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The final day of analog TV broadcasting, June 12, 2009.

TV shows
of the 1960s



This page displays in tabular format a chronology of major network prime time television programs during the 1960s, excluding those that lasted for one year or less, unless they have some special significance. Also excluded are game shows and most childrens' cartoons that were normally shown during the daytime. (Such programs were often used as prime-time "fillers" back then.) TV shows that switched from one network to another are shown in both network sections, along with parenthetical notes to the right or left. The television season typically began in September-October, and ended in April-May; some shows that began or ended in mid-season (January) are so indicated. Shows that were shown on a different network during one or more years in the 1950s are shown by their first letter in the left column: A for ABC, N for NBC, and C for CBS. The borders of the year column headings show the approximate transition to all-color broadcasting for each respective network. Within each network section, programs are grouped and color-coded according to genre: Drama, Sitcom, Variety, Western, Other (war, science fiction, etc.), Animated cartoons, and News documentaries. Some genres were not included in some networks' broadcast lineups. See the color key at the end of each network section, and a list of Web site links at the bottom of the page.

ABC

1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1958 N Peter Gunn . . . . . . . . . .
1958 The Naked City . . . . . . . .
1958 77 Sunset Strip . . . . . . .
1959 The Untouchables . . . . . . . .
1959 Adventures in Paradise . . . . . . . . .
1959 Robert Taylor's Detectives (NBC) . . . . . . . . .
1959 Hawaiian Eye . . . . . . . .
. SurfSide 6 . . . . . . . . .
. . New Breed . . . . . . . . .
. . Follow the Sun . . . . . . . . .
. . Ben Casey . . . . .
. . . . The Fugitive . . . .
. . . . Burke's Law . . . . .
. . . . . Peyton Place . .
. . . . . . The F.B.I. 1973
. . . . . . Honey West . . . . .
. . . . . . . The Avengers . .
. . . . . . . The Monroes . . . .
. . . . . . . Felony Squad (to Jan.) . .
. . . . . . . . Judd for the Defense . .
. . . . . . . . N.Y.P.D. . .
. . . . . . . . . It Takes A Thief
. . . . . . . . . The Mod Squad 1973
. . . . . . . . . . Marcus Welby 1976
1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1952 Ozzie and Harriet . . . . . .
1957 Leave It To Beaver . . . . . . . .
1958 The Donna Reed Show . . . . .
. My Three Sons (CBS) (CBS) (CBS) (CBS) (CBS) (CBS)
. . Margie . . . . . . . . .
. . Hathaways . . . . . . . . .
. . . I'm Dickens, He's Fenster . . . . . . . .
. . . Mr. Smith Goes To Washington . . . . . . . .
. . . . The Patty Duke Show . . . . .
. . . . The Farmer's Daughter . . . .
. . . . . Bewitched 1972
. . . . . The Addams Family . . . . .
. . . . . . F Troop . . . .
. . . . . . . That Girl 1971
. . . . . . Gidget . The Flying Nun .
. . . . . . . . . . Room 222 1974
1955 Wyatt Earp . . . . . . . . . .
1955 Cheyenne . . . . . . . .
1957 Maverick . . . . . . . . .
1958 Bronco . . . . . . . . .
1958 The Lawman . . . . . . . . .
1958 The Rifleman . . . . . . . .
(NBC) (NBC) Wagon Train . . . . . .
. . . . . . . The Iron Horse . . .
. . . . . . . . The Guns of Will Sonnett . .
. . . . . . . . . Here Come the Brides .
1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1954 W. W. Disney (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC)
1955 Lawrence Welk Show 1971
. . Steve Allen Show . . . . . . .
. . . . Hootenanny . . . . . . .
. . . . The Jimmy Dean Show . . . . .
. . . . . Shindig . . . . .
. . . . (Jan.) The Hollywood Palace
. . . . . . . . . . Tom Jones 1971
. . . McHale's Navy . . . . .
. . . . Combat . . . .
. . . . . 12 O'Clock High . . . .
. . . . . . . The Rat Patrol . . .
. . . . . . . Batman . . .
. . . . . . . Green Hornet . . . .
. . . . The Outer Limits . . . . . .
. . . . . Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea . . .
. . . . . . . Time Tunnel . . . .
. . . . . . . . The Invaders . . .
. . . . . . . . . Journey to the Unknown . .
. . . . . . . . . Land of the Giants .
. The Flintstones . . . . .
. . Top Cat . . . . . . . . .
. . . The Jetsons . . . . . . . .
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Animated Other (war, sci fi, etc.)

