1955 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1954 in television, other events of 1955, 1956 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• April 1 - The DuMont Television network drastically cuts back its programming.
• June 29 - Life With The Lyons, the first successful British sitcom (though starring the American, Ben Lyon), debuts on BBC Television.
• September 22 - Commercial television starts in the UK (London area) - Associated-Rediffusion on weekdays, Associated Television Network Limited (ATV) at weekends.
• September 28 - The First World Series game broadcast in color.
• December 10 - The first Saturday morning cartoon show debuts on American television, The Mighty Mouse Playhouse.
• Harpo Marx makes a memorable appearance on I Love Lucy.
• The "Quiz Show" craze begins with the premiere of The $64,000 Question. The show spawns many copycats, including Twenty-One, which would later be the focus of a scandal that would lead to congressional hearings.

Debuts

• July 9 - Dixon of Dock Green debuts on BBC Television (1955-1976)
• July 29 - This Is Your Life debuts on BBC Television (1955-2003)
• October 2 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents debuts (1955-1962)
• Captain Kangaroo debuts (1955-1984)
• Gunsmoke debuts (1955-1975)
• Mickey Mouse Club debuts, featuring "Mouseketeer" Annette Funicello. (1955-1959)
• Quatermass II, sequel to 1953's The Quatermass Experiment
• The Honeymooners premieres, starring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney and Audrey Meadows (1955-1956)
• The Lawrence Welk Show debuts (1955-1982)

Popular Television Shows

• Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960)
• Howdy Doody (1947-1960)
• Kraft Television Theater (1947-1958)
• Meet the Press (1947-present)
• Candid Camera (1948-present)
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
• 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 (1951-1957)
• Love of Life (1951-1980)
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986)
• The Ray Rodgers Show (1951-1957)
• American Bandstand (1952-1989)
• The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966)
• The Guiding Light (1952-present)
• The Honeymooners (1952-1970)
• The Today Show (1952-present)
• This Is Your Life (US) (1952-1961)
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present)
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983)
• 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)

Ending this year

• The Goldbergs (1949-1955)
• My Little Margie (1952-1955)

Births

• January 4 - Sally Tayler, actress
• January 5 - Susan Wooldridge,actress
• January 12 - Kirstie Alley, actress
• May 15 - Melinda Culea, actress
• June 28 - Shirley Cheriton, actress
• August 14 - Gillian Taylforth, actress