wcia 3 champaign, wicd 15 champaign, wand 17 decatur, wics 20 Springfield, week 25 peoria, whoi 19 peoria, wmbd 31 peoria, wyyz 43 Bloomington, wbln, wtvh, wirl, wrau, wtvp, wdan, classic tv, central Illinois tv, radio, automation, Jimmy Kimmel, Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Television News
Welcome to Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. This website documents in detail the history of each of the viewable TV stations, past and present, across mid-Illinois in text, photos, and videos, as well as each station's current status. This site also includes local radio history and automated analog formats, again told in pictures, videos, and text.
Note that this website displays best on a full-size monitor, desktop, or laptop computer. If you're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site. You can zoom in on the page if needed. Also, you may have to sign in to YouTube to view some videos. Some browsers do not allow some embedded videos to play, so click on the "YouTube" logo on the video to view it from YouTube.
Here I am at my home studio, where this website is produced. This was taken in October 2025.
Doug Quick
Radio/TV Broadcaster/Historian, Author, Webmaster
complete bio available here.
Visit the TV Time Capsule!
We get into the Christmas Holiday Season with an excellent collection of Christmas-themed specials and regular series episodes from past Christmas seasons. Just click on the site on the left.
Featured Videos
We're getting close to the Christmas Holiday with another selection of Christmas-themed TV show episodes and specials.
Now through Christmas night, here at Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum, you'll see a 45-year range of Christmas television shows from 1955 through 1999.
We'll begin with a classic "Jack Benny Program" from 1955, featuring Jack and the parents of "Murphy Brown" star Candice Bergen. Edgar and Francis Bergen, along with Edgar's ventriloquist dummy creations, Charlie McCarthy and Mortimore Snerd, come to life, baffling Jack, who visits the couple. It's followed by "Date With the Angels," a short-lived sitcom starring Betty White and Bill Williams as Vicky and Gus Angel. Also listen for the voice of long-time game show host Tom Kennedy as the show's announcer.
I present the Andy Williams Christmas Show from 1966, featuring his family, and his wife at the time, Claudine Longet, along with the Osmond Family singers.
The death of Rob Reiner has brought a mid-week change in the videos, as I present in his memory, a Christmas episode of "All in the Family" from 1971. In this episode, Archie deals with the idea that he is not receiving his Holiday bonus this year.
Another comedy variety show follows, one of my favorites, Dean Martin, with many guests that include Dom DeLuise, Rodney Dangerfield, Lynn Anderson, Glen Ford, Norm Crosby, and Nipsey Russell. That Christmas show was from 1972.
From the Mary Tyler Moore stable, I present "Phyllis", a sitcom in which Cloris Leachman ("Bad Santa" star), faces the reality that her daughter and others have different Holiday plans that don't include staying home with her.
"Mork and Mindy" follows from 1978, when Mork, played by Robin Williams, experiences his first Christmas. Then the century ends with a 1999 "Drew Carey Show with two stars from an early 1970s ABC sitcom. You won't want to miss this one!
The Classic Radio collection includes a series of "Jack Benny Programs" from CBS Radio. You'll hear the running gag that was used over many years, featuring Mel Blanc as a department-store clerk who battles Jack's indecisiveness as he purchases a Christmas gift for Don Wilson, his announcer.
I hope you have a terrific Holiday Season and continue to visit Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum and my YouTube Channel at Doug Quick On-Line. Be sure to "Like" my YouTube Videos there, and please subscribe to the channel. Everything you see here on this website and my YouTube Channel is free for you to visit. That's my gift to you this Holiday Season!
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Jack Benny Program (1955) CBS Christmas Show
This video of "The Jack Benny Program" starred Jack, as he visited Francis Bergen, who was going to guest star on his "TV show within a show." As he's working out the details with Mrs. Francis Bergen, two of Edgar's main ventriloquist dummies seemingly come to life and make appearances and engage in conversation without Edgar. Jack is shocked to see these "dummies" walk and talk even before the arrival of Mr. Edgar Bergen later in the sketch. It's quite funny to see Jack's reaction to the events.
