Here’s the schedule for WCBW, the CBS station in New York City, for the week starting Sunday, July 6th, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times. The station was off the air on Sunday. Its schedule Monday through Friday was relatively stable, with news and a children’s story each day of the week.
There was also a dance program on Monday with Arthur Murray instructors. Although not referred to by name in the listings, Monday also saw the premiere of an hour-long variety show called Men at Work. The debut episode featured acrobats, bicyclists, dancers, and singers.
There were Metropolitan Museum of Art programs on Tuesday and Thursday.
Table Talk with Helen Sioussat included four participants on Wednesday. There was also a lengthy quiz program Wednesday from 8:30-9:30PM. On Thursday, the station aired an hour-long program featuring a pair of dance societies.
Sunday, July 6th, 1941
No Programs ScheduledMonday, July 7th, 1941 [1]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Dances, with Arthur Murray instructors
3:15-3:30PM – Children’s Story: Jack and the Bean Stalk
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30-9:30PM – Variety [Men at Work]: Goodrich and Nelson, acrobats; Libby and Betty, bicyclists; Lena Clark; Estelle and LeRoy, dancers; Fredda Gibson, SongsTuesday, July 8th, 1941 [2]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News
3:15-3:30PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30PM – Metropolitan Museum of Art
9-9:30PM – Bob Edge InterviewsWednesday, July 9th, 1941 [3]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News
2:45PM – Helen Sioussat Interviews Elinore M. Herrick, Elden La Mar, Spencer Miller, Harold Bergen
3:15-3:30PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30-9:30PM – Quiz ProgramThursday, July 10th, 1941 [4]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News
2:45PM – Metropolitan Museum of Art
3:15-3:30PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Sports-Bob Edge
8:30-9:30PM – English Folk Dance and Country Dance Societies; Adrian Hull, CallerFriday, July 11th, 1941 [5]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News Reports
3:15-3:30PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Test Pattern
9-10PM – Sports, Bob EdgeSaturday, July 12th, 1941 [6]
2:30-4:30PM – Test Pattern
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. 8 Jul. 1941: 36.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 9 Jul. 1941: 40.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 10 Jul. 1941: 38.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 11 Jul. 1941: 32.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 12 Jul. 1941: C26.
Even back in 1941, CBS chairman Bill Paley was on the board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, so he was able to persuade the museum to bring some of their works to the CBS television studio to be shown (and talked-about ) on WCBW.