Church on tv in the 1950s

[mbayus]

I remember watching Church services from St. John the Devine on CBS, as well as Catholic Mass on all of the networks back in the 1950s. I think that they were a part of the news and public affairs department. Does anyone else remember this, and do you know if anything was saved on kinescope or video tape.

 

[Bob1370]

The groundbreaking show wasn't a service per se, but a weekly lecture carried first on DuMont, then on ABC, in prime time; Roman Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen's Life Is Worth Living. It aired every Tuesday night at 8 during its six year network run from 1951 to 1957 and drew strong ratings even against Milton Berle, who aired opposite him on NBC. Sheen was a powerfully charismatic speaker, and brought not only drama but a thoughtful, intellectual approach to his subject that set him apart from other early preachers on TV.

He later revived the show in national syndication for a new generation of viewers between 1961 and 1968. While the old network show was aired in black and white and preserved in kinescopes (mostly of surprisingly good quality for the time), the revival was taped in color, first in New York, then at WOKR in Rochester (where he was stationed as bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese during the late 1960s). Sheen passed away at the end of 1979 at the age of 84. But his shows survive. Both the network monochrome and syndicated color versions air in reruns on cable networks including TBN and EWTN.

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Didn't Berle used to call Bishop Sheen "Uncle Fultie"?

There were also a couple long running dramatic shows produced by churches; "Insight" (Catholic) and "This Is The Life" (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod).

 

[mleach]

Isn't the late Bishop Sheen related to current actors Martin & Charlie Sheen?

I know a "search" could find out the answer but me too lazy to that do even that.
Been a LONG night.

 

[wbhist]

Isn't the late Bishop Sheen related to current actors Martin & Charlie Sheen?

No . . . however, Martin Sheen (né Ramon Estevez) adopted his stage surname in honor of the good Bishop.

 

[mbayus]

I'm talking about all of the Church services that were televised on Christmas and Easter. I remember not only st. John the Devine, but being able to turn on the tv on Easter Day at say, 9 in the morning and by 3 in the afternoon having seen as many as 4 services from 4 large cathedral churches. does anyone else remember?

 

[Tim L]

I'm talking about all of the Church services that were televised on Christmas and Easter.  I remember not only st. John the Devine, but being able to turn on the tv on Easter Day at say, 9 in the morning and by 3 in the afternoon having seen as many as 4 services from 4 large cathedral churches.  does anyone else remember?

Michael:
    I dont know how far back you go, but according to TV Guide Cleveland edition, on December 24-25, 1954 you could watch:

Friday, December 24

11PM
49 Christmas Service-St. John The Divine (Manhattan) (WAKR-Akron)

11:30
5 Christmas Service- Episcopalian-National Cathedral Washington, DC (CBS)

Midnight
3-21 Christmas Service-St. Patrick's Manhattan (NBC)

12:30
5-27 Christmas Service-Boys Town, Omaha, Nebraska (CBS)

Saturday, December 25

11AM
3-21 Christmas Service-Protestant-National Cathedral-Washington, DC (NBC)

 

[mbayus]

Pretty cool huh. That's what I'm talking about. On december 24/25, in 1954, according to the above post, in Cleveland you had 6 to chuse from. Now maybe, we get one.
Didn't the news departments do it for free back then?