The following is the 1953–54 daytime network television schedule for the three major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. It covers the weekday daytime hours from September 1953 to August 1954.
Legend
New series are highlighted in bold.
Fall 1953 7:00 am7:30 am8:00 am8:30 am9:00 am9:30 am10:00 am10:30 am11:00 am11:30 amnoon12:30 pm1:00 pm1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm3:30 pm4:00 pm4:30 pm5:00 pm5:30 pmABClocal programmingThe Jerry Lester ShowTurn to a FriendThe Ern Westmore Showlocal programmingCBSlocal programmingArthur Godfrey Time (Mon-Thu) / 10:00 Wheel of Fortune 11:00 I'll Buy That (F)Strike It Rich (Mon-Fri) / Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (Sat)12:00 Valiant Lady 12:15 Love of Life12:30 Search for Tomorrow 12:45 The Guiding LightJourney Through LifeThe Garry Moore ShowDouble or Nothing (Mon/Wed/Fri) / I'll Buy That (Tue/Thu)Art Linkletter's House PartyThe Big PayoffThe Bob Crosby ShowAction in the AfternoonThe U.N. In Action local programmingNBCThe Today Showlocal programmingDing Dong SchoolGlamour Girl11:00 am: Hawkins Falls11:15 am: The Bennetts11:30 am: Three Steps to Heaven11:45 am: Follow Your Heartlocal programmingThe Kate Smith HourWelcome TravelersOn Your Account5:00 pm: Atom Squad 5:15 pm: The Gabby Hayes ShowHowdy Doody
Winter 1953/1954 7:00 am7:30 am8:00 am8:30 am9:00 am9:30 am10:00 am10:30 am11:00 am11:30 amnoon12:30 pm1:00 pm1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm3:30 pm4:00 pm4:30 pm5:00 pm5:30 pmABClocal programmingDon McNeill's Breakfast Club (since 2/22)local programmingThe Jerry Lester Showlocal programmingCBSlocal programmingArthur Godfrey Time (Mon-Thu) / 10:00 The Jack Paar Show 11:00 I'll Buy That (F)Strike It Rich (Mon-Fri) / Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (Sat)12:00 Valiant Lady 12:15 Love of Life12:30 Search for Tomorrow 12:45 The Guiding Light1:00 The Brighter Day 1:15 Journey Through LifeThe Garry Moore Show (Tue/Thu, 1:30-2:30)Double or Nothing (Mon/Wed/Fri)Art Linkletter's House PartyThe Big PayoffBob Crosby Show4:00 Woman with a Past 4:15 The Secret StormRobert Q. Lewis Show5:00 Barker Bill's Cartoon Show (Wed/Fri) 5:15 local programminglocal programmingNBCThe Today Showlocal programmingDing Dong SchoolBreakfast in Hollywood11:00 am: Hawkins Falls11:15 am: Three Steps to HeavenAsk Washington 12:00 pm: Bride and Groom12:15 pm: local programminglocal programmingThe Kate Smith HourWelcome TravelersOn Your AccountPinky Lee ShowHowdy Doody
Spring 1954 7:00 am7:30 am8:00 am8:30 am9:00 am9:30 am10:00 am10:30 am11:00 am11:30 amnoon12:30 pm1:00 pm1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm3:30 pm4:00 pm4:30 pm5:00 pm5:30 pmABClocal programmingDon McNeill's Breakfast Club local programmingThe Jerry Lester Show (until 5/14)local programmingCBSThe Morning Showlocal programmingArthur Godfrey Time (M-Th) / 10:00 The Jack Paar Show (F) 11:00 I'll Buy That (F)Strike It Rich (Mon-Fri) / Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (Sat)12:00 Valiant Lady 12:15 Love of Life12:30 Search for Tomorrow 12:45 The Guiding Light1:00 The Brighter Day 1:15 Portia Faces LifeThe Garry Moore Show (Tue/Thu, 1:30-2:30)Double or Nothing (Mon/Wed/Fri)Art Linkletter's House PartyThe Big PayoffBob Crosby Show4:00 Woman with a Past 4:15 The Secret StormRobert Q. Lewis Show5:00 Barker Bill's Cartoon Show (Wed/Fri) 5:15 local programminglocal programmingNBCThe Today Showlocal programmingDing Dong School10:30 am: One Man's Family 10:45 am: Three Steps to HeavenThe Home Show12:00 pm: Bride and Groom12:15 pm: Hawkins Falls The Betty White Showlocal programmingThe Kate Smith HourWelcome TravelersOn Your AccountPinky Lee ShowHowdy Doody
