A pre-1960 version of TV Land and AMC?

[Lord Garth]

Upfront: I'm not really into movies or series from the timeframe in my thread title but something occurred to me as an idea.

It's completely understandable that AMC, Nick At Nite, and TV Land should make their programming more "recent" but I also think it might not be a bad idea to have a channel reserved for older material. Maybe at the very least so people interested in watching those movies or series might discover something they might not have thought to rent.

This type of channel would be primarily made up of Hayes Code Era movies and shows primarily made from the late-'40s to early-60s. Occassionally something from the Silent Era could also be included.

Maybe retired senior citizens might enjoy this type of channel too. They might not be considered too marketable but they're still not dead yet. But I'm leaning more toward a channel like this for historical purposes and for posterity's sake.

What do you think?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I'd call the channel Turner Classic Movies.

 

[Lord Garth]

Color me stupid.

I walked right into that, didn't I?

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

So does that mean that Turner Classic Movies has stayed true to the classics-only format, unlike AMC? I don't currently have access to it, but I'm curious.

 

[Dayton Ward]

^ As years have passed, some "more recent" films are being added to TCM's rotation, but by and large, they're still the place to go for "the Good Old Stuff."

 

[ClayinCA]

As much as I love TCM, I do agree with the OP's contention that a more "classic" version of TV Land would be most welcome, though....

 

[UssGlenn]

The whole point of TV Land in the first place was to have a place for the old shows. They have strayed from that format so I can only assume it's not financially viable, no matter how much I want to see F-Troop and the old Superman series.

 

[Kryton]

Back in the mid-'70s, all they ran on the fledgling "Superstations" at the time (mostly WGN and WTCG which became WTBS...also WWOR to some degree) was shows from the '50s to mid-'60s. Anything from Make Room for Daddy to Father Knows Best to Please Don't Eat the Daisies, Dick van Dyke, and Patty Duke.

When cable went from the simple definition of CCTV to all-out satellite-delivered programming, the earliest trailblazers weren't particularly prepared to invest in original programming so they dipped into the relatively-inexpensive nostalgia of syndicated re-runs.

There are a few niche premium channels dipping into that well these days, such as Starz!/Encore's Westerns, Mysteries, and Action channels, but they're all over the place with them.

 

[KB24]

I watch the Encore channels more than the big wig HBO and Showtimes. They've got better movies and themed shows. TV Land has become much more eighties and nineties indeed. I don't like their movie segments or original programming. I suppose you need to modernize, but at least keep a block of the good old stuff. Turner Classic Movies has that Sunday Night Silent Movie segment overnight. A lot of channels back in the day used to show old stuff late night or early am. You would think some of the stuff is out of copyright or cheap by now. You can watch a few classic shows free at hulu or on demand, too.

And for what its worth, I think every movie made before 1960 should be put on dvd *before* Disney makes one more direct to video mess. 'The Little Mermaid Trilogy is going back in the vault!' When the ^%&*( did they make *two more* Little Mermaid movies.

Samson and Delilah please.

 

[Kelso]

I'd watch it.

There is a channel called WHT (World Harvest Television? Some kind of Christian outreach nonsense) that plays Lassie, The Patty Duke Show, The Lone Ranger, The Rifleman and Bat Masterson.

I agree that a dedicated channel would be marvelous... and I wouldn't have to wade through the Christian mumbo-jumbo to get to the good stuff.

 

[ClayinCA]

And for what its worth, I think every movie made before 1960 should be put on dvd *before* Disney makes one more direct to video mess. 'The Little Mermaid Trilogy is going back in the vault!' When the ^%&*( did they make *two more* Little Mermaid movies.

You are so right about this that it's almost painful.

 

[KB24]

I'm really liking the Encore westerns channel and its regular showings of Maverick and The Magnificent Seven. I wonder how much good stuff is lost do to time and carelessness? Save Samson and Delilah and put it on dvd already!

 

[TGTheodore]

Agreed. I LOVE Maverick and though I saw some of them first-run (I WAS very young), I love seeing the ones I missed. James Garner is just the best (Jack Kelly and Roger Moore are good, too, but you can't beat the original).

They released a DVD sampler to see how the show would sell. I haven't noticed any seasons available, though. (Granted, I stopped looking a year after the sampler was released).

--Ted

 

[Dar70]

Turner Classic Movies as mentioned is a great source for the old films. They do show some more 'recent' stuff now like Animal House (uncut with the nudity and language) I have to admit I watch Turner Classic Moives more than any channel nowadays. I just love old films. Now I wouldnt mind another channel takingover the older shows. Tvland is just starting to suck now.I rarely watch it now except for the occasional Bonanza or Gunsmoke Episode. I didnt mind when they started showing more current shows like 3rd Rock. But movies and reality shows dont belong on Tvland. There is a channel here in detroit now that is starting to cover some of what TVland lost, WGN, in fact TNG just ended now at 2am. They show lost of old stuff during the day like IDOJ and Bewitched, Happy Days etc.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Well here in the Milwaukee/Southeastern Wisconsin area (and I think Chicagoland Area) has a few channels that kinda give some retro tv and movie goodness. METV plays all kinds of old shows like I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Untouchables, Man from U.N.C.L.E, Get Smart, 77 Sunset Strip, You Bet Your Life, My Favorite Martian, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Leave it to Beaver, Adventures of Superman, Original Series Star Trek (remastered natch), Lost in Space, Naked City, Night Gallery, Twilight Zone (the original), Alfred Hitchcock AND Original Knight Rider. Plus a few old 50s/60s movies here and there. Then there's "THiS" which doesn't really play any true "classics" but plays some of the "early works" by famous people. Stuff I've never or rarely seen from like the 60s,70s,80s a couple older ones but its stuff that is pretty obscure.
Nice thing is that at least you're not paying for these two stations, they're on regular local TV (with a digital tuner). Plus the cool thing with METV is they even play some of the old period commericals. Like old car ads, old Coca Cola ads, old cereal and toothpaste commericals. Really kinda keeps you in the 'mood' to watch an old show and see some of the same commericals that played back then - of course then there are the million ads for stuff like Kaplan College, "CASH FOR GOLD!!" - am I the only that's sick of those ads? - and other meh ads that play too often.

Although what I haven't seen in years, and it seems like no one is airing them -

Mr. Ed, My Three Sons, Donna Ried, Patty Duke Show, Dobie Gillis, Ozzie and Harriet, and heh Rocky and Bullwinkle!