This is a list of American television-related events in 1960.
Events Date Event Ref. February 10 Jack Paar temporarily quit his television program because his monologue had been edited the night before, in favor of a three-minute news update. Parr walked out to the audience at the beginning of the show, announced that he was quitting, said "There's got to be a better way to make a living," and then walked off the stage. After network executives apologized personally, Parr resumed hosting the program a month later. His first show back started with the words "As I was saying before I was interrupted..." "Jack Paar's Water Closet Joke". Censorship & Scandals. TV ACRES. Retrieved September 3, 2019."Paar Quits TV in Censorship Row". Los Angeles Evening Mirror News, February 13, 1960, p. 1. February 18–28 On an exclusive basis for $60,000, CBS broadcasts coverage of the 1960 Winter Olympics from Squaw Valley, in Placer County, California, making these games the first Winter Olympics to be broadcast in the U.S. Hosted by future CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite, the coverage provided 31 hours of coverage over 11 days, including a healthy mix of alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, and ski jumping. Spence, Jim (November 20, 1988). "Are Olympic TV Rights Worth the Price?". The New York Times. March 2 Lucille Ball files for divorce from husband Desi Arnaz, ending a 20-year marriage, and the I Love Lucy franchise on CBS. The final installment of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour would air almost a month later. August 25-September 11 CBS broadcasts the 1960 Summer Olympics from Rome, Italy, hosted by a young Jim McKay, who would later host ABC's coverage of the 1964 Winter Olympics. These were the first Summer Olympics to be broadcast in the U.S. or any country in North America. September 24 After thirteen seasons of entertaining American children, the NBC children's show Howdy Doody ends. Clarabell the Clown says the final two words of the show ("Goodbye Kids"), after being assumed to only be mute throughout the show's run. September 26 1960 United States presidential debates. American presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon debate live by television. The candidates' behavior and/or appearance during the debate may have altered the outcome of the election. In addition to being the first presidential debates to be televised, the debates also marked the first time "split screen" images were used by a network.October 7Nixon and Kennedy participate in the second presidential debate.October 13Nixon and Kennedy participate in the third presidential debate.October 21The final 1960 presidential debate is held. December 31 Norma Zimmer officially becomes Lawrence Welk's "Champagne Lady" on The Lawrence Welk Show.
Also occurring in 1960 Frank and Doris Hursley start their soap opera writing career, taking the jobs of joint head writers for the series Search for Tomorrow. Nearly 90% of homes in the United States now have at least one television set.
Television programs Debuts Date Debut Network Notes January 1 The Deputy Dawg Show CBS January 9 Home Run Derby First-run syndication January 25 The Kate Smith Show CBS February 7 Overland Trail NBC March 23 Charley Weaver's Hobby Lobby ABC June 8 Happy NBC June 8 Tate NBC June 20 The Bozo Show WGN-TV June 28 The Comedy Spot CBS Renamed Comedy Spotlight in 1961 August 1 New Comedy Showcase CBS September 17 Checkmate CBS September 18 The Tab Hunter Show NBC September 23 Dan Raven NBC September 27 The Tom Ewell Show CBS September 29 My Three Sons ABC September 29 Outlaws NBC September 30 The Flintstones ABC October 1 Popeye the Sailor First-run syndication October 1 The Shari Lewis Show NBC October 3 The Andy Griffith Show CBS October 4 Stagecoach West ABC October 5 My Sister Eileen CBS October 7 Route 66 CBS October 10 Bringing Up Buddy CBS October 10 Klondike NBC October 11 The Bugs Bunny Show ABC October 12 Peter Loves Mary NBC
