Retro: North Carolina daytime Friday, December 6, 1968

[bpatrick]

From TV Guide, North Carolina edition. Schedules
run to 7 PM.

GREENSBORO/WINSTON-SALEM/HIGH POINT

WFMY Ch. 2 (CBS)

6 AM Sunrise Semester
6:30 Good Morning Show
7:55 Morning Devotions
8 AM Captain Kangaroo
9 AM Old Rebel Show (the Triad's
greatest kids' show)
9:30 What's Cooking Today?
10 AM The Lucy Show
10:30 Beverly Hillbillies
11 AM Andy Griffith Show
11:30 Dick Van dyke Show
12 N Love Of Life
12:25 Local News
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
1 PM Truth Or Consequences (moved to
WGHP in 1969 and ran there at 7 PM
for about seven years)
1:30 As The World Turns
2 PM Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
2:30 Guiding Light
3 PM Secret Storm
3:30 Edge Of Night
4 PM Linkletter Show
4:25 CBS News--Douglas Edwards
4:30 Flintstones
5 PM Perry Mason
6 PM News
6:30 CBS News--Walter Cronkite

WGHP Ch. 8 (ABC)

6 AM University Of Michigan
6:30 I Believe In Miracles (Kathryn Kuhlman)
7 AM Limbo's Cartoons
8:30 Romper Room
9 AM Movie: "I'd Climb The Highest Mountain"
10:30 Dick Cavett
12 N Bewitched
12:30 Treasure Isle
1 PM Virginia Graham (Girl Talk)
1:30 Funny You Should Ask (Let's Make A
Deal would take over this time slot
on Dec. 30.)
1:55 Children's Doctor
2 PM Newlywed Game
2:30 Dating Game
3 PM General Hospital
3:30 One Life To Live
4 PM Movie: "It Conquered The World"
(Ch. 8 never carried Dark Shadows.)
5:30 News
6 PM Merv Griffin (to 7:25)

WSJS (WXII) Ch. 12 (NBC)

6:30 Aspect (farm show)
7 AM Today
9 AM Today At Home
9:30 Bob Poole (gospel music)
10 AM Snap Judgment
10:25 NBC News--Nancy Dickerson
10:30 Concentration
11 AM Personality
11:30 Hollywood Squares
12 N Jeopardy!
12:30 Eye Guess
12:55 NBC News--Edwin Newman
1 PM Match Game
1:25 Local News
1:30 Let's Make A Deal
2 PM Days Of Our Lives
2:30 The Doctors
3 PM Another World
3:30 You Don't Say!
4 PM Divorce Court
4:30 Mike Douglas
6 PM News
6:30 Huntley-Brinkley Report

WUBC Ch. 48 (Ind.)
(WMYV broadcasts on 48, but is not the same station.)

3:30 Mr. Green
4:30 Route 66
5:30 Dennis The Menace
6 PM Tilley Family (local country-music
show)
6:30 Questions, Answers, Opinions

CHARLOTTE

WBTV Ch. 3 (CBS)

6:20 Almanac
6:30 Sego Brothers (gospel music)
7 AM Morning Report
7:30 CBS News--Joseph Benti
7:55 Local News
8 AM Captain Kangaroo
9 AM Kirby's Corral
9:05 Love Of Life
9:30 Merv Griffin
10:30 Beverly Hillbillies
11 AM Andy Griffith
11:30 Linkletter Show
11:55 Pat Lee (women's show)
12 N Noon Report
12:25 CBS News--Joseph Benti
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
1 PM Betty Feezor
1:30 As The World Turns
2 PM Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
2:30 Guiding Light
3 PM Secret Storm
3:30 Edge Of Night
4 PM Superman
4:30 Mike Douglas
6 PM News
6:30 CBS News

WSOC Ch. 9 (NBC)

