1955 in television

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The year 1955 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events during 1955.

Events

March 5: Elvis on TV (1957 movie photograph).

• March 5 – Elvis Presley appears on television for the first time. The program was Louisiana Hayride, televised locally in Shreveport, Louisiana.
• April 1 – The DuMont Television Network drastically decreases its programming; just eight series keep the network operating.
• May 9 – Harpo Marx makes a memorable appearance on I Love Lucy. Sam and Friends broadcasts their first television episode.
• June 7 – The quiz show craze begins with the premiere of The 64,000 Dollar Question. The series spawns many imitations, including Twenty One the next year, which would later be the focus of a scandal that would result in congressional hearings.
• September 22 – Commercial television starts in the UK, with the initiation of ITV in London – Associated-Rediffusion on weekdays, Associated Television Network (ATV) during weekends. The rest of the UK receive their ITV regions during the next seven years.
• September 28 – The World Series is broadcast in color for the first time.
• December 10 – The first Saturday morning cartoon series debuts on American television, The Mighty Mouse Playhouse on CBS.
• December 24 – The Lennon Sisters make their television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show.
• December 25 – After being broadcast by radio since 1932, the Royal Christmas Message is broadcast on British television for the first time, in sound only at 3.00pm. The first visual Christmas message is shown in 1957.

Debuts

• January 2 - The Bob Cummings Show premieres on NBC (1955–1959).
• January 15 – The Benny Hill Show (UK) premieres on BBC Television, later moving to ITV (1955–1989). Its global audience will be counted in the billions.
• January 22 – Ozark Jubilee, the first popular country music series on American network television, premieres on ABC (1955–1960), featuring Red Foley
• June 28 – Talent Varieties airs on ABC through November 1.
• June 29 – Life With The Lyons (UK), one of the first successful British sitcoms (though starring an American, Ben Lyon), premieres on BBC Television (1955–1960).
• July 2 – The Lawrence Welk Show premieres on ABC (1955–1982).
• July 9 – Dixon of Dock Green (UK) premieres on BBC Television (1955–1976).
• July 20 – Frankie Laine Time premieres on CBS (1955–1956).
• July 29 – This Is Your Life (UK) premieres on BBC Television (1955–2003).
• September 10 – Gunsmoke premieres on CBS (1955–1975).
• September 10 - It's Always Jan, starring Janis Paige, premieres on CBS, prior to Gunsmoke on Saturday evenings (1955–1956).
• September 12 - Medical Horizons premiers on ABC (1955–1956).
• September 20 – Cheyenne premieres on ABC (1955–1962).
• September 26 – Jungle Jim premieres in syndication (1955–1956)
• September 28- Brave Eagle premiers on CBS. (1955–1956)
• October 1 – The Honeymooners premieres on CBS, featuring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney and Audrey Meadows (1955–1956).
• October 2 – Alfred Hitchcock Presents premieres on CBS (1955–1962).
• October 3 – Captain Kangaroo premieres on CBS (1955–1984).
• October 3 – Mickey Mouse Club premieres on ABC, featuring "Mouseketeer" Annette Funicello (1955–1959).
• October 20 - Wanted, a crime documentary hosted by Walter McGraw, premieres on CBS but is broadcast only for three months (1955–1956).
• October 22 – Quatermass II (UK), sequel to 1953's The Quatermass Experiment, premieres on BBC Television. It ends on November 26.

