Number 1 Programs: Texaco Star Theater

TEXACO STAR THEATER had a long history before it became the #1 program of the 1950-51 season. Back in 1938, the show was a radio hit on the ABC radio network (Formally NBC Blue). The show stayed on radio through 1949. TEXACO STAR THEATER came to TV (NBC) in 1948 with old Uncle Miltie, Milton Berle. The show is credited for driving the TV medium and selling TVs. Texaco stay on as title sponsor until 1953. Buick became title sponsor until 1955 when the show simply became THE MILTON BERLE SHOW until it ended in 1956.

THE RATINGS:
TEXACO STAR THEATER was the #1 show for only the one season (1950-51). The following season it was the #2 show. For the 1952-53 and 1953-54 seasons, the show dropped to #5 over all. it first fell out of the top 10 during the 1954-55 season when it ranked #11. The bottom fell out of the sho for its final season, not even making the top 30 chart.

SCHEDULE HISTORY:
The TEXACO STAR THEATER sired in just one time slot overt its eight seasons, Tuesdays, in the 8:00–9:00 pm time slot on NBC.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
TEXACO STAR THEATER was a smash hit almost from the very beginning. The program was hitting ratings as high as 80 and owning Tuesday night for NBC from 8–9 p.m. ET. The show landed a couple of Emmy Awards in 1949 (Best Kinescope Show; and Milton Berle as Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality). Americans were discovering television as a technological marvel and entertainment medium seeming to bring the country to a dead stop every Tuesday night, just to see what the madcap Uncle Miltie might pull next.

The support cast included Fatso Marco (1948–1952), Ruth Gilbert as "Max", Milton's love-starved secretary (1952–1955), Bobby Sherwood (1952–1953), Arnold Stang (1953–1955), Jack Collins (1953–1955) and Milton Frome (1953–1955). The show's music was provided by Alan Roth (1948–1955) and Victor Young (1955–1956).

As TV's golden age was just beginning, TEXACO STAR THEATER and Milton Berle were  leading the charge and promoting the new medium. It is TV's first #1 program and TV's Brightest star.