1960s Timeline

Sept. 17, 1961 - On tonight's "Car 54, Where Are You?" pilot episode, Officers Toody (Joe E. Ross) and Muldoon (Fred Gwynne) are...

Sept. 15, 1961 - On tonight's Season Three premiere of "The Twilight Zone," two survivors of an apocalyptic battle, a man (Charles...

Sept. 14, 1961 - On tonight's Season Four premiere of "The Donna Reed Show," Mary's careless driving leads to an unexpected romantic...

Sept. 14, 1961 - The "Red Skelton Show," long a television fixture at 9:30 p.m. on CBS, will be rescheduled at 9 p.m. when it begins its...

Sept. 11, 1961 - "The Lone Ranger," which made "Hi-ho, Silver!" a part of the American vernacular, will be discontinued as a network...

Aug. 29, 1961 - Guest celebrities and members of the studio audience will compete together in "Password," a new television game show...

Aug. 27, 1961 - Ingrid Thulin, one of the leading actresses in Sweden, will star in "Intermezzo" over the NBC-TV network on Nov. 19 from...

Aug. 23, 1961 - George Gobel, the television comedian, and his partner David O'Malley today sold their 50 percent share in the TV comedy...

Aug. 20, 1961 - "The Defenders," a television series which revolves around a father-and-son team of lawyers, will make its debut on CBS...

Aug. 17, 1961 - David Susskind, the energetic head of Talent Associates, has signed Jackie Gleason for a leading role in Rod Serling's...

Aug. 16, 1961 - Karl Held (right), television actor, will portray David Gideon, a young law student who assists Perry Mason when the TV...

Aug. 2, 1961 - Jack Lescoulie, who was associated with Dave Garroway for nine and a half years on the "Today" show, has found a new job...

July 27, 1961 - Parents were urged by a member of the Cabinet today to "get tough" with children who sit for hours "like a vegetable"...

July 26, 1961 - Shirley Booth, whose knowledge of show business is extensive, has been learning that the television series is a thing...

July 25, 1961 - Madlyn Rhue, an actress, is in serious condition from injuries received in a head-on automobile collision in Hollywood,...

July 24, 1961 - Cesar Romero (pictured) will co-star in "Paper Bullets," a drama about concentration camp victims forced to participate...

July 24, 1961 - A Southern broadcaster said today that TV stations in his region were "getting it from our own people" because of network...

July 17, 1961 - Rod Cameron (pictured), screen actor, has married his former mother-in-law. The announcement was made today by Mr....

July 16, 1961 - Tennessee Ernie Ford (right), who recently left nighttime TV after five years on NBC, has seen his way to daylight on...

July 8, 1961 - Harry Belafonte (pictured) and Rosemary Clooney will be the stars when the "Bell Telephone Hour" begins a new season on...