Hello everyone. I am writing today about a television guide published before the TV Guide. It was called Television Forecast, then later called TV Forecast. According to the website epguides.com, it was started by Mr. Les Viahon and three of his WW II veteran friends. Each chipped in $250 and started publishing the magazine in the basement classroom of Abbot Hall on the Northwestern University Campus. They were so broke that they bound their first issue with staplers borrowed from the professors upstairs!
They obtained (from a TV dealer’s association or such) a mailing address list of everyone in the area who had purchased a TV set. For several months mailed the publication free, as a “programming service”. This lasted until August 8th, when they began charging $3.00 per year (Charter members $2.00 per year). Prices for copies sold at newsstands were 15c. The first issue of distribution was 16,000 issues. As more people bought TVs the circulation went upwards into the tens to hundreds of thousands, but nearly all the copies were tossed out, once the next week’s issue became available. A couple of competing mags were also launched at some point.
By late 1952 the circulation of TV Forecast was almost 200,000. There were 4 TV stations in Chicago: WBKB 4 CBS, WNBQ 5 NBC, WENR 7 ABC & WGN 9 DuMont. Walter Annenberg bought out TV Forecast (that by that time already had editions in Minneapolis and the Quad Cities) along with TV Guide ( a local New York City magazine, that also had editions for Washington DC / Baltimore and New England) and TV Digest a local Philadelphia magazine. In March 1953, the last issue of all these publications came out. In April 1953, the first issue of the national magazine TV Guide came out. It had a cover and articles in color and local listings in B&W. This would continue into the early part of the 21st century.
I have created a video showcasing all the covers of Television Forecast provided background music of classic TV themes shows and commercials. Here it is:
Vanished Chicagoland: Television/TV Forecast TV Program Guide Video
I hope you enjoy my new video. Thank you, everyone! Pete Kastanes, Admin for Vanished Chicagoland Facebook Page.
Here is a list of all the issues of Television Forecast / TV Forecast, with the cover feature listed:

Chicago TV Forecast 1948-1953 | |||||
DATE | COVER FEATURE | TYPE | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | |||||
May 9, 1948 | Chicago Cubs | photo | red | pc | Television Forecast |
May 16, 1948 | Kukla & Ollie | photo | red | pc | |
May 23, 1948 | Dick Two Ton Baker | photo | blue | pc | |
May 30, 1948 | Sulky Racing | photo | green | pc | |
Jun 6, 1948 | Minor Opinion | photo | red | pc | |
Jun 13, 1948 | Woman’s World | photo | brown | pc | |
Jun 20, 1948 | Connie Mack | photo | dark orange | pc | |
Jun 27, 1948 | Girl’s Baseball | photo | blue | pc | |
Jul 4, 1948 | Freedom Train | photo | grey | pc | |
Jul 11, 1948 | Gus Van | photo | olive green | pc | |
Jul 18, 1948 | Midget Races | photo | light blue | pc | |
Jul 25, 1948 | Lifeguards | photo | red | pc | |
Aug 2, 1948 | Bob McKee | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Aug 9, 1948 | Football | photo | brown | pc | |
Aug 16, 1948 | Young & Victor | photo | blue | pc | |
Aug 23, 1948 | Conrad Veidt | photo | dark orange | pc | |
Aug 30, 1948 | Chicago Rockets (football) | photo | grey | pc | |
Sep 6, 1948 | Sportsman Corner bowling | photo | light purple | pc | |
Sep 13, 1948 | Don McNeill | photo | brown | pc | |
