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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
19
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
NBC
19
Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
NBC
19
The Gary Moore Show (tie)
CBS
20
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
NBC
20
Philco Television Playhouse
NBC
20
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
CBS
20
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
CBS
20
Tuesday Night at the Movies
NBC
20
Kraft Television Theatre
NBC
20
Gunsmoke
CBS
20
Strike It Rich
CBS
20
Dragnet
NBC
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