1953 in television

The year 1953 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events during 1953.

List of years in television (table)
In radio
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
In film
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
In music
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
  • Art
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Science
+...

Events
  • January 19 – 68% of all U.S. television sets are tuned in to I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth to little Ricky.
  • January 23 – TP1, a predecessor of TVP1, a member of Telewizja Polska, becomes the first television station in Poland when it officially begins a regular broadcasting service, from Warsaw.
  • February 1
    • Japanese television begins when JOAK-TV begins broadcasting from Tokyo.[1]
    • General Electric Theater airs for the first time on CBS.
  • February 18 – Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz sign an $8,000,000 contract to continue the I Love Lucy television series through 1955.
  • February 26 – Fulton J. Sheen, on his program Life Is Worth Living, reads Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, with the names of high-ranking Soviet officials replacing the main characters. At the end of the reading, Sheen intones that "Stalin must one day meet his judgment". Stalin dies one week later.
  • March 17 – Patrick Troughton becomes television's first Robin Hood, playing the eponymous folk hero in the first of six half-hour episodes of Robin Hood, shown weekly until April 21 on the BBC Television Service.
  • March 19 – The 25th Academy Awards is broadcast by NBC in the U.S. This becomes the first Academy Awards ceremony to be televised.
  • March 25 – CBS concedes victory to RCA in the war over color television standards.
  • April 3 – TV Guide is published for the first time in the United States, with 10 editions and a circulation of 1,562,000.
  • May 1 – Czechoslovak Television becomes the first television station in the country when it officially begins a regular broadcasting service, from Prague; this station will separate into Česká televize and Slovenská televízia in January 1993.
  • May 25 – KUHT in Houston becomes the first non-commercial educational TV station in the United States.
  • June 2 – The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is televised by the BBC from London. Sales of TV sets in the United Kingdom rise sharply in the weeks leading up to the event. It is also one of the earliest broadcasts to be deliberately recorded for posterity and still exists in its entirety. More than twenty million viewers around the world watch the coverage;[2] to ensure Canadians could see it on the same day, British Royal Air Force Canberras fly film of the ceremony across the Atlantic Ocean to be broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,[3] the first non-stop flight between the United Kingdom and the Canadian mainland. In Goose Bay, Labrador, the film is transferred to a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-100 jet fighter for the further trip to Montreal. In all, three such voyages are made as the coronation proceeds.[4]
  • July 18
  • August 28 – Nippon Television, becomes the first regular broadcast service to start in Tokyo, Japan.[5] The first program is Hato no kyujitsu.
  • August 30 – NBC's Kukla, Fran, and Ollie is the first publicly announced experimental broadcast of a program in RCA compatible color.
  • September 27 – RecordTV, a major free-to-air television network in Brazil, becomes the first official regular broadcasting service to start in Sao Paulo.[6]
  • October 18 – A live television adaptation of the Shakespeare play King Lear starring Orson Welles is aired on CBS as part of the Omnibus series.
  • October 19 – American CBS presenter Arthur Godfrey dismisses singer Julius La Rosa live on air on the radio-only segment of his morning show.[7]
  • October 23 – Alto Broadcasting System of the Philippines makes the first television broadcast in Southeast Asia through DZAQ-TV. Alto Broadcasting System is the predecessor of what is now ABS-CBN Corporation.
  • November 15 – Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) becomes the first television station in Venezuela when it officially begins a regular broadcast service.
  • November 22 – RCA airs (with special permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S.) the first commercial color program in compatible color, The Colgate Comedy Hour with Donald O'Connor.
  • November 26 – NBC broadcasts its first national telecast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
  • December 2 – BBC broadcasts its 'Television Symbol' for the first time, the first animated television presentation symbol.
  • December 12 – The DuMont Television Network televises its first ever National Basketball Association game with the Boston Celtics defeating the Baltimore Bullets 106–75. This marked the first year the NBA had a national television contract. This was the only year of NBA coverage on DuMont; the Saturday afternoon package moved to NBC for the 1954–55 season, mainly because NBC could clear the games on far more stations that DuMont could.
  • December 17 – The FCC reverses its 1951 decision and approves the RCA/NTSC color system.
  • December 24 – Dragnet becomes the first filmed drama to be televised in color each year as a network television program. However, only this one episode, entitled "The Big Little Jesus", is filmed in color during the 1950s; the show returns in the late 1960s in color.