Sep 20, 1948 | test pattern comic | art | red | pc | |
Sep 27, 1948 | WBKB dog Mac | photo | light blue | pc | |
Oct 4, 1948 | Dick Tracy | art | green | pc | |
Oct 11, 1948 | Johnny Hill | photo | blue | pc | |
Oct 18, 1948 | Ed Roden | photo | brown | pc | |
Oct 25, 1948 | Alan Dale | photo | blue-grey | pc | |
Nov 1, 1948 | WNBQ Antenna | photo | blue | pc | |
Nov 8, 1948 | Joe Wilson | photo | dark orange | pc | |
Nov 15, 1948 | Chicago Bears | photo | purple | pc | |
Nov 22, 1948 | WGN Mystery Show | Photo | yellow | pc | |
Nov 29, 1948 | WNBQ | photo | red | pc | |
Dec 6, 1948 | people do write- a man surrounded by letters | photo | blue | pc | |
Dec 13, 1948 | Uncle Mistletoe & Aunt Judy | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Dec 20, 1948 | Merry Christmas Santa | art | red | pc | |
Dec 27, 1948 | Man About Town- Connie Russell | photo | green | scan | |
1949 | |||||
Jan 3, 1949 | John Dunham of WBKB | photo | brown | pc | |
Jan 10, 1949 | Coaxial Cable | photo | blue | pc | |
Jan 17, 1949 | Skip Farrell | photo | olive green | pc | |
Jan 24, 1949 | Arthur Godfrey of WGN | photo | red | pc | |
Jan 31, 1949 | Georgia Kay & Gloria Yates | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Feb 7, 1949 | Lanny Ross | photo | red | pc | |
Feb 12, 1949 | Bob Elson | photo | blue-grey | pc | |
Feb 19, 1949 | Rush Hughes & Ruth Crowley | photo | dark orange | pc | |
Feb 26, 1949 | Kukla- Fran & Ollie | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Mar 5, 1949 | Fontanne Sisters | photo | pink | pc | |
Mar 12, 1949 | Lulu Belle & Scotty | photo | red | pc | |
Mar 19, 1949 | WBKB’s Telefashions | photo | red | pc | |
Mar 26, 1949 | Coca & Caesar & McCarty | photo | brown | pc | |
Apr 2, 1949 | WGN 1st Aniversary | art | grey | pc | |
Apr 9, 1949 | Rajah Hornsby of WENR | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Apr 16, 1949 | Ernie Simon of WBKB | photo | brown | pc | |
Apr 23, 1949 | Milton Berle | photo | blue | pc | |
Apr 30, 1949 | Harold Isbell | photo | grey | pc | |
May 7, 1949 | TV Show is Born | photo | red | pc | |
May 14, 1949 | Cliffy of Super Circus | photo | olive green | pc | |
May 21, 1949 | Ulmer Turner | photo | dark orange | pc | |
May 28, 1949 | John Cameron Swayze | photo | blue | pc | |
Jun 4, 1949 | Wendy Barrie | photo | green | pc | |
Jun 11, 1949 | Bill Brundige WENR sportscaster | photo | grey | pc | |
Jun 18, 1949 | first test pattern | photo | brown | pc | |
Jun 25, 1949 | Howdy Doody | photo | red | pc | |
Jul 2, 1949 | Nancy Wright & Gordon Page | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Jul 9, 1949 | Johnny Olsen | photo | blue | pc | |
Jul 16, 1949 | Vera Ward of Comic Capers | photo | pink | pc | |
Jul 23, 1949 | Betty Chapel | photo | blue | pc | |
Jul 30, 1949 | Hines & Revolta | photo | olive green | pc | |
Aug 6, 1949 | Super Circus House Party | photo | red | pc | |
Aug 13, 1949 | Tommy Sands | photo | brown | pc | |
Aug 20, 1949 | Roberta Quinlan | photo | blue | pc | |
Aug 27, 1949 | Al Morgan on WGN | photo | red | pc | |
Sep 3, 1949 | Uncle Mistletoe | photo | green | pc | Title changes to TV Forecast |
Sep 10, 1949 | Frontier Theater | photo | brown | pc | |
Sep 17, 1949 | Kukla- Fran & Ollie | photo | red | pc | |
Sep 24, 1949 | Dave Garroway | photo | red | pc | |
Oct 1, 1949 | Eddie Cantor | photo | green | pc | |
Oct 8, 1949 | Ed Wynn- King of Jesters | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Oct 15, 1949 | Jack Brickhouse | photo | brown | scan | |
