Here's a look at Christmas past, 30 years ago. This is part of my Christmas present to all of you, my friends on this forum. Peace to all of you.
**********
TV Guide, Southern Alabama edition--cover missing
Channels in parentheses were originally designated by black bullets; those in brackets by white.
All times Central Standard (NOTE: Columbus, Georgia is on Eastern Time; this affects scheduling of programs in that market)
Montgomery, Alabama:
(12) WSFA (NBC)--now digital 12; PSIP same
(20) WCOV (CBS)--now FOX affiliate, on digital 20; PSIP same
(26) WAIQ (PBS)*
(32) WKAB (ABC)--now WNCF, on digital 32; PSIP same
Dozier, Alabama:
[2] WDIQ (PBS)*
Selma, Alabama:
[8] WSLA (CBS)--now WAKA, on digital 42; PSIP 8 (currently the CBS affiliate for the entire Montgomery market)
Dothan, Alabama:
[4] WTVY (CBS)--now digital 36; PSIP 4
[18] WDHN (ABC)--now digital 21; PSIP 18
Texasville, Alabama:
[43] WGIQ (PBS)*
Panama City, Florida:
[7] WJHG (ABC)--now NBC affiliate, on digital 8; PSIP 7
[13] WMBB (NBC)--now ABC affiliate, on digital 13; PSIP same
Columbus, Georgia:
[3] WRBL (CBS)--now digital 15; PSIP 3
[9] WTVM (ABC)--now digital 11; PSIP 9
[38] WYEA (NBC)--now digital 35; PSIP 38
*--translator of Alabama Public Television; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Public_Television for current transmitter locations and channels
Daytime programming listings, Monday, December 24, 1979 and Tuesday, December 25, 1979
MORNING
5:00
[4] Sunrise Semester (M)/Film (Tu)
[18] Arthur Smith--syndicated country music
[38] PTL Club (interrupted at 6 a.m.; continued at 8)
5:30
[3] Sunrise Semester (M)/to be announced (Tu)
[4] Good Morning, Tri-States--hosted by WTVY fixture Red Holland, a professional fisherman
[9] I Love Lucy--rerun
[18] 700 Club
5:55
(12) Pastor's Study--local devotional
6:00
[3] [4] (20) CBS News Monday/Tuesday Morning--Bob Schieffer, anchor
[7] Daybusters--local morning show (M)/Movie--"The Son of Captain Blood," Italian; 1962 (Tu)
[8] [13] (32) PTL Club
[9] Good Morning America--David Hartman, Sandy Hill
(12) [38] Today Show--Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley
7:00
[3] Rozell Show--local women's show
[4] Morning Show--local
[8] CBS News Monday/Tuesday Morning
[13] Today Show
[18] Good Morning America
(20) 700 Club
7:30
[7] Good Morning, America (joined in progress)
7:45
[2] (26) [43] A.M. Weather
7:55
[4] Come Alive--possibly local religion
8:00
[2] (26) [43] Sesame Street
[3] [4] [8] (20) Captain Kangaroo
[9] (12) Phil Donahue (same episode)
(32) Good Morning America (joined in progress)
[38] PTL Club (resuming 5 a.m. broadcast)
9:00
[2] (26) [43] Electric Company (M)/Christmas Eve on Sesame Street--special episode of the kiddie favorite (Tu)
[3] Cross-Wits
[4] [8] (20) Beat the Clock--the ill-fated Monty Hall-hosted revival
[7] Phil Donahue (full program on Monday; partial show on Tuesday)
[9] Good Day!--local morning show (talk)
(12) [38] Card Sharks--original; hosted by Jim Perry (M)/Christmas at Washington Cathedral--Episcopalian worship service (NBC; Tu)
[13] [18] PTL Club (WMBB Monday only)
(32) Good Morning Montgomery--Tessi Roberts, host
9:30
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Lace--children's story set in Quebec (M)
[3] [4] [8] Whew!--strategy game hosted by Tom Kennedy
[7] Celebration of Christmas--syndicated Christmas Eve service from Hollywood Presbyterian Church (Tu)
[9] Tic Tac Dough
(12) [38] Hollywood Squares (M)
(20) Helen Bern--local women's show (M)/Whew! (Tu only)
(32) Dick Van Dyke--rerun
9:55
[3] [4] [8] (20) CBS News--Douglas Edwards
10:00
[2] (26) [43] Alabama Lifestyles (M)/Christmas Time with Mister Rogers--60-minute special (Tu)
[3] [4] (20) Price is Right
[7] [9] (32) Laverne and Shirley--ABC rerun (M)/ to be announced (Tu)
[8] PTL Club
(12) [13] [38] High Rollers (WMBB Monday only)
[13] Singing Christmas Tree--possibly local special (Tu)
10:30
[2] (26) [43] Elizabethan Christmas Celebration--PBS music and dance special (M)
[7] [9] (32) Family Feud
(12) [13] [38] Wheel of Fortune (WMBB Monday only)
