1956–57 United States network television schedule

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  • Morning: 1954–55
  • 1955–56
  • 1956–57
  • 1957–58
  • 1958–59
  • Overnight: 1954–55
  • 1955–56
  • 1956–57
  • 1957–58
  • 1958–59

The following is the 1956–57 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial

1955–56 season
.

The 1956–57 network television schedule continued the trend of the previous season, with two of the three major U.S. television networks (

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. Castleman and Podrazik (1984) called the rush to schedule Western series on network television during this era "a virtual stampede".[1]

CBS "inherited Sunday afternoon NFL contests from the defunct DuMont network in the fall of 1956". Accordingly, "the expansion into Sunday sports by CBS (and NBC) meant that the traditional afternoon 'egghead' slots for highbrow programming had to be broken up, pushing those shows into the few odd spots still open in the day, or eliminating them completely. This reflected the networks' shift in emphasis during the mid-1950s, slanting television much more toward broad-based popular entertainment. Increasingly, this meant television programming produced in Hollywood [...] In 1957, the amount of prime time programming originating on the West Coast jumped from 40% to 71%."[1]

NBC, behind CBS in the network

Robert Kintner to revamp NBC's schedule. According to Castleman and Podrazik (1982), NBC's plan was to launch a program which would compete directly with CBS's second most popular series, The Ed Sullivan Show, on Sunday, the most heavily viewed TV night: "Sullivan's show was popular enough to boost the ratings of the programs on both before and after his; as a result, CBS had a chain of hits to begin the evening." NBC's strategy was designed to weaken CBS's Sunday night line-up. NBC's new program, The Steve Allen Show, debuted in the summer to get a head start on the competition.[2] Although the two programs enjoyed a fierce rivalry, Sullivan's program would remain wildly popular, finishing second among all TV programs in the ratings that year, while Allen's show missed the top 30.[3]
Beginning this season, NBC had at least one show in color for every day of the week.

New fall series are highlighted in bold, while shows ending their runs are highlighted in italics.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.[4]

  Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season.
  Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season.
  Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season.

Sunday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC You Asked for It The Original Amateur Hour Press Conference Omnibus Local Programming
CBS Lassie (24/29.5) The Jack Benny Show (10/32.3) / Private Secretary (25/29.0) The Ed Sullivan Show (2/38.4) General Electric Theater (3/36.9) Alfred Hitchcock Presents (6/33.9) The $64,000 Challenge (22/29.7)
(Tied with The Phil Silvers Show) 		What's My Line? (26/28.9)
(Tied with Climax!)
NBC Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Circus Boy The Steve Allen Show Goodyear Television Playhouse (In COLOR) / The Alcoa Hour (In COLOR)
The Loretta Young Show
 		National Bowling Championships

Notes: On NBC, Hallmark Hall of Fame (COLOR) aired as a monthly series, 7:30–9 p.m.

On CBS, Air Power, narrated by Walter Cronkite, aired from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on November 11, 1956, and from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. from November 18, 1956 to May 5, 1957.

Monday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie / 7:15 John Daly and the News Bold Journey The Danny Thomas Show (formerly known as Make Room For Daddy) The Voice of Firestone Life Is Worth Living Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent Local Programming
Winter Wire Service
CBS Fall 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News The Adventures of Robin Hood (20/30.3) The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (28/27.8) Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (12/31.9) I Love Lucy (1/43.7) December Bride (5/35.2)
Studio One
Summer Richard Diamond, Private Detective
NBC Fall Local Programming 7:30
Huntley-Brinkley Report
 		The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (Sporadically in COLOR) Stanley Medic Robert Montgomery Presents (In COLOR) Local Programming
Spring Tales of Wells Fargo

On NBC, Producers' Showcase (COLOR) aired as a monthly series, from 8–9:30 p.m. On CBS, in some areas, Douglas Edwards with the News aired at 6:45 p.m.

On March 18, 1957, the popular Western series Tales of Wells Fargo debuted, replacing Stanley Monday nights on NBC at 8:30 PM EST.

From July 1 to September 23, 1957, the summer series Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring David Janssen, aired on CBS at 8:30-9 p.m. It returned for a second irregular season on the CBS Thursday schedule from January 2 to June 26, 1958.

Tuesday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie / 7:15 John Daly and the News
Cheyenne/Conflict
 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (18/31.0) Broken Arrow Du Pont Theater It's Polka Time Local Programming
CBS 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News Name That Tune (30/27.2) The Phil Silvers Show (22/29.7)
(Tied with The $64,000 Challenge) 		The Brothers The Herb Shriner Show The Red Skelton Show (In COLOR)(15/31.4)
(Tied with The Lineup) 		The $64,000 Question (4/36.4) Do You Trust Your Wife?
NBC Fall Local Programming 7:30
Huntley-Brinkley Report
 		The Big Surprise Noah's Ark (In COLOR) The Jane Wyman Show Armstrong Circle Theatre/The Kaiser Aluminum Hour Break the $250,000 Bank (In COLOR)
Spring Panic!
Summer 7:30
Huntley-Brinkley Report

NOTE: On March 5, 1957, the suspense drama Panic! replaced Noah's Ark, a Jack Webb production, on the NBC schedule.

