Booming world of Color TV - 1962

[John Hafer]

The "...second major network" is of course ABC. They started colorcasting in September 1962 with the 'Flintstones' and the 'Jetsons', and if I am not mistaken, some of their 'Hollywood Special' movies on Sunday night.

For the fall of 1963, ABC added 'Wagaon Train' on Monday night and 'The Greatest Show on Earth' on Tuesday night. That summer, they also showed repeats of 'Empire' from NBC on Sunday nights. They then seemed to "back pedal" in 1964 as far as color shows broadcast, but jumped back in full swing, along with CBS in the fall of 1965.

My parents bought our first color TV in December of 1963 and I remember watching the ABC color shows back then. ABC never announced they were colorcasting any of these programs back then, (unlike NBC with the Peacock) probably because many affiliates were still showing them in B&W. It was not until the fall of 1965 ABC and CBS would announce the programs were in color.