1949–50 United States network television schedule explained

The 1949–50 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1949 through March 1950. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1948–49 season. This was the first season in which all four networks offered at least some prime time programming all seven nights of the week.

The schedule below reflects the fall lineup as it all settled into place throughout October 1949, before any subsequent time changes were made and additional new series appeared in November.

New series are highlighted in bold.

Notable debuts during the season included The Plainclothesman with its unusual camera work, the popular The Lone Ranger (which is one of the few 1940s television series to be given a DVD release), The Ed Wynn Show (a short-lived series featuring popular performers as guests and the first variety show from the West Coast), and the unsuccessful series The Life of Riley, one of the first sitcoms to be produced on film as opposed to live transmission. Continuing from the prior season were the highly popular variety series Toast of the Town, the critically well-received and popular anthology series Studio One, the critically panned but popular Captain Video and His Video Rangers which was one of the earliest sci-fi TV series, the well received by critics and viewers anthology series Kraft Television Theater, the popular Kukla, Fran and Ollie, and the popular in some regions drama/comedy The Goldbergs (which is also one of the few 1940s television series to be given a DVD release).

Legend

Sunday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCStained Glass WindowsABC Penthouse PlayersThink FastThe Little RevueLet There Be StarsCelebrity TimeYouth on the March
CBSFallTonight on BroadwayThis Is Show BusinessToast of the TownThe Fred Waring Show(10:00) The Week in Review
(10:15) Local Programming
Local Programming
SpringStarlight Theatre
Summer(9:00–9:15) The Robert Q. Lewis Show
DMNFront Row CenterChicagoland Mystery PlayersCinema VarietiesCross QuestionLocal Programming
NBCLeave It to the GirlsThe Aldrich FamilyThe Chesterfield Supper ClubColgate TheatreThe Philco Television PlayhouseGarroway at LargeLocal Programming

Monday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABC(7:00) News and Views
(7:15) Club Seven
Author Meets the CriticsYour WitnessPhotoplay TimeABC Barn DanceMr. BlackRoller Derby
CBS(7:00) The Roar of the Rails
(7:15) The Paul Arnold Show
(7:30) CBS Television News
(7:45) The Sonny Kendis Show
(7:55) Ruthie on the Telephone
The Silver TheatreArthur Godfrey's Talent ScoutsThe Black RobeThe GoldbergsStudio One
DMNCaptain Video and His Video Rangers(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Manhattan Spotlight
Newsweek Views the NewsThe Al Morgan ShowAnd Everything NiceWrestling From Sunnyside Gardens
NBCKukla, Fran and Ollie(7:30) Mohawk Showroom
(7:45) Camel News Caravan
Chevrolet Tele-TheaterThe Voice of FirestoneCandid CameraCities Service Band of AmericaQuiz KidsLocal Programming

Notes: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

On NBC, The Black Robe aired at various times on Mondays from August through October 1949.

Tuesday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABC(7:00) News and Views
(7:15) Club Seven
On TrialLocal ProgrammingOboler Comedy TheaterLocal ProgrammingTomorrow's Boxing Champions
CBSFall(7:00) Your Sports Special
(7:15) Local Programming
(7:30) CBS Television News
(7:45) The Sonny Kendis Show
(7:55) Ruthie on the Telephone
Uptown JubileeLocal ProgrammingSuspense(10:00) The Week in Sports
(10:15) Local Programming
Local Programming
NovemberActors Studio
DMNCaptain Video and His Video Rangers(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Manhattan Spotlight
Court of Current IssuesThe O'NeillsFeature TheaterLocal Programming
NBCKukla, Fran and Ollie7:30 Mohawk Showroom
(7:45) Camel News Caravan
Texaco Star TheaterFireside TheaterThe Life of RileyThe Original Amateur Hour
Notes: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Wednesday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFall(7:00) News and Views
(7:15) Club Seven
Local ProgrammingActors Studio (through October)PhotocrimeLocal ProgrammingWrestling from the Rainbo in Chicago
OctoberLocal Programming
CBS(7:00) Your Sports Special
(7:15) The Paul Arnold Show
(7:30) CBS Television News
(7:45) Earl Wrightson at Home
Arthur Godfrey and His FriendsThe Bigelow ShowInternational Boxing Club Bouts
DMNFallCaptain Video and His Video Rangers(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Manhattan Spotlight*
Local ProgrammingThe PlainclothesmanFamous Jury TrialsLocal Programming
December(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Easy Aces
Summer(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Manhattan Spotlight
NBCKukla, Fran and Ollie(7:30) Mohawk Showroom
(7:45) Camel News Caravan
The CrisisThe ClockKraft Television TheaterBreak the BankLocal Programming

