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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 If you're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site.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.
Me at my home studio in August of 2025.
Doug Quick
Radio/TV Broadcaster/Historian, Author, Webmaster
complete bio available here.
It's the Return of the TV Time Capsule!
Go back in time during the month and revisit and watch what people watched across Mid-Illinois on Television.
This month, October 2025, I take you back 60 years to 1965!!
Featured Videos
It's another mix of videos from different eras and genres. Now through October 18th, enjoy some classic TV from 1952, another Fall TV Preview video from 1967 on CBS, and an episode of the popular dating show "The Dating Game" from 1967.
Then we examine a few of the late-night talk show hosts. The news of the last few weeks has brought the nighttime talk show genre to the forefront of viewers' attention. The ratings have increased for those threatened hosts and productions, indicating that people value their right to free speech and that no one should take it for granted.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Burns and Allen (1952) CBS
It's always fun to watch some of these classic videos from the very early days of television. This episode of "Burns and Allen" aired on February 28, 1952. Not only did it air before local television even made its first appearance across Mid-Illinois, but it was also well before I was born, over two years later.
For those unfamiliar with George Burns and Gracie Allen, I'll provide an overview of their comedic style. They were vaudeville performers (traveling performers who made appearances on a circuit often visited by other performers, well before TV and even before talking movies.
In the early 1930s, they would receive national prominence by performing on the radio. From there, they moved on to movies (one of my favorites is "International House," which also starred W.C. Fields, Jack Oakie, Cab Calloway (who would co-star on "The Blues Brothers" movie), and even Rose Marie, who later appeared on TV's "The Dick Van Dyke Show"). Their CBS radio show would continue well into the 1930s. In that radio sitcom, Gracie would play George's ditsy but lovable wife. She would make a comedy career out of taking everything others said literally and changing the subject to some trivial story about her family and so on.
So now you know. Enjoy this episode of "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" as broadcast on February 28, 1952, on CBS Television.
George and Gracie, breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience after the "Burns and Allen" episode above.'
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
CBS Fall Preview (1967) CBS
For this group of Featured Videos at the Museum, now through October 18th, I've included a couple of videos from 1967.
The first one was a holdover from the previous "Featured Videos" here on Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. It is a CBS Fall Premiere special from about this time in 1967. The Fall Programming slogan was "Get into the Winner's Circle on CBS!"
Some of the shows included in this promotional feature include "Gentle Ben" with Dennis Weaver and Ron Howard's younger brother Clint, and of course, "Gentle Ben," a large (but gentle) grizzly bear. Other shows included "The Carol Burnett Show," "Good Morning World" (a show about two morning DJs, unlike Howard Stern), "He and She" with Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, as well as Jack Cassidy (David's father) and Hamilton Camp. Westerns were still being produced that year, with two notable examples being "Dundee and the Culhane" and "Cimarron Strip." One detective show still seen today on late-night MeTV is "Mannix" with Michael Connors.
This promo and shows would have been seen across the region on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
Just a few of the shows that are mentioned for the new TV season of 1967-68 on CBS.
(file pictures Doug Quick Collection)
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.
The Dating Game (1967) ABC
It's hard to believe this show got the audience it did, but it did! "The Dating Game" was produced by Chuck Barris ("The Gong Show") and hosted by local L.A. DJ Jim Lange.
This episode also includes appearances by Jo Ann Worley from "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" and Kurt Kazner, who starred in "Land of the Giants" (the show's host misidentified the name of the show). The son made another guest appearance of comedian and former Rat-Pack member Joey Bishop, Larry Bishop. Son-of-a-gun. (The phrase often used by Joey Bishop).
Chuck Barris, the producer of "The Dating Game" and its sister show, "The Newlywed Game." This picture has Chuck as the host of his show "The Gong Show," also created by Barris.
(YouTube screen grab)
This installment of "The Dating Game," from October 27, 1967, is a complete recording of the show, including commercials. The only thing that shortchanges the viewer is that it is likely one of the last black-and-white kinescopes of a network prime-time show. and was never intended to be broadcast, but instead served as proof of performance for the sponsors (to demonstrate that the commercials aired as scheduled).
The show did air in color, from a videotape of the production. It was recorded (by the production slate at the beginning of the film) on October 27, 1967, and aired on November 4, 1967. In my opinion, that's a tight turnaround for a network show.
"The Dating Game" aired on ABC network affiliates, including those locally on WAND, WIRL, and KTVI.
