Here’s the schedule for NBC’s commercial station WNBT in New York City for the week starting Sunday, December 21st, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times.
Perhaps due to the Christmas holiday, this was an atypical week for WNBT. In particular, the station aired two films on Friday, December 26th instead of a mixture of films and other programs. Even Face of the War with Sam Cuff was pre-empted.
It was a week heavy on films, including The Legion of Missing Men (1937); Children of the Wild (aka Topa Topa, 1938); Mr. Boggs Steps Out (1938) and Flaming Lead (1939).
Highlights for the week included coverage of the launching ceremonies for a Navy minesweeper on Tuesday; drama “Adventures of Marco Polo” on Wednesday; fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” and a special Christmas program on Thursday; and a basketball game on Saturday.
Sunday, December 21st, 1941 [1]
3:30PM – Film: The River
4PM – Film: Children of the WildMonday, December 22nd, 1941 [2]
9-11PM – Boxing: Jamaica ArenaTuesday, December 23rd, 1941 [3]
2:45PM – Launching Ceremonies for Navy Minesweeper, Robert Jacob, Inc. Yards, City Island
3:30-4:30PM – Radio City Matinee
8:30PM – Julian Bryan, Travelogue
9PM – Camp Upton Chorus
9:10PM – Civilian Defense Program
9:20PM – Face of the War–Sam Cuff
9:30PM – Wrestling: Ridgewood GroveWednesday, December 24th, 1941 [4]
8:30-9:30PM – Adventures of Marco Polo–DramaThursday, December 25th, 1941 [5]
8:30-9PM – Hansel and Gretel, Musical Fairy Tale, with Adriana Caselotti, Ivy Dale, Others
9-9:30PM – Christmas Varieties, with Yola Galli, Songs; Carla and Fernando, Dancers; Southernaires QuartetFriday, December 26th, 1941 [6]
3:30-4:30PM – Film: Legion of Missing Men
8:30-9:30PM – Film: Mr. Boggs Steps Out, with Stuart IrwinSaturday, December 27th, 1941 [7]
3:30-4:30PM – Film: Flaming Lead, with Ken Maynard
9-11:15PM – Basketball: L.I.U. vs. U.S.C.; Fordham vs. Rice; Madison Square Garden
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. 22 Dec. 1941: 35.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 23 Dec. 1941: 41.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 24 Dec. 1941: 35.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 25 Dec. 1941: 43.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 26 Dec. 1941: 27.
7 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 27 Dec. 1941: 31.