Oct 22, 1949 | Red Grange | photo | red | pc | |
Oct 29, 1949 | Doris Brown of Lucky Pup | photo | orange | pc | |
Nov 5, 1949 | The O’Neills | photo | blue | pc | |
Nov 12, 1949 | Paul Whiteman | photo | magenta | pc | |
Nov 19, 1949 | Kay Kyser of College of Musical Knowledge | photo | green | pc | |
Nov 26, 1949 | Fred Waring | photo | yellow | pc | |
Dec 3, 1949 | Nancy Wright | photo | orange | pc | |
Dec 10, 1949 | Toni Gilman | photo | red | pc | |
Dec 17, 1949 | Connie Russell | photo | green | pc | |
Dec 24, 1949 | Santa Claus | art | red | pc | |
Dec 31, 1949 | Mercedes McCambridge | photo | yellow | pc | |
1950 | |||||
Jan 7,1950 | Art Jarrett | photo | orange | pc | |
Jan 14, 1950 | Rebel Randall | photo | green | pc | |
Jan 21, 1950 | Herbie Mintz of Bit Not Forgotten | photo | red | pc | |
Jan 28, 1950 | West Twins of Lucky Letters | photo | red | pc | |
Feb 4, 1950 | Tarzan White- wrestler | photo | magenta | pc | |
Feb 11, 1950 | Mary Hartline | photo | green | pc | |
Feb 18, 1950 | young boy | photo | red | pc | |
Feb 25, 1950 | Arthur Godfrey & Janette David | photo | yellow | pc | |
Mar 4, 1950 | Birthday Greetings Woman’s magazine of the Air | photo | orange | Chic | |
Mar 11, 1950 | Eleanor Binder & Jim Moran of Courtesy Hour | photo | green | Chic | cover ripped |
Mar 18, 1950 | Sussan Shaw | photo | red | Chic | |
Mar 25, 1950 | Mr. Puffle & Ilka Chase | photo | yellow | Chic | |
Apr 1, 1950 | Happiness Hour- ventriloquist | photo | magenta | pc | |
Apr 8, 1950 | Bob Murphy | photo | green | pc | |
Apr 15, 1950 | Lou Thesz – wrestler | photo | red | pc | |
Apr 22, 1950 | Jack Carter | photo | orange | pc | |
Apr 29, 1950 | Lucky Letters | photo | purple | pc | |
May 6, 1950 | Paddy the Pelican | art | orange | pc | |
May 13, 1950 | Danny O’Neil of Jay’s Jamboree | photo | blue | pc | |
May 20, 1950 | Gloria Van & Johnny Desmond of Tin Pan Alley | photo | green | pc | |
May 27, 1950 | Cliff Norton | photo | yellow | pc | |
Jun 3, 1950 | Andy Pafko- Cubs | photo | red | Chic | |
Jun 10, 1950 | Paula Rae | photo | orange | Chic | |
Jun 17, 1950 | Kay Kyser- father of the year | photo | blue | Chic | |
Jun 24, 1950 | Peggy Lee Torme | photo | green | Chic | |
Jul 1, 1950 | Joan Alt of Time for Beanie | photo | yellow | Chic | rusty stapes |
Jul 8, 1950 | Joan Belton- singing star | photo | red | Chic | |
Jul 15, 1950 | Gloom Dodgers | photo | dark orange | great lakes | |
Jul 22, 1950 | Ransom Sherman | photo | purple | Chic | |
Jul 29, 1950 | Ginny Scott | photo | blue | Chic | |
Aug 5, 1950 | Come to the Chicago Fair | photo | green | Chic | |
Aug 12, 1950 | Neil Hamilton | photo | orange | pc | |
Aug 19, 1950 | Acrobat Ranch | photo | yellow | Chic | |
Aug 26, 1950 | Wayne King | photo | orange | Chic | |
Sep 2, 1950 | Frances Langford of Star Time | photo | green | pc | |
Sep 9, 1950 | Don McNeill | photo | yellow | pc | |
Sep 16, 1950 | Dean Martin & Jerry lewis | photo | blue | pc | |
Sep 23, 1950 | Marlene Reilly of Foto Test | photo | red | pc | |
Sep 30, 1950 | Jack Carson | photo | orange | pc | |
Oct 7, 1950 | Mae West & Irv Kipcinet | photo | yellow | Chic | |
Oct 14, 1950 | Cheif Ernie Simon & kids | photo | blue | Chic | |
Oct 21, 1950 | Marlin Perkins | photo montage | red | Chic | |
Oct 28, 1950 | Jack Benny | photo-art | orange | Chic | |
Nov 4, 1950 | Chicago Calendar Jack Brickhouse et al | photo-art | yellow | Chic | |
Nov 11, 1950 | Chico Marx of College Bowl | photo | blue | pc | |
Nov 18, 1950 | Panhandle Pete & Jennifer Holt | photo-art | red | Chic | |
