Image: 'Elvis Presley - Complete Louisiana Hayride performance (March 5, 1955)'
(Saturday, March 5, 1955, 8:00 p.m. local time) — Singer Elvis Presley made his television debut tonight on the regional show Louisiana Hayride carried by KSLA-TV Shreveport (although audio recordings exist, there is no known video footage of this appearance).
Video: 'Patterns (1955)'
(Wednesday, January 12, 1955, 9:00-10:00 p.m. EST) — Patterns, an original play by Rod Serling about corporate politics and big business power games, was presented live tonight on NBC as part of the anthology series Kraft Television Theatre.
Directed by Fielder Cook, the intense big-business drama starred Richard Kiley, Everett Sloane and Ed Begley.
Video: 'Sen. Joseph McCarthy on Face the Nation'
(Sunday, November 7, 1954, 2:30 p.m. EST) — The CBS News program Face the Nation premiered today with Ted Koop as host. The guest was Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy.
Video: 'The Disneyland Story' (6 videos)
(Wednesday, October 27, 1954, 7:30 p.m. EST) — Disneyland, an anthology television series which would air under different titles for several decades, including The Wonderful World of Disney, debuted tonight on ABC.
Video: 'Casino Royale James Bond 1954'
(Thursday, October 21, 1954, 8:30-9:30 p.m. EST) — Casino Royale, a television adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming and the first onscreen appearance of the character of James Bond (played by Barry Nelson), was broadcast tonight live on the CBS dramatic anthology series Climax!.
Nelson’s character is played as an American agent with “Combined Intelligence” and is referred to as “Jimmy” by several characters.
Video: 'Father Knows Best: Bud Takes Up The Dance' (aired Oct. 3, 1954)
(Sunday, October 3, 1954, 10:00 p.m. EST) — Father Knows Best, a television comedy series which portrayed a middle class family life in the Midwest, debuted tonight on CBS.
It starred Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue and Billy Gray.
Video: 'Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz - Toast of the Town October 3, 1954'
(Sunday, October 3, 1954, 8 p.m. EST) — Tonight’s 60-minute The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS-TV was dedicated to Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, the lead actors on the hit sitcom I Love Lucy, including a celebrity testimonial luncheon.
Video: 'The Jimmy Durante Show from 1955 (video)'
(Saturday, October 2, 1954, 9:30 p.m. EST) — The Jimmy Durante Show, a live comedy/variety television series, debuted tonight on NBC.
It starred Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford and Eddie Jackson.
Video: 'General Electric Theater - Winner By Decision' (Nov. 6, 1955)
(Sunday, September 26, 1954, 9:00 p.m. EDT) — Actor Ronald Reagan debuted tonight as the only host of the CBS television series General Electric Theater. GE added a host to provide continuity in the anthology format.
Video: 'Studio One: Twelve Angry Men'
(Monday, September 20, 1954, 10:00 p.m. EDT) — Twelve Angry Men, a teleplay about a jury that must reach a verdict concerning a teenage boy accused of murder, was presented live tonight on CBS-TV as part of the anthology series Studio One.
