Here’s the schedule for WCBW, the CBS station 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. Its schedule Monday through Friday was relatively stable, with news and a children’s story each day of the week.
It was a typical week for WCBW. There was Joan Edwards with songs, Bob Edge with sports, Metropolitan Museum of Art programs, children’s stories, and news.
The Men at Work variety hour on Monday included acrobats, dancers, a tap dancer, a comedian, and a singer. It also featured a short ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of the station’s first daily TV schedule [1]. The station’s first regular broadcast was described by Gilbert Seldes, director of CBS TV programs. He was joined by E.K. Cohan and William Schudt, who served as engineer and program director for that first program.
Another episode of Boys in the Back Room aired on Tuesday, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the station and its employees.
Table Talk with Helen Sioussat once again featured four participants on Wednesday, including Wisconsin politician Philip La Follette, reporter Linton Wells, and costume designer Edward M. Stevenson.
Sunday, July 20th, 1941
No Programs ScheduledMonday, July 21st, 1941 [2]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News Reports
2:45PM – Dancing Lesson
3:15-3:30PM – Children’s Story
7:30PM – Test Pattern
8:00PM – News
8:15PM – Joan Edwards, Songs
8:30-9:30PM – Variety Show [Men at Work]: Ray and Arthur, Acrobats; Julian and Marjorie, Dancers; Betty Jane Smith, Tap Dancer; Jack McCoy, Comedian; Tamara, SongsTuesday, July 22nd, 1941 [3]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News
2:45PM – Boys in the Back Room
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 Interviews Philip Wylie, WriterWednesday, July 23rd, 1941 [4]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News
2:45PM – Helen Sioussat Interviews–Philip La Follette, Linton Wells, Edward M. Stevenson, Mrs. Harry Shackelford
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 24th, 1941 [5]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30PM – News Reports
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
8:30PM – Country Dance and Finnish Folk Dance Societies, Adrian Hull, Caller.Friday, July 25th, 1941 [6]
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 26th, 1941 [7]
2:00PM – Test Pattern
2:30-4:30PM – Film
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. 21 Jul. 1941: 26.
3 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 22 Jul. 1941: 36.
4 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 23 Jul. 1941: 38.
5 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 24 Jul. 1941: 36.
6 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 25 Jul. 1941: 32.
7 “Radio Today.” New York Times. 26 Jul. 1941: 28.
Interesting schedules for 1941, it’s also interesting to see that a ‘test pattern’ is also shown at peak time for just 30 minutes. In the UK, test patterns are referred to as ‘test cards.’ The accompanying music is quite nice too.