Wednesday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie / 7:15 John Daly and the News
Disneyland (13/31.8)
(Tied with The Millionaire
) 		Navy Log The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Ford Theatre
The Wednesday Night Fights
CBS Fall 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News Pick the Winner The Arthur Godfrey Show (Sporadically in COLOR, formerly as Arthur Godfrey and his Friends)
Disneyland
) 		I've Got a Secret (7/32.7)
(Tied with Gunsmoke) 		The United States Steel Hour/The 20th Century Fox Hour
November Giant Step
Summer My Friend Flicka
NBC Local Programming 7:30
Huntley-Brinkley Report
 		The Adventures of Hiram Holliday Father Knows Best Kraft Television Theatre (In COLOR) This Is Your Life Twenty-One

Note: On CBS, Pick the Winner aired as an interim U.S. election coverage series in September and October from 7:30 to 8 p.m. It previously had aired in 1952.

Thursday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie / 7:15 John Daly and the News The Lone Ranger Circus Time Wire Service Ozark Jubilee
December Air Time '57 Local Programming
Winter The Danny Thomas Show Bold Journey
Spring Telephone Time
Summer Cowtown Rodeo Compass/Industries for America Focus
CBS 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
 		The Bob Cummings Show Climax! (26/28.9)
(Tied with What's My Line?) (In COLOR) / Shower of Stars (once a month) (In COLOR) 		Playhouse 90
NBC Fall Local Programming 7:30
Huntley-Brinkley Report
 		You Bet Your Life (17/31.1)
Dragnet
 (11/32.1) 		The People’s Choice The Ford Show (19/30.7) Lux Video Theatre (In COLOR)
Summer 7:30 The Andy Williams and June Valli Show / 7:45
Huntley-Brinkley Report

Note: On ABC, Compass and Industries for America shared the 9:30–10:00 p.m. time slot from June to July 1957. Compass aired only in markets where the local affiliate did not choose to air local programming. Industries for America continued to air in the time slot until September 1957.

Friday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie / 7:15 John Daly and the News
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
 		The Adventures of Jim Bowie Crossroads
Treasure Hunt
 		The Vise The Ray Anthony Show
Spring The Ray Anthony Show Date with the Angels
Summer The Big Beat
CBS Fall 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News My Friend Flicka (through February 1) The West Point Story Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Crusader
Schlitz Playhouse
 (formerly Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars) 		The Lineup (15/31.4)
(Tied with The Red Skelton Show) 		Person to Person
Winter Mr. Adams and Eve
NBC Fall Local Programming 7:30
Huntley-Brinkley Report
 		The Life of Riley (Sporadically in COLOR) The Walter Winchell Show The Joseph Cotten Show (formerly known as On Trial)
The Big Story
 		10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports / 10:45 Red Barber's Corner (In COLOR) / 10-11:00 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (once a month)
Spring Blondie
Summer The Big Moment
DMN Fall Local Programming Ethel Barrymore Theatre Local Programming
Winter Local Programming

Note: On CBS, Mr. Adams and Eve premiered on January 4, 1957.

Saturday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall Local Programming Famous Film Festival Lawrence Welk's Dodge Dancing Party Masquerade Party Local Programming
Summer The Billy Graham Crusade
CBS Fall Beat the Clock The Buccaneers The Jackie Gleason Show (29/27.6) The Gale Storm Show Hey, Jeannie! Gunsmoke (7/32.7)
(Tied with I've Got a Secret)
High Finance
December Local Programming
March My Friend Flicka
April Beat the Clock
Summer The Jimmy Dean Show
NBC Fall Local Programming People Are Funny (21/30.2)
The Perry Como Show
 (9/32.6) (In COLOR) 		Caesar's Hour The George Gobel Show Your Hit Parade (In COLOR)
Summer
The Julius LaRosa Show
 (In COLOR) 		The George Sanders Mystery Theater Dollar a Second Encore Theatre Adventure Theater
Follow-up Various Dollar a Second

Notes: On NBC, Saturday Color Carnival (COLOR) aired as a monthly series, 9:00–10:30 p.m. The 1957 version of the NBC summer series Encore Theatre consisted of reruns of episodes of Ford Theatre.

By network

ABC

CBS

DuMont

NBC

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

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-07-010277-5
  2. ISBN 0-07-010269-4
    .
  3. ISBN 0-345-31864-1
    .
  4. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4
    .
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