11:00
[2] (26) [43] A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre--children's special featuring a stage and puppet rendition of the Dickens classic (M)/A Child's Christmas in Wales--children's drama featuring Sir Michael Redgrave (Tu)
[3] WRBL News (M)/Movie--"A Christmas Carol," 1938 (Reginald Owen as Scrooge; Tu)
[4] Young and the Restless (M)/to be announced (Tu)
[7] Televisit--local religion (M)/For Unto You--probably syndicated Christmas special (Tu)
[8] Speak Easy--probably local women's show, hosted by Geri Ellzey
[9] [18] (32) $20,000 Pyramid
(12) [13] [38] Mindreaders--short-lived Goodson-Todman game hosted by Dick Martin
(20) WCOV News (M)/City That Forgot About Christmas--animated special produced by the Lutheran Church (Tu)
11:30
[3] [4] [8] (20) Search for Tomorrow (M)/NBA Basketball--Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Bullets (now Wizards) (Tu)
[7] [9] [18] (32) Ryan's Hope
(12) [13] [38] Password Plus
AFTERNOON
12:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Heritage--probably PBS special (Tu)
[3] [8] (20) Young and the Restless (the so-called "Eastern feed"; M)
[4] Farm Report--local; hosted by WTVY legend Gene Ragan (M)
[7] [9] [18] (32) All My Children
(12) WSFA News (M)/Christmas '79--probably local special (Tu)
[13] [38] Days of Our Lives
12:20
[4] WTVY News (M)
12:30
[2] (26) [43] Lexo: Alexander Toradze, Pianist--profile of a Soviet performer (M)
[3] [4] [8] (20) As the World Turns (M)
(12) Days of Our Lives (all NBC afternoon shows on WSFA on half-hour delay, a common Central Time Zone practice beginning in January 1979, when the network took back the old 1/Noon Central station access slot)
1:00
[2] (26) [43] Hanukkah--PBS documentary (M)/Joan Baez--folksinger performs Christmas standards (Tu)
[3] Flintstones (Tu)
[7] [9] [18] (32) One Life to Live
[13] [38] Doctors
1:30
[2] (26) [43] Percussion Noel--featuring the West Virginia University Percussion Ensemble (M)
[3] Gilligan's Island (Tu)
[3] [4] [8] (20) Guiding Light (M)
(12) Doctors
[13] [38] Another World--a whopping 90 minutes (M)
[13] Merv Griffin (60-minute version; Tu)
[38] Mike Douglas (60-minute version; Tu)
2:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Festival--no description (M)/Christmas at Penn State (Tu)
[3] [4] Blue-Gray Game--college football senior all-star game held at Montgomery's Cramton Bowl (thus blacked out on WSLA and WCOV) (Tu)
[7] [9] [18] (32) General Hospital--daytime's top program of that day
[8] Movie--"The Little Princess," 1939 (Tu)
(12) Another World (M)/Joy of Christmas--Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance; probably syndicated (Tu)
(20) Christmas at the Salvation Army--special (Tu)
2:30
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Songs--PBS special featuring Mel Torme, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, and Les Brown and his Band of Renown (Tu)
[3] [4] [8] (20) One Day at a Time (M)
(12) [13] [38] Fiesta Bowl--Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Arizona Wildcats, held at Tempe, Arizona (NBC)
(20) Beverly Hillbillies (Tu)
3:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (M)
[3] [4] [8] (20) Love of Life--would run for another five weeks (M)
[7] [9] [18] (32) Edge of Night
[13] Card Sharks--tape-delayed from NBC earlier in the day (M)
(20) I Love Lucy (Tu)
[38] Mike Douglas--now situated in Los Angeles (60-minute version; M)
3:30
[3] Flintstones (M)
[4] Mike Douglas (60-minute version; M)
[7] Petticoat Junction--rerun
[8] Price is Right--tape-delayed from CBS earlier in the day
[9] Bonanza--rerun
(12) Young World--local children's show, hosted by WSFA weatherman Dan Atkinson and Marge Payne (M)
[13] (20) Gilligan's Island--rerun (WMBB Monday only)
[18] Family Feud--tape-delayed from ABC earlier in the day
(32) 32 Cartoon Club--local; there may have still been a local host
4:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Time with Mister Rogers (M)/Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Tu)
[3] Gilligan's Island (M)
