60th Anniversary: NBC Network entertainment
Posted: 02.16.2010 at 7:05 PM

Black and white shows from 'the early days'

Photo

As we continue our weeklong look back at sixty years of broadcasting in Central New York, we take a look at early shows from the NBC network, in black and white until the early sixties. We start with Texaco Star Theatre--Milton Berle's Show--which was the reason many Americans bought tv sets in the 50s.   But there was much more entertainment:  The Perry Como Show, Sid Caesar, Dinah Shore, Shirley Temple and Kate Smith---and of course Tonight (with Jack Paar) and Today, with original host Dave Garroway. Children's shows included Howdy Doody, Kookla Fran and Ollie, and Hopalong Cassidy.  There was a weeky Hit Parade, and game shows like Groucho and Name that Tone.  Dramas included Dragnet, Peter Gunn, 'The Man from UNCLE,' and 'Dr. Kildare,'  and there were black and white comedies like 'Car 54,'  and Mister Peepers, and news from John Cameron Swayze (with the 'More Doctors Smoke Camels' commercial)  and Huntley and Brinkley.
We're checking back into our archives all week, and if you search the key words '60th Anniversary' you can see all the video pieces.