Family TV Shows

The Buick Circus Hour

A once-a-month replacement for Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theatre, it was a one-hour variety show with a circus theme. Hosted by Jimmy Durante.

Chance of a Lifetime

At first a lighthearted guessing game, the format switched to a talent contest in 1952.

Super Ghost

A live quiz show where the contestants had to avoid completing the spelling of the word.

Up to Paar

Live quiz show that appeared three times a week. Paar would pick contestants from the studio audience and quiz them about current news events; the contestants would win money for each right... See full summary »

What Happened?

This quiz show, an "I've Got A Secret" clone, lasted three weeks in the summer of 1952. The panelists attempted to guess what event had happened to the contestants by asking questions. ... See full summary »

Who's There?

Summer replacement show with the three panelists attempting to guess a celebrity's name after viewing articles of clothing or props associated with him or her.

Answers for Americans

A weekly discussion forum concerning various social and political issues facing America at the time. The regular panel for this show included a number of prestigious guests, including ... See full summary »

Excursion

NBC series of 26 shows for young people ages 8-16, designed to give them stimulating views of world literature, science, sports, art, theater, career-building, and government, with ... See full summary »

The Music Show

Musical program with four singers. Douglas and Van sang the popular songs while Noel and Warner or Peterson sang the more classical songs. The singers were backed by Trendler's 34-piece ... See full summary »

Take a Guess

Summer quiz show. The moderator and studio audience knew what a "mystery object" was and the contestant had to determine what it was based on questions asked by the panelists.

What's Your Bid

This show originated on the ABC-TV network in February 1953 with one cast and switched to the Dumont TV network in May 1953 with a different cast. The theme of the show was auctioning goods... See full summary »

Your Chevrolet Showroom

Music and comedy performed by various guest artists.

Droodles

Gamble on Love

A quiz program involving married couples.

The Ilona Massey Show

Weekly Musical Variety Show with Ilona Massey singing in a nightclub atmosphere backed by the musical group, Irving Fields Trio.

Night Editor

Low-budget show with Hal Burdick, the editor of an unknown newspaper, narrating a story about crime or a human interest story. The stories ranged from the US Civil War to 1954.

One Minute Please

The panelists were given a topic and asked to talk nonstop for one minute about the subject. The panelist who talked the most was the winner for that week.

The Sky's the Limit

What's Going On?

This show lasted five weeks in late 1954. The six panelists were divided into two groups, the in's, who remained in the studio, and the out's, who went outside. The in's had to guess what ... See full summary »

What's in a Word

Summer replacement quiz show. The panelists had to guess a rhyme based on a two-word association provided by the contestant.

Who's the Boss?

The panelist attempted to identify a secretary's boss who was a famous person.

The Amazing Dunninger

A modified version of the star's earlier show, "The Dunninger Show", after it moved to a new network. Magician Joseph Dunninger, known simply as Dunnigner on stage, earned a reputation in ... See full summary »

Musical Chairs

Can Do

This Is Show Business