[7] Brady Bunch--rerun
(12) Bewitched--rerun (M)
[13] I Love Lucy (M)
[18] Movie--"All Mine to Give," 1957 (M)/Christmas 2025--syndicated children's special (Tu)
(20) Gunsmoke
(32) Andy Griffith
[38] Merv Griffin (60-minute version; M)
4:30
[3] (12) Brady Bunch (Monday on both WRBL and WSFA)
[4] (32) Gomer Pyle, USMC--rerun (WTVY Monday only)
[7] Hogan's Heroes--rerun
[8] [13] Merv Griffin (60-minute version; WMBB Monday only)
[9] Dating Game--daily syndicated version
[18] Imagine That--syndicated children's special
5:00
[2] (26) [43] Zoom
[3] WRBL News
[4] Beverly Hillbillies
[7] WJHG News (M)/City That Forgot About Christmas (Tu)
[9] WTVM News
(12) Happy Days Again--Christmas episode: "Fonzie's claims that he'll be having a bell-ringing Christmas somehow don't ring true" (M)
[18] City That Forgot About Christmas (Tu)
(20) WCOV News (M)/Stableboy's Christmas--syndicated children's special (Tu)
(32) WKAB News
[38] Three's a Crowd--controversial Chuck Barris game (M)
5:30
[2] (26) [43] Over Easy--Hugh Downs, host
[3] [4] [8] (20) CBS Evening News--Dan Rather (both days)
[7] [9] (32) ABC World News Tonight--Max Robinson, Frank Reynolds (both days)
(12) [13] [38] NBC Nightly News--John Chancellor (M)
[18] Stableboy's Christmas (Tu)
Evening programming listings, Monday, December 24, 1979
6:00
[2] (26) [43] Percussion Noel--PBS special
[3] Sanford and Son
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] WSLA News
[9] M*A*S*H--rerun
(12) WSFA News
[13] WMBB News
[18] ABC World News Tonight
(20) Beverly Hillbillies--rerun
(32) Dating Game
[38] WYEA News
6:30
[2] (26) [43] Electric Company
[3] Happy Days Again
[4] $100,000 Name That Tune
[7] Bishop's Hour--probably local religion
[8] Cosmic Christmas--cartoon special
[9] Good Times
(12) Muppet Show--John Denver, guest
[13] Christmas Child--syndicated drama special
[18] WDHN News
(20) [38] Newlywed Game
(32) Sanford and Son
7:00
[2] (26) [43] MacNeil/Lehrer Report
[3] [4] [8] (20) WKRP in Cincinnati--Sparky Anderson, former manager of the Cincinnati Reds, guest stars
[7] [9] [18] (32) Movie--"The Gift of Love," made-for-TV; 1978
(12) [13] [38] Little House on the Prairie (2-hour episode)
7:30
[2] (26) [43] Cahaba Bluegrass Festival--coverage of old-time country music performances somewhere in Alabama (either APT or University of Alabama TV production)
[3] [4] [8] (20) Last Resort--short-lived MTM sitcom
8:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
[3] [4] [8] (20) M*A*S*H
8:30
[3] [4] [8] (20) House Calls--vehicle for Lynn Redgrave and Wayne Rogers
9:00
[2] (26) [43] Joan Baez--concert special
[3] [8] (20) Lou Grant (MTM had two out of the three hours in CBS primetime this night)
[4] Jack Van Impe Crusade--Michigan-based televangelist's Christmas special, from Nashville
[7] [9] [18] (32) Family--Christmas episode has patriarch (James Broderick) avoiding medical treatment for a heart condition
(12) [13] [38] Mac Davis--country singer/actor's Christmas special, featuring Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Robert Urich
10:00
[2] (26) [43] Dick Cavett
[3] WRBL News
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] Country Place--syndicated country music
[9] WTVM News
(12) WSFA News
[13] WMBB News
[18] Christmas Music--probably local
(20) WCOV News
(32) Three's a Crowd
[38] WYEA News
10:30
[2] (26) [43] Captioned ABC News
[3] [4] [8] (20) Let the Desert Be Joyful--CBS special featuring the Tucson, Arizona Boys Choir at San Xaviera Del Bac Mission; recorded in 1966
[7] [9] [18] (32) Barney Miller--ABC rerun
(12) [13] [38] Sounds of Christmas Eve--NBC special featuring Doc Severinsen, Henry Mancini, Victor Buono and a Hollywood church choir; recorded in 1973
11:00
[3] [4] [8] (20) Mass for Cain--CBS special featuring performance of a Christmas oratorio at New York's Riverside Church
(12) [13] [38] Christmas Rome--1979--NBC coverage of the annual Christmas Mass at St. Peter's in the Vatican; Pope John Paul II presiding
11:05
[7] [18] (32) Movie--"The Two-Five," made-for-TV; 1978
12:00 a.m.
