Here’s the schedule for NBC’s experimental station W2XBS in New York City for the week starting Sunday, October 15th, 1939, straight from the weekly television listings printed in The New York Times. I’m not sure why there were no telecasts included for Tuesday, October 17th and it’s possible that daily listings would indicate that there were telecasts that day. The remainder of the week was filled with the usual sporting events, films and live plays.
One of these plays, The Dover Road, was written by A. A. Milne. One of the cast members was named Maurice Wells; here‘s the Internet Movie Database entry for a Maurice Wells born in 1903.
Another play, The Milky Way, was made into a feature film starring Harold Lloyd in 1936. The W2XBS version starred, among others, Claudia Morgan and Lowell Gilmore. The Internet Movie Database has entries for a Claudia Morgan born in 1911 and a Lowell Gilmore born in 1906.
Other programs of note include yet another chapter from the serial The Lost Jungle, something called Robert Eichberg’s Visi-Quiz and an automobile review from the World’s Fair.
Wednesday, October 18th, 1939
2:30-3:30PM – Robert Eichberg’s Visi-Quiz; films, “The Texas Ranger” and “Pilgrimage Through Palestine”; Dr. Hugh Grant Rowell and Lisa Sergio on “How We See.”
8:30-9:30PM – “The Dover Road,” by A. A. Milne, with Charles Webster, Marjorie Clark, Maurice Wells, Marie Carroll, Richard Janaver and William Thornton.Thursday, October 19th, 1939
2:30-3:30PM – Automobile review at the World’s Fair.
8:30-9:30PM – Variety hour, fashion show and interviews.Friday, October 20th, 1939
2:30-3:30PM – Fur fashions; film serial, “The Lost Jungle”; film, “Football-Kicking”; to be announced.
8:30-9:30PM – “The Milky Way,” by Lynn Rott and Harry Clark, with Claudia Morgan, June Blossom, Ross Hertz, James Corner, Alec Cross, Fred Stewart, Paul Porter, Lowell Gilmore and Benson Greene.Saturday, October 21st, 1939
2:30-3:30PM – First of a series on the fundamentals of aviation and air travel.
9-11PM – Boxing matches, Ridgewood Grove Arena, Queens.
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