1 of 1- RadioActive
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Happy Birthday To A True TV Icon
Today, April 3rd, is the birthday of a remarkable institution near and dear to my heart. It was 71 years ago to the day that something called "TV Guide" appeared on the news stands of stores in 10 markets across the U.S.
Whatever you thought of it, it was welcomed - that first edition, featuring a picture of Lucille Ball's baby - sold well over 1.6 million copies on its way to becoming the best selling magazine in North America.
The Guide is still around today, but it's a shadow of its former self. For one thing, it's a magazine sized publication not a digest. It no longer costs 15 cents - it's now $5 U.S. per copy. And to save money, it features three weeks of listings instead of just seven days. It also doesn't have the extensive details the old one did, and with hundreds of channels available, it can't list them all.
As some here know, I have a soft spot in my heart (and as many will tell you, in my head) for this media icon, and have a few hundred of them saved in my own collection. But not, unfortunately, that first one. It's worth at least $700 U.S. or more, depending on condition. That's way too much for my taste, but what a great collectible to have.
Although at that price, I'd be afraid to even open its pages!
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy Birthday To A True TV Icon
In case you're curious, here's the cover of this month's Guide, along with the listings for April 3rd. As you can see, unlike the old version, they don't list anything about what each show is about or any guest stars who are in it. And there are no local channels. It's a shadow of its former self, but I can see how it might be useful to remind you of what's on when. 
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Happy Birthday To A True TV Icon
Toronto residents had to wait until June 26, 1953 to get their first look at TV Guide. Only five channels were listed. WSYR [now WSTM] ch 3 Syracuse. WBEN [now WIVB] ch 4 Buffalo. WHAM ch 6 [now WROC CH 8] Rochester. WHEN ch 8 [now WTVH ch 5] Syracuse and CBLT ch 9 [now ch 20] Toronto. Some additional Trivia. Original cost of .15 remained until June 1st 1974 increase to .20. The price went to .25 with the 1974 Fall Preview issue.When the Digest version was discontinued in 2005, price was $2.49. Most TV Guide cover appearances? Lucille Ball. Some sources say 34 others 39. [I wasn't going to count them] Bottomline, she is first by a wide margin, Johnny Carson [28] Mary Tyler Moore and Micheal Landon [27] are the closest to Lucy. The most valuable cover is the Jan 23, 1953 edition featuring Marilyn Monroe. This edition was only available in NYC and occured before the magazine's national launch in April 1953. Current going rate about 3K. The Lucy's baby cover edition is running around 2K.
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy Birthday To A True TV Icon
TV Guide's official website has an amazing archive of every cover it's printed, going all the way back to that first edition in April 1953. A great memory flogger and there are a lot of them! Too bad you can't read the articles!
TV Guide Magazine Covers 1953-Present
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Happy Birthday To A True TV Icon
I have searched relentlessly for the articles behind the covers. can't find anything. One headline from 1958 would have been an interesting read. "Your next television set could be hanging on a wall"
- newsguy1
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Do you remember the announcer for the TV Guide TV ads that went on for years?
He had a strong US southern accent -- TEE VEE GAAAHD. Growing up in Vancouver I always wondered why an American from the deep south was announcing these in Canada.
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy Birthday To A True TV Icon
These are the ones I remember, with that very specific music.
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