Fred Allen seven-minute excerpt.                       

September 10, 1950-December 25, 1955.
 Most shows were comedy-variety hours with guest hosts Martin & Lewis, Abbott & Costello, Eddie Cantor, Donald O'Connor, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, & Gordon MacRae. Starting in the Fall of 1952, occasional revues and musicals were broadcast. In the summer of 1955, the name of the series was changed to "Colgate Variety Hour," and when Colgate dropped its sponsorship, the show continued in January 1956 for one half season as the "NBC Comedy Hour." Woody Allen was one of the writers. 

Milton Berle is host at the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Friar's Club, a fraternal organization of men in show business.


                                       

Jack's guests are George Burns and Gracie Allen. Regulars are Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and announcer Don Wilson.                                      

September 30, 1951-August 29, 1971

Red Skelton's network television program began at the start of the 1951 fall season on NBC (for sponsor Procter & Gamble). After two seasons on Sunday nights, the program was picked up by CBS in the fall of 1953 and moved to Tuesday night, the time slot with which it would become primarily associated during most of its run. After his first CBS season the program was moved to Wednesday night and expanded to an hour for the summer of 1954 only; it was then reduced back to a half-hour for a time, later expanded again, returning to Tuesday night where it would remain for the next sixteen years (co-sponsored by Johnson's Wax and Pet Milk between 1955 and 1962).

On September 25, 1962, the program was again expanded to a full hour (becoming The Red Skelton Hour) and remained in this longer format for the balance of its CBS run.

CBS ended its association with the program in early 1970. This apparently marked the beginning of one of several attempts by CBS to downplay programming whose primary appeal was to "Middle America", an audience more rural and also somewhat older than that generally desired by network television advertisers. Marketers were moving towards a younger, "hipper", and more urban audience.

At least in part due to Skelton's iconic status, the program was picked up by NBC, premiering on September 14, 1970. Vice President Spiro Agnew introduced Red's 20th season opener, returning back to NBC where he began his first TV season. Guest on Shelton's premiere program was Jerry Lewis. After the taping of the show Lewis told the audience: "My ambition has always been to be a clown...tonight I've had the honor of working with a great clown."

The program that aired was quite different from the one that Skelton's CBS audience was used to seeing. The new set was dark, devoid of the backdrops that viewers had seen on CBS. The show was cut back to its original half-hour length and it was moved from Tuesday to Monday nights.

The new format never really worked. The program ended in March 1971, although selected programs from this final season were rerun on NBC on Sunday nights in prime time during June-August, 1971.                                                                   

October 12th, 1950-September 22nd, 1958 (CBS)   

Long-running half-hour comedy series starring the team of George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen. Burns would play the straight man to Allen's crazy antics. Their son Ronnie would make occasional appearances on the program. Harry Von Zell was the announcer, replacing the original announcer, Bill Goodwin.           

September 30, 1951-August 29, 1971

Red Skelton's network television program began at the start of the 1951 fall season on NBC (for sponsor Procter & Gamble). After two seasons on Sunday nights, the program was picked up by CBS in the fall of 1953 and moved to Tuesday night, the time slot with which it would become primarily associated during most of its run. After his first CBS season the program was moved to Wednesday night and expanded to an hour for the summer of 1954 only; it was then reduced back to a half-hour for a time, later expanded again, returning to Tuesday night where it would remain for the next sixteen years (co-sponsored by Johnson's Wax and Pet Milk between 1955 and 1962).

On September 25, 1962, the program was again expanded to a full hour (becoming The Red Skelton Hour) and remained in this longer format for the balance of its CBS run.

CBS ended its association with the program in early 1970. This apparently marked the beginning of one of several attempts by CBS to downplay programming whose primary appeal was to "Middle America", an audience more rural and also somewhat older than that generally desired by network television advertisers. Marketers were moving towards a younger, "hipper", and more urban audience.