Programs/programmes

Series on the air in 1953

Debuts
  • February 10 – Romper Room (1953–1994)
  • June 8 - Ladies' Choice on NBC (1953)
  • June 20 – Bank on the Stars on CBS (1953), then NBC (1954)
  • July 11 - Medallion Theatre on CBS (1953-1954)
  • July 6 - Glamour Girl on NBC (1953-1954)
  • July 14 -Anyone Can Win on CBS (1953)
  • July 20 – The Good Old Days on BBC Television (1953–1983)
  • August 18 - Judge for Yourself with Fred Allen on NBC (1953–1954)
  • September 13 – Jukebox Jury on ABC (1953–1954)
  • September 13 - The George Jessel Show on ABC.
  • September 29 – Make Room For Daddy with Danny Thomas on ABC (1953-1957), then moved to CBS (1957–1964)
  • October 2 – The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, an anthology series, The Comeback Story, a reality show, and The Pride of the Family, a situation comedy, all on ABC
  • October 5 – Of Many Things, panel discussion show with Dr. Bergen Evans on ABC (1953–1954)
  • October 8 – Where's Raymond?, starring Ray Bolger on ABC (in season 2, it is known as The Ray Milland Show) (1953–1955)
  • October 11 - The Man Behind the Badge on CBS (1953-1954)[8]
  • November 11
    • The current affairs series Panorama on BBC Television; now the longest-running program on British television
    • The public affairs series Answers for Americans on ABC
  • December 1 – CBC Theatre on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [later known as General Motors Theatre (1954–1956) and General Motors Presents (1958–1961)]
  • Place the Face, with principal host Bill Cullen, on CBS (1953–1954); then transferred to NBC (1954–1955)

Ending this year
DateShowDebut
March 26 Biff Baker, U.S.A. 1952
April The Amos 'n Andy Show 1951
The Ernie Kovacs Show 1952
May 3 Victory at Sea
June 26 Kaleidoscope (UK) 1946
September 30A Date with Judy (prime time version)1952
November 13 Front Page Detective 1951[9]
December 26 Bonino 1953
Unknown Café Continental (UK) 1947
Leave It to Larry 1952