Summer 1954 7:00 am7:30 am8:00 am8:30 am9:00 am9:30 am10:00 am10:30 am11:00 am11:30 amnoon12:30 pm1:00 pm1:30 pm2:00 pm2:30 pm3:00 pm3:30 pm4:00 pm4:30 pm5:00 pm5:30 pmABClocal programmingDon McNeill's Breakfast Clublocal programmingCBSThe Morning Showlocal programmingThe Garry Moore Show (M-Th, to 11:30 F)Arthur Godfrey Time (M-Th) / The Garry Moore Show (F)Strike It Rich12:00 Valiant Lady 12:15 Love of Life12:30 Search for Tomorrow 12:45 The Guiding Light1:00 Portia Faces Life 1:15 The Seeking HeartWelcome TravelersRobert Q. Lewis ShowArt Linkletter's House PartyThe Big PayoffBob Crosby Show4:00 The Brighter Day 4:15 The Secret StormOn Your Account5:00 Barker Bill's Cartoon Show (Wed/Fri) 5:15 local programminglocal programmingNBCThe Today Showlocal programmingDing Dong School10:30 am: A Time to Live 10:45 am: Three Steps to HeavenThe Home Showlocal programming3:00 pm: One Man's Family3:15 pm: Golden Windows3:30 pm: First Love 4:00 pm: Hawkins Falls4:15 pm: Bride and GroomThe Betty White ShowPinky Lee ShowHowdy Doody
By network ABC New Series Don McNeill's Breakfast Club The Ern Westmore Show The Jerry Lester Show Turn to a Friend
CBS
Returning Series Action in the Afternoon Art Linkletter's House Party Arthur Godfrey Time The Big Payoff (moved from NBC) The Bob Crosby Show Double or Nothing The Garry Moore Show The Guiding Light Love of Life On Your Account (moved from NBC) Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers Search for Tomorrow Strike It Rich The U.N. in Action Wheel of Fortune
New Series Barker Bill's Cartoon Show The Brighter Day I'll Buy That The Jack Paar Show Journey Through Life The Morning Show Portia Faces Life Robert Q. Lewis Show The Secret Storm The Seeking Heart Valiant Lady Woman with a Past
Not Returning From 1952-53 The Al Pearce Show Bert Parks Show The Bil Baird Show The Bill Cullen Show Bride and Groom CBS Morning News Everywhere I Go Freedom Rings Homemaker's Exchange Meet Your Cover Girl Mike and Buff Summer School There's One in Every Family
NBC
Returning Series Atom Squad The Bennetts The Big Payoff The Bill Cullen Show Ding Dong School Follow Your Heart The Gabby Hayes Show Glamour Girl Hawkins Falls, Population 6200 Howdy Doody The Kate Smith Hour On Your Account (moved to CBS) Three Steps to Heaven The Today Show Welcome Travelers
New Series Ask Washington The Betty White Show Breakfast in Hollywood Bride and Groom First Love Golden Windows The Home Show One Man's Family Pinky Lee Show A Time to Live
Not Returning From 1952-53 The Big Payoff (moved to CBS) Break the Bank Ladies Choice
See also 1953-54 United States network television schedule (prime-time)
References https://web.archive.org/web/20071015122215/http://curtalliaume.com/abc_day.html https://web.archive.org/web/20071015122235/http://curtalliaume.com/cbs_day.html https://web.archive.org/web/20071012211242/http://curtalliaume.com/nbc_day.html Hyatt, The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television, Billboard Books, 1997 TV schedules, New York Times, September 1953 – September 1954 (microfilm)