Notes: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Thursday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFall(7:00) News and Views
(7:15) Club Seven
The Lone RangerStop the MusicCrusade in EuropeStarring Boris KarloffRoller Derby
SpringBlind Date
SummerBlind Date
CBSTo the Queen's Taste7:30 CBS Television News
(7:45) The Sonny Kendis Show
(7:55) Ruthie on the Telephone
The Front PageInside U.S.A. with ChevroletThe Ed Wynn ShowLocal Programming
DMNCaptain Video and His Video Rangers(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Manhattan Spotlight
Mystery TheaterThe Morey Amsterdam ShowBoxing From Sunnyside Gardens
NBCFallKukla, Fran and Ollie(7:30) Mohawk Showroom
(7:45) Camel News Caravan
Hollywood PremiereMary Kay and JohnnyFireball Fun-For-AllMartin Kane, Private EyeThe Wayne King Show
WinterThe Black Robe

Notes: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

On NBC, The Black Robe aired from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time from January to March 1950. The Wayne King Show was seen only on NBC's Midwest Network.

Friday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFall(7:00) News and Views
(7:15) Club Seven
Local ProgrammingMajority RulesBlind DateAuction-AireFun for the MoneyRoller Derby
Spring
CBS(7:00) Your Sports Special
(7:15) The Paul Arnold Show
(7:30) CBS Television News
(7:45) The Sonny Kendis Show
(7:55) Ruthie on the Telephone
MamaMan Against CrimeFord Theatre / 54th Street RevuePeople's PlatformCapitol Cloak Room
DMNCaptain Video and His Video Rangers(7:30) The Vincent Lopez Show
(7:45) Manhattan Spotlight
Hands of MurderBroadway to Hollywood – Headline CluesFishing and Hunting ClubLocal ProgrammingAmateur Boxing Fight Club
NBCKukla, Fran and Ollie(7:30) Mohawk Showroom
(7:45) Camel News Caravan
Hopalong CassidyBonny Maid Versatile VarietiesThe Big Story(10:00) Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
(10:45) Greatest Fights of the Century
Notes: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Saturday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABC(7:00) News and Views
(7:15) Local Programming
Hollywood Screen TestPaul Whiteman's TV Teen ClubLocal Programming
CBSFall(6:45) Lucky Pup
(7:15) Local Programming
(7:30) In the First Person
(7:45) Blues by Bargy
(7:55) Ruthie on the Telephone
Local ProgrammingPremiere PlayhouseLocal Programming
Spring(6:45) Lucky Pup
(7:15) Blues by Bargy
(7:30) In the First Person
(7:55) Ruthie on the Telephone
SummerBig Top
DMNFallCaptain Video and His Video RangersLocal ProgrammingSpin the PictureCavalcade of StarsWrestling From Marigold
WinterDinner Date With Vincent LopezLocal Programming
NBCFallLocal Programming(7:30) The Nature of Things
(7:45) Leon Pearson and the News
Meet Your CongressMixed DoublesWho Said That?Meet the PressLocal Programming
NovemberThe Black RobeLocal Programming
FebruaryYour Show of ShowsThe Black Robe
AprilLocal Programming

Notes: In the half-hour preceding prime time, ABC aired one of the first television westerns, The Marshal of Gunsight Pass, with 22 live episodes between March 12 and September 30, 1950.

From January 28 to July 29, 1950, Dinner Date With Vincent Lopez aired Saturdays from 8 to 8:30pm ET on DuMont.

On NBC, The Black Robe aired from 10:00 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday from November to December 1949 after airing at various times on Monday from August to October 1949. Your Show of Shows premiered at 9:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 25, 1950.

By network

ABC

Returning Series

New Series

Not returning from 1948–49:

CBS

Returning Series

New Series

Not returning from 1948–49:

DuMont

Returning series

New series

Not returning from 1948–49:

NBC

Returning Series

New Series

Not returning from 1948–49:

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

References