1946 Television series debuts (US and UK) (incomplete)
by Thor-Delta | created - 07 Nov 2013 | updated - 07 Apr 2016 | PublicAn incomplete list of television series which debuted in 1946. These include US series (NBC, DuMont, and CBS) and the UK (BBC). Although perhaps a couple other countries had TV in 1946 (perhaps France and Soviet Union?) I don't know what if any series debuted in those two countries in 1946.
If anyone knows of any additional series to add, please let me know.
For further early TV fun, here's a list of 1956 Australian television series debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/XpmmIZ0E5iU/[/link]
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena (1946–1956)
120 min | Sport
A television series consisting of boxing matches.
Stars: Dennis James, Chris Schenkel
NBC
2. Hour Glass (1946–1947)
60 min | Comedy, Music
An almost forgotten landmark series in TV history, "Hour Glass" was the first variety show produced for network television. Included were songs, skits, and a chorus line. Many of the biggest names in the entertainment industry were guests.
Stars: Helen Parrish, Eddie Mayehoff, Evelyn Eaton, Jack Albertson
NBC
3. Geographically Speaking (1946– )
15 min
Mrs. Wells, a world traveler who shot 16 mm films of her journeys, narrated her home movies, first on WNBT, New York City, then on the NBC network. When she ran out of films, the series ... See full summary »
Star: Mrs. Carveth Wells
NBC
4. Face to Face (1946–1947)
20 min | Game-Show
This early game show had an artist draw a picture of an unseen person from verbal clues given to him, then compare the results when the actual person came into the studio.
Stars: Eddie Dunn, Bob Dunn, Bill Dunn
NBC
5. I Love to Eat (1946–1947)
15 min | Reality-TV
Cookbook author James Beard demonstrated recipes for the home audience in the first network cooking show.
Stars: James Beard, Elsie de Wolfe
NBC
6. You Are an Artist (1946–1955)
15 min | Talk-Show
Jon Gnagy was a young artist who completed drawings on stage while describing his techniques.
Stars: Jon Gnagy, Warren Hull, Ben Grauer
NBC
8. Television Screen Magazine (1946–1949)
30 min | Talk-Show
Magazine format featuring various subjects and people. Because this was one of the earliest scheduled shows, not many famous people could be lured to the show.
Stars: Bob Haymes, George Putnam, John K.M. McCaffery, Millicent Fenwick
NBC
9. Campus Hoopla (1946–1947)
30 min | Game-Show, Sport
This was a combination sports/variety program aimed at teenagers. The setting was a soda shop and the program had "cheerleaders" and "students" who talked about sports, sang, danced to ... See full summary »
Stars: Bob Haymes, Eva Marie Saint
NBC
CBS(?) (was this only broadcast in New York City?)
CBS(?) Was this a local show?
12. King's Party Line (1946– )
30 min | Game-Show
Quiz show broadcast on CBS station in New York, New York featuring music, audience participation and quiz questions.
Stars: John Reed King, Jim Brown
CBS (local series only?)
13. Serving Through Science (1946–1947)
30 min
An early educational series. Short films produced by the Encyclopedia Britannica were followed by lecture by Dr. McClintock. About ten months after its debut, a readers' poll in Television ... See full summary »
Star: Guthrie McClintock
DuMont
14. Cash and Carry (1946–1947)
30 min | Family, Game-Show
A supermarket quiz show sponsored by Libby's, featuring their products. Also included a pantomime segment and a viewer phone-in segment.
Star: Dennis James
DuMont
15. Play the Game (1946– )
30 min | Game-Show
A celebrity charades game. Home viewers were invited to call in with their guesses.
Stars: Harvey Zorbaugh, Ireene Wicker, Ray Knight, Will Mullin
DuMont
16. Faraway Hill (1946– )
30 min | Drama
Newly widowed New Yorker Karen St. John moves to a rural town to be close to her relatives. There she falls for a man who was adopted by her relatives when he was a boy. But, he's already ... See full summary »
Stars: Flora Campbell, Phyllis Coates, Eve McVeagh, Mel Brandt
Votes: 22
DuMont
17. Let's Play Reporter (1946– )
30 min | Game-Show
A 1946 television game show, hosted by Frances Scott. It was an early experiment in audience participation. The show was produced by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), but aired only ... See full summary »
Star: Frances Scott
WABD (DuMont flagship station)
WABD (DuMont flagship station)
19. Here's How (1946– )
30 min
A series made up of various segments. For example, one episode featured a demonstration of how to clean windows, a segment on how a woman was chosen as "model of the year", and a slapstick "chef satire".
WABD (DuMont flagship station)
20. Let's Celebrate (1946– )
30 min | Game-Show
Members of the studio audience competed for prizes by answering questions.
Star: Mel Allen
? (I came across the page for this series, which doesn't mention which station it aired on)
21. Chime Time (1946– )
15 min | Music
This experimental television series was a music program aired in a 15-minute time-slot.
Star: Jean Tighe
WABD
23. Hits and Bits (1946– )
30 min | Comedy, Music
A live variety show, with singers, dancers, novelty acts, etc.
Stars: Alan Mowbray, Clarence Muse, Richard Lane, Phil Arnold
KTLA
24. The Red Benson Show (1946– )
30 min | Comedy, Music
A live variety show.
Stars: Marvin Marx, Norman 'Red' Benson, Charlotte Dembro, Fred Udall
WABD
25. Kaleidoscope (1946–1953)
60 min
Fortnightly magazine program.
Stars: MacDonald Hobley, Ronnie Waldman, Leslie Welch, Lind Joyce
Votes: 32
BBC
27. Pinwright's Progress (1946– )
30 min | Comedy
Misadventures of a multiple store proprietor.
Stars: James Hayter, Clarence Wright, Daphne Maddox, Charles Irwin
BBC
28. Transatlantic Quiz (1946– )
35 min | Game-Show
A television version of the popular radio quiz in which teams based in London compete against teams based in New York.
Stars: D.W. Brogan, John Mason Brown, Alistair Cooke, Lionel Hale
BBC
30. For the Children (1946–1952)
20 min
Programme for children of school age.
Stars: Cameron Miller, Kenneth More, Robert Dickens, Patrick Troughton
BBC
31. Paging You (1946–1948)
Comedy
Stars: Brian Reece, Valerie Tandy, The Radio Revellers, Richard Hearne
BBC
32. Composer at the Piano (1946–1947)
Music
Stars: Annette Mills, Alan Murray, Eleanor Fayre, Betty Paul
BBC
33. Josephine Terry's Kitchen (1946–1947)
15 min
A show featuring cooking advice.
Star: Josephine Terry
BBC
35. Quiz with Hale (1946–1947)
30 min | Game-Show
Not much is know about this game show. It possibly involved the audience at home "playing along" using a quiz paper.
Star: Lionel Hale
BBC
36. Mixed Bill (1946– )
30 min | Music
A live television variety programme, with singers, musicians, impressionists, etc.
BBC
37. Close-Up (1946–1947)
Comedy, Music
Stars: Evel Burns, Diana Decker, The Beverley Sisters, Renee Houston
38. Stars in Your Eyes (1946–1950)
Comedy, Music
Stars: Avril Angers, Daphne Barker, Jimmy Edwards, Jack Barker
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