Nov 25, 1950 | Faye Emerson | photo-art | purple | Chic | |
Dec 2, 1950 | Shirley Sexby Miss Tavern Pole 1950 | photo-art | green | pc | |
Dec 9, 1950 | Uncle Mistletoe | art | orange | pc | |
Dec 16, 1950 | Peter Lind & Mary Healy | photo-art | yellow | pc | |
Dec 23, 1950 | Santas | art | red | pc | |
Dec 30, 1950 | Kyle MacDonnell | photo-art | yellow-green | pc | |
1951 | |||||
Jan 6, 1951 | Jackie Gleason | art | green | Chic | loose cover |
Jan 13, 1951 | Super Circus Clowns | photo-art | orange | Chic | |
Jan 20, 1951 | ? | photo-art | green | Chic | |
Jan 27, 1951 | Burns & Allen | photo | yellow | Chic | |
Feb 3, 1951 | 1950 TV Awards | photo | gold & white | pc | |
Feb 10, 1951 | Sue Topping & Frank Sweeny Valentine’s Day | photo-art | red | Chic | |
Feb 17, 1951 | Antonio Rocca (wrestler) | photo | orange | pc | |
Feb 24, 1951 | Wife of Michael Veach of Magic Slate | photo-art | blue | Chic | |
Mar 3, 1951 | Elanie Neblett of Let’s Have Fun | photo | yellow | Chic | |
Mar 10, 1951 | Toni Rodgers | photo-art | red | Chic | |
Mar 17, 1951 | Billy Rose | photo-art | green | Chic | |
Mar 24, 1951 | Dorsey Connors | photo-art | magenta | Chic | |
Mar 31, 1951 | Frank Sinatra | photo-art | orange | Chic | |
Apr 7, 1951 | Ted Mack’s Family Hour | photo-art | red | Chic | |
Apr 14, 1951 | Tony Fontaine | photo-art | green | Chic | |
Apr 21, 1951 | Milton Berle | photo-art | pink | pc | |
Apr 28, 1951 | Arthur Godfrey | photo-art | blue | pc | |
May 5, 1951 | Marty Hogan Miss US TV | photo | green | pc | |
May 12, 1951 | Mary Hartline Win a Puppy | photo | orange | pc | |
May 19, 1951 | Meet the Range Rider | photo | red on white | pc | |
May 26, 1951 | Jean Mowry | photo | red on white | pc | |
Jun 2, 1951 | Hank Sauer Chicago Cubs player | photo | green on white | pc | |
Jun 9, 1951 | Teresa Georgian | photo | blue on white | pc | |
Jun 16, 1951 | Laraine Day | photo | pink | pc | |
Jun 23, 1951 | Bob Hope & Joel Kupperman | photo | blue | pc | |
Jun 30, 1951 | Peggy Lee | photo | orange on white | pc | |
Jul 7, 1951 | Betty Betz | photo | green | pc | |
Jul 14, 1951 | Tom Corbett Space Cadet | photo | magenta | pc | |
Jul 21, 1951 | Eileen Weston of Hit Parade | photo | yellow-orange | pc | |
Jul 28, 1951 | Ernie Simon of WBKB | photo | blue | pc | |
Aug 4, 1951 | White Sox player | photo | dark-orange | pc | |
Aug 11, 1951 | Marion Morgan of stopping the Music | photo | green | pc | |
Aug 18, 1951 | Marion Marlowe of Arthur Godfrey show | photo | pink | pc | |
Aug 25, 1951 | Jackie Kelk & Pat Horsley | photo | blue | pc | |
Sep 1, 1951 | Eloise McElhone | photo | Could be red. It’s a photocopy | pc | |
Sep 8, 1951 | Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca | photo | green | pc | |
Sep 15, 1951 | Milton Berle | photo | pink | pc | |
Sep 22, 1951 | Arthur Godfrey | photo | blue | pc | |
Sep 29, 1951 | Frances Langford & Don Ameche | photo montage | orange | pc | |
Oct 6, 1951 | Bob Hope & Jimmy Durante | photo | green | pc | |
Oct 13, 1951 | Kukla- Fran & Ollie | photo | red | pc | |
Oct 20, 1951 | Toni Gilman | photo | green | pc | |
Oct 27, 1951 | Studs Terkel | photo | orange | pc | |
Nov 3, 1951 | Perry Como | photo | green | pc | |
Nov 10, 1951 | Bert Parks | photo | red | pc | |
Nov 17, 1951 | Frank Sinatra | photo | blue | pc | |
Nov 24, 1951 | Rafael Kubelik- Can Culture Survive? | photo | orange | pc | |
Dec 1, 1951 | Jackie Gleason | photo-art | green | pc | |
Dec 8,1951 | Lucille Ball | photo