top of page

Popular Television Shows

Many who grew up in Athens in the 1950s saw television for the first time through a window in Parker Brothers Store. Curiosity and interest was accelerated when WDBJ-TV, Channel 7 in Roanoke Virginia, signed on the air in 1955. With a strong signal in Athens, Fred and Frank Parker tuned a set they had for sale to the station for passersby to see in the evening. It was quite the attraction! Many of the first sets in Athens were sold by the Parkers and E. H. Jennings. Blaine Jennings started repairing sets and made home visits with his tube tester and various replacement parts.

Position
Title
Network
1
The Beverly Hillbillies
CBS
1
Wagon Train
NBC
1
The Andy Griffith Show
CBS
1
The $64,000 Question
CBS
1
Gunsmoke
CBS
1
Bonanza
NBC
1
The Beverly Hillbillies
CBS
2
Gunsmoke
CBS
2
The Jackie Gleason Show
CBS
2
The Texaco Star Theater
NBC
2
The Danny Thomas Show
CBS
2
The Ed Sullivan Show
CBS
bottom of page