Here’s the schedule for NBC’s commercial station WNBT in New York City for the week starting Sunday, July 13th, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times. The station was off the air on Sunday. Programs for the week included the premiere of an irregularly scheduled show featuring singer Harvey Harding, spelling bee Words on the Wing, a number of sports broadcasts (boxing, swimming and baseball) and at least two variety shows.
There were a lot of films broadcast during the week, including such riveting titles as Techniques of Lucite Carving and Estonia, plus a 1925 Western called Tumbleweeds starring William S. Hart (in his last film role), as well as another installment from the 1923 Chronicles of America film series produced by Yale University Press (likely on Jamestown, although the listings misspelled it Jameston)
Monday, July 14th, 1941 [1]
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9-11PM – Boxing, Jamaica ArenaTuesday, July 15th, 1941 [2]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – Swimming; Manhattan Beach
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9PM – Variety Show; Jack Smith, Betty Randall, Patti Pickens, Jean Cavall, Bob Simons, Others
10PM – NewsWednesday, July 16th, 1941 [3]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – Film: Chronicles of America-Jameston
3:10PM – Film: Aquarium in a Wine Glass
3:20PM – Film: An Apple a Day
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9PM – Stars of Tomorrow
9:30PM – Words on the Wing
10PM – NewsThursday, July 17th, 1941 [4]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – Variety Show; Vyvyenne Donner, Percy Cowan, Ralph and Budd, Triolettes, and Others
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9PM – Film: Tumbleweeds, with William S. Hart
10PM – NewsFriday, July 18th, 1941 [5]
1:30-2:50PM – Test Pattern
2:50PM – Baseball: Dodgers-Cincinnati, Ebbets Field
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9PM – Film: Carlsbad Caverns
9:10PM – Film: Techniques of Lucite Carving
9:20PM – Film: Estonia
9:30PM – Harvey Harding, Songs
9:45PM – To Be Announced
10PM – News Analysis, Sam CuffSaturday, July 19th, 1941 [6]
2-3PM – Test Pattern
3-5PM – Metropolitan A.A.U. Basketball, Manhattan Beach
Note: Television listings published in newspapers were based on information provided by stations and were subject to change at the last minute. They may not be an accurate representation of what actually aired.
Works Cited:
2 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 15 Jul. 1941: 38.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 16 Jul. 1941: 36.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 17 Jul. 1941: 40.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 18 Jul. 1941: 34.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 19 Jul. 1941: C26.