At left are Jo Ann Worley and Kurt Kazner, both contestants on "The Dating Game" in 1967. Additionally, on the right, from 1967, Larry Bishop, the son of Joey Bishop, was a contestant.
(YouTube screen grabs)
Late Night Talkers
The late-night talk shows have been receiving much attention lately, as some have found the hosts' subject matter to be inappropriate for those in positions of power. An exceptionally sensitive person, protected by another's position at the FCC, even went so far as to threaten the networks with FCC action on their owned-and-operated stations. You can read more about it on my BLOG, which can be found by clicking here. It's also available on the top horizontal index links.
With all of that in mind, I chose to include several sample videos from some of the most noteworthy hosts of nighttime talk shows. That collection is below.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Joey Bishop Show (1968) ABC
"The Joey Bishop Show" was another attempt by ABC to compete with "The Tonight Show" with its own late-night talk show. After Les Crane's show was cancelled, ABC went with Joey Bishop, following the cancellation of his sitcom in 1967, where it stayed through December 1969.
This installment was broadcast on Friday, January 28, 1968, and featured guest host Regis Philbin, as well as guests Sammy Davis Jr. and Robert Wagner.
It aired on Mid-Illinois stations WAND, WIRL, and KTVI.
Regis Philbin and Joey Bishop on "The Joey Bishop Show."
From the YouTube video above by screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Dick Cavett Show (1970) ABC
Dick Cavett was always one of my favorites. He was smart, witty, and his featured one-guest shows were insightful. In this 1970 video, Dick Cavett features guest Mel Brooks. It's interesting to note that both host and guest are still with us.
"The Dick Cavett Show" aired during the late-night time slot from December 29, 1969, through January 1, 1975.
This show would have been seen locally on WAND, WIRL, and KTVI.
Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett on "The Dick Cavett Show" in 1970.
From the YouTube video above by screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1976) NBC
What do I have to explain about "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" that you might not know? Johnny followed successful runs by Steve Allen and Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show" and its various title incarnations and hosted the show from 1962 through 1992.
On this installment, his guests are frequent fill-in host (before his own ABC show), Joey Bishop, and up-and-coming comedian Freddie Prinze. Bishop was slated to be a guest star on an episode of Prinze's series, "Chico and the Man" on NBC.
This appearance of both stars was a "plug" for the sitcom, which would suffer the loss of Freddie Prinze some time later.
This NBC late-night edition would have been seen on WICS, WICD, WEEK-TV, WTWO-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
Joey Biship and Freddie Prinze guests of Johnny Carslon on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."
From the YouTube video above by screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1981) NBC
One popular feature of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" was the use of guest stars in sketches, which also included Carson.
This 1981 appearance of Betty White was a classic. Yes, it was somewhat silly, but it was amusing. Betty starred as Jane, and Johnny as Tarzan, as they would be expected to act after being married for many years.
This show would have aired over Mid-Illinois on NBC affiliates WICS, WICD, WEEK-TV, WTWO, WGEM-TV, and KSDK.
Betty White was a frequent guest on "The Johnny Carson Show Starring Johnny Carson."
(From the YouTube video above by screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) NBC
This video was the first installment of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" after Carson had left the nighttime talker. As a promotional gimmick, it was also broadcast live, giving more spontaneity to the show.
This version of Leno was much different as his stint continued. He was nervous, as anyone would be in his situation, when he appeared on his show. If you've ever watched the HBO movie "The Late Shift," which tells the story of the battle between NBC, CBS, David Letterman, and Jay Leno, you'll find out what was happening behind the curtain.
The video above aired on May 25, 1992, and was seen on NBC affiliates, including those locally on WICS, WICD, WEEK-TV, WTWO-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSDK.
I worked with Jay Leno in 1995 at WICD, where we produced a series of late-night news promos that preceded "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on NBC.
(Pictures from the Doug Quick Collection)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993) CBS
Here is an entire "Late Show with David Letterman" as broadcast on CBS affiliates on August 30, 1993. That was the first "Late Show" he hosted after spending several years with NBC in daytime and late-late night talk shows.
The first installment of his show featured guests Bill Murray and Billy Joel. You'll even see a cameo appearance of Tom Brokaw from Dave's previous network, NBC.
"The Late Show" aired on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOV.
Bill Murray on the first "Late Night with David Letterman" broadcast in 1993 on CBS.