At least in part due to Skelton's iconic status, the program was picked up by NBC, premiering on September 14, 1970. Vice President Spiro Agnew introduced Red's 20th season opener, returning back to NBC where he began his first TV season. Guest on Shelton's premiere program was Jerry Lewis. After the taping of the show, Lewis told the audience: "My ambition has always been to be a clown...tonight I've had the honor of working with a great clown."

The program that aired was quite different from the one that Skelton's CBS audience was used to seeing. The new set was dark, devoid of the backdrops that viewers had seen on CBS. The show was cut back to its original half-hour length and it was moved from Tuesday to Monday nights.

The new format never really worked. The program ended in March 1971, although selected programs from this final season were rerun on NBC on Sunday nights in prime time during June-August, 1971.    

In this episode, Red Skelton's guests are actor Boris Karloff
and actress Eva Gabor.                                                                                        

September 27th, 1954-May 25th, 1957

A sixty-minute comedy show starring Sid Caesar. Most of Sid's old gang of regulars from "Your Show Of Shows" returned. They included Nanette Fabray, Janet Blair, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Pat Carroll.

This episode includes a spoof of the game show, "What's My Line?"                                                                               

September 27th, 1954-May 25th, 1957

A sixty-minute comedy show starring Sid Caesar. Most of Sid's old gang of regulars from "Your Show Of Shows" returned. They included Nanette Fabray, Janet Blair, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Pat Carroll.

This episode includes the show's ending only with Carl Reiner.                                                                                           

September 27th, 1954-May 25th, 1957

A sixty-minute comedy show starring Sid Caesar. Most of Sid's old gang of regulars from "Your Show Of Shows" returned. They included Nanette Fabray, Janet Blair, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Pat Carroll.

The Show opening with Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner. 

                                                                                                        

September 27th, 1954-May 25th, 1957. 

Sixty-minute variety/comedy hour starring Sid Caesar. It followed "Your Show Of Shows" which left the air in 1954. 


Sid Caesar is joined by Carl Reiner. This was the next-to-last show of the series. 

Skit: "Break Your Brains" with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Janet Blair, Howard Morris, and Pat Carroll.                                        

October 28th, 1950- September 15th, 1964 (CBS)
September 25th,1964-September 10th, 1965 (NBC)    

Jack Benny's half-hour show mixed variety and situation comedy with a company of regulars: Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, announcer Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Mel Blanc, and Mary Livingston.   

The Jack Benny signature "Your Money Or Your Life" skit is performed.                                                                                                

The first syndicated reruns of the classic 39 episodes of the "Honeymooners" ran from September 24th, 1957 to September 16th, 1958 on WRCA TV channel 4 in New York. They aired weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 7:30pm, following "The Huntley Brinkley Report" which aired from 6:45 to 7:00pm.

 Subsequently, reruns of "The Honeymooners" have aired on WPIX in New York from October 9th, 1958 to the present, a run of over 60 years. Jack Lescoulie is the voice announcing the opening of these rebroadcasts, as originally announced during its original run on CBS, October 1st, 1955 to September 22nd, 1956. 

However, little known is the fact that Don Pardo announced the opening of "The Honeymooners" VERY FIRST re-runs on WRCA-TV for only one year, September 24th, 1957-September 16th, 1958.
Pardo also includes in his opening introduction the sponsor, Ronzonni. 

Included in this TV audio air check is the ending of "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" (Jose Melies last evening spouted poetry about Sputnik on "The Jack Paar Tonight Show") which precedes the opening of "The Honeymooners" opening episode, "Brother Ralph."                                                         

January 26th, 1958-May 25th-1958

A short-lived half-hour comedy show starring Sid Caesar who was reunited with Imogene Coca for the first time since "Your Show Of Shows" left the air in 1954. Other regulars were Paul Reed, Milt Kamen, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. The show was dropped by the ABC network after just four months due to low ratings.

