Source – Boston Globe – Tuesday, December 20, 1966 (with some fill-in from the Eastern New England edition of TV Guide for the date)
WKBG-TV 56 finally debuted this day. They were supposed to debut on Monday December 19, but technical problems delayed things.
2 - WGBH Boston (Educational)
12:00p Boston Medical Reports
12:30p Brother Buzz
02:00p Antiques
02:30p Just Published
03:00p N.E. Assessment Project
04:45p The Friendly Giant
05:00p Brother Buzz (color)
05:30p What’s New
06:00p Spectrum (color)
06:30p News – Louis Lyons
06:45p N.E. Views – Robert Baram
07:00p Physics 3
07:30p Elliot Norton Reviews
08:00p James Forsyth’s “Emmanuel”
10:00p News at 10
10:30p Struggle for Peace
4 – WBZ Boston (NBC)
06:15a Sign On Seminar “The Fourth of October”
06:45a Daily Almanac
07:00a Today (color)
09:00a Contact! – Bob Kennedy
10:00a Eye Guess (color)
10:30a Concentration (color)
11:00a Pat Boone (color)
11:30a Hollywood Squares (color)
12:00p News, Weather
12:30p Mike Douglas
02:00p Days of Our Lives (color)
02:30p The Doctors (color)
03:00p Another World (color)
03:30p You Don’t Say (color)
04:00p Match Game (color)
04:25p NBC News – Floyd Kalber (color)
04:30p Leave it to Beaver
05:00p Merv Griffin
06:30p News, Weather
07:00p NBC Nightly News – Chet Huntley, David Brinkley (color)
07:30p The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (color)
08:30p Occasional Wife (color)
09:00p NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies “Omar Khayyam” 1957 – Cornell Wilde, Michael Rennie (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:30p Johnny Carson – guests: Eva Marie Saint, Tony Randall (TV Guide listed Joan Rivers)(color)
01:00a Movie “White Squaw”
5 – WHDH Boston (CBS)
06:00a Sunrise Semester
06:30a N.E. Farmer (color)
06:45a We Believe – religion (color)
07:00a The A.M. Show (color)
08:00a Captain Kangaroo
09:00a Romper Room – Miss Jean (color)
09:30a Classroom Five (color)
10:00a Candid Camera
10:30a The Beverly Hillbillies
11:00a Andy Griffith
11:30a Dick Van Dyke
12:00p Love of Life
12:25p CBS News – Joseph Benti (color)
12:30p Search for Tomorrow
12:45p The Guiding Light
01:00p PDQ (color)
01:30p As The World Turns
02:00p Password (color)
02:30p House Party (color)
03:00p To Tell the Truth
03:25p CBS News – Douglas Edwards
03:30p The Edge of Night
04:00p The Secret Storm
04:30p Bozo the Clown (color)
05:30p Lawman
06:00p News, Weather (color)
06:30p CBS Evening News – Harry Reasoner (was Cronkite on vacation? – TV Guide lists Cronkite) (color)
07:00p Mister Roberts (color)
07:30p Daktari (color)
08:30p Red Skelton Hour – Christmas show with Greer Garson and the Recruit Bluejacket Choir from the San Diego Naval Training Center (color)
09:30p Petticoat Junction (color)
10:00p CBS Reports “Harvest of Mercy” (color)
11:00p News, Weather (color)
12:00a Burke’s Law
6 – WTEV New Bedford (ABC)
06:45a News – Jack Delaney
07:00a B’Wana Don – children
07:30a Funtime – Uncle Bruce
08:45a News – Jack Delaney
09:00a Woman – Athena Parker
09:25a News – Jack Delaney
09:30a Highway Patrol
10:00a Community – Bob Bassett; “New England Dairy Council”
10:30a Dark Shadows
11:00a Supermarket Sweep
11:30a Dating Game
12:00p Donna Reed
12:30p Father Knows Best
01:00p Ben Casey
02:00p Newlywed Game
02:30p Dream Girl of ‘67
02:55p ABC News – Marlene Sanders
03:00p General Hospital
03:30p The Nurses
04:00p Funtime – Uncle Bruce
04:30p The Cisco Kid (color)
05:00p Where the Action Is
05:30p News, Weather
05:45p ABC Evening News – Peter Jennings
06:00p The Rifleman
06:30p Twilight Zone
07:00p Lawman
07:30p Combat (color)
08:30p The Rounders (color)
09:00p Pruitts of Southampton (color)