6:45 On The House
7 AM Today
9 AM Joey (kids' show)
9:30 Today In The Carolinas
10 AM Snap Judgment
10:25 NBC News
10:30 Concentration
11 AM Personality
11:30 Hollywood Squares
12 N Jeopardy!
12:30 Eye Guess
12:55 NBC News
1 PM Midday
1:30 Let's Make A Deal
2 PM Days Of Our Lives
2:30 The Doctors
3 PM Another World
3:30 Truth Or Consequences
4 PM Gilligan's Island
4:30 I Love Lucy
5 PM Perry Mason
5:55 Paul Harvey
6 PM Pulse (local news)
6:30 Huntley-Brinkley Report

WCCB Ch. 18 (ABC)

8:30 Bonnie Prudden (exercises)
9 AM Romper Room
10 AM Jack LaLanne
10:30 Dick Cavett
12 N Bewitched
12:30 Treasure Isle
1 PM Dream House
1:30 Funny You Should Ask
1:55 Children's Doctor
2 PM Newlywed Game
2:30 Dating Game
3 PM General Hospital
3:30 One Life To Live
4 PM Dark Shadows
4:30 Rocky And His Friends
5 PM Cowboy Bob
5:30 Uncle Waldo
6 PM Trails West
6:30 ABC News--Frank Reynolds

WCTU (WCNC) Ch. 36 (Ind.)

3:30 Ed Allen (exercises)
4 PM Lucy Show
4:30 Dick Van dyke
5 PM Ever-Ever Land
5:30 Movie: "The Tougher They Come"
6:55 Weather

WTVI Ch. 42 (NET)

Instructional programs from 8:30 AM-6 PM.
6 PM Yoga For Health
6:30 Misterogers (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood)

WUNG Ch. 58 (NET) (also seen on WUND Ch. 2
Greenville/New Bern/Washington and WRAL Ch. 4
Raleigh/Durham)

I assume instructional programs where no listing
is given.

10 AM Misterogers
10:30 Wildlife
11 AM News In Perspective
12 N Aspect
12:30 News
12:45 Friendly Giant
then a gap until:
5 PM Misterogers
5:30 Aspect
6 PM News
6:15 Friendly Giant
6:30 Wheels To Adventure

RALEIGH/DURHAM

WRAL Ch. 5 (ABC/CBS)

5:30 Aspect
6 AM Daybreak
6:45 Farm News
7 AM Viewpoint (Jesse Helms)
7:05 CBS News
7:30 Mickey Mouse Club (listings show
this in color--I didn't think it was)
8 AM Time For Uncle Paul
8:30 Bewitched (says it's the same show
airing on ABC at noon)
9 AM One Life To Live (here's a color show
airing on delay in black and white)
9:30 Dark Shadows (same here)
10 AM Bette Elliott (women's show)
10:30 Mike Douglas
12 N News
1 PM Dream House
1:30 Funny You Should Ask
1:55 Children's Doctor
2 PM Newlywed Game
2:30 Dating Game
3 PM General Hospital
3:30 Flintstones
4 PM Movie: "The Bigamist"
5:40 Sports (Ray Reeve, a Triangle legend)
6 PM News
6:30 Huntley-Brinkley Report

WTVD Ch. 11 (CBS/NBC)

6 AM Aspect
6:30 Sunrise Semester
7 AM Today
9 AM Captain Kangaroo
10 AM Lucy Show
10:30 Concentration
11 AM Andy Griffith
11:30 Dick Van dyke
12 N Love Of Life
12:25 Local News
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
1 PM Peggy Mann
1:30 As The World Turns
2 PM Hollywood Squares
2:30 Guiding Light
3 PM Secret Storm
3:30 Edge Of Night
4 PM Hazel
4:30 Beverly Hillbillies
5 PM Perry Mason
6 PM News
6:30 CBS News

GREENVILLE/NEW BERN/WASHINGTON

WITN Ch. 7 (NBC)