[4] Movie--"12 Angry Men," 1957
12:40
[7] WJHG News
2:30
[4] Movie--"The Prince and the Pauper," 1937
4:30
[4] Day of Discovery--religion
Evening programming listings, Tuesday, December 25, 1979
6:00
[2] (26) [43] Your Future Is Now--adult education
[3] Sanford and Son
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] WSLA News
[9] M*A*S*H
(12) WSFA News
[13] Joy of Christmas--syndicated special
[18] ABC World News Tonight
(20) Beverly Hillbillies
(32) Dating Game
[38] Stableboy's Christmas
6:30
[2] (26) [43] Point in Question--interview show (probably local)
[3] Happy Days Again
[4] Match Game PM
[7] Jack Van Impe Crusade--same as WTVY, 9 p.m., previous night
[8] Black Holes: Monsters That Eat Space and Time--documentary; probably syndicated
[9] Good Times
(12) Those Were the Days--local special commemorating the 25th anniversary of WSFA television, which began on Christmas Day 1954
[13] Sanford and Son
[18] WDHN News
(20) [38] Newlywed Game
(32) Sanford and Son
7:00
[2] (26) [43] MacNeil/Lehrer Report
[3] [4] [8] (20) White Shadow--Christmas episode
[9] [18] (32) Happy Days
(12) [13] Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo--Claude Akins stars
[38] Jack Van Impe Crusade
7:30
[2] (26) [43] Advances in Health--local; produced by the University of Alabama-Birmingham
[7] [9] [18] (32) Angie--Miller/Milkis/Boyett sitcom about a golddigging waitress
8:00
[2] (26) [43] Celebration of Strauss--PBS special featuring the Vienna Philharmonic and State Opera Ballet
[3] [4] [8] (20) Hawaii Five-O--last season for storied cop show; this season's episodes were originally syndicated as "McGarrett"
[7] [9] [18] (32) Three's Company--yes, at Christmastime, too
(12) [13] [38] Movie--"Suddenly, Love," made-for-TV; 1978
8:30
[7] [9] [18] (32) Taxi--defined ensemble sitcoms; not surprisingly, "Cheers" came from the same creative forces in the 1980s
9:00
[2] (26) [43] World--documentary; tonight's topic: Papua New Guinea
[3] [4] [8] (20) Paris--short-lived cop show marking two things: 1) the first appearance of James Earl Jones in a lead TV role, and 2) the first show on which Steven Bochco worked as executive producer
[7] [9] [18] (32) Hart to Hart--couldn't well make a Christmas episode about a show like this, huh?--!
10:00
[2] (26) [43] Dick Cavett
[3] WRBL News
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] Sha Na Na
[9] WTVM News
(12) WSFA News
[13] WMBB News
[18] Hogan's Heroes
(20) Blue-Gray Game--re-broadcast of CBS coverage earlier in the day
(32) Three's a Crowd
[38] Andy Griffith
10:30
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Lace--PBS special
[3] [4] [8] Movie--"Quo Vadis," 1951
[7] [9] [18] (32) Movie--"Young Pioneers' Christmas," made-for-TV; 1976
(12) [13] [38] Tonight Show--John Davidson, guest host
12:00 a.m.
(12) [13] [38] Tomorrow--Tom Snyder
12:30
[7] WJHG News
2:00
[4] Movie--"The Big Street," 1942
3:30
[4] Movie--"Christmas in Connecticut," 1945 (for those who just didn't quite get enough ...)
