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
17
Bonanza
NBC
17
Hogan's Heroes (tie)
CBS
18
The Beverly Hillbillies
CBS
18
Dragnet (tie)
NBC
18
Twenty-One
NBC
18
Cheyenne
ABC
18
The Flintstones
ABC
18
All-Star Revue (tie)
NBC
18
You Bet Your Life
NBC
18
The Defenders
CBS
18
The F.B.I.
ABC
18
Shower of Stars
CBS
bottom of page