By the way, Edgar and Francis Bergen were the parents of "Murphy Brown" star Candice Bergen.
This show aired on December 18, 1955, on CBS Television and was seen across mid-Illinois on WCIA, WTVH, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KWK-TV.
Jack is shocked to see Charlie McCarthy walk and talk with Francis Bergen without being controlled by ventriloquist Edgar Bergen.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Date With the Angels (1957) Betty White Christmas Episode
This short-lived domestic comedy starred Betty White and Bill Williams as Vicky and insurance man Gus Angel, a young couple who dealt with typical late-1950s sitcom issues. Guest stars include Nancy Kulp (Miss Jane on "The Beverly Hillbillies") and Richard Deacon ("The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Leave it to Beaver", and many others).
Other regular or occasional guests included Maudie Prickett, Gage Clark, Burt Mustin, and Jimmy Boyd (the original youthful singer of "I Saw Mommie Kissing Santa Claus" and future husband to Yvonne Craig).
Betty White is talking with Richard Deacon
during this episode of "A Date With the Angels."
(YouTube Screen Grab)
Listen for the show's announcer, Tom Kennedy, who was the game show host for "You Don't Say" back in the 1960s. The show was produced by Don Fedderson ("My Three Sons").
Plymouth, a now-discontinued car model from the Chrysler Corporation, sponsored the show. If you're a fan of classic cars, you'll recognize the '57 Plymouth Fury used in the title sequence and credits to the show.
This series aired from May 10, 1957 through January 29, 1958, and was seen on WTVP, WDAN-TV, and KTVI.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Andy Williams Christmas Show (1966) NBC
Andy Williams, along with his brothers, Don, Bob, and Dick, started as a quintet and sang on local Midwest radio stations like WLS, Chicago; WHO, Des Moines; and WLW, Cincinnati, from the late 1930s through the early 1940s. They even backed up Bing Crosby on several hit records of the 1940s, then later starred in several movie musicals of the post-war period.
During the late 1940s, after the eldest brother, Don, was drafted, the others appeared or were heard in MGM films such as "The Harvey Girls" (1946) and later "Good News" (1947).
Their career continued with appearances in Las Vegas in the 1950s and in various nightclubs. In the early 1950s, the group broke up. Still, Andy continued to appear on early TV variety shows through the late 1950s, while maintaining a recording career with several hit singles, including one number-one hit, "Butterfly" in 1957. He followed that with hits that included "Hawaiian Wedding Song" and "Lonely Street."
He became a regular on several TV variety shows, including "The Steve Allen Show," "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show," and several others. By the early 1960s, he was starring in his own musical variety series, "The Andy Williams Show." That series aired for most of the years from 1958 through 1971, on ABC, CBS, and, in 1962, on NBC, where it ran the longest.
This video is from the 1966 Christmas show featuring members of his own family, along with his wife and the Osmond Brothers, whom he introduced to his viewers early during the NBC version of his show.
This is from the 1966 Christmas show with Andy's parents and his wife at the time, Caudine Longet
(YouTube screen grab)
"The Andy Williams Show" aired on NBC from September of 1962 through July of 1971 where it aired on the mid-Illinois NBC affiliates WICS, WCHU, WICD, WEEK, WGEM-TV, WTWO-TV and KSD-TV.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Dean Martin Show (1972) NBC Christmas Show
We're moving up to 1972 with this "Dean Martin Show-Christmas Show." In this show, which aired on December 21, 1972, in the coveted Thursday at 9 pm time slot. Be watching for regulars and semi-regular cast members Dom DeLuise, The Ding-A-Ling Sisters, Kay Medford, Nipsey Russell, and Rodney Dangerfield. The Guest star was actor Glen Ford.
This would have been seen over Mid-Illinois on WICS, WICD, WEEK-TV, WTWO-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
When was the last time you saw a TV star smoke a cigarette and sing at the same time? This may have been it, 1972 with the "Dean Martin Christmas Show."