**********
TV Guide, Southern Alabama edition--cover missing
Channels in parentheses were originally designated by black bullets; those in brackets by white.
All times Central Standard (NOTE: Columbus, Georgia is on Eastern Time; this affects scheduling of programs in that market)
Montgomery, Alabama:
(12) WSFA (NBC)--now digital 12; PSIP same
(20) WCOV (CBS)--now FOX affiliate, on digital 20; PSIP same
(26) WAIQ (PBS)*
(32) WKAB (ABC)--now WNCF, on digital 32; PSIP same
Dozier, Alabama:
[2] WDIQ (PBS)*
Selma, Alabama:
[8] WSLA (CBS)--now WAKA, on digital 42; PSIP 8 (currently the CBS affiliate for the entire Montgomery market)
Dothan, Alabama:
[4] WTVY (CBS)--now digital 36; PSIP 4
[18] WDHN (ABC)--now digital 21; PSIP 18
Texasville, Alabama:
[43] WGIQ (PBS)*
Panama City, Florida:
[7] WJHG (ABC)--now NBC affiliate, on digital 8; PSIP 7
[13] WMBB (NBC)--now ABC affiliate, on digital 13; PSIP same
Columbus, Georgia:
[3] WRBL (CBS)--now digital 15; PSIP 3
[9] WTVM (ABC)--now digital 11; PSIP 9
[38] WYEA (NBC)--now digital 35; PSIP 38
*--translator of Alabama Public Television; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Public_Television for current transmitter locations and channels
Daytime programming listings, Monday, December 24, 1979 and Tuesday, December 25, 1979
MORNING
5:00
[4] Sunrise Semester (M)/Film (Tu)
[18] Arthur Smith--syndicated country music
[38] PTL Club (interrupted at 6 a.m.; continued at 8)
5:30
[3] Sunrise Semester (M)/to be announced (Tu)
[4] Good Morning, Tri-States--hosted by WTVY fixture Red Holland, a professional fisherman
[9] I Love Lucy--rerun
[18] 700 Club
5:55
(12) Pastor's Study--local devotional
6:00
[3] [4] (20) CBS News Monday/Tuesday Morning--Bob Schieffer, anchor
[7] Daybusters--local morning show (M)/Movie--"The Son of Captain Blood," Italian; 1962 (Tu)
[8] [13] (32) PTL Club
[9] Good Morning America--David Hartman, Sandy Hill
(12) [38] Today Show--Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley
7:00
[3] Rozell Show--local women's show
[4] Morning Show--local
[8] CBS News Monday/Tuesday Morning
[13] Today Show
[18] Good Morning America
(20) 700 Club
7:30
[7] Good Morning, America (joined in progress)
7:45
[2] (26) [43] A.M. Weather
7:55
[4] Come Alive--possibly local religion
8:00
[2] (26) [43] Sesame Street
[3] [4] [8] (20) Captain Kangaroo
[9] (12) Phil Donahue (same episode)
(32) Good Morning America (joined in progress)
[38] PTL Club (resuming 5 a.m. broadcast)
9:00
[2] (26) [43] Electric Company (M)/Christmas Eve on Sesame Street--special episode of the kiddie favorite (Tu)
[3] Cross-Wits
[4] [8] (20) Beat the Clock--the ill-fated Monty Hall-hosted revival
[7] Phil Donahue (full program on Monday; partial show on Tuesday)
[9] Good Day!--local morning show (talk)
(12) [38] Card Sharks--original; hosted by Jim Perry (M)/Christmas at Washington Cathedral--Episcopalian worship service (NBC; Tu)
[13] [18] PTL Club (WMBB Monday only)
(32) Good Morning Montgomery--Tessi Roberts, host
9:30
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Lace--children's story set in Quebec (M)
[3] [4] [8] Whew!--strategy game hosted by Tom Kennedy
[7] Celebration of Christmas--syndicated Christmas Eve service from Hollywood Presbyterian Church (Tu)
[9] Tic Tac Dough
(12) [38] Hollywood Squares (M)
(20) Helen Bern--local women's show (M)/Whew! (Tu only)
(32) Dick Van Dyke--rerun
9:55
[3] [4] [8] (20) CBS News--Douglas Edwards
10:00
[2] (26) [43] Alabama Lifestyles (M)/Christmas Time with Mister Rogers--60-minute special (Tu)
[3] [4] (20) Price is Right
[7] [9] (32) Laverne and Shirley--ABC rerun (M)/ to be announced (Tu)
[8] PTL Club
(12) [13] [38] High Rollers (WMBB Monday only)
[13] Singing Christmas Tree--possibly local special (Tu)
10:30
[2] (26) [43] Elizabethan Christmas Celebration--PBS music and dance special (M)
[7] [9] (32) Family Feud
(12) [13] [38] Wheel of Fortune (WMBB Monday only)
11:00