6 AM Aspect
6:30 Mister Ed
7 AM Today
9 AM Merv Griffin
10 AM Snap Judgment
10:25 NBC News
10:30 Concentration
11 AM Personality
11:30 Hollywood Squares
12 N Jeopardy!
12:30 Eye Guess
12:55 NBC News
1 PM Virginia Graham
1:30 Let's Make A Deal
2 PM Days Of Our Lives
2:30 The Doctors
3 PM Another World
3:30 You Don't Say!
4 PM Match Game
4:25 NBC News--Floyd Kalber
4:30 The Funny Page (with WITNey
the Hobo)
5 PM Mike Douglas
6 PM News
6:30 Huntley-Brinkley Report

WNCT Ch. 9 (CBS)

6:30 Carolina Today
8:30 Meditations
8:35 CBS News
9 AM Captain Kangaroo
10 AM Lucy Show
10:30 Beverly Hillbillies
11 AM Andy Griffith
11:30 Dick Van dyke
12 N News
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
1 PM Love Of Life
1:25 Timely Tips
1:30 As The World Turns
2 PM Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
2:30 Guiding Light
3 PM Secret Storm
3:30 Edge Of Night
4 PM Password
4:25 CBS News
4:30 Santa Claus And Slim
5 PM Perry Mason
5:55 Paul Harvey
6 PM News
6:30 CBS News

WNBE (WCTI) Ch. 12 (ABC)

7 AM TV Party Line
8 AM Romper Room
9 AM Movie: "Marine Raiders"
10:30 Dick Cavett
12 N Bewitched
12:30 Treasure Isle
1 PM Dream House
1:30 Funny You Should Ask
1:55 Children's Doctor
2 PM Newlywed Game
2:30 Dating Game
3 PM General Hospital
3:30 One Life To Live
4 PM Dark Shadows
4:30 Bozo The Clown
6 PM News (still in B&W)
6:30 ABC News

WILMINGTON

WWAY Ch. 3 (ABC/NBC, some CBS)

7 AM Popeye And The Little Rascals
8 AM Dating Game
8:30 Movie: "Storm Center"
10:30 Dick Cavett
12 N Bewitched
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
1 PM Dream House
1:30 Funny You Should Ask
1:55 Children's Doctor
2 PM Newlywed Game
2:30 Guiding Light
3 PM General Hospital
3:30 One Life To Live
4 PM Dark Shadows
4:30 Movie: "Mexican Hayride"
6 PM News (still in B&W)
6:30 ABC News

WECT Ch. 6 (NBC/CBS)

6:30 Carolina In The Morning (still
on the air, starts at 5 AM)
7 AM Today
9 AM Mike Douglas
10 AM Snap Judgment
10:25 NBC News
10:30 Concentration
11 AM Personality
11:30 Hollywood Squares
12 N Jeopardy!
12:30 Eye Guess
12:55 NBC News
1 PM Paul Harvey
1:05 Jim Burns (local talk show)
1:30 As The World Turns
2 PM Days Of Our Lives
2:30 The Doctors
3 PM Another World
3:30 Edge Of Night
4 PM Match Game
4:25 NBC News
4:30 Gilligan's Island
5 PM Perry Mason
6 PM News
6:30 Huntley-Brinkley Report

COLUMBIA, SC

WIS Ch. 10 (NBC)

6:45 Farm Report
7 AM Today
9 AM Today In Carolina
10 AM Snap Judgment
10:25 NBC News
10:30 Concentration
11 AM Personality
11:30 Hollywood Squares
12 N Jeopardy!
12:30 Eye Guess
12:55 NBC News
1 PM News
1:30 Let's Make A Deal
2 PM Days Of Our Lives
2:30 The Doctors
3 PM Another World
3:30 You Don't Say!
4 PM Match Game
4:25 NBC News
4:30 Mr. Knozit
5:30 Merv Griffin
6:30 Huntley-Brinkley Report

FLORENCE

WBTW Ch. 13 (CBS/ABC)

6:30 Slim Mims (local country-music
show)
7:30 CBS News
7:55 Meditations
8 AM Captain Kangaroo
9 AM Newlywed Game
9:30 Love Of Life
9:55 News
10 AM Lucy Show
10:30 Beverly Hillbillies
11 AM Andy Griffith
11:30 Dick Van dyke
12 N News And Agri-Business
12:25 CBS News
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
1 PM Ann McCoy
1:30 As The World Turns
2 PM Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
2:30 Guiding Light
3 PM Secret Storm
3:30 Edge Of Night
4 PM Linkletter Show
4:25 CBS News
4:30 Mike Douglas
6 PM News
6:30 CBS News

 

[Matt]

From the WUNG-58 schedule...