09:30p Love on a Rooftop (color)
10:00p The Fugitive (color)
11:00p News – Truman Taylor
11:10p Sports – Bob Bassett
11:15p Movie
01:00a Checkmate
7 – WNAC Boston (ABC)
06:30a Understanding Our World
07:00a Cartoons – Major Mudd
08:30a Milton the Monster
09:00a Gypsy Rose Lee (color)
09:30a Girl Talk
10:00a Newlywed Game
10:30a General Hospital
11:00a Supermarket Sweep
11:30a Dating Game
12:00p Donna Reed
12:30p Father Knows Best
01:00p Ben Casey
02:00p Movie “Cry of Battle” – Victor Mature
03:25p News, Weather
03:30p 77 Sunset Strip
04:30p Super Heroes (color)
05:00p Dennis the Menace
05:30p Superman
06:00p News, Weather
06:15p ABC Evening News – Peter Jennings
06:30p Mr. Ed
07:00p Twilight Zone
07:30p Combat (color)
08:30p The Rounders (color)
09:00p Pruitts of Southampton (color)
09:30p Love on a Rooftop (color)
10:00p The Fugitive (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:30p Movie “Trouble Along the Way” – John Wayne
9 – WMUR Manchester (ABC)
09:30a It’s Coffee Time (TV Guide lists this as Clyde Joy – Music)
10:00a News
10:05a Movie “South of Texas” – Gene Autry
11:00a Supermarket Sweep
11:30a Dating Game
12:00p Donna Reed
12:30p Father Knows Best
01:00p Ben Casey
02:00p Newlywed Game
02:30p Dream Girl of ‘67
02:55p ABC News – Marlene Sanders
03:00p General Hospital
03:30p The Nurses
04:00p Dark Shadows
04:30p Where the Action Is
05:00p Uncle Gus – cartoons
06:00p Highway Patrol
06:30p News, Weather
06:45p ABC Evening News – Peter Jennings
07:00p Sea Hunt
07:30p Combat (color)
08:30p The Rounders (color)
09:00p Pruitts of Southampton (color)
09:30p Love on a Rooftop (color)
10:00p The Fugitive (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:15p Movie “The Jackie Robinson Story”
10 – WJAR Providence (NBC)
06:30a TV Classroom
07:00a Today (color)
09:00a Talk of the Town – Jay Kroll
09:30a The World Around Us – nature
10:00a Eye Guess (color)
10:25a NBC News – Sander Vanocur (color)
10:30a Concentration (color)
11:00a Pat Boone (color)
11:30a Hollywood Squares (color)
12:00p Jeopardy (color)
12:30p Swingin’ Country (color)
12:55p Doctor’s House Call
01:00p Gypsy Rose Lee
01:30p Let’s Make a Deal (color)
01:55p NBC News – Nancy Dickerson (color)
02:00p Days of Our Lives (color)
02:30p The Doctors (color)
03:00p Another World (color)
03:30p You Don’t Say (color)
04:00p Match Game (color)
04:30p Leave it to Beaver
05:00p Movie “Breaking Point”
06:15p News, Weather
06:30p NBC Nightly News – Chet Huntley, David Brinkley (color)
07:00p Tales of Wells Fargo
07:30p The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (color)
08:30p Occasional Wife (color)
09:00p NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies “Omar Khayyam” 1957 – Cornell Wilde, Michael Rennie (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:15p Johnny Carson (color)
01:00a News Wrap Up
12 – WPRO Providence (CBS)
06:30a Bible Telecourse
07:00a Three Stooges, Popeye
07:45a The King and Odie – cartoon
08:00a Captain Kangaroo
08:30a Romper Room – Miss Bonnie
09:00a Dialing for Dollars
10:00a Candid Camera
10:30a Mike Douglas
11:30a Dick Van Dyke
12:00p Love of Life
12:25p CBS News – Joseph Benti (color)
12:30p Search for Tomorrow
12:45p The Guiding Light
01:00p Girl Talk
01:30p As The World Turns
02:00p Password (color)
02:30p House Party (color)
03:00p To Tell the Truth
03:25p CBS News – Douglas Edwards
03:30p The Edge of Night
04:00p Super Heroes – cartoon
05:00p Merv Griffin
06:25p Ski Tips – Stein (color)
06:30p Newsbeat (TV Guide lists CBS Evening News @ 6:30p, local news @ 7p)
07:30p Daktari (color)
08:30p Red Skelton Hour – Christmas show with Greer Garson and the Recruit Bluejacket Choir from the San Diego Naval Training Center (color)
