1950
- January 6
- NBC TV premieres The Armstrong Circle Theatre 60-minute TV show in the USA. [179.69]
- January 27
- In Los Angeles, California, the 2nd Annual Emmy Awards are presented.
- Best Children's Show: Time for Beany
- Best Commercial: Lucky Strike
- Best Kinescope Show: Texaco Star Theatre
- Best Live Show: The Ed Wynn Show
- Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality: Milton Berle
- Most Outstanding Live Personality: Ed Wynn
- Best Sports Coverage: Wrestling.
[1] [165]
- January 30
- NBC premieres the Robert Montgomery Presents 60-minute dramatic anthology TV show. [1] [179.840]
- February 2
- CBS premieres the What's My Line? TV game show. [1] [179.1062]
- February 25
- NBC premieres the Your Show of Shows 90-minute variety TV show, with hosts Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Writers include Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen. [1] [179.890]
- April 6
- CBS premieres The Alan Young Show, a 30-minute comedy, music, variety show. [179.38]
- April 9
- Bob Hope makes his first TV appearance. [1]
- July 4
- NBC airs the last (until 1958) The Ed Wynn Show TV show. [179.287]
- July 5
- NBC premieres the Truth or Consequences 30-minute TV game show. [179.1012]
- July 10
- NBC premieres the Your Hit Parade 30/60-minute variety TV show. [1] [179.1099]
- July 20
- Arthur Murray Party premieres on ABC TV (later DuMont, CBS, NBC). [1]
- August 19
- ABC begins Saturday morning kid shows (Animal Clinic and Acrobat Ranch). [1]
- September 9
- First use of TV laugh track-Hank McCune. [1]
- September 10
- NBC premieres The Colgate Comedy Hour, a 60-minute variety show. [179.196]
- September 11
- Dick Tracy TV show sparks uproar concerning violence. [1]
- October 6
- ABC premieres the Pulitzer Prize Playhouse 60-minute anthology TV show. [179.813]
- October 16
- CBS premieres The Garry Moore Show 30/45/60-minute variety TV show. [179.360]
- October 29
- CBS premieres The Jack Benny Program comedy variety show. [179.484]
- December 25
- The first Disney TV special, One Hour in Wonderland airs on NBC, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company (cost US$100,000). Walt Disney and several Disney cartoon characters make their TV debut. Walt's daughter Sharon also appears. The show previews portions of the film Alice in Wonderland. About 20 million viewers watch the show. [6]
1951
- January 23
- In Los Angeles, California, the 3rd Annual Emmy Awards are presented.
- Best Actor: Alan Young
- Best Actress: Gertrude Berg
- Best Children's Show: Time for Beany
- Best Dramatic Show: Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
- Best Games and Audience Participation Show: Truth or Consequences
- Best Sports Program: Los Angeles Rams Football
- Best Variety Show: The Alan Young Show
- Most Outstanding Personality: Groucho Marx.
[1] [166]
- January 29
- Baseball signs six year All-Star pact for TV-radio rights for US$6 million. [1]
- February 1
- First telecast of atomic explosion - US nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. [1]
- February 3
- Victor Borge Show debuts on NBC TV. [1]
- May 14
- Ernie Kovacs Show TV variety debut on NBC. [1]
- May 28
- Jerry Colonna Show debuts on ABC-TV. [1]
- June 25
- First color TV broadcast-CBS' Arthur Godfrey from New York City to four cities. [1]
- June 28
- Amos 'n' Andy premieres on CBS TV. [1]
- June 29
- ABC airs the last Pulitzer Prize Playhouse TV show. [179.813]
- July 14
- First color telecast of a sporting event (CBS-horse race). [1]
- August 11
- First color baseball game (Boston Braves versus Brooklyn Dodgers) telecast (WCBS-New York City). [1]
- September 3
- TV soap opera Search for Tomorrow debuts on CBS. [1]
- September 4
- The first live transcontinental television broadcast takes place in San Francisco, California, from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference. [1] [5]
- NBC extends to become a 61-station coast-to-coast network. [1]
- September 29
- First color telecast of football game on network, Philadelphia (CBS). [1]
- September 30
- NBC premieres The Red Skelton Show 30-minute variety TV show. [179.825]
- October 15
- CBS premieres the I Love Lucy 30-minute comedy TV show. [1] [179.462]
- November
- NBC premieres The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, a 15-minute musical variety series. [179.251]
- December 2
- CBS premieres the See It Now 30-minute documentary TV show. [1] [179.877]
- December 16
- NBC premieres the Dragnet 30-minute crime drama TV show. [1] [179.274]
- December 23
- First coast-to-coast televised football game (Dumont paid $75,000); Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns 24-17 in NFL championship game. [1]
- December 24
- First televised opera (Amahl and the Night Visitor). [1]
- NBC premieres The Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology TV show. [179.405]
1952
- January 14
- The NBC TV network begins airing The Today Show two-hour information TV show in the USA, hosts with Dave Garroway and Jack Lescoulie. [1] [179.995]
- February 8
- RCA Victor Show Starring Dennis Day debuts on NBC TV. [1]
- February 18
- In Los Angeles, California, the 4th Annual Emmy Awards are presented, hosted by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
- Best Actor: Sid Caesar
- Best Actress: Imogene Coca
- Best Comedian or Comedienne: Red Skelton
- Best Comedy Show: The Red Skelton Show
- Best Dramatic Show: Robert Montgomery Presents
- Best Variety Show: Your Show of Shows
- Most Outstanding Personality: Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.