(YouTube screen grab)
He didn't get any respect, but he was a regular on "The Dean Martin Show" as his career continued to grow during the 1970s. Rodney Dangerfield, who probably got his name from the "Jack Benny Program" on the radio. They often used that funny name for a little-known fictitious actor who would get a Christmas card from Jack.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Phyllis (1976) CBS Christmas episode
Mary Tyler Moore's neighbor in her self-titled classic sitcom from the 1970s was Phyllis Linstrom, played by Cloris Leachman. Her character was so hilarious that she was spun off into her own show, which began in 1975. "Phyllis" starred Ms. Leachman, along with a pretty terrific ensemble cast that included Lisa Garritsen as her daughter Bess, along with Richard Schall, Jane Rose, Henry Jones, and Judith Lowry.
This video above is from Christmas time 1976, when Phyllis finds out her daughter has plans elsewhere for the Holiday, and she's pressured into "towing the line" at work as the boss has a deadline to meet and is not allowing any Christmas staff celebrations.
For the life of me, I don't know why this series only lasted two seasons. It had a great cast, excellent writing, as the MTM productions all did, and it was a part of the CBS Sunday and Monday night schedule for most of its run, although the network did move it a couple of times.
"Phyllis" aired from September 8, 1975, through August 30, 1977, on CBS and was seen locally on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
Not only is Cloris Leachman in this Christmas episode, but she was also a significant part of the Christmas movie "Bad Santa."
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Mork and Mindi (1978) ABC Mork's First Christmas
"Mork and Mindy" was a spin-off from an episode of "Happy Days" in February 1978. In that show, an alien from the planet Ork attempted to kidnap Richie, played by Ron Howard. Robin Williams brought Mork to life with his outrageous portrayal of the alien.
So popular was that character that it was brought up to date and spun off as a late-1970s and early-80s character, transplanted to Colorado, where he met Mindy, who worked as a clerk in her father's music store.
It was an "alien out of water" story in which he was introduced to the many odd human behaviors and customs, which he tried to understand. After the storyline ended at the end of each episode, he would report everything he learned back to the leader of "Ork," a being named Orson.
"Mork and Mindy" aired on ABC from September 14, 1978, through June 10, 1982. During the run, ABC forced the show to make some really dumb changes, eliminating the supporting cast, turning it into a morality play, and moving it to a Sunday night time slot to bolster that night's ratings. The changes didn't work; many of the changes were reversed, but it got even sillier by the end of the series run and was cancelled after 4 seasons.
The sci-fi, comedy sitcom aired over Mid-Illinois on WAND, WRAU, WBAK, and KTVI.
"Mork and Mindy" stars, Pam Dawber and Robin Williams, during a scene from the Christmas-themed episode video above.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Drew Carey Show (1999) ABC Christmas Episode
"The Drew Carey Show" is one series that flew under my radar. I was aware of it, perhaps even seeing a few short segments, but overall it was one of many that escaped my view because I was working the late shift at WICD-TV, which didn't become an ABC affiliate until 2005.
This episode caught my attention simply because of its guest stars. By the way, in case you didn't know, Drew Carey played a character named Drew Carey. In it, Drew's parents meet his girlfriend, Celia, played by Shirley Jones ("The Partridge Family"). His parents are played by Marion Ross ("Happy Days") and Stanley Anderson. In this episode, his parents don't know that Drew is dating a much older woman (Shirley Jones). Meanwhile, Drew meets Celia's son, played by Shirley Jones' former "Partridge Family" cast member, Danny Bonaduce.
"The Drew Carey Show" aired on ABC from September 13, 1995, through September 8, 2004. During its run on the network, ABC moved the series 15 times over its nine years! How this series managed to maintain audience share over its run is beyond comprehension.
It aired over Mid-Illinois on WAND, WHOI, WBAK, and KDNL.
Danny Bonoduce and Shirley Jones as son/mother on this Christmas episode of "The Drew Carey Show."
