Here’s the schedule for NBC’s commercial station WNBT in New York City for the week starting Sunday, October 19th, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times. As was the case with the previous week, the station was off the air on Thursday for reasons unknown.
WNBT added a one-minute daily weather forecast to its schedule this week, or at least this was the week they showed up in the listings. They were seen at different times throughout the week, delaying the start of the following program by one minute. I wonder if any viewers complained.
Missing from the week’s schedule was the regular Saturday afternoon football game. A number of films were shown instead. The regularly scheduled boxing bout on Monday did take place and there was also a wrestling match on Tuesday.
It was a big week for films, with a total of ten on the air, including two having to do with cameras (Common Camera Mistakes on Tuesday and Exposure Meters on Friday).
Highlights for the week included Thrills and Chills Everywhere on Wednesday; a play called A Constitutional Point on Friday and another installment of Saturday Night Jamboree on Saturday.
Other programs for the week included a musical program featuring the Deep River Boys, another Harvey Harding show, a civilian defense program, Face of the War with Sam Cuff.
Sunday, October 19th, 1941 [1]
2:15-5PM – Football: Dodgers vs. Chicago, Ebbets Field.Monday, October 20th, 1941 [2]
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9:00PM – Weather Forecast
9:01-11PM – Boxing, Jamaica ArenaTuesday, October 21st, 1941 [3]
1-3:30PM – Test Pattern
3:30PM – Film: Alexander Hamilton
4:15PM – Film: Stained Glass Windows
4:25PM – Film: Common Camera Mistakes
4:30-5PM – Test Pattern
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9:00PM – Weather Forecast
9:01PM – False Witnesses–Sketch
9:30PM – Deep River Boys, Songs
9:45PM – Wrestling: Ridgewood GroveWednesday, October 22nd, 1941 [4]
1-3:30PM – Test Pattern
3:30PM – Radio City Matinee
4:30-5PM – Test Pattern
7:30-8:30PM – Test Pattern
8:30PM – Weather Forecast
8:31PM – Thrills and Chills, with Doug Allen and Vincent Palmer.
8:55PM – Civilian Defense Program
9:00PM – Weather Report
9:05PM – Spelling Bee
9:30PM – News ReportsThursday, October 23rd, 1941
No Programs ScheduledFriday, October 24th, 1941 [5]
1-3:30PM – Test Pattern
3:30PM – Film: Chungking Arises
3:45PM – Film: Exposure Meters
4:00PM – Film: Let’s Go to the Zoo
4:15PM – Film: Wild Rice
4:30-5PM – Test Pattern
7:30-8:30PM – Test Pattern
8:30PM – Play – A Constitutional Point
9:10PM – Weather Forecast
9:11PM – Harvey Harding, Songs
9:20PM – Face of the War-Sam CuffSaturday, October 25th, 1941 [6]
2:30PM – Test Pattern
3:30PM – Film: National Parks
3:50PM – Film: Burma Road
4:15PM – Film: Back Through the Ages
7:30-8:30PM – Test Pattern
8:30PM – Saturday Night Jamboree
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. 20 Oct. 1941: 32.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 21 Oct. 1941: 46.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 22 Oct. 1941: 44.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 24 Oct. 1941: 42.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 25 Oct. 1941: C32.
