I have a 1962 Nebraska TV Guide that shows CBS affiliate KOLN-TV Lincoln (simulcast with KGIN-TV 11 Grand Island NE) doing an amazing amount of local programming, more than most TV stations were doing, even in NYC or LA.
First, it's odd Lincoln had and still has a CBS network affiliate, being only 63 miles away from Nebraska's largest city, Omaha, which has all the big networks, including CBS affiliate WOW-TV 6 (now WOWT). At the time, KOLN was Lincoln's only commercial station, along with the University of Nebraska's non-commercial KUON 12.
KOLN had a locally produced wake-up program, called "The Morning Show" which ran from 7-8am, hosted by Wayne West and Sharon (they don't list her last name). On Monday, Sharon "demostrates picture arrangements for the home." Wednesday "Artist Laurel Gerlach doodles on the easel." (This sounds like the David Letterman bit where every Friday he introduces "Bruce and Linda" to tell us about what's on "Weekend Late Night.") The listing also includes news at 7:10, 7:30 and 7:50.
Then at 9:30, KOLN pre-empts I Love Lucy for their own cooking show, "Creative Cookery" hosted by Hulbert (no first name given). At 10:30, while CBS is running an old sitcom "Pete and Gladys" KOLN runs "As The World Turns" which airs at 12:30 on other CBS stations. That's because KOLN takes a whole hour at noon for "RFD 10, 11" hosted by Les Blauvelt. So once again, KOLN is doing a entire hour farm broadcast on its own here. (I wonder how they got CBS to allow them to run As The World Turns two hours early, blocking out the CBS sitcom that's supposed to run at that time? I guess by 1962 local stations had the video equipment to time shift network programs?)
KOLN stays with CBS through the afternoon till 4pm when morning host Wayne West comes back to host a one-hour cartoon show. Then at 5:30 there's "Visit with Santa--Lincoln" listed every weekday in this early December TV Guide, followed by CBS News with Walter Cronkite.
KOLN, like most CBS Central Time Zone affiliates, does a half hour of news at 6pm. They also do 35 minutes of local news at 10pm, 40 years before the 35 minute late night newscast became standard. On Wednesday at 7pm, KOLN breaks away from CBS for their own "Face The State--Nebraska" program, I suppose a local version of Face The Nation. Interesting that they do it in prime time on a weeknight.
Then at 10:35, when NBC affiliates are running Johnny Carson and other stations are showing a movie, KOLN has its own late night variety show, hosted by Joe Martin. On Tuesday "Joe Acosta and the Golden Gloves competitors are Joe's guests." On Thursday it's "Mary Lee Jepson, Miss Nebraska, and Nebraska's First Lady, Mrs. Frank Morrison, the wife of the governor." I guess it's hard to get Sammy Davis Jr. or Lucille Ball to be your guests if you're doing a nightly variety show in Lincoln, Nebraska. I wonder how such local programming stacked up against Johnny Carson, who happened to also be from Nebraska.
Weekends included "Junior Theater" Saturdays 4-5pm. This Saturday, the program was "Show Business" where "Today's young performers do numbers from Broadway musicals." Sunday at 4pm was "Christmas in Lincoln Land" where a male choir from Minden Nebraska performs. At Noon Sunday was a show called "Cabbages and Kings" hosted by Shaw and at 5pm is "House of Music" hosted by Ziegenbein. Not sure if those are local also. No details are given. KOLN also did full half-hours of news Sat. and Sun. at 10pm as well as Saturday at 6pm.
Quite a local schedule for a TV station in such a small market. These days, many stations may do more hours of news coverage but almost nobody does local entertainment, children's or farm programming anymore.
Gregg
[email protected]
First, it's odd Lincoln had and still has a CBS network affiliate, being only 63 miles away from Nebraska's largest city, Omaha, which has all the big networks, including CBS affiliate WOW-TV 6 (now WOWT). At the time, KOLN was Lincoln's only commercial station, along with the University of Nebraska's non-commercial KUON 12.
KOLN had a locally produced wake-up program, called "The Morning Show" which ran from 7-8am, hosted by Wayne West and Sharon (they don't list her last name). On Monday, Sharon "demostrates picture arrangements for the home." Wednesday "Artist Laurel Gerlach doodles on the easel." (This sounds like the David Letterman bit where every Friday he introduces "Bruce and Linda" to tell us about what's on "Weekend Late Night.") The listing also includes news at 7:10, 7:30 and 7:50.
Then at 9:30, KOLN pre-empts I Love Lucy for their own cooking show, "Creative Cookery" hosted by Hulbert (no first name given). At 10:30, while CBS is running an old sitcom "Pete and Gladys" KOLN runs "As The World Turns" which airs at 12:30 on other CBS stations. That's because KOLN takes a whole hour at noon for "RFD 10, 11" hosted by Les Blauvelt. So once again, KOLN is doing a entire hour farm broadcast on its own here. (I wonder how they got CBS to allow them to run As The World Turns two hours early, blocking out the CBS sitcom that's supposed to run at that time? I guess by 1962 local stations had the video equipment to time shift network programs?)
KOLN stays with CBS through the afternoon till 4pm when morning host Wayne West comes back to host a one-hour cartoon show. Then at 5:30 there's "Visit with Santa--Lincoln" listed every weekday in this early December TV Guide, followed by CBS News with Walter Cronkite.
KOLN, like most CBS Central Time Zone affiliates, does a half hour of news at 6pm. They also do 35 minutes of local news at 10pm, 40 years before the 35 minute late night newscast became standard. On Wednesday at 7pm, KOLN breaks away from CBS for their own "Face The State--Nebraska" program, I suppose a local version of Face The Nation. Interesting that they do it in prime time on a weeknight.
Then at 10:35, when NBC affiliates are running Johnny Carson and other stations are showing a movie, KOLN has its own late night variety show, hosted by Joe Martin. On Tuesday "Joe Acosta and the Golden Gloves competitors are Joe's guests." On Thursday it's "Mary Lee Jepson, Miss Nebraska, and Nebraska's First Lady, Mrs. Frank Morrison, the wife of the governor." I guess it's hard to get Sammy Davis Jr. or Lucille Ball to be your guests if you're doing a nightly variety show in Lincoln, Nebraska. I wonder how such local programming stacked up against Johnny Carson, who happened to also be from Nebraska.
Weekends included "Junior Theater" Saturdays 4-5pm. This Saturday, the program was "Show Business" where "Today's young performers do numbers from Broadway musicals." Sunday at 4pm was "Christmas in Lincoln Land" where a male choir from Minden Nebraska performs. At Noon Sunday was a show called "Cabbages and Kings" hosted by Shaw and at 5pm is "House of Music" hosted by Ziegenbein. Not sure if those are local also. No details are given. KOLN also did full half-hours of news Sat. and Sun. at 10pm as well as Saturday at 6pm.
Quite a local schedule for a TV station in such a small market. These days, many stations may do more hours of news coverage but almost nobody does local entertainment, children's or farm programming anymore.
Gregg
[email protected]