[2] (26) [43] A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre--children's special featuring a stage and puppet rendition of the Dickens classic (M)/A Child's Christmas in Wales--children's drama featuring Sir Michael Redgrave (Tu)
[3] WRBL News (M)/Movie--"A Christmas Carol," 1938 (Reginald Owen as Scrooge; Tu)
[4] Young and the Restless (M)/to be announced (Tu)
[7] Televisit--local religion (M)/For Unto You--probably syndicated Christmas special (Tu)
[8] Speak Easy--probably local women's show, hosted by Geri Ellzey
[9] [18] (32) $20,000 Pyramid
(12) [13] [38] Mindreaders--short-lived Goodson-Todman game hosted by Dick Martin
(20) WCOV News (M)/City That Forgot About Christmas--animated special produced by the Lutheran Church (Tu)
11:30
[3] [4] [8] (20) Search for Tomorrow (M)/NBA Basketball--Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Bullets (now Wizards) (Tu)
[7] [9] [18] (32) Ryan's Hope
(12) [13] [38] Password Plus
AFTERNOON
12:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Heritage--probably PBS special (Tu)
[3] [8] (20) Young and the Restless (the so-called "Eastern feed"; M)
[4] Farm Report--local; hosted by WTVY legend Gene Ragan (M)
[7] [9] [18] (32) All My Children
(12) WSFA News (M)/Christmas '79--probably local special (Tu)
[13] [38] Days of Our Lives
12:20
[4] WTVY News (M)
12:30
[2] (26) [43] Lexo: Alexander Toradze, Pianist--profile of a Soviet performer (M)
[3] [4] [8] (20) As the World Turns (M)
(12) Days of Our Lives (all NBC afternoon shows on WSFA on half-hour delay, a common Central Time Zone practice beginning in January 1979, when the network took back the old 1/Noon Central station access slot)
1:00
[2] (26) [43] Hanukkah--PBS documentary (M)/Joan Baez--folksinger performs Christmas standards (Tu)
[3] Flintstones (Tu)
[7] [9] [18] (32) One Life to Live
[13] [38] Doctors
1:30
[2] (26) [43] Percussion Noel--featuring the West Virginia University Percussion Ensemble (M)
[3] Gilligan's Island (Tu)
[3] [4] [8] (20) Guiding Light (M)
(12) Doctors
[13] [38] Another World--a whopping 90 minutes (M)
[13] Merv Griffin (60-minute version; Tu)
[38] Mike Douglas (60-minute version; Tu)
2:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Festival--no description (M)/Christmas at Penn State (Tu)
[3] [4] Blue-Gray Game--college football senior all-star game held at Montgomery's Cramton Bowl (thus blacked out on WSLA and WCOV) (Tu)
[7] [9] [18] (32) General Hospital--daytime's top program of that day
[8] Movie--"The Little Princess," 1939 (Tu)
(12) Another World (M)/Joy of Christmas--Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance; probably syndicated (Tu)
(20) Christmas at the Salvation Army--special (Tu)
2:30
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Songs--PBS special featuring Mel Torme, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, and Les Brown and his Band of Renown (Tu)
[3] [4] [8] (20) One Day at a Time (M)
(12) [13] [38] Fiesta Bowl--Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Arizona Wildcats, held at Tempe, Arizona (NBC)
(20) Beverly Hillbillies (Tu)
3:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (M)
[3] [4] [8] (20) Love of Life--would run for another five weeks (M)
[7] [9] [18] (32) Edge of Night
[13] Card Sharks--tape-delayed from NBC earlier in the day (M)
(20) I Love Lucy (Tu)
[38] Mike Douglas--now situated in Los Angeles (60-minute version; M)
3:30
[3] Flintstones (M)
[4] Mike Douglas (60-minute version; M)
[7] Petticoat Junction--rerun
[8] Price is Right--tape-delayed from CBS earlier in the day
[9] Bonanza--rerun
(12) Young World--local children's show, hosted by WSFA weatherman Dan Atkinson and Marge Payne (M)
[13] (20) Gilligan's Island--rerun (WMBB Monday only)
[18] Family Feud--tape-delayed from ABC earlier in the day
(32) 32 Cartoon Club--local; there may have still been a local host
4:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Time with Mister Rogers (M)/Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Tu)
[3] Gilligan's Island (M)
[7] Brady Bunch--rerun
(12) Bewitched--rerun (M)