Ending this year Date Show Network Debut Notes January 8 Five Fingers NBC October 3, 1959 January 18 Whirlybirds First-run syndication February 4, 1957 January 25 Love and Marriage NBC September 21, 1959 January 27 The Lineup CBS October 1, 1954 February 7 Man with a Camera ABC October 10, 1958 March 22 Bucky and Pepito First-run syndication 1958 March 24 Johnny Staccato NBC September 10, 1959 March 26 Philip Marlowe ABC October 6, 1959 April 1 People Are Funny NBC September 19, 1954 April 1 The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour CBS November 6, 1957 April 1 The Troubleshooters NBC September 11, 1959 April 2 The Ruff and Reddy Show NBC December 14, 1957 April 6 Wichita Town NBC September 30, 1959 May 6 Black Saddle NBC January 10, 1959 (on NBC) May 9 Colonel Bleep NBC September 21, 1957 May 12 Rescue 8 First-run syndication September 23, 1958 May 13 Felix the Cat First-run syndication October 2, 1958 May 18 Playhouse 90 CBS October 4, 1956 May 23 Alcoa Theatre CBS September 30, 1957 May 23 Father Knows Best NBC October 3, 1954 (on CBS) May 23 Goodyear Theatre NBC September 30, 1957 May 31 Startime NBC October 6, 1959 June 2 Tales of the Vikings First-run syndication September 8, 1959 June 3 Hotel de Paree CBS October 2, 1959 June 7 The Millionaire CBS January 19, 1955 June 10 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse CBS June 10, 1960 June 11 The Man and the Challenge NBC September 12, 1959 June 12 The Alaskans ABC October 4, 1959 June 18 Mr. Lucky CBS October 24, 1959 June 21 M Squad NBC September 20, 1957 June 24 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports NBC November 8, 1946 June 30 Johnny Ringo CBS October 1, 1959 June 30 The Betty Hutton Show CBS October 1, 1959 July 2 Home Run Derby First-run syndication January 9, 1960 July 2 Overland Trail NBC February 7, 1960 July 4 Bourbon Street Beat ABC October 5, 1959 July 8 Tombstone Territory First-run syndication October 16, 1957 (on ABC) September 6 Richard Diamond, Private Detective NBC July 1, 1957 (on CBS) September 7 Men Into Space CBS September 30, 1959 September 10 The Dick Clark Show ABC February 15, 1958 September 13 Tightrope! CBS September 8, 1959 September 14 Tate NBC June 8, 1960 September 15 Markham CBS May 2, 1959 September 19 New Comedy Showcase CBS August 1, 1960 September 19 The Texan CBS September 29, 1958 September 22 Law of the Plainsman NBC October 1, 1959 September 22 The Gale Storm Show ABC September 29, 1956 September 23 The Man from Blackhawk ABC October 9, 1959 September 24 Howdy Doody NBC December 27, 1947 September 24 Jubilee USA ABC January 22, 1955 September 27 Colt .45 ABC October 18, 1957 December 20 Dick Clark's World of Talent ABC September 27, 1959 Unknown date This Man Dawson First-run syndication 1959 Unknown date NBC Sunday Showcase NBC September 20, 1959 Unknown date Clutch Cargo First-run syndication March 9, 1959
Television stations Station launches Date Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/References January Lead, South Dakota KDSJ-TV 11 CBS Satellite of KOTA-TV (now KHME) in Sioux Falls January 30 Walla Walla, Washington KNBS-TV 22 ABC February 29 Richardson/Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas KRET-TV 23 Educational independent March 17 Selma/Montgomery, Alabama WSLA (original) 8 ABC May Aguadilla, Puerto Rico WOLE-TV 12 Independent May 15 Hilo, Hawaii KHVO 4 ABC Satellite of KULA in Honolulu May 23 Athens/Atlanta, Georgia WGTV 8 NET Flagship of Georgia Public Broadcasting June Weston/Clarksburg, West Virginia WDTV 5 ABC Returned to the air after a five-year hiatus after broadcasting on UHF channel 35 as primary ABC/secondary NBC and DuMont affiliate WJPB-TV. June 12 Mitchell/Sioux Falls, South Dakota KORN-TV 5 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) June 17 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WPCA-TV 17 Independent July 31 Sioux Falls, South Dakota KSOO-TV 13 NBC September 14 