Here’s the schedule for WCBW, the CBS station in New York City, for the week starting Sunday, November 2nd, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times. No listings were published on Sunday; presumably the station was off the air that day.
Either WCBW made some changes to its test patterns this week or the newspaper listings were incorrect. According to The New York Times, no test patterns aired on Tuesday or Wednesday. Otherwise, the rest of the week included the regular test patterns. Perhaps the station was experimenting with fewer test patterns.
Monday’s Men at Work variety show featured comedians, a singer, a dancer, a juggler, and a roller skating duo.
Table Talk with Helen Sioussat may not have aired on Wednesday. That day’s listings include a discussion of Labor Arbitration at 2:45PM when Table Talk with Helen Sioussat usually aired but there’s no way to know whether it involved Sioussat or not.
The Friday Metropolitan Museum of Art program was replaced by a Civilian Air Raid Protection Demonstration. Bob Edge’s Friday sports show once again focused on badminton.
Sunday, November 2nd, 1941
No Listings Published/No Programs ScheduledMonday, November 3rd, 1941 [1]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Boys in the Back Room
3:15PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30PM – Variety Show [Men at Work]: Hank Henry, Comedy; Jack Guilford, Comedy; Jean Casto, Songs; Jose Fernanden, Dancer; Frank Martinet, Juggler; Lightning Duo, Roller Skaters.Tuesday, November 4th, 1941 [2]
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Dancing Lesson
3:15PM – Children’s Story
8:00PM – News Reports
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30PM – Metropolitan Museum of Art
9-9:30PM – Sports–Bob EdgeWednesday, November 5th, 1941 [3]
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Discussion: Labor Arbitration–John A. Zellers, Elden Lamarr, Wesley Sturgis, Louis Waldman
3:15PM – Children’s Story
8:00PM – News Reports
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30-9:30PM – Country DanceThursday, November 6th, 1941 [4]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Metropolitan Museum of Art
3:15PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News Reports
8:15PM – Sports-Bob Edge
8:30-9:30PM – Visual QuizFriday, November 7th, 1941 [5]
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Film
3:15PM – Children’s Story
8:00PM – News Reports
8:15PM – Civilian Air Raid Protection Demonstration
9-10PM – Sports–Bob Edge: BadmintonSaturday, November 8th, 1941 [6]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30-4:30PM – Films
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. 4 Nov. 1941: 46.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 5 Nov. 1941: 44.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 6 Nov. 1941: 46.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 7 Nov. 1941: 44.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 8 Nov. 1941: C32.
Hello again! Your site is terrific! You are really providing a much needed public service. I’m following you through 1941 on WCBW and can’t wait for you to get into 1942, on both WNBT & WCBW!
Apparently, the first Hopalong Cassidy film was telecast on KTLA (Channel 5) in Los Angeles Saturday 7 August 1948, obviously preceding the 28 November 1948 series in NYC on WNBT by over 3 months. Now, the big question arises: Which feature was shown on that date? Apparently, none of the stations that showed them had any interest in chronological order (SNIFF!). THANKS! Jack Tillmany