1953–54 United States network television schedule (weekday)

These are the daytime Monday–Friday schedules on all three networks for each calendar season beginning September 1953. All times are Eastern and Pacific.

Talk shows are highlighted in yellow, local programming is white, reruns of prime-time programming are orange, game shows are pink, soap operas are chartreuse, news programs are gold and all others are light blue. New series are highlighted in bold.

Fall 1953

  7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am noon 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:30 pm 4:00 pm 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm
ABC local programming The Jerry Lester Show Turn to a Friend The Ern Westmore Show local programming
CBS local programming Arthur Godfrey Time (Mon-Thu) /

10:00 Wheel of Fortune 11:00 I'll Buy That (F)

Strike It Rich 12:00 Valiant Lady

12:15 Love of Life

12:30 Search for Tomorrow

12:45 The Guiding Light

Journey Through Life The Garry Moore Show Double or Nothing (Mon/Wed/Fri) / I'll Buy That (Tue/Thu) Art Linkletter's House Party The Big Payoff Bob Crosby Show Action in the Afternoon The U.N. In Action local programming
NBC The Today Show local programming Ding Dong School Glamour Girl 11:00 am: Hawkins Falls
11:15 am: The Bennetts
11:30 am: Three Steps to Heaven
11:45 am: Follow Your Heart
local programming The Kate Smith Hour Welcome Travelers On Your Account 5:00 pm: Atom Squad 5:15 pm: The Gabby Hayes Show Howdy Doody

Winter 1953/1954

  7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am noon 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:30 pm 4:00 pm 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm
ABC local programming Don McNeill's Breakfast Club (since 2/22) local programming The Jerry Lester Show local programming
CBS local programming Arthur Godfrey Time (Mon-Thu) /

10:00 The Jack Paar Show 11:00 I'll Buy That (F)

Strike It Rich 12:00 Valiant Lady

12:15 Love of Life

12:30 Search for Tomorrow

12:45 The Guiding Light

1:00 The Brighter Day

1:15 Journey Through Life

The Garry Moore Show (Tue/Thu, 1:30-2:30) Double or Nothing (Mon/Wed/Fri) Art Linkletter's House Party The Big Payoff Bob Crosby Show 4:00 Woman with a Past

4:15 The Secret Storm

Robert Q. Lewis Show 5:00 Barker Bill's Cartoon Show (Wed/Fri)

5:15 local programming

local programming
NBC The Today Show local programming Ding Dong School Breakfast in Hollywood Club 60 local programming The Kate Smith Hour Welcome Travelers On Your Account Pinky Lee Show Howdy Doody

Spring 1954

  7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am noon 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:30 pm 4:00 pm 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm
ABC local programming Don McNeill's Breakfast Club (since 2/22) local programming The Jerry Lester Show (until 5/14) local programming
CBS The Morning Show local programming Arthur Godfrey Time (M-Th) / 10:00 The Jack Paar Show (F)

11:00 I'll Buy That (F)

Strike It Rich 12:00 Valiant Lady

12:15 Love of Life

12:30 Search for Tomorrow

12:45 The Guiding Light

1:00 The Brighter Day

1:15 Portia Faces Life

The Garry Moore Show (Tue/Thu, 1:30-2:30) Double or Nothing (Mon/Wed/Fri) Art Linkletter's House Party The Big Payoff Bob Crosby Show 4:00 Woman with a Past

4:15 The Secret Storm

Robert Q. Lewis Show 5:00 Barker Bill's Cartoon Show (Wed/Fri)

5:15 local programming

local programming
NBC The Today Show local programming Ding Dong School 10:30 am: One Man's Family 10:45 am: Three Steps to Heaven Club 60 local programming The Kate Smith Hour Welcome Travelers On Your Account Pinky Lee Show Howdy Doody

Summer 1954

  7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am noon 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:30 pm 4:00 pm 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm
ABC local programming Don McNeill's Breakfast Club local programming
CBS The Morning Show local programming The Garry Moore Show (M-Th, to 11:30 F) Arthur Godfrey Time (M-Th) / The Garry Moore Show (F) Strike It Rich 12:00 Valiant Lady

12:15 Love of Life

12:30 Search for Tomorrow

12:45 The Guiding Light

1:00 Portia Faces Life

1:15 The Seeking Heart

Welcome Travelers Robert Q. Lewis Show Art Linkletter's House Party Big Payoff Bob Crosby Show 4:00 The Brighter Day

4:15 The Secret Storm

On Your Account 5:00 Barker Bill's Cartoon Show (Wed/Fri)

5:15 local programming

local programming
NBC The Today Show local programming Ding Dong School 10:30 am: A Time to Live 10:45 am: Three Steps to Heaven Club 60 local programming 3:00 pm: One Man's Family
3:15 pm: Golden Windows
3:30 pm: First Love
4:00 pm: Hawkins Falls
4:15 pm: local programming
local programming Pinky Lee Show Howdy Doody

References