(YouTube screen grab)
Classic Radio
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Jack Benny Program (1940s-50s) CBS Radio Christmas Shopping Episodes
"The Jack Benny Program" sure knew how to stretch out a gag! One of the longest-running gags in broadcast programming featured Jack Benny shopping for his cast members every Christmas. The question was what kind of cheap gift he would buy for his announcer, Don Wilson? Listen to this collection of shows from the CBS recordings from the late 1940s through the 50s.
Above was the cast of "The Jack Benny Program" from most of the second half of the 1940s. From left to right, there's "Rochester" Eddie Anderson, Dennis Day, band leader Phil Harris, Mary Livingston, Jack Benny, Don Wilson, and Mel Blanc.
(unknown source)
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Jack and the gang!
(unknown source)
The Weather for
East Central Illinois
will appear here soon.
Click on the NWS logo above to get the Lincoln, IL site and/or
click on the links below the logo for the latest weather story and current radar view of Mid-Illinois.
Support the National Weather Service! Contact your Congressional Representatives
Latest Updates to the Museum
Due to illness, I haven't been able to update as I would like. Expect more timely updates soon!
Over time, I've gotten several comments from mostly radio people about my "at home" radio station. I've done some re-formating over the last few months and now offer up a couple of samples. One being a one-hour aircheck, the other a 3-hour aircheck. These airchecks have most of the music edited out to avoid copyright issues. You can hear it by clicking the graphic above or going to the automated radio format page here.
PLease SUBSCRIBE to my
YouTube Channel
Click on the picture above of my Facebook Channel Home Page and click on the Subscribe button like the one below.
Much of the information on the history of TV pages on this site comes directly from my 2016 book "Pictures on the Prairie: The First Ten Years of Mid-Illinois Television." There are many more pictures on this site than in the book as space was limited.
Latest TV
Headlines
2025-0909 Updated on 2025-1028
The Weigel Broadcasting-owned digital multicast network MeTV is now on DISH Satellite's channel lineup, along with other popular Weigel Broadcasting networks!
Users of DISH satellite service can access MeTV Network, Cathy Comedy, WEST, and MeTV Toons. It is only available as a streaming channel (and on the 120+ package plans). The even better news is that they are available in high definition, which improves the look of many of the "filmed" programs, which were recorded from the master 35mm film and used for playback. In fact, viewers can now watch many of the vintage shows on the schedule with better video quality than they were initially seen on network TV!
"We are always pushing to make MeTV as accessible to as many viewers as possible. We are happy to partner with Dish on this carriage and pleased that millions of Sling TV customers will now be able to watch MeTV's memorable entertainment programming," said Neal Sabin, vice-chairman for Weigel Broadcasting.
MeTV continues to be seen on subchannels of stations in mid-Illinois markets. For most here in central and east central Illinois, it's available on WAND-TV's main channel and translators (Jacksonville, Effingham, and Danville) on subchannel 17.6 in standard definition. Unfortunately, the other channels are not available in the Mid-Illinois TV market. They are available in the Chicago and St. Louis markets, but not necessarily in HD.
Now Streaming Nationally
Click on the image above to listen to MeTVFM. It's the popular music companion to MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, America’s #1 all classic television network. Launched at 87.7FM in late February, 2015, MeTVFM features a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music.
Previously on Videos of the Week...
If you've missed any of the "Videos of the Week" or "Classic Radio" recordings, you'll find them here. Unfortunately, there's no written narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
Classic Radio
KXOK (1961) Complete Air Check
Chun King Chow Mein Hour (1962) ABC
Fractured Fairy Tales (1959-60) NBC Jay Ward Productions
The Jetsons (1962) ABC "A Date With Jet Screamer"
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (1962) ABC Pilot
McHale's Navy (1962) Pilot "An Ensign for McHale"
McHale's Navy Blooper Reel (1960s) ABC Universal Studios
Turn On (1969) Never Shown Episode 2
Turn On (1969) Never Shown Episode 3
Classic Radio
WLS 890AM Chicago (1987) Larry Lujack Part 1
WLS 890AM Chicago (1987) Larry Lujack
The Joey Bishop Show (1968) ABC
The Dick Cavett Show (1970) ABC
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1976) NBC
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1981) NBC
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) NBC
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993) CBS
CLASSIC RADIO
WDWS, 1400AM, Champaign, IL (2021) Brian Barnharrt
WNNS, 98.7FM, Springfield, IL (1981)
Bewitched (1964) Scene from the First Episode
Bewitched (1964) Opening Credits
The Munsters Unaired pilot in color
The Munsters (1964) First Broadcast Episode
Addams Family (1964) ABC First Episode
Alf (1988) NBC "Can I Get A Witness?"