[13] I Love Lucy (M)
[18] Movie--"All Mine to Give," 1957 (M)/Christmas 2025--syndicated children's special (Tu)
(20) Gunsmoke
(32) Andy Griffith
[38] Merv Griffin (60-minute version; M)
4:30
[3] (12) Brady Bunch (Monday on both WRBL and WSFA)
[4] (32) Gomer Pyle, USMC--rerun (WTVY Monday only)
[7] Hogan's Heroes--rerun
[8] [13] Merv Griffin (60-minute version; WMBB Monday only)
[9] Dating Game--daily syndicated version
[18] Imagine That--syndicated children's special
5:00
[2] (26) [43] Zoom
[3] WRBL News
[4] Beverly Hillbillies
[7] WJHG News (M)/City That Forgot About Christmas (Tu)
[9] WTVM News
(12) Happy Days Again--Christmas episode: "Fonzie's claims that he'll be having a bell-ringing Christmas somehow don't ring true" (M)
[18] City That Forgot About Christmas (Tu)
(20) WCOV News (M)/Stableboy's Christmas--syndicated children's special (Tu)
(32) WKAB News
[38] Three's a Crowd--controversial Chuck Barris game (M)
5:30
[2] (26) [43] Over Easy--Hugh Downs, host
[3] [4] [8] (20) CBS Evening News--Dan Rather (both days)
[7] [9] (32) ABC World News Tonight--Max Robinson, Frank Reynolds (both days)
(12) [13] [38] NBC Nightly News--John Chancellor (M)
[18] Stableboy's Christmas (Tu)
Evening programming listings, Monday, December 24, 1979
6:00
[2] (26) [43] Percussion Noel--PBS special
[3] Sanford and Son
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] WSLA News
[9] M*A*S*H--rerun
(12) WSFA News
[13] WMBB News
[18] ABC World News Tonight
(20) Beverly Hillbillies--rerun
(32) Dating Game
[38] WYEA News
6:30
[2] (26) [43] Electric Company
[3] Happy Days Again
[4] $100,000 Name That Tune
[7] Bishop's Hour--probably local religion
[8] Cosmic Christmas--cartoon special
[9] Good Times
(12) Muppet Show--John Denver, guest
[13] Christmas Child--syndicated drama special
[18] WDHN News
(20) [38] Newlywed Game
(32) Sanford and Son
7:00
[2] (26) [43] MacNeil/Lehrer Report
[3] [4] [8] (20) WKRP in Cincinnati--Sparky Anderson, former manager of the Cincinnati Reds, guest stars
[7] [9] [18] (32) Movie--"The Gift of Love," made-for-TV; 1978
(12) [13] [38] Little House on the Prairie (2-hour episode)
7:30
[2] (26) [43] Cahaba Bluegrass Festival--coverage of old-time country music performances somewhere in Alabama (either APT or University of Alabama TV production)
[3] [4] [8] (20) Last Resort--short-lived MTM sitcom
8:00
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
[3] [4] [8] (20) M*A*S*H
8:30
[3] [4] [8] (20) House Calls--vehicle for Lynn Redgrave and Wayne Rogers
9:00
[2] (26) [43] Joan Baez--concert special
[3] [8] (20) Lou Grant (MTM had two out of the three hours in CBS primetime this night)
[4] Jack Van Impe Crusade--Michigan-based televangelist's Christmas special, from Nashville
[7] [9] [18] (32) Family--Christmas episode has patriarch (James Broderick) avoiding medical treatment for a heart condition
(12) [13] [38] Mac Davis--country singer/actor's Christmas special, featuring Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Robert Urich
10:00
[2] (26) [43] Dick Cavett
[3] WRBL News
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] Country Place--syndicated country music
[9] WTVM News
(12) WSFA News
[13] WMBB News
[18] Christmas Music--probably local
(20) WCOV News
(32) Three's a Crowd
[38] WYEA News
10:30
[2] (26) [43] Captioned ABC News
[3] [4] [8] (20) Let the Desert Be Joyful--CBS special featuring the Tucson, Arizona Boys Choir at San Xaviera Del Bac Mission; recorded in 1966
[7] [9] [18] (32) Barney Miller--ABC rerun
(12) [13] [38] Sounds of Christmas Eve--NBC special featuring Doc Severinsen, Henry Mancini, Victor Buono and a Hollywood church choir; recorded in 1973
11:00
[3] [4] [8] (20) Mass for Cain--CBS special featuring performance of a Christmas oratorio at New York's Riverside Church
(12) [13] [38] Christmas Rome--1979--NBC coverage of the annual Christmas Mass at St. Peter's in the Vatican; Pope John Paul II presiding
11:05
[7] [18] (32) Movie--"The Two-Five," made-for-TV; 1978
12:00 a.m.