NOTES:


NBC

1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1952-59 . . . . . . . Dragnet .
1953 Loretta Young . . . . . . . . . .
1959 A (ABC) Robert Taylor's Detectives . . . . . . . .
. Michael Shayne . . . . . . . . . .
. National Velvet . . . . . . . . .
. . 87th Precinct . . . . . . . . .
. . Cain's Hundred . . . . . . . . .
. . Dick Powell Theatre . . . . . . . .
. . Bus Stop . . . . . . . .
. . Dr. Kildare . . . . .
. . . Sam Benedict . . . . . . . .
. . . The Eleventh Hour . . . . . . .
. . . . Mr. Novak . . . . . .
. . . . . Flipper . . . .
. . . . . The Man From UNCLE . . .
. . . . . . I Spy . . .
. . . . . . Run for Your Life . . .
. . . . . . . Tarzan . . .
. . . . . . . T.H.E. Cat . . . .
. . . . . . . Girl / UNCLE . . . .
. . . (ITV) (ITV) (ITV) (ITV) (ITV) The Saint . .
. . . . . . . . Ironside 1975
. . . . . . . . Adam-12 1973
. . . . . . . . . Julia 1971
. . . . . . . . . Name of the Game 1971
. . . . . . . . . Ghost and Mrs. Muir (ABC) .
. . . . . . . . . . Then / Bronson .
. . . . . . . . . . The Bold Ones 1973
1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
. Tab Hunter . . . . . . . . . .
. . The Joey Bishop Show (CBS) . . . . . .
. . Bob Newhart . . . . . . . . C 1972-78
. . Car 54 Where Are You? . . . . . . . .
. . . . The Bill Dana Show . . . . . .
. . Hazel (CBS) . . . . .
. . . Ensign O'Toole . . . . . . . .
. . . . Harry's Girls . . . . . . .
. . . . . 90 Bristol Ct. . . . . . .
. . . . . . Hank . . . . .
. . . . . . M. McCluskey . . . . .
. . . . . . I Dream of Jeannie .
. . . . . . Get Smart (CBS) .
. . . . . . My Mother Car . . . . .
. . . . . . Wackiest Ship . . . . .
. . . . . . Camp Runamuck . . . . .
. . . . . . Please Don't Eat the Daisies . . . .
. . . . . . . Occasional Wife . . . .
. . . . . . . Hey, Landlord . . . .
. . . . . . . The Monkees . . .
. . . . . . . . Accid. Family . . .
. . . . . . . . The Mothers-in-Law . .
. . . . . . . . . . My World / Wel. .
. . . . . . . . . . Debbie Reynolds .
. . . . . . . . . . Bill Cosby 1971
1957 Tales of Wells Fargo . . . . . . . .
1957 Wagon Train (ABC) (ABC) (ABC) . . . . . .
1958 Bat Masterson . . . . . . . . .
1959 Riverboat . . . . . . . . . .
1959 Laramie . . . . . . .
1959 Bonanza 1973
. The Tall Man . . . . . . . . .
. Outlaws . . . . . . . . .
. . . Wide Country . . . . . . . .
. . . The Virginian 1971
. . . . Daniel Boone
. . . . . . Branded . . . . .
. . . . . . Laredo . . . .
. . . . . . . . The High Chapparal 1971
1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1953 Dinah Shore (Chevy) Show . . . . . . . .
(ABC) (ABC) The Wonderful World of Disney 1990
1955 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall . . . . The Kraft Music Hall 1971
1956 Tenn. E. Ford . . . . . . . . .
1956 People Are Funny 1984
1959 The Bell Telephone Hour . . .
. . Sing Along with Mitch . . . . .
. . International Showtime . . . . . .
. . . The Jack Paar Program . . . . . .
. . . The Andy Williams Show . .
. . . . Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre . . . .
. . . . That Was The Week That Was . . . . . .
. . . . . (Jan.) Hullaballoo . . . . .
. . . . . . The Dean Martin Comedy Hour 1974
. . . . . . . . Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 1973
1952 This Is Your Life . . . . . . . . . .
1955 C Alfred Hitchcock (CBS) (CBS) Alfred Hitchcock . . . . . . .
1958 A Shirley Temple . . . . . . . . . .
. Boris Karloff's Thriller . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Wild Kingdom 1988
. . . . . . Convoy . . . . .
. . . . . . . Star Trek . .
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Other (war, sci fi, etc.)  