The Invaders (1968) ABC Final Episode
The Outer Limits (1963) ABC Episode Synopsis
War of the Worlds (1938) CBS Radio
The Ed Sullivan Show-The Beatles (1964) CBS Feb 9, 1964
The Ed Sullivan Show-The Beatles (1964) CBS Feb 16, 1964
The Ed Sullivan Show-The Beatles (1964) CBS Feb 23, 1964
The Ed Sullivan Show-The Beatles (1964) CBS Sept 12, 1965
The Late Show with David Letterman (2009) CBS
Our Fair Beatles (1964) WISH-TV Indianapolis
Follow the Beatles (1964) British TV Documentary
A Hard Day's Night Intro (1968) NBC
A Hard Day's Night (1964) The Movie
The Music of Lennon and McCartney (1965) Granada TV
The Beatles Cartoon TV Series (1965-66) ABC Saturday
KXOK (1965) Johnny Rabbitt awards Beatles Tix
That Girl (1967) ABC "Thanksgiving Comes But Once a Year, Thankfully"
Lawrence Welk Show (1970) ABC Thanksgiving Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1979) NBC Thanksgiving Plans
Newhart (1986) CBS Thanksgiving Episode
The Smothers Brothers Show (1988) CBS Thanksgiving Show
Thanksgiving Day-NBC TV Movie (1990)
The Pink Panther (1993) Syndicated "Pilgrim Panther"
Dharma & Greg (1999) ABC Thanksgiving
Friends-Thanksgiving Scenes (1994-2004) NBC
Macy's 2024 Thanksgiving Day Parade
Classic Radio
The Jack Benny Program (1952) CBS Radio Thanksgiving Pilgrims
Next Regular Update December 26
Check out a selection of year end TV shows and other videos here beginning on the day after Christmas!
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
All in the Family (1971) CBS Christmas Day
This was added to the list of Christmas Series Episodes in Memory of Rob Reiner and his wife, who were killed in their home on Sunday, December 14.
In this episode, which aired on December 18, 1971, Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O'Connor, is not in the Holiday mood because he has not received his Christmas bonus. Jean Stapleton played Edith, his wife, with Sally Struthers playing his daughter, Gloria. Gloria was married to Michael Stivic, played by Rob Deiner.
Rob Reiner is the son of Carl Reiner, the creator of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," which has received a lot of attention in recent weeks because of the 100th birthday of its star, Dick Van Dyke. Rob Reiner also introduced Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Special "98 Years of Magic," which featured Van Dyke.
Along with "All in the Family," he also guest-starred on "The Partridge Family" and "The Super." Later in his career, Rob Reiner became a successful movie director of films such as "This is Spinal Tap" (1984), "Stand By Me" (1986), "The Princess Bride" (1987), "When Harry Met Sally" (1989), "Misery" (1989), "A Few Good Men," (1992), "The American President" (1995), "The Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996), "The Bucket List" (2007) and "Being Charlie" (2015-and written by his soon Nick). His latest film, "Spinal Tap II" (2025), premiered just a couple of months ago. While directing, he continued to act in many other films.
He was also a political activist and co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, and he chaired campaigns for the California Children and Families Initiative, California Pre-Schools, the Social Responsibility Task Force, and other initiatives. He campaigned for Democratic candidates for president and other offices at least since 2000.
Carroll O'Connor and Rob Reiner together from this episode of "All in the Family" above.
(YouTube screen grab)