This is the season premiere with Imogene Coca, and Carl Reiner.
Announcer is Hugh Downs.                                       

1957-1959 (CBS)

"Lucy Goes To Alaska" was the eighth and final episode of the one-hour specials. The Riccardos and the Mertzes go to Alaska to do a show, with Red Skelton, to celebrate the state's admission to the union.               

August 21st,  1959- September 30th, 1959   

Bob and Ray were an American comedy duo whose career spanned five decades. Their cartoon images were displayed in the Piels Beer television commercials of the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

August 21st, 1959- August 31st, 1959
September 1st, 1959- September 10th, 1959
September 11th, 1959- September 21st, 1959
September 22nd, 1959- September 30th, 1959      

Each broadcast is 15 minutes in length, a total of 40 broadcasts in all.  
             

  Television adaptation comedy about three escaping convicts living on Devil's Island, a penal colony in French Guiana, who come to the defense of Felix Ducotel and his family who are harassed by a cruel business man and his nephew, with the assistance of a snake. 

In 1955, same story, different title, the release of the motion picture, "WE'RE NO ANGELS" starred Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, and Aldo Ray.     

Presented on "US STEEL HOUR." 

Musical, comedy satire about America's driving habits and love of cars.                                       

October 28, 1950 - September 10, 1965
From September 13, 1953 to June 1960,  The Jack Benny Program aired every other week.

Jack Benny's guest is Milton Berle.             

Music and comedy special. 

Dupe Of Number 5417.         

A wild "study in depth" of the vulnerable American Married Man.  

Dupe Of Number 114.                         

Guests Hermione Gingold and Leonid Hambro help Victor Borge celebrate his 20th year in the United States. Complete commercials for the program are included.

Dupe Of Number 883.                           

CBS radio coverage of the Frair's Roast for director Mervyn Leroy. 

Roastmaster: George Jessel.     

Bob Newhart performs a skit on "Stalin's Body."       

Includes All State commercial.       

January 12, 1926-November 25, 1960 (radio); June 28, 1951-June 11, 1953 (television). "Amos 'n' Andy," one of the most popular and long-running radio programs of all time, was brought to television in the summer of 1951 by Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll. When the show was cancelled, 65 episodes  had been produced. An additional 13 episodes were then filmed to be added to the syndicated re-run package. These 13 episodes first aired on CBS television beginning on January 4, 1955. Note: "Amos 'n' Andy" used three 35mm cameras to film each episode prior to "I Love Lucy," most often given credit for first using this TV revolutionary three camera approach. "I Love Lucy" premiered on October 15, 1951. Today, 74 of the 78 "Amos 'n' Andy" episodes are available & sold on DVD. However, four episodes remain mysteriously absent: "Andy Goes In Business," "Race Horse," "Sapphire's Mysterious Admirer," and "Restitution." Archival Television Audio recorded one of these missing episodes off the air Dec. 28, 1961 - "Restitution." 
While trying to do a good deed, Kingfish ends up becoming a fugitive from justice. Joined in progress. Only a 6:10-minute excerpt was recorded off the air, but inaccessible to the public for over half a  century.                         

September 20th, 1955- September 11th, 1959 (CBS)

One of the most popular comedy shows of the 1950s, Phil Silvers starred as Sgt. Bilko. The show was originally titled "You'll Never Get Rich," but was changed to the Phil Silvers show. It was shown in reruns as "Sgt Bilko."   

Re-run Tuesday nights from 7:00-7:30pm on WNBC New York. Bilko finally comes up with a system for breaking the bank at Monte Carlo.                       

An ABC TV Special broadcast on Sunday, February 4, 1962 from 6:30 to 7:30pm. There are artistic freedom vignettes on the show as Stan poses the question of cultural relations between earth and the moon. There is a dramatization of the sale of Manhattan, and lampoons of that old Chinese invention, television.  Original music by Stan Freberg.                         

Johnny Carson hosts this tongue-in cheek survey of some current brands of humor, spotlighting Carson,Buddy Hackett,
Mata and Hari, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Kay Stevens and Dr. Joyce Brothers, who explains why people laugh.