Births
DateNameNotability
January 5 Pamela Sue Martin Actress (The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Dynasty)
January 8 Damián Alcázar Actor
Tonita Castro Actress (died 2016)
January 10 Pat Benatar Singer
January 20 Colleen Zenk Actress (As the World Turns)
January 29 Paul Fusco Puppeteer (ALF)
Lynne McGranger Australian actress (Home and Away)
February 8 Mary Steenburgen Actress (The Last Man on Earth)
February 11 Philip Anglim Actor
February 12 Joanna Kerns Actress (Growing Pains)
February 14 Martha Raddatz Reporter
February 15 Lynn Whitfield Actress (Without a Trace)
February 17 Becky Ann Baker Actress
February 19 Bill Kirchenbauer Actor (Just the Ten of Us)
February 21 William Petersen Actor (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
Christine Ebersole Actress (Steven Universe, The Cavanaughs, Royal Pains)
Peter Van Sant American television news reporter
March 4 Kay Lenz Actress (Reasonable Doubts)
March 6 Jacklyn Zeman Actress (General Hospital) (died 2023)
Armen Keteyian Armenian American television journalist
March 9 Lauren Koslow Actress (Days of Our Lives)
March 10 Paul Haggis Director
March 12 Ron Jeremy Pornographic actor
March 16 Micheline Charest Producer (died 2004)
March 24 Louie Anderson Actor (died 2022)
March 25 Mary Gross Actress (Saturday Night Live)[10]
April 13 Grant Geissman American composer
April 16 Jay O. Sanders Actor
April 18 Rick Moranis Canadian actor and comedian
April 19 Ruby Wax American-born comedic actress, presenter (The Full Wax)
April 22 Gary Adelson Producer
April 23 James Russo Actor
April 24 Eric Bogosian Actor (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
May 1 David Gulpilil Actor (died 2021)
May 3 Jake Hooker Musician (died 2014)
May 9 Amy Hill Actress
May 16 Pierce Brosnan Irish-born actor (Remington Steele, The Son)
Peter Onorati Actor
May 17 Kathleen Sullivan Journalist
May 20 Michael Dinner Screenwriter
May 29 Danny Elfman Singer and composer (Batman: The Animated Series, The Simpsons, Pee-wee's Playhouse)
May 30 Colm Meaney Actor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
June 1 Diana Canova Actress
June 11 Peter Bergman Actor (All My Children, The Young and the Restless)
June 13 Tim Allen Actor (Home Improvement, Last Man Standing)
June 16 Valerie Mahaffey Actress and producer (Northern Exposure)
June 21 Michael Bowen Actor (Lost, Breaking Bad)
June 22 Cyndi Lauper Singer and actress
June 26 Robert Davi Actor (Profiler)
July 4 Jon Plowman Producer
July 10 Marco Rodríguez Actor
July 11 Mindy Sterling Actress
Patricia Reyes Spíndola Actress
July 13 Gil Birmingham Actor
July 23 Lydia Cornell Actress (Too Close for Comfort)
July 29 Tim Gunn Actor
August 1 Howard Kurtz American journalist
August 2 Butch Patrick Actor (The Munsters)
August 4 Tony Barnhart Reporter
August 8 Donny Most Actor (Happy Days)
August 9 Kathleen Matthews Reporter
August 11 Hulk Hogan Wrestler (Hogan Knows Best)
August 13 Jim Paratore Producer (died 2012)
August 14 James Horner Composer (died 2015)
August 16 Kathie Lee Gifford Singer and talk show co-host (Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee)
Vincent Curatola Actor
August 20 Peter Horton Actor (thirtysomething)
Ron Claiborne American journalist
August 26 Emiliano Díez Cuban actor (George Lopez)
August 27 Peter Stormare Swedish actor (Prison Break)
August 30 Robert Parish NBA basketball player
September 1 Jonathan LaPook American physician
September 2 Keith Allen Welsh actor
September 4 Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Actor (Welcome Back, Kotter)
September 6 Katherine Cannon Actress (Beverly Hills, 90210)
September 7 Kristin Griffith Actress
September 10 Amy Irving Actress
September 14 Robert Wisdom Actor (The Wire, Prison Break)
Kurt Fuller Actor
September 16 Lenny Clarke Comedian and actor (Rescue Me)
Christopher Rich Actor (Murphy Brown, Reba)
September 27 Robbie Shakespeare Producer (died 2021)
September 29 Drake Hogestyn Actor (Days of Our Lives)
October 6 Wendy Robie Actress (Twin Peaks)
October 7 Christopher Norris Actress (Trapper John, M.D.)
October 9 Tony Shalhoub Actor (Adrian Monk on Monk)
October 11 David Morse Actor (St. Elsewhere)
October 12 Les Dennis English television presenter
October 14 Greg Evigan Actor (My Two Dads)
Howard Schultz Producer
October 15 Larry Miller Comedian
October 20 Keith Hernandez Sports broadcaster
October 26 Lauren Tewes Actress (The Love Boat)
October 27 Robert Picardo Actor (China Beach, Star Trek: Voyager)
October 28 Desmond Child Songwriter
October 30 Charles Lewis Journalist
October 31 Michael J. Anderson Actor (Twin Peaks)
Lynda Goodfriend Actress (Happy Days)
November 3 Dennis Miller Talk show host, commentator, comedian (Saturday Night Live)
Kate Capshaw Actress
November 5 Joyce Maynard American journalist
November 12 Carl Ciarfalio American actor
November 15 James Widdoes American actor
November 18 Kevin Nealon Actor and comedian (Saturday Night Live, Weeds, Glenn Martin, DDS)
Kath Soucie Actress (Tiny Toon Adventures, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Rugrats, Earthworm Jim, Dexter's Laboratory, Hey Arnold!, Futurama)
November 19 Robert Beltran Actor (Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager)
Tom Villard Actor (died 1994)
November 26 Jacki MacDonald Australian television personality
November 27 Curtis Armstrong Actor (Dan Vs., Robot and Monster, The Emperor's New School)
November 28 Pamela Hayden Actress
December 1 Antoine de Caunes French Anglophone presenter (Eurotrash)
December 6 Kin Shriner Actor (General Hospital, Justice League Unlimited)
December 7 Susie Coelho TV personality
December 8 Sam Kinison Comedian and actor (Charlie Hoover) (died 1992)
Kim Basinger Actress
December 9 John Malkovich Actor
December 11 Bess Armstrong Actress
December 14 Gail Matthius Actress (Saturday Night Live)
December 17 Barry Livingston Actor (My Three Sons)
Bill Pullman Actor
December 22 Bern Nadette Stanis Actress (Good Times)
Jay Brazeau Actor
December 23 John Callahan Actor (died 2020)
December 29 Charlayne Woodard Actress
December 30 Meredith Vieira Journalist, talk show host, game show host (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire)
December 31 James Remar Actor (The Huntress)

Television debuts

References
  1. "50 Years of NHK Television". NHK. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  2. "Queen Elizabeth takes coronation oath". On This Day. BBC. 1953-06-02. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
  3. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "Society > The Monarchy > Canada's New Queen > Coronation of Queen Elizabeth > The Story". CBC. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  4. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "Society > The Monarchy > Canada's New Queen > Coronation of Queen Elizabeth > Did You Know?". CBC. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  5. Nippon TV#History Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  6. RecordTV#History#1950s: Beginnings Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  7. Ahlfors, Elizabeth. "Julie's Story". Juliuslarosa.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  8. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 844. ISBN 9780307483201. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  9. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25525-9.
  10. Chase's Calendar of Events 2021: The Ultimate Go-to Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months. Rowman & Littlefield. 27 October 2020. p. 190. ISBN 978-1-64143-424-9.
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