Here’s the schedule for NBC’s commercial station WNBT in New York City for the week starting Sunday, July 20th, 1941, straight from daily television listings printed in The New York Times. The station was off the air on Sunday. Programs for the week an episode of the irregularly scheduled show featuring singer Harvey Harding, a civilian defense program, fewer sports broadcasts than usual (just boxing and basketball), a variety show, a travelogue and roller skaters Ed, Jack and Betty (this may have been the same novelty skating trio that appeared in a 1933 film short called Eddie Duchin and His Orchestra; in the short, they were credited as Earl, Jack and Betty).
There were a lot of films broadcast during the week, including It Couldn’t Have Happened (But It Did) from 1936. Although not identified as such, The Pilgrims was likely another installment from the 1923 Chronicles of America film series produced by Yale University Press.
Monday, July 21st, 1941 [1]
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9-11PM – Boxing, Jamaica ArenaTuesday, July 22nd, 1941 [2]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – Film: Mother’s Sacrifice
2:40PM – Film: Spilling the Beans
2:45PM – Film: Truthful Tolliver
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9-11PM – Boxing: Ebbets Field; Main Boat, Burman vs. BettinaWednesday, July 23rd, 1941 [3]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – Film: The Pilgrims
3:20PM – Film: Monks of Mystery
3:25PM – Film: Riviera Industries
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9PM – Good Neighbors
9:45PM – Julien Bryan, Travelogue
10PM – NewsThursday, July 24th, 1941 [4]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – Variety Show: Christopher Morley, Chandra, Richer Kent, Others
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9PM – Film: It Couldn’t Have Happened, with Reginald DennyFriday, July 25th, 1941 [5]
1:30-2:30PM – Test Pattern
2:30-3:30PM – Wings Over America, from La Guardia ield
8-9PM – Test Pattern
9:00PM – Ed, Jack, Betty, Roller Skaters
9:10PM – Civilian Defense Program
9:20PM – Asta Sven, Dancer
9:30PM – Harvey Harding, Songs
9:45PM – Irene Wicker, Stories
10:15PM – News Analysis, Sam CuffSaturday, July 26th, 1941 [6]
2-3PM – Test Pattern
3-5PM – Metropolitan A.A.U. Basketball, Manhattan Beach
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 Jul. 1941: 36.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 23 Jul. 1941: 38.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 24 Jul. 1941: 36.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 25 Jul. 1941: 32.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 26 Jul. 1941: 28.
