The year 1955 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1955.
[edit] Events - March 5 - Elvis Presley appears on television for the first time. The show was Louisiana Hayride, televised locally in Shreveport, Louisiana.
- April 1 - The DuMont Television Network drastically cuts back its programming; just eight series keep the network operating.
- May 9 - Harpo Marx makes a memorable appearance on I Love Lucy.
- June 7 - The quiz show craze begins with the premiere of The 64,000 Dollar Question. The show spawns many copycats, including Twenty One the following year, which would later be the focus of a scandal that would lead to congressional hearings.
- September 22 - Commercial television starts in the UK, with the launch of ITV in London - Associated-Rediffusion on weekdays, Associated Television Network (ATV) at weekends. The rest of the UK receive their ITV regions over the next seven years.
- September 28 - The World Series is broadcast in color for the first time.
- December 10 - The first Saturday morning cartoon show debuts on American television, The Mighty Mouse Playhouse on CBS.
- December 24 - The Lennon Sisters make their television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show
- December 25 - After being on radio since 1932, the Royal Christmas Message is broadcast on British television for the first time, in sound only at 3.00pm. The first visual Christmas message is shown in 1957.
[edit] Debuts - January 15 - The Benny Hill Show (UK) premieres on BBC Television, later moving to ITV (1955–1989). Its global audience figures will be counted in the billions.
- January 22 - Ozark Jubilee, the first popular country music show on American network television, premieres on ABC (1955-1960), starring Red Foley
- June 28 - Talent Varieties airs on ABC through November 1.
- June 29 - Life With The Lyons (UK), one of the first successful British sitcoms (though starring the American, Ben Lyon), premieres on BBC Television (1955–1960).
- July 2 - The Lawrence Welk Show premieres on ABC (1955–1982).
- July 9 - Dixon of Dock Green (UK) premieres on BBC Television (1955–1976).
- July 29 - This Is Your Life (UK) premieres on BBC Television (1955–2003).
- September 10 - Gunsmoke premieres on CBS (1955–1975).
- September 20 - Cheyenne premieres on ABC (1955–1962).
- September 26 - Jungle Jim premieres in syndication (1955–1956)
- September 28- Brave Eagle premiers on CBS. (1955-1956)
- October 1 - The Honeymooners premieres on CBS, starring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney and Audrey Meadows (1955–1956).
- October 2 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents premieres on CBS (1955–1962).
- October 3 - Captain Kangaroo premieres on CBS (1955–1984).
- October 3 - Mickey Mouse Club premieres on ABC, featuring "Mouseketeer" Annette Funicello (1955–1959).
- October 22 - Quatermass II (UK), sequel to 1953's The Quatermass Experiment, premieres on BBC Television. It ends on November 26.
[edit] Television shows listed by starting year [edit] Ending this year [edit] Births - January 4 - Sally Tayler, actress.
- January 6 - Rowan Atkinson, British actor.
- February 12 - Arsenio Hall, Actor and Talk-show host
- February 21 - Kelsey Grammer, actor (Cheers,Frasier)
- March 19 - Bruce Willis, actor.
- June 28 - Shirley Cheriton, actress.
- July 22 - Willem Dafoe, actor.
- August 4 - Billy Bob Thornton, actor.
- August 7 - Wayne Knight, actor.
- August 14 - Gillian Taylforth, actress.
- November 13 - Whoopi Goldberg, actress.
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