12:45 Friendly Giant
then a gap until:
5 PM Misterogers

University Television (what UNC-TV was called in those days) would run their instructional programming at mid-morning, then a few childrens shows and some news shows (usually trainees from the UNC Radio-TV-Motion Picture Department).

They would then sign off the transmitters until (usually) 5:00pm, when they would run MisteRogers, Sesame Street, another trainee newscast, then a mish-mosh of NET documentary films.

Saturdays they usually only operated middays, and Sundays they would come on about 1:00pm for The French Chef, some pre-recorded sports event or documetary film, then recorded symphony and opera concerts until about 10:00pm.

-----------------------------------------

For WCCB and WCTU in Charlotte, they had local, afternoon kids shows at the time. WCCB's was "Cowboy Bob", who I remember as being quite UN-entertaining. WCTU's was "Ever-Ever Land", which featured WBTV ex-Goody Man Tom King as the "Pied Piper" hosting kids on the set. The Pied Piper's co-host on the show was a "character" called "The Black Spot". I don't have to tell you TV folks what the Black Spot was. Remember, this was 1968 and the technology was in its infancy.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV

 

[bpatrick]

Thanks for jogging my memory. I remember when
WUNC used to run a block of classroom programming:
U.S. History/Physical Science/World History/Mathematics
from 9-11 AM, then a few miscellaneous items such as
you mentioned. I also remember the station signing back
on about 5 PM. I don't remember any Saturday programming
in the '60s; I always recall the Greensboro Daily News putting
"off air on Saturday" for Channel 4. But that was all back in
'63, '64; I was living in Greenville, SC in 1968; we had the
Asheville and Linville University Television stations in the
Carolina-Tennessee book, but I don't recall how much things
had changed in five years. (I'd spent some time in Virginia
in the intevening period.) I don't recall seeing any Saturday
listings in this old North Carolina book, however, in fact none
before the '70s.

 

[RALfan]

Here's the daytime schedule for WRDU back then:

2:00 Love is a Many Splendored Thing
2:30 The Doctors
3:00 Another World
3:30 You Don't Say!
4:00 The Match Game
4:30 Rawhide
5:30 News
6:00 The Merv Griffin Show

Don't have the prime time schedule, sorry. Maybe another day.

 

[Mike Stroud]

Well, sir. According to RALfan, the month-old WRDU didn't wake up until 2 in the afternoon and was already victimized by WTVD's cherry-picking. Note that WTVD tape-delayed "Hollywood Squares" until 2 p.m. and gave WRDU CBS' middling-rated soap "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." I also take it that Merv Griffin at 6 p.m. on channel 28 was a tape-delay from CBS the previous night.

One might also note the glaring absence of the original Art Fleming "Jeopardy!" from WTVD's lineup. This is remarkable, given the market's extraordinarily high college-student population then (as now); college students MADE that show legendary. I can't possibly see "Love of Life" as being more popular there. I wonder if WTVD (or WRAL) had tried "Jeopardy!" before and found it wanting in the Nielsens; I suspect that may well have been the case.

And, of course, we have a further complication with ABC affil WRAL running "Huntley-Brinkley Report" instead of its network's news. Frank Reynolds had not been on the ABC desk for very long and thus had not enough time to anger WRAL owner A. J. Fletcher or commentator (and future Senator) Jesse Helms with pro-Civil Rights commentaries, so that could not have been the reason. Besides, in interviews, David Brinkley forthrightly mentions that WRAL ended "Huntley-Brinkley Report" after 20 minutes in favor of Helms' 10-minute nightly commentary spot. It appears ratings played the part in WRAL's choice, not politics.

