As has been the case previously, there’s no way to know the exact period these rankings for the New York City area from The Pulse, Inc. cover. A December 11th, 1949 article in The New York Times stated only that the rankings come from “the latest report” and list the “major television shows finishing in the following order in the metropolitan area.” Here’s the list:
1. Texaco Star Theatre (The Milton Berle Show) (WNBT)
2. Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (WCBS)
3. The Goldbergs (WCBS)
4. Arthur Godfrey and Friends (WCBS)
5. Toast of the Town (WCBS)
6. Stop the Music (WJZ-TV)
7. Fireside Theatre (WNBT)
8. Studio One (WCBS)
9. The Philco Television Playhouse (WNBT)
10. Suspense (WCBS)
Note that WCBS easily had the most programs in the Top Ten, although WNBT had the number one program. New York City’s ABC station, WJZ-TV, could only place one show in the Top Ten, Stop the Music.
Sources:
Gould, Jack. “Television in Review.” New York Times. 11 Dec. 1949: X11.
Again, CBS and NBC’s standings in the “Top Ten” in late 1949 stemmed from key shows on certain evenings- CBS was already establishing themselves on Sundays, with Ed Sullivan’s “TOAST OF THE TOWN” [9-10pm(et)]; Mondays with “ARTHUR GODFREY’S TALENT SCOUTS” [8:30-9pm, simulcast on CBS radio] (Allen Funt’s “CANDID CAMERA” followed at 9), “THE GOLDBERGS” [9:30-10pm] and “WESTINGHOUSE STUDIO ONE” [10-11pm]; and Wednesdays with “ARTHUR GODFREY AND HIS FRIENDS” [8-9pm]. NBC followed Sullivan by a strong second opposite him on Sundays at 9 with “PHILCO TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE”, and a “hammerlock” on Tuesdays with Milton Berle’s “TEXACO STAR THEATER” [8-9pm], followed by one of the first filmed anthology series produced for network television, “FIRESIDE THEATER” [9pm]. Jackie Gleason’s “THE LIFE OF RILEY” (the first filmed network situation comedy) followed at 9:30, but it was second to CBS’ live video version of their popular radio anthology, “SUSPENSE” {#10}. ABC, despite its lack of major affiliates at the time, managed to have ONE show in this “Top Ten”, Bert Parks’ musical phone-in quiz show, “STOP THE MUSIC” on Thursdays from 8-9pm, right after “THE LONE RANGER” (adapted from the radio show {which was still popular, three nights a week} and the first filmed Western series filmed for network TV, which sometimes appeared in “Top Ten” rankings, and was ABC’s most popular series during this period).
I’m continually astounded at how well Stop the Music did. It just doesn’t sound interesting. Then again, I’m sure viewers in 1949 wouldn’t quite get Survivor or Big Brother (they might have actually liked American Idol).
When did CBS move Sullivan to 8 PM…and what was airing there?