Progressive Broadcasting System

American radio network (1950–1951)

Not to be confused with PBS.

PBS network logo.

The Progressive Broadcasting System (PBS) was an American commercial radio network of 1950-51. "Catering to smaller radio stations,"[1] the company had hoped to affiliate with around 1,000 radio stations in the United States which did not already have affiliation agreements with the top three national radio networks of the era: NBC, CBS, and ABC; or two smaller national networks: Mutual, and Liberty.

The Evening Review, a newspaper from East Liverpool, Ohio announced the company's formation on November 20th, 1950. Broadcasts began November 26, 1950.[2] Two hundred stations were needed for the network to break even. However, only "about 100 stations" joined, and the network folded at the end of its schedule on January 31, 1951.[3]

## Organization

[edit]

After "nearly two years of planning and organization", PBS had capitalization of $1,500,000 and was incorporated in California.[4]

Executives of the network included Miller McClintock, chairman and chief executive;[5] Larry Finley, president; Donald Withycomb, executive vice president; Edgar H. Twalmley, vice president in charge of the eastern division; Robert B. White, vice president in charge of the central division;[4] B.B. Robinson, vice president in charge of finance;[6] Kolin Hagar, eastern district manager;[7] and Nat Linden, chief of production.[8]

## Operation

[edit]

PBS planned to offer programming for 10 hours of the day on as many as 350 radio stations. At a press conference August 10, 1950, network President Larry Finley told reporters, "Advertising will be local, except for the night programs, and there will be no network option time."[9] The network's flagship station was KGFJ in Hollywood.[9]

### Programming

[edit]

Billing its offerings as "The world's greatest daytime network radio programming",[10] PBS made programming ("aimed primarily at the housewife"[4]) available to affiliates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.[11] Programs offered were much like those of other networks, "including an array of soap operas, quiz shows, children's features, variety shows and audience participation programs".[9]

Following is the program lineup with which PBS launched its operation.[9]

Program | Star | Length | Days

|
|
|

Grand Motel (soap opera) | Marc Lawrence | 15 minutes  | Monday - Friday
This Is Mine (soap opera) | Barbara Britton | 15 minutes
Betty Carr, Detective (soap opera) | Hope Emerson | 15 minutes
Cindy (soap opera) | Jeanne Cagney | 15 minutes
Taylored Lady (fashion news) | Estelle Taylor | 30 minutes
Mary Grove At Home (home economics) | Mary Grove | 15 minutes
My Secret Desire (audience participation) | Ann Dvorak | 30 minutes
Mel Tormé Time (music) | Mel Tormé | 30 minutes
Our Best to You | Tom Hanlon | 30 minutes
Hart of Hollywood (studio tours) | Maurice Hart | 30 minutes
Great American Quiz | Hal Sawyer | 30 minutes
Bar None Ranch | Cottonseed Clark | 30 minutes
Movietown News | Charlotte Rogers | 15 minutes
Uncle Remus (children's stories) | Jimmy Scribner | 15 minutes
World of Sports | Lou Nova | 15 minutes
Young Ideas | Harry Von Zell | 30 minutes  |     Saturday
The Old Skipper | Captain Hix | 15 minutes
Club Time | Bob McLaughlin | 3 hours
Mindy Carson Show | Mindy Carson | 15 minutes
Vic Damone Show | Vic Damone | 30 minutes
Hugh Said It | Hugh Herbert | 30 minutes  |       Sunday
Progressive Music | Stan Kenton | 30 minutes
Connie Haines Entertains | Connie Haines | 1 hour
Mel Torme Time (Sunday Version) | Mel Tormé | 1 hour
Frankie Laine Show | Frankie Laine | 2 hours
Page Pages You | Page Cavanaugh | 30 minutes

On December 15, 1950, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed "the existence of a state of national emergency".[11] Afterward, PBS officials sent a letter to approximately 60 agencies and departments of the federal government saying that "its program lines [would be] kept open until 11 p.m. and offering those evening hours to the government for any messages or programs which PBS can take to its member stations in support of defense and emergency activities."[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Network of Small Stations Planned". Janesville Daily Gazette. August 11, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "(WLIO ad)". The Evening Review. November 20, 1950. p. 21. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "New Radio Network Suspends Operations". The Plain Speaker. February 1, 1951. p. 14. Retrieved September 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ a b c "PBS Opening" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 9, 1950. p. 28. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
5. ^ "Personals . . " (PDF). Broadcasting. January 15, 1951. p. 71. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
6. ^ "Name Robinson" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 18, 1950. p. 78. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
7. ^ "Allied Arts" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 6, 1950. p. 71. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
8. ^ "Air-casters" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 11, 1950. p. 56. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
9. ^ a b c d Coville, Gary (November 2011). "Now You Hear It . . . . Now You Don't". Radiogram. 36 (9): 8–13.
10. ^ "PBS ad" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 9, 1950. p. 19. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
11. ^ a b c "PBS Defense Plan" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 28, 1950. p. 28. Retrieved September 6, 2015.

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Broadcast radio networks in the United States

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News|

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Public radio|

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Defunct or
moribund|

* ABC (original)
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