TV Guide 365: 1964-1965 explores the 1964-1965 television season through listings published in TV Guide. Each day I’ll post listings for the corresponding day from the 1964-1965 season, with complete cast and guest cast details for obscure, short-lived shows.
Tuesday, October 20th, 1964
7:30 COMBAT! (ABC)
“The Hard Way Back.” Pvt. Larry Kogan has time to rescue Saunders from under a fallen beam before the Germans arrive, but the frightened soldier runs out on him instead–and tells Hanley that Saunders was killed. Script by Edward J. Lakso. (60 min.)
MR. NOVAK (NBC)
“Little Girl Lost” is troublemaker Edie Currie, who was transferred to Jefferson High in hopes that she’ll straighten out. She shows no signs of doing so, until Novak discovers her interest in drama. Script by Betty Ulius. Novak: James Franciscus. Vane: Dean Jagger. Miss Scott: Marion Collier. (60 min.)
Guest Cast
Edie Currie ………….. Davey Davison
Nick Bradley ………….. Buck Taylor
8:00 WORLD WAR I (CBS)
“They Sank the Lusitania” examines the causes and effects of Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. Cameras view the Lusitania; the submarine that sank it; the reaction to the tragedy in the U.S. and England; and scenes shot aboard a German U-boat. Script by Burton Benjamin. Robert Ryan narrates. Music: Morton Gould.
8:30 RED SKELTON (CBS)
MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.–Drama (NBC)
“The Deadly Games Affair.” Both Solo and THRUSH agent Angelique are sent in search of a German scientist who until recently was presumed to be dead. Script by Dick Nelson. (60 min.)
McHALE’S NAVY–Comedy (ABC)
McHale is convinced that only drastic action will erase Captain Binghamton’s vengeful feelings toward Ensign Parker. All Parker did was plow into the Captain’s launch with PT 73.
9:00 TYCOON (ABC)
Walter and Pat visit a college campus to interview prospective employees of Thunder Corporation. Walter: Walter Brennan. Pat: Van Williams. Wilson: Jerome Cowan. George: Ted Bessell.
9:25 POLITICAL TALK–Democratic (CBS)
9:30 POLITICAL TALK–Republican (CBS)
Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, Republican Presidential candidate, is the speaker.
“Petticoat Junction” is pre-empted.
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS–Satire (NBC)
[COLOR] Scheduled: David Frost, TW3’s British correspondent, reports on England’s general election’s [sic]; 1964 automobile are demolished. TW3-style javelins are hurled at the summer Olympics; and a “guest critic” casts a jaundiced eye at the new TV programs. (Live)
PEYTON PLACE–Serial (ABC)
Rodney discovers that his relationship with Betty isn’t completely terminated.
10:00 DOCTORS/NURSES (CBS)
“No Shadow Where There Is No Sun.” An 18-year-old girl, unaware that she has leukemia, rebels at finishing her last year of high school in the classroom at Alden Hospital. Script by Albert Meglin. Gail: Zina Bethune. Ski: Michael Tolan. Liz: Shirl Conway. (60 min.)
Guest Cast
Dorris Kramer ………….. Merrie Spaeth
Mr. Parenti ………….. Jeff Corey
Mr. Kramer ………….. Michael Strong
SUMMER OLYMPICS–Tokyo (NBC)
[SPECIAL] Scheduled: gymnastics; fencing; judo; Greco-Roman wrestling; and a summery of the decathlon.
FUGITIVE (ABC)
“Tger [sic] Left, Tiger Right.” While Kimble’s working as a gardener for the wealthy Pryor family, he’s kidnaped [sic] by a pair who think he’s the head of the household. (60 min.)
Source:
TV Guide, October 17, 1964 (Volume 12, Number 42, Issue #603) [Western New England Edition]
Buying ad time on network TV was common in Presidential campaigns of that era! Strange that Johnson bought only 5 minutes and Goldwater bought 30! Even stranger was that time slot: CBS proably would have made more money with Petticoat Junction!
Point # 1:
You will recall that in the previous two weeks, the Republicans bought the NBC half-hour, pre-empting the much lower-rated TW3.
Someone at the RNC must have noticed that CBS had a bigger audience at that hour, and acted accordingly.
Point # 2:
Just out of curiosity, who were Red Skelton’s guests that night?
Skelton was a big Republican; he might have had a hand in CBS’s decision to rent out the timeslot …
There were no guests listed for Red Skelton, unfortunately.
It is true that NBC was never comfortable with TW3, moving it from Friday to Tuesday against PJ [15th that season] and Peyton Place [9th &20th] killed it!