Dallas, Texas KERA 13 NET September 20 Tallahassee, Florida WFSU-TV 11 NET October 1 Coos Bay, Oregon KCBY-TV 11 NBC (primary) ABC/CBS (secondary) October 5 Mankato, Minnesota KEYC-TV 12 NBC October 10 Toledo, Ohio WGTE 30 NET October 19 Ogden, Utah KWCS-TV 18 Educational independent November 7 Pembina, North Dakota KCND-TV 12 Independent (primary) ABC/NBC (secondary) November 15 Youngstown, Ohio WXTV 45 Independent November 23 Fort Pierce, Florida WTVI 19 CBS December 1 Ogden, Utah KVOG-TV 9 NTA Film Network December 19 Eugene, Oregon KEZI-TV 9 ABC (primary) CBS (secondary) Unknown date Caguas, Puerto Rico WKBM-TV 11 Independent
Network affiliation changes Date Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation References March 17 Montgomery, Alabama WCOV-TV 20 CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) CBS (exclusive) Secondary ABC affiliations were lost when WSLA signed on the air to become a full-time ABC affiliate. WSFA-TV 12 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) NBC (exclusive) December 19 Eugene, Oregon Coos Bay, Oregon Roseburg, Oregon KVAL-TV KCBY-TV KPIC 13 11 19 NBC (primary) ABC/CBS (secondary) NBC (exclusive) Lost CBS and ABC upon the launch of KEZI Unknown date Columbus, Georgia WRBL 3 CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) CBS (primary) NBC (secondary) Switch occurred on same day WRBL moved from channel 4 to 3, and WTVM moved from UHF channel 28 to VHF channel 9. WTVM 9 NBC (primary) ABC/NTA (secondary) ABC (primary) NBC/NTA (secondary) Hannibal, Missouri KHQA-TV 7 CBS (exclusive) CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) Kalamazoo, Michigan WKZO-TV 3 CBS (primary) ABC/NBC (secondary) CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) WKZO previously cleared NBC programs not picked up by existing NBC affiliate WOOD-TV until WKZO expanded its signal coverage. This allowed WOOD-TV and WKZO-TV to become full-time affiliates of their respective networks, but they both shared ABC until WZZM's 1962 sign-on. Milwaukee, Wisconsin WXIX-TV 18 Independent Independent (primary) ABC/CBS/NBC (secondary) From 1960 to 1981, WVTV aired network programs rejected by all three of the primary network affiliates in the Milwaukee area. This is not to be confused with today's WXIX-TV in Newport, Kentucky. Pueblo, Colorado KRDO-TV 13 NBC ABC Became a full-time ABC affiliate after the Pueblo television market merged with that of Colorado Springs. Richmond, Virginia WWBT 12 CBS ABC WTVR-TV 6 ABC CBS Salt Lake City, Utah KCPX-TV 4 ABC NBC KUTV 2 NBC ABC Tacoma/Seattle, Washington KTNT-TV 11 Independent CBS San Jose/Salinas/Monterey, California KNTV 11 Independent ABC San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria/Santa Barbara, California KSBY-TV 6 NBC (primary) ABC and CBS (secondary) NBC (primary) CBS (secondary) Shreveport, Louisiana KSLA 12 CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) CBS (exclusive) KTBS-TV 3 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) ABC (exclusive) Sioux Falls, South Dakota Florence, South Dakota Reliance/Pierre, South Dakota KELO-TV KDLO-TV KPLO-TV 11 3 6 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) Lost the NBC affiliation upon the sign on of KSOO-TV Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas KCMC-TV 6 CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) CBS (exclusive)
Station closures Date City of license/Market Station Channel Affiliation First air date Notes/Ref. March 13 Provo, Utah KLOR-TV 11 Independent December 17, 1958 March 21 Sacramento, California KVUE 40 Independent November 1, 1959 March 24 Nampa, Idaho KCIX-TV 6 Independent November 9, 1958 December 8 Bridgeport, Connecticut WICC-TV 43 ABC March 29, 1953 December 14 Walla Walla, Washington KNBS-TV 22 ABC January 30, 1960
Births
Deaths
See also 1960 in television 1960 in film 1960 in the United States List of American films of 1960
References
External links List of 1960 American television series at IMDb