheops, where they passed through a portal to a parallel universe. Each episode would take the family into strange radical societies, each living in a separate area. As they traveled through the peculiar environments, they searched for the city of Imar, where the rulers could send them back to their home universe.
This less-than-memorable series featured the story of the Sterling family. Sam Groom played the father, Hal; Gretchen Corbett played the mom, June; and Jonna Lee and Brandon Crane played the kids. Chris Herbert later replaced Brandon.
This CBS series premiered on January 26, 1985, and aired only through March 16, 1985. It aired on Saturdays from 7 to 8 pm (CT) on WCIA, WMBD-TV, KHQA, WTHI-TV, and KMOX-TV.
Classic Radio
Click on the image above to listen to classic radio Sci-fi directlly from YouTube
Best Old-Time Radio Sci-fi Shows
From YouTube: "Enjoy this livestream compilation of the best old-time radio sci-fi shows from the Golden Age of Radio!
1. Outer Limit - Dimension X
2. Deedle Deedle Dumpling My Son - Theater Five
3. Dr. Grimshaw's Sanitarium - X Minus One
4. Time and Time Again - Dimension X
5. The Other Man - 2000 Plus
6. The Earth Abides Pt. 1 - Escape
7. The Earth Abides Pt. 2 - Escape
8. Donovan's Brain Pt. 1 - Suspense
9. Donovan's Brain Pt. 2 - Suspense
10. First Contact - Exploring Tomorrow
11. Bottom Of The World - CBS Radio Mystery Theater
12. Terror From Beyond - Theater Five
13. The Ray Machine - Captain Starr of Space
14. The Meteor Man - Lights Out
15. The Roads Must Roll - Dimension X
16. Almost Human - X Minus One
17. The Green Thing - 2000 Plus
18. North Of Polaris - Escape
19. Operation Tomorrow - Mysterious Traveller
20. Cold Storage - Theater Five
21. A Message From Space - CBS Radio Mystery Theater
22. Re-Entry - Suspense
23. Marionettes, Inc. - X Minus One"
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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.
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.
Flintstones/Bugs Bunny Promo (1960) ABC Affiliates Preview
Bugs Bunny Show (1964) ABC Prime Time Promo
The Flintstones Promo (1964) ABC "What's New at the Flintstones
The Flintstones (1965) ABC At the 1964 New York Worlds Fair
Fractured Flickers (1963) Syndicated Guest: Barbara Eden
101 Iconic TV shows of the 1960s
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1967) ABC
Lost in Space (1966) CBS
Time Tunnel (1966) ABC
Land of the Giants (1968) ABC Pilot
Swiss Family Robinson (1975) ABC Pilot
Classic Radio
CBS Radio Mystery Theater (1974)
Car 54 Where Are You? (1961) NBC
The Lucy Show (1962) CBS Season 1 Episode 1
Route 66 (1962) CBS Martin Millner, George Maharis
Dr. Kildare (1961) NBC Richard Chamberlain
The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor (1961) ABC
Classic Radio
WLS (1962) Chicago Dick Biondi
Battle of the Network Stars (1976) ABC Howard Cosell
Charlies Angels (1976) ABC "Dancing in the Dark" episode
All in the Family (1971) CBS Season 1, Episode 1
Mary Tyler Moore (1976) CBS "Chuckles Bites the Dust" episode
Chico and the Man (1977) NBC Freddie Prinze
When Things Were Rotton (1975) ABC
Classic Radio
Longstreet (1971) ABC Pilot James Franciscus
McMillan and Wife (1971) NBC Pilot Rock Hudson, Susan Saint James
Hollywood Squares (1972) NBC Daytime/Primetime/Syndicated
Match Game '74 (1974) CBS Daytime
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977) ABC Pilot
Vintage Commercials (1970s) Various sources
Classic Radio
WLS, 890-AM Chicago (1976) Larry Lujack
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
New Stuff on this Site
July 6, 2024- I updated the MId-Illinois list of TV Today to include ION-Plus to at least 6 different signals across central Illinois! ION-Plus seems to be purchasing broadcast rights on multiple station signals across the Midwest in many markets.
July 8, 2024- I updated the Mid-Illinois list of TV Today once again to add yet another signal to the listings. I also updated the Next Gen 3.0 information. Then, I updated the Quincy market page with more info on the KHQA relocation of signal from channel 7 to UHF channel 22. The virtual signal will remain as Channel 7.
Next Week on
Videos of the Week
September always brings a supply of new shows from the TV networks. Beginning Saturday evening, Sept 14th, we journey back through time to see how past TV seasons handled the promotion of new season shows!
A Note from Me:
I find it more challenging to include video samples of what I want to show you each week. Copyright issues make it impossible to show complete episodes of selected TV series. Some YouTube contributors uploaded poorly compressed, edited, or added artifacts and "bugs" that defaced the videos.
As you probably have noticed, I do not run paid ads on this website or have any commercial sponsors or underwriters. I wish I did, as the cost of maintaining this site could someday become prohibitive.
Meanwhile, I'll continue bringing you the best selection of videos possible.
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
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