09:30p Petticoat Junction (color)
10:00p CBS Reports “Harvest of Mercy” (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:30p Movie “None But the Lonely Spy”
38 – WSBK Boston (Ind)
08:25a Youth Speak Out
08:30a Biochemistry
09:00a Humanities
09:30a Psychology
10:00a Physical Fitness
10:30a Let’s Explore America
11:00a Science Reporter
11:30a Jack LaLanne (color)
12:00p Jeopardy (color) – from NBC
12:30p Swingin’ Country (color) – from NBC
12:55p NBC News – Edwin Newman – from NBC
01:00p I Led Three Lives
01:30p Let’s Make a Deal (color) – from NBC
01:55p NBC News – Nancy Dickerson (color) – from NBC
02:00p Ann Sothern
02:30p Dream Girl of ‘67 – from ABC
02:55p ABC News – Marlene Sanders – from ABC
03:00p Mr. District Attorney
03:30p The Nurses – from ABC
04:00p Dark Shadows – from ABC
04:30p Where the Action Is – from ABC
05:00p The Munsters
05:30p Cartoons
06:00p Yogi Bear
06:30p Soupy Sales
07:00p You Asked For It – Jack Smith
07:30p Alfred Hitchcock
08:30p American West
09:00p Across the Seven Seas
09:30p Best of the NFL (color)
11:00p World of Comedy (TV Guide lists “George Washington Slept Here” starring Jack Benny as the movie)
56 – WKBG Cambridge/Boston (Ind)
11:30a Dickory Dec. stories and cartoons for children (color)
12:30p Movie “Red Canyon”
03:00p Topper
03:30p Captain Boston (color) – local kids show with Chris Clausen
04:30p Movie “Torpedo Bay”
06:00p Gigantor
06:30p The Flintstones
07:00p The Patty Duke Show
07:30p Truth or Consequences (color)
08:00p Dedication Program (delayed from the previous evening) – part of the sign-on show can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXj0EHiA-X0
08:55p Basketball: Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (game was played in Minneapolis; Celtics won in OT 116-113; Tommy Heinsohn was the announcer)
11:30p Movie “The Highwayman”
WKBG-TV 56 finally debuted this day. They were supposed to debut on Monday December 19, but technical problems delayed things.
2 - WGBH Boston (Educational)
12:00p Boston Medical Reports
12:30p Brother Buzz
02:00p Antiques
02:30p Just Published
03:00p N.E. Assessment Project
04:45p The Friendly Giant
05:00p Brother Buzz (color)
05:30p What’s New
06:00p Spectrum (color)
06:30p News – Louis Lyons
06:45p N.E. Views – Robert Baram
07:00p Physics 3
07:30p Elliot Norton Reviews
08:00p James Forsyth’s “Emmanuel”
10:00p News at 10
10:30p Struggle for Peace
4 – WBZ Boston (NBC)
06:15a Sign On Seminar “The Fourth of October”
06:45a Daily Almanac
07:00a Today (color)
09:00a Contact! – Bob Kennedy
10:00a Eye Guess (color)
10:30a Concentration (color)
11:00a Pat Boone (color)
11:30a Hollywood Squares (color)
12:00p News, Weather
12:30p Mike Douglas
02:00p Days of Our Lives (color)
02:30p The Doctors (color)
03:00p Another World (color)
03:30p You Don’t Say (color)
04:00p Match Game (color)
04:25p NBC News – Floyd Kalber (color)
04:30p Leave it to Beaver
05:00p Merv Griffin
06:30p News, Weather
07:00p NBC Nightly News – Chet Huntley, David Brinkley (color)
07:30p The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (color)
08:30p Occasional Wife (color)
09:00p NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies “Omar Khayyam” 1957 – Cornell Wilde, Michael Rennie (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:30p Johnny Carson – guests: Eva Marie Saint, Tony Randall (TV Guide listed Joan Rivers)(color)
01:00a Movie “White Squaw”
5 – WHDH Boston (CBS)
06:00a Sunrise Semester
06:30a N.E. Farmer (color)
06:45a We Believe – religion (color)
07:00a The A.M. Show (color)
08:00a Captain Kangaroo
09:00a Romper Room – Miss Jean (color)