[4] Movie--"12 Angry Men," 1957
12:40
[7] WJHG News
2:30
[4] Movie--"The Prince and the Pauper," 1937
4:30
[4] Day of Discovery--religion
Evening programming listings, Tuesday, December 25, 1979
6:00
[2] (26) [43] Your Future Is Now--adult education
[3] Sanford and Son
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] WSLA News
[9] M*A*S*H
(12) WSFA News
[13] Joy of Christmas--syndicated special
[18] ABC World News Tonight
(20) Beverly Hillbillies
(32) Dating Game
[38] Stableboy's Christmas
6:30
[2] (26) [43] Point in Question--interview show (probably local)
[3] Happy Days Again
[4] Match Game PM
[7] Jack Van Impe Crusade--same as WTVY, 9 p.m., previous night
[8] Black Holes: Monsters That Eat Space and Time--documentary; probably syndicated
[9] Good Times
(12) Those Were the Days--local special commemorating the 25th anniversary of WSFA television, which began on Christmas Day 1954
[13] Sanford and Son
[18] WDHN News
(20) [38] Newlywed Game
(32) Sanford and Son
7:00
[2] (26) [43] MacNeil/Lehrer Report
[3] [4] [8] (20) White Shadow--Christmas episode
[9] [18] (32) Happy Days
(12) [13] Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo--Claude Akins stars
[38] Jack Van Impe Crusade
7:30
[2] (26) [43] Advances in Health--local; produced by the University of Alabama-Birmingham
[7] [9] [18] (32) Angie--Miller/Milkis/Boyett sitcom about a golddigging waitress
8:00
[2] (26) [43] Celebration of Strauss--PBS special featuring the Vienna Philharmonic and State Opera Ballet
[3] [4] [8] (20) Hawaii Five-O--last season for storied cop show; this season's episodes were originally syndicated as "McGarrett"
[7] [9] [18] (32) Three's Company--yes, at Christmastime, too
(12) [13] [38] Movie--"Suddenly, Love," made-for-TV; 1978
8:30
[7] [9] [18] (32) Taxi--defined ensemble sitcoms; not surprisingly, "Cheers" came from the same creative forces in the 1980s
9:00
[2] (26) [43] World--documentary; tonight's topic: Papua New Guinea
[3] [4] [8] (20) Paris--short-lived cop show marking two things: 1) the first appearance of James Earl Jones in a lead TV role, and 2) the first show on which Steven Bochco worked as executive producer
[7] [9] [18] (32) Hart to Hart--couldn't well make a Christmas episode about a show like this, huh?--!
10:00
[2] (26) [43] Dick Cavett
[3] WRBL News
[4] WTVY News
[7] WJHG News
[8] Sha Na Na
[9] WTVM News
(12) WSFA News
[13] WMBB News
[18] Hogan's Heroes
(20) Blue-Gray Game--re-broadcast of CBS coverage earlier in the day
(32) Three's a Crowd
[38] Andy Griffith
10:30
[2] (26) [43] Christmas Lace--PBS special
[3] [4] [8] Movie--"Quo Vadis," 1951
[7] [9] [18] (32) Movie--"Young Pioneers' Christmas," made-for-TV; 1976
(12) [13] [38] Tonight Show--John Davidson, guest host
12:00 a.m.
(12) [13] [38] Tomorrow--Tom Snyder
12:30
[7] WJHG News
2:00
[4] Movie--"The Big Street," 1942
3:30
[4] Movie--"Christmas in Connecticut," 1945 (for those who just didn't quite get enough ...)