After-school viewing in the 70s
These are tv shows that were often found on local tv channels in the 70s. This is what I saw in central Illinois. Remember, we only had 4 channels: 3 networks and PBS. Some of you city folk had extra channels on UHF.
List activity
9.9K views
• 24 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
- 26 titles
- CreatorJoan Ganz CooneyLloyd Morrisett Jr.StarsJim HensonFrank OzCaroll SpinneyOn a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.Broadcast in the morning and afternoon, on our local PBS station. It's a matter of pride to be part of the first Sesame Street generation. I remember when they had Superman and Batman cartoon segments (produced by Filmation) in the show. I remember when the Count and Snuffie (not gonna try to spell the whole name) arrived. Great days. Kermit's interviews with various nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters are still favorites.
- StarsJim BoydMorgan FreemanJudy GraubartA comedy variety show that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes.Right after Sesame Street was the Electric Company, with people like Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno (Hey you guys!!!!!!!!). While Sesame Street introduced you to letters and numbers, Electric Company taught you to sound out words. My mother discovered I could read, before attending school, when I was reading road signs in the car. Thanks guys!
- StarsFred RogersBetty AberlinDavid NewellFred Rogers explores various topics for young viewers through presentations and music, both in his world and in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.I still miss my neighbor, Fred. The show was a wonder of imagination.
- StarsMaura MullaneyEdith MooersMike DeanMiddle School students teach kids how to do cool tricks.Never really got into this one, but every time I see a red and white striped polo shirt, I think of Zoom.
- CreatorDan CurtisStarsJonathan FridGrayson HallAlexandra IslesThe rich Collins family of Collinsport, Maine is tormented by strange occurrences.This show would be on, or just ending, when I would get home from school. I vividly remember turning on the tv and seeing Barnabas Collins baring his fangs. I ran screaming from the room! OK, I was 4 and easily scared. Sue me.
- CreatorBertram H. CasterStarsLarry KenneyVerne LundquistDick GoddardA game show where contestants had 3 tries to knock down as many pins as possible. Prizes were awarded based on points scored.Featured on one of our local tv stations, along with movies. It was the CBS affiliate, which was about 60 miles away and hard to tune in, without an antenna on the house. I do remember seeing the 7th Voyage of Sinbad here, when he fights the skeleton. Scary stuff!
- CreatorLarry CohenStarsChuck ConnorsChuck HamiltonWilliam BryantIn the 1880s Jason McCord travels the country trying to prove he's no coward. He needs to do this because the military career of this West point graduate came to an end when he was thrown out of the army after being accused of cowardice.I remember the theme song and the title sequence, but that's about it. A man is falsely accused of cowardice and drummed out of the cavalry, then tries to prove his innocence.
- CreatorBernard FeinAlbert S. RuddyStarsBob CraneWerner KlempererJohn BannerThe inmates of a German World War II prisoner of war camp conduct an espionage and sabotage campaign right under the noses of their warders.I believe this was on after the local news, before the start of prime time. Loved this show and wanted to dig a tunnel under the doghouse in our back yard pen (we had a birddog).
- CreatorBob Carroll Jr.Madelyn DavisBob SchillerStarsLucille BallGale GordonVivian VanceThe wacky misadventures of a forever-scheming woman, her reluctant best friend, and her cantankerous boss.This was also after the news. The first couple of seasons are good, then things kind of get spotty. I later read that Lucy dumped some of her writers and it showed. The first season is the one I remember best, where Lucy and Viv try to fix up the bathroom themselves, and nearly drown in a shower, amongst other gags.
- CreatorMilt JosefsbergRay SingerStarsLucille BallGale GordonLucie ArnazLucy Carter, a widow with two teen children, takes a job as a secretary for her stuffy brother-in-law.I think the local tv followed up The Lucy Show with this one and I just assumed it was the same show (pretty easy, since you had much of the same cast). i've watched some of these in recent years and they don't hold up well.
- CreatorPaul HenningStarsEdgar BuchananLinda HenningBea BenaderetThe misadventures of the family staff of The Shady Rest Hotel and their neighbors of Hooterville.Loved this show and always wanted to try out the elevator in the hotel lobby. I had a huge crush on Meredith McRae, as a 4 year-old.
- CreatorPaul HenningStarsBuddy EbsenDonna DouglasIrene RyanA nouveau-riche hillbilly family moves to Beverly Hills and shakes up the privileged society with their hayseed ways.How can you not like this show? This was side-achingly funny, more often than not, for all of its silliness and "unsophistication."
- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsBob DenverAlan Hale Jr.Jim BackusFour men and three women are stranded on an uncharted island following a torrential storm.Man, when wasn't this on in syndication? I still get a kick out of it, dumb as it is.
- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisThe misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry.This was still in prime time, when I was a kid. I remember the cliffhanger, when they were in Hawaii, when Greg disappeared from his surfboard. It quickly turned up on afternoon tv.
- CreatorBernard SladeStarsShirley JonesDavid CassidySusan DeyThe humorous adventures of a family of pop musicians.Also on primetime when I was young and followed the Brady Bunch to the afternoon block.
- CreatorSidney SheldonStarsBarbara EdenLarry HagmanBill DailyA United States astronaut finds his life vastly complicated when he stumbles on to a bottle containing a female genie.We were fans of the space program, so this was a big hit in our household.
- CreatorBruce GellerStarsPeter GravesBarbara BainGreg MorrisAn elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.I remember this being on on the weekends, but it also turned up for a run in the afternoon. I had known Peter Graves first, so I was confused when they showed the first season.
- CreatorDon FeddersonEdmund L. HartmannStarsBrian KeithKathy GarverAnissa JonesBill's comfortable lifestyle must change when he receives a group of unexpected long-term guests.Another that was still in primetime first, then afternoons. It was so cute you could just puke.
- CreatorSol SaksStarsElizabeth MontgomeryDick YorkDick SargentA witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.Loved this show, especially if Paul Lynde or Bernard Fox were in the episode.
- StarsGeorge ReevesNoel NeillJack LarsonThe Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the "Daily Planet."We didn't get this one until after the Christopher Reeve movie. I enjoyed it, but wanted to see Luthor or Brainiac.
- CreatorLorenzo Semple Jr.William DozierStarsAdam WestBurt WardAlan NapierFollows the adventures of wealthy entrepreneur Bruce Wayne, also known as the Caped Crusade Batman and his young ward Dick Grayson also known as Batman's sidekick Robin the boy wonder as they battle evildoers in Gotham City.This was purely an adventure show when I was young. It turned into a comedy when I was a teenager. Wonder how that happened?
- CreatorDavid DortortFred HamiltonStarsLorne GreeneMichael LandonDan BlockerThe Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.Another after the news. Hoss was my favorite, followed by Adam. Little Joe was too obnoxious. Loved the episodes that featured flashbacks of the boys' mothers. Never marry Ben Cartwright; it's the kiss of death!
- CreatorGuy FraumeniStarsLance KerwinSamaria GrahamMara HobelA teen drama anthology that often touched on social issues of the day.How can you forget these movies and specials? They ran the gamut from adventure to preachy morality tales. Timer, the little cartoon guy, debuted here, taking us on a tour of the inner workings of the human body.
- CreatorCharles Marquis WarrenClyde WareStarsJames ArnessMilburn StoneAmanda BlakeMarshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough-and-tumble Dodge City.Another after the news. This show was on forever! Festus was my hero.
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyIn the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.This was picked up locally late in the game, around the time of the movie. I had only seen bits and pieces when visiting my grandparents, but I loved this show. The original is still the most exciting, if you ask me.