All of this bogs down to one question: why did the FCC permit this picking and choosing of network programming by dominant VHF stations, while out of the other side of its regulatory mouth claiming to be supporting the development of UHF? Remember that the same thing happened in Birmingham, Alabama, where, in 1965, the new WBMG, a UHF, (now WIAT) had to take CBS and NBC leftovers from WAPI (now WVTM), thereby crippling it from a clear identity from the get-go and thus causing viewer frustration or apathy. That situation was not solved until 1970, when WAPI owner Newhouse, acting apparently from animosities toward CBS both corporate and local, inked with NBC full-time; WBMG struggled mightily for years afterward. The FCC finally intervened in the Triangle mess the following year and put a gun to WTVD's head, saying "Eyeball or Peacock, not both." Likewise, WRDU/WPTF/WRDC never made any big impact upon the Raleigh/Durham Nielsens.

My question is why the FCC did not do this from the get-go, in the 1964 all-channel-tuner legislation? I can bring that question up in another post, if all of you like.

 

[bsmith8259]

I would like to know why did WRDU/WPTF/WRDC never made any big impact upon the Raleigh/Durham Nielsen ratings.

 

[radiorob2.0]

I would like to know why did WRDU/WPTF/WRDC never made any big impact upon the Raleigh/Durham Nielsen ratings.

The wiki entry for WRDC does a good job explaining the shortcoming. First the original antenna location wasn't favorable for Raleigh, lack of budget and the whole UHF thing. Plus, to the east of Raleigh was WITN and west of Durham was WSJS/WXII had dominant signals over Channel 28. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRDC-TV

 

[classictvfan]

Could you list the rest of that Friday?

 

[RALfan]

I also take it that Merv Griffin at 6 p.m. on channel 28 was a tape-delay from CBS the previous night.

No, you're thinking of Merv's late night show which didn't premiere until August of 1969. The show that WRDU has listed is the first syndicated version which ran from 1965 to 1969.

BTW, the schedule I posted was taken directly from the Durham Morning Herald.

 

[bpatrick]

Re "Jeopardy!": WTVD did carry it in its first year, when
it aired at 11:30 AM, then went back to Dick Van Dyke
reruns when "Jeopardy!" moved to noon. "Love Of Life"
had been on in the Triangle going back to the days of
the "original" 28, WNAO, in the '50s, so there was no
chance TVD would drop it. "Jeopardy!" did end up on
WRDU (WRDC) when it got the fulltime NBC affiliation.
Ironically, "Jeopardy!" airs at 7 PM on TVD and has since
its return in 1984; it has consistently won the timeslot.

 

[bpatrick]

It's rather odd, I think, that WTVD would schedule
a game show against "The Newlywed Game" at 2 PM;
but if 28 was carrying "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing,"
there was counterprogramming.

I remember when WRAL first went to ABC in '62, it
ran "Who Do You Trust?" against "As The World Turns"
at 1:30. "Trust" was one of ABC's two highest-rated
daytime shows ("American Bandstand" was the other),
and perhaps WRAL figured the counterprogramming
would work. However, "Trust" aired on ABC at 3:30,
against "To Tell The Truth" on CBS (WTVD carried it)
and a short-lived soap, "Our Five Daughters," which WRAL
had been carrying prior to the switch, on NBC. In the
spring and summer of '63, RAL ran "You Don't Say!" (NBC),
but either it failed to do well in the Triangle or ABC put
the pressure on to move "Trust" to 3:30.

When CBS moved "Edge Of Night" from 4:30 to 3:30 in
1963, WRAL finally put "Trust" at 3:30, but by then Johnny
Carson had moved on to the "Tonight" show, Woody Woodbury
was failing to attract an audience, and "Trust" was on its way out.