From the YouTube video above by screen grab)
Recommended Reading:
"Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night" by Jason Zinoman, 2017
"The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno and the Network Battle for Late Night" by Bill Carter, 1994
Recommended Watching:
"The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno and the Battle Over The Tonight Show" HBO films
Classic Radio
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
WDWS, 1400AM, Champaign, IL (2021) Brian Barnharrt
This audio is an October 7, 2021, interview with Doug Quick conducted by Brian Barnhart, the voice of the University of Illinois Sports, on "Penny for your Thoughts" as broadcast on WDWS(93.9FM, 1400AM), Champaign, Illinois.
Brian Barnhart with Doug Quick at an earlier appearance with Brian on WDWS.
(Doug Quick Collection)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
WNNS, 98.7FM, Springfield, IL (1981)
WNNS-98.7FM, an aircheck from the early days of the AC-formatted automated station from sometime in 1981. The syndicator is unknown to me. If I remember correctly, I visited the station at the invitation of the engineer, Glen Hopkins, who was also the contract engineer at WNNS. It was located in a closet (literally) and was operating on a small analog automation system from a small office in an office complex on Southwest Jefferson Street. I wish I had had a camera with me!
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Latest Updates to the Museum
2025-0920 Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum has renewed the suscription to this website host for another three years!
2025-0925 The TV Today pages for Mid-Illinois and Peoria were updated to reflect recent ownership changes to WICS, WICD, WHOI. More updates coming.
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.
NEW BLOG
You might notice a new item on the top horizonal menu at the top of each page. It's a link to my new "BLOG" page on this site. "I Was Just Thinking" is it's name, and that's what I write about. I hope you'll pay it a visit before you leave this site!
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 The Weigel Broadcasting-owned digital multicast network MeTV is now on DISH satellite's channel lineup.
Users of DISH satellite service can access MeTV Network. It is only available, though, as a streaming channel (and possibly only on select packages). The good news is that it is available in high definition, which improves the look of many of the "filmed" programs in which the master 35mm films were digitally recorded and used in the playback of the shows. In fact, viewers now can 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 each market in mid-Illinois. 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.
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.
Danny Kaye Show (1964) Hillbilly Sketch
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964) CBS The Beach Boys
Donna Reed Show (1965) ABC "The Tree"
Classic Radio
See It Now (1954) CBS Edward R. Murrow
See It Now (1954) CBS Reply to Sen Joseph McCarthy
McCarthy (2020) PBS "Have You No Decency?"
Ben Casey (1962) ABC "A Story to be Softly Told"
Fridays (1981) ABC Guest: Andy Kaufman
Fridays (1981) ABC segment with Andy Kaufman Apology
Fridays (1981) ABC Guest: Andy Kaufman with Kathie Sullivan
Classic Radio
Tube Trip (1971) KSHE (FM)/KDNL, TV-30
______________________________________
Sunday nights Nov 1959-Jan 1960
Sunday Showcase (1959) NBC Jimmy Durante
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1960) NBC
The Loretta Young Show (1960) NBC
______________________________________
Here Comes the Brides-Open (1968) ABC Co-Star Bobby Sherman
Bobby Sherman Special (1971) ABC
Bosom Buddies/Mama's Family Intros (1984) ABC/NBC
Classic Radio
Night Time America (1982) WDNL Danville, IL
TM Stereo Rock (1975) WHBF-FM Quad Cities
The Dating Game (1967) ABC Host: Jim Lange
Love American Style (1969) ABC Ted Bessell, John Beck
The Gong Show (1977) NBC Host: Chuck Barris
Vegas (1978) ABC Robert Urich
Classic Radio
WDNL(FM) (1991) Aircheck with Doug Quick
Saturday Morning TV (1978) NBC
WKRP in Cincinnati (1981) CBS "Daydreams"
Classic Radio
WLS AM/FM (1985) Fred Winston
I Dream of Jeannie (1965) NBC Pilot Show
Dusty's Trail (1973) Syndicated
Pryor's Place (1984) CBS Episode 1
T.J. Hooker (1985) ABC William Shatner
Classic Radio
WDNL(FM) (1981) Danville, IL
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)
Next Regular Update Sunday Morning October 19
Starting Sunday morning, I will present to you a collection of chilling, horrifying, shocking and just plain spooky videos from TV shows from the past!
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
This video takes an original Taylorville Tour from 1988, and recreates it with one from 2025, showing both at the same time. It's a time comparison you won't believe! Click on the image to watch on YouTube.
This video was made the same day as the one above on September 30, 2025. It's includes much more from in and around Taylorville. It's one hour in length, and I narrate the entire video. Click on the image to watch on YouTube.