I still remember this slogan as clearly as if it were yesterday: "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC!" Watch the video clip at Kris Trexler's Web site.

It quickly becomes apparent that NBC broadcast far fewer programs than either ABC or CBS during the 1960s. Part of this is because it had relatively more hour-long westerns and dramas, and relatively fewer sitcoms, but the main reason is because they began showing at least one movie per week beginning in 1961, later increasing to as many as three. See tvobscurities.com


CBS

1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1950 N Armstrong Circle Theatre . . . . . . . . .
1953 General Electric Theater . . . . . . . . .
1954 Lassie 1971
1957 Perry Mason . . . . .
1959 June Allyson . . . . . . . . . .
. Checkmate . . . . . . . . .
. Route 66 . . . . . . .
. . The Defenders . . . . . .
. . Investigators . . . . . . . . .
. . . (The Doctors and) The Nurses . . . . . .
. . . . . Secret Agent . . . . .
. . . . . . . Daktari . .
. . . . . . . Mission Impossible 1973
. . . . . . . . Gentle Ben . .
. . . . . . . . Mannix 1975
. . . . . . . . . Hawaii Five-0 1980
. . . . . . . . . . Medical Center 1976
1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1950-59 Jack Benny . . . . . .
1951-57 . . The Lucy Show Here's Lucy 1974
1953 The Danny Thomas Show . . . . . . .
1954 December Bride . . . . . . . . . .
1957 Bachelor Father . . . . . . . . .
1957 A The Real McCoys . . . . . . . .
1958 The Ann Sothern Show . . . . . . . . .
1959 Hennesey . . . . . . . . .
1959 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis . . . . . . . .
1959 Dennis the Menace . . . . . . . .
. The Andy Griffith Show Mayberry RFD 1971
. My Sister Eileen . . . . . . . . . .
. Pete and Gladys . . . . . . . . .
. . Window Main St. . . . . . . . . .
. . Gertrude Berg . . . . . . . . .
. . Bob Cummings . . . . . . . . .
. . Father of Bride . . . . . . . . .
. . The Dick Van Dyke Show . . . . .
. . Mr. Ed . . . . . .
1955-59 . . . Phil Silvers . . . . . . .
. . . The Beverly Hillbillies 1971
. . . . Petticoat Junction .
. . . . My Favorite Martian . . . . .
. . (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) Joey Bishop . . . . . .
. . . . . Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. .
. . . . . Gilligan's Island . . . .
. . . . . My Living Doll . . . . . .
. . . . . The Munsters . . . . .
. . . . . . Green Acres 1971
. . . . . . Hogan's Heroes 1971
. (ABC) (ABC) (ABC) (ABC) (ABC) My Three Sons .
. . (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) Hazel . . . . .
. . . . . . . Family Affair 1971
. . . . . . (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) (NBC) Get Smart .
. . . . . . . . . The Good Guys .
. . . . . . . . . The Doris Day Show 1973
. . . . . . . . . . Rome / Love 1971
1950s 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970s
1955 Gunsmoke 1975
1956 Zane Grey Theater . . . . . . . . .
1957 Have Gun, Will Travel . . . . . . . .
1958 Wanted: D or A . . . . . . . . . .
1959 Rawhide . . . . .
. . Frontier Circus . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . The Big Valley . .
. . . . . . The Wild, Wild West . .
. . . . . . . . . Lancer 1971
1948 Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour .
1948 The Ed Sullivan Show 1971
1951 The Red Skelton Show 1971
1958 The Garry Moore Show . . . . .
1952-59 . Jackie Gleason Jackie Gleason .
. . . . The Danny Kaye Show . . . .
. . . . . . . Carol Burnett 1978
. . . . . . . . Jonathan Winters . .
. . . . . . . . Smothers Brothers .
. . . . . . . . . . Jim Nabors 1971
1955 (NBC) Alfred Hitchcock (NBC) . . . . . . .
1959 The Twilight Zone . . . . . . .
. Candid Camera . . . .
. . . . . . Lost In Space . . .
1953 Person to Person . . . . . . . . . .
1959 CBS Reports 1971
. Eyewitness to History . . . . . . . . .
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Other (war, sci fi, etc.) News, etc.

NOTE: The borders of the year column headings show the approximate transition to all-color broadcasting for each respective network.


External links