09:30a Classroom Five (color)
10:00a Candid Camera
10:30a The Beverly Hillbillies
11:00a Andy Griffith
11:30a Dick Van Dyke
12:00p Love of Life
12:25p CBS News – Joseph Benti (color)
12:30p Search for Tomorrow
12:45p The Guiding Light
01:00p PDQ (color)
01:30p As The World Turns
02:00p Password (color)
02:30p House Party (color)
03:00p To Tell the Truth
03:25p CBS News – Douglas Edwards
03:30p The Edge of Night
04:00p The Secret Storm
04:30p Bozo the Clown (color)
05:30p Lawman
06:00p News, Weather (color)
06:30p CBS Evening News – Harry Reasoner (was Cronkite on vacation? – TV Guide lists Cronkite) (color)
07:00p Mister Roberts (color)
07:30p Daktari (color)
08:30p Red Skelton Hour – Christmas show with Greer Garson and the Recruit Bluejacket Choir from the San Diego Naval Training Center (color)
09:30p Petticoat Junction (color)
10:00p CBS Reports “Harvest of Mercy” (color)
11:00p News, Weather (color)
12:00a Burke’s Law
6 – WTEV New Bedford (ABC)
06:45a News – Jack Delaney
07:00a B’Wana Don – children
07:30a Funtime – Uncle Bruce
08:45a News – Jack Delaney
09:00a Woman – Athena Parker
09:25a News – Jack Delaney
09:30a Highway Patrol
10:00a Community – Bob Bassett; “New England Dairy Council”
10:30a Dark Shadows
11:00a Supermarket Sweep
11:30a Dating Game
12:00p Donna Reed
12:30p Father Knows Best
01:00p Ben Casey
02:00p Newlywed Game
02:30p Dream Girl of ‘67
02:55p ABC News – Marlene Sanders
03:00p General Hospital
03:30p The Nurses
04:00p Funtime – Uncle Bruce
04:30p The Cisco Kid (color)
05:00p Where the Action Is
05:30p News, Weather
05:45p ABC Evening News – Peter Jennings
06:00p The Rifleman
06:30p Twilight Zone
07:00p Lawman
07:30p Combat (color)
08:30p The Rounders (color)
09:00p Pruitts of Southampton (color)
09:30p Love on a Rooftop (color)
10:00p The Fugitive (color)
11:00p News – Truman Taylor
11:10p Sports – Bob Bassett
11:15p Movie
01:00a Checkmate
7 – WNAC Boston (ABC)
06:30a Understanding Our World
07:00a Cartoons – Major Mudd
08:30a Milton the Monster
09:00a Gypsy Rose Lee (color)
09:30a Girl Talk
10:00a Newlywed Game
10:30a General Hospital
11:00a Supermarket Sweep
11:30a Dating Game
12:00p Donna Reed
12:30p Father Knows Best
01:00p Ben Casey
02:00p Movie “Cry of Battle” – Victor Mature
03:25p News, Weather
03:30p 77 Sunset Strip
04:30p Super Heroes (color)
05:00p Dennis the Menace
05:30p Superman
06:00p News, Weather
06:15p ABC Evening News – Peter Jennings
06:30p Mr. Ed
07:00p Twilight Zone
07:30p Combat (color)
08:30p The Rounders (color)
09:00p Pruitts of Southampton (color)
09:30p Love on a Rooftop (color)
10:00p The Fugitive (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:30p Movie “Trouble Along the Way” – John Wayne
9 – WMUR Manchester (ABC)
09:30a It’s Coffee Time (TV Guide lists this as Clyde Joy – Music)
10:00a News
10:05a Movie “South of Texas” – Gene Autry
11:00a Supermarket Sweep
11:30a Dating Game
12:00p Donna Reed
12:30p Father Knows Best
01:00p Ben Casey
02:00p Newlywed Game
02:30p Dream Girl of ‘67
02:55p ABC News – Marlene Sanders
03:00p General Hospital
03:30p The Nurses
04:00p Dark Shadows
04:30p Where the Action Is
05:00p Uncle Gus – cartoons
06:00p Highway Patrol
06:30p News, Weather
06:45p ABC Evening News – Peter Jennings
07:00p Sea Hunt
07:30p Combat (color)
08:30p The Rounders (color)
09:00p Pruitts of Southampton (color)
09:30p Love on a Rooftop (color)
10:00p The Fugitive (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:15p Movie “The Jackie Robinson Story”
10 – WJAR Providence (NBC)
06:30a TV Classroom
07:00a Today (color)
09:00a Talk of the Town – Jay Kroll
09:30a The World Around Us – nature