Television shows

listed by starting year

• Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946–1960).
• Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947–1957).
• Howdy Doody (1947–1960).
• Kraft Television Theater (1947–1958).
• Meet the Press (1947–present).
• Candid Camera (1948–present).
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971).
• Bozo the Clown (1949–present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995).
• The Goldbergs (1949–1956).
• The Voice of Firestone (1949–1963).
• Cisco Kid (1950–1956).
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950–1958).
• The Jack Benny Show (1950–1965).
• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988).
• What's My Line (1950–1967).
• Your Hit Parade (1950–1959).
• Dragnet (1951–1959).
• I Love Lucy (1951–1960).
• Love of Life (1951–1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986).
• The Roy Rogers Show (1951–1957).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
• American Bandstand (1952–1989).
• The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952–1966).
• Adventures of Superman (1952–1958)
• Death Valley Days (1952–1975)
• The Guiding Light (1952–present)
• Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
• Life is Worth Living (1952–1957).
• The Today Show (1952–present).
• This Is Your Life (US) (1952–1961).
• General Motors Theatre (Can) (1953–1956, 1958–1961)
• Panorama (UK) (1953–present).
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953–1983).
• Annie Oakley (1954–1957).
• The Jimmy Durante Show (1954–1956).
• Climax! (1954–1958).
• Disneyland (1954–1958).
• Face the Nation (1954–present).
• The Brighter Day (1954–1962).
• The Grove Family (UK) (1954–1957).
• The Milton Berle Show (1954–1967).
• The Secret Storm (1954–1974).
• The Tonight Show (1954–present).
• Zoo Quest (UK) (1954–1964).
• Musical Chairs (1955) – game show hosted by Bill Leyden
• Talent Varieties (1955) – country music variety show
• Mama's Little Babies-with Ruth DeVoure (1955–56).
• Aubrey and Gus (1955–1956).
• Beau temps, mauvais temps (1955–1958).
• Bim Bam Boom (1955–1956).
• Cap-aux-sorciers (1955–1958).
• Country Canada (1955–2007).
• Cross-Canada Hit Parade (1955–1960).
• Junior Magazine (1955–1962).
• Maggie Muggins (1955–1962).
• Maman Fonfon (1955–1962).
• Sailor of Fortune (1955–1956).

Ending this year

• January 27 - So You Want to Lead a Band (1954–1955)
• March 11 - Stories of the Century (1954-1955)
• April 22 - The Ray Bolger Show (1953–1955)
• June 4 - The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan (1954–1955)
• June 16 - Willy (1954–1955)
• June 23 - The Public Defender (1954–1955)
• June 2 - The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953–1955)
• July 1 – Hawkins Falls (1950, 1951–1955)
• July 15 - Flash Gordon (1954–1955)
• August 24 – My Little Margie (1952–1955)
• September 1 – Life with Elizabeth (1952–1955)
• September 17 – Musical Chairs (begun July 9, 1955)
• Muffin the Mule (UK) (1946–1955)
• That's My Boy (1954–1955)
• The Imogene Coca Show (1954–1955)
• The Jo Stafford Show (1954–1955)
• Place the Face (1953–1955)
• Who Said That? (1948–1955)

Births

• January 6 – Rowan Atkinson, English comedian and actor.
• January 9 - J. K. Simmons, actor
• February 7 - Miguel Ferrer, actor
• February 12 – Arsenio Hall, actor, comedian, talk-show host.
• February 15 - Christopher McDonald, actor
• February 21 – Kelsey Grammer, actor and comedian (Cheers, Frasier)
• March 17 - Gary Sinise, actor, producer, director.
• March 29 - Marina Sirtis, English actress (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
• April 29 - Kate Mulgrew, actress (Star Trek: Voyager)
• May 25 - Connie Sellecca, actress.
• June 2 - Dana Carvey, actor and comedian.
• June 8 - Griffin Dunne, actor and director.
• June 9 - Jimmy Smits, actor.
• June 10 - Andrew Stevens, actor, producer, director.
• June 16 – Laurie Metcalf, actress.
• June 21 - Leigh McCloskey, actor (Dallas)
• June 30 – David Alan Grier, actor and comedian.
• August 7 – Wayne Knight, actor and comedian.
• August 14 – Gillian Taylforth, English actress.
• August 27 - Diana Scarwid, actress.
• October 15 - Tanya Roberts, actress (Charlie's Angels)
• November 13 – Whoopi Goldberg, actress, comedienne, talk-show host.
• December 3 – Melody Anderson, Canadian actress.
• December 3 – Steven Culp, actor (Desperate Housewives)