Here’s the schedule for NBC’s commercial station WNBT in New York City for the week starting Sunday, November 9th, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times. The station was off the air on Thursday.
Recall that during the previous week, The New York Times television listings stopped publishing test patterns. It is unknown whether WNBT actually stopped broadcast test patterns or not.
I’d love to know what “Television and You,” five-minute program broadcast on Wednesday, was about.
Sports outnumbered films this week, with football on Sunday, boxing on Monday, wrestling on Tuesday, and more football on Saturday.
Highlights for the week included a spelling bee on Wednesday, a mystery game called “False Witness” and something called “Miniatures in Music,” both on Friday.
Other programs for the week included shows featuring WNBT regulars Ted Steele and Betty Randall, plus news with Ray Forrest and a short installment of Face of the War with Sam Cuff.
Sunday, November 9th, 1941 [1]
2-5PM – Football: Dodgers vs. Washingtons, Ebbets Field
8:30PM – Film: My Old Kentucky HomeMonday, November 10th, 1941 [2]
9-11PM – Boxing, Jamaica ArenaTuesday, November 11th, 1941 [3]
3:30-4:30PM – Film: Painted Trails
8:45PM – Julien Bryan, Travelogue
9:10PM – Ted Steele, Betty Randall, Songs
9:20PM – Civilian Defense Program
9:30PM – Wrestling, Ridgewood GroveWednesday, November 12th, 1941 [4]
3:30-4:30PM – Radio City Matinee
8:30PM – Spelling Bee
9:00PM – Television and You
9:05PM – Three Jesters, Songs
9:15PM – Frank Eliscu, Artist
9:25PM – News–Ray ForrestThursday, November 13th, 1941
No Programs ScheduledFriday, November 14th, 1941 [5]
3:30PM – Film: Rose of the Rio Grande
8:30PM – Mystery Game–False Witness
8:55PM – Face of the War–Sam Cuff
9:05PM – Miniatures in Music: Jerry Sears, Jane FromanSaturday, November 15th, 1941 [6]
2-4PM – Football: Columbia vs. Michigan, at Baker Field
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. 10 Nov. 1941: 36.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 11 Nov. 1941: 44.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 12 Nov. 1941: 44.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 14 Nov. 1941: 46.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 15 Nov. 1941: C32.