10:00a Eye Guess (color)
10:25a NBC News – Sander Vanocur (color)
10:30a Concentration (color)
11:00a Pat Boone (color)
11:30a Hollywood Squares (color)
12:00p Jeopardy (color)
12:30p Swingin’ Country (color)
12:55p Doctor’s House Call
01:00p Gypsy Rose Lee
01:30p Let’s Make a Deal (color)
01:55p NBC News – Nancy Dickerson (color)
02:00p Days of Our Lives (color)
02:30p The Doctors (color)
03:00p Another World (color)
03:30p You Don’t Say (color)
04:00p Match Game (color)
04:30p Leave it to Beaver
05:00p Movie “Breaking Point”
06:15p News, Weather
06:30p NBC Nightly News – Chet Huntley, David Brinkley (color)
07:00p Tales of Wells Fargo
07:30p The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (color)
08:30p Occasional Wife (color)
09:00p NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies “Omar Khayyam” 1957 – Cornell Wilde, Michael Rennie (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:15p Johnny Carson (color)
01:00a News Wrap Up
12 – WPRO Providence (CBS)
06:30a Bible Telecourse
07:00a Three Stooges, Popeye
07:45a The King and Odie – cartoon
08:00a Captain Kangaroo
08:30a Romper Room – Miss Bonnie
09:00a Dialing for Dollars
10:00a Candid Camera
10:30a Mike Douglas
11:30a Dick Van Dyke
12:00p Love of Life
12:25p CBS News – Joseph Benti (color)
12:30p Search for Tomorrow
12:45p The Guiding Light
01:00p Girl Talk
01:30p As The World Turns
02:00p Password (color)
02:30p House Party (color)
03:00p To Tell the Truth
03:25p CBS News – Douglas Edwards
03:30p The Edge of Night
04:00p Super Heroes – cartoon
05:00p Merv Griffin
06:25p Ski Tips – Stein (color)
06:30p Newsbeat (TV Guide lists CBS Evening News @ 6:30p, local news @ 7p)
07:30p Daktari (color)
08:30p Red Skelton Hour – Christmas show with Greer Garson and the Recruit Bluejacket Choir from the San Diego Naval Training Center (color)
09:30p Petticoat Junction (color)
10:00p CBS Reports “Harvest of Mercy” (color)
11:00p News, Weather
11:30p Movie “None But the Lonely Spy”
38 – WSBK Boston (Ind)
08:25a Youth Speak Out
08:30a Biochemistry
09:00a Humanities
09:30a Psychology
10:00a Physical Fitness
10:30a Let’s Explore America
11:00a Science Reporter
11:30a Jack LaLanne (color)
12:00p Jeopardy (color) – from NBC
12:30p Swingin’ Country (color) – from NBC
12:55p NBC News – Edwin Newman – from NBC
01:00p I Led Three Lives
01:30p Let’s Make a Deal (color) – from NBC
01:55p NBC News – Nancy Dickerson (color) – from NBC
02:00p Ann Sothern
02:30p Dream Girl of ‘67 – from ABC
02:55p ABC News – Marlene Sanders – from ABC
03:00p Mr. District Attorney
03:30p The Nurses – from ABC
04:00p Dark Shadows – from ABC
04:30p Where the Action Is – from ABC
05:00p The Munsters
05:30p Cartoons
06:00p Yogi Bear
06:30p Soupy Sales
07:00p You Asked For It – Jack Smith
07:30p Alfred Hitchcock
08:30p American West
09:00p Across the Seven Seas
09:30p Best of the NFL (color)
11:00p World of Comedy (TV Guide lists “George Washington Slept Here” starring Jack Benny as the movie)
56 – WKBG Cambridge/Boston (Ind)
11:30a Dickory Dec. stories and cartoons for children (color)
12:30p Movie “Red Canyon”
03:00p Topper
03:30p Captain Boston (color) – local kids show with Chris Clausen
04:30p Movie “Torpedo Bay”
06:00p Gigantor
06:30p The Flintstones
07:00p The Patty Duke Show
07:30p Truth or Consequences (color)
08:00p Dedication Program (delayed from the previous evening) – part of the sign-on show can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXj0EHiA-X0
08:55p Basketball: Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (game was played in Minneapolis; Celtics won in OT 116-113; Tommy Heinsohn was the announcer)
11:30p Movie “The Highwayman”