[1] [167]
- April 22
- First atomic explosion on network news, Nob Nevada. [1]
- May 1
- "Mr Potato Head" toy is introduced; first toy advertised on television. [1]
- June 19
- I've Got A Secret debuts on CBS with Garry Moore as host. [1]
- June 30
- Guiding Light soap opera moves from radio to TV. [1]
- September 1
- CBS premieres the House Party 30-minute variety TV show. [179.72]
- September 20
- CBS premieres The Jackie Gleason Show 60-minute comedy variety series. [179.485]
- September 23
- First closed circuit pay-TV telecast of a sports event. [1]
- October 1
- First ultra-high frequency (UHF) television station, Portland, Oregon, USA. [1]
- October 2
- NBC premieres the This is Your Life 30-minute TV show. [179.981]
- October 3
- CBS premieres the Our Miss Brooks 30-minute comedy TV show. [179.750]
- October 7
- American Bandstand debuts on a local Philadelphia TV station. [5]
- October 16
- NBC premieres the Victory at Sea 30-minute documentary TV show. [179.1036]
- November 9
- CBS premieres the Omnibus 60-minute educational TV show. [179.736]
- December 2
- First human birth televised to public (KOA-TV Denver, Colorado, USA). [1]
- December 3
- First TV broadcast in Hawaii. [1]
- December 8
- First TV acknowledgement of pregnancy (I Love Lucy). [1]
1953
- January 20
- First US telecast transmitted to Canada from Buffalo, New York, USA. [1]
- February 1
- General Electric Theater premieres on CBS TV. [1]
- You Are There with Walter Cronkite premieres on CBS television. [1]
- February 2
- Walt Disney signs a licensing deal with Mitchell Gertz for rights to produce a Zorro TV show. [6]
- February 3
- J Fred Muggs, a chimp, becomes a regular on NBC's Today Show. [1]
- February 5
- In Los Angeles, California, the 5th Annual Emmy Awards are presented, hosted by Art Linkletter.
- Best Actor: Thomas Mitchell
- Best Actress: Helen Hayes
- Best Audience Participation, Quiz or Panel Program: What's My Line?
- Best Children's Program: Time for Beany
- Best Comedian: Jimmy Durante
- Best Comedienne: Lucille Ball
- Best Dramatic Show: Robert Montgomery Presents
- Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program: Dragnet
- Best Public Affairs Program: See It Now
- Best Situation Comedy: I Love Lucy
- Best Variety Program: Your Show of Shows
- Most Outstanding Personality: Fulton J. Sheen.
[1] [168]
- February 9
- The Adventures of Superman TV series premieres in syndication. [1]
- March 19
- 25th Academy Awards: Greatest Show on Earth, Gary Cooper and Shirley Booth win (first time televised). [1]
- April 9
- TV Guide publishes first issue. [1]
- April 19
- NBC airs the last Victory at Sea TV show. A total of 26 episodes aired. [179.1036]
- May 25
- First non-commercial educational television station-Houston, Texas, USA. [1]
- May 30
- First major league TV network baseball game-Cleveland Indians 7, Chicago White Sox 2. [1]
- June 7
- First color network telecast in compatible color, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [1]
- June 9
- NBC airs the last Texaco Star Theatre TV show. [179.655]
- June
- CBS airs the final The Alan Young Show TV show. [179.38]
- NBC airs the last The Red Skelton Show TV show. (The show continues on the CBS network in the fall.) [179.825]
- August 3
- Frank Blair becomes news anchor of the Today Show. [1]
- August 28
- Nippon Television broadcasts Japan's first television show, including its first TV advertisement. [5]
- September 10
- Swanson sells its first "TV dinner". [1]
- September 20
- NBC premieres the A Letter to Loretta 30-minute anthology TV show. [179.560]
- September 22
- CBS begins airing The Red Skelton Show 30/60-minute variety TV show. [179.825]
- September 28
- In New York, Roy Disney meets with ABC-TV's Leonard Goldenson, to seek financing for Disneyland Park. Goldenson eagerly agrees to participate. The final agreement includes a US$500,000 investment from ABC-Paramount, guarantee for US$4.5 million line of credit, in return for 35 percent interest in Disneyland Park, and a weekly one-hour TV program with Disney films and production for TV. [6]
- September 29
- ABC premieres the Make Room For Daddy 30-minute comedy TV show. [179.606]
- Milton Berle Show premieres. [1]
- October 19
- Singer Julius LaRosa is fired on TV by Arthur Godfrey. [1]
- October 27
- CBS premieres the U.S. Steel Hour 60-minute anthology TV show. [179.1031]
- November 3
- First live color coast-to-coast telecast (New York City). [1]
- November 12
- US district Judge Grim rules NFL can black out TV home games. [1]
- December 17
- US Federal Communications Commission approves RCA's black and white-compatible color TV specifications. [1]
1954
- January 1
- Rose and Cotton Bowl are first sport colorcasts. [1]
- January 4
- TV soap opera The Brighter Day premieres. [1]
- January 17
- Jacques Cousteau's first network telecast airs on Omnibus (CBS). [1]
- February 1
- First TV soap opera, Secret Storm premieres. [1]
- February 11
- In Los Angeles, California, the 6th Annual Emmy Awards are presented, hosted by Ed Sullivan.
- Best Audience Participation, Quiz or Panel Program: This Is Your Life and What's My Line?
- Best Children's Program: Kukla, Fran, and Ollie
- Best Dramatic Program: The United States Steel Hour
- Best Female Star of a Regular Series: Eve Arden for Our Miss Brooks
- Best Male Star of a Regular Series: Donald O'Connor for The Colgate Comedy Hour
- Best Mystery, Action, or Adventure Program: Dragnet
- Best New Program: Make Room for Daddy and The United States Steel Hour
- Best Program of News or Sports: See It Now
- Best Public Affairs Program: Victory at Sea
- Best Series Supporting Actor: Art Carney for The Jackie Gleason Show
- Best Series Supporting Actress: Vivian Vance for I Love Lucy
- Best Situation Comedy: I Love Lucy
- Best Variety Program: Omnibus
- Most Outstanding Personality: Edward R. Murrow.
[1] [169]
- February 14
- Senator John Kennedy appears on Meet the Press. [1]
- March 9
- First local color TV commercial WNBT-TV (WNBC-TV) New York City, New York (Castro Decorators). [1]
- Edward R Murrow criticizes Senator Joseph McCarthy (CBS TV show See it Now). [1]
- March 15
- CBS Morning Show premieres with Walter Cronkite and Jack Paar. [1]
- March 19
- First color telecast of a prize fight, Giardello versus Troy in Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA. [1]
- March 25
- RCA manufactures first color TV set (12.5-inch screen at US$1,000). [1]
- April 2
- Disney and ABC hold a joint press conference, announcing their agreement for the Disney TV show (Disneyland). [6]
- April 6
- TV Dinner is first put on sale by Swanson and Sons. [1]
- April 21
- In the Foley Square U.S. Courthouse in New York, a congressional subcommittee begins a three-day televised investigation of the causes of juvenile delinquency. The comic-book industry is vilified, leading to laws in several states restricting comic sales, and industry self-censorship. [132.124]
- April 22
- US Senate Army-McCarthy televised hearings began. [1]
- June 5
- NBC airs the last Your Show of Shows TV show. [179.890]
- June 13
- NBC airs the last Kukla, Fran, and Ollie TV show. (The show continues on ABC.) [179.540]
- June 22
- Don Hollenbeck, newscaster (CBS Weekend News), dies at age 49. [1]
- June 27
- NBC airs the last A Letter to Loretta TV show. [179.560]
- September 6
- ABC begins airing the Kukla, Fran, and Ollie puppet children's TV show. [179.540]
- September 11
- First Miss America TV broadcast. [1]
- September
- CBS premieres the Lassie 30-minute adventure TV show. [179.549]
- September 24
- The Tonight Show premieres on NBC. [1]
- October 3
- CBS premieres the Father Knows Best 30-minute comedy TV show. [1] [179.316]
- October 18
- NBC premieres the Producers' Showcase 60/90-minute anthology TV show. [179.809]
- October 27
- The ABC TV network airs the first Disneyland TV show, on Wednesday night, 7:30 to 8:30. The first episode is titled The Disneyland Story. Approximately 30.8 million American viewers watch the show. [6]
- December 15
- The ABC TV network airs the Disneyland TV show, featuring the first "Davy Crockett" episode, Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter. [6]
- December
- CBS airs the last Pantomime Quiz 30-minute TV game show. (The show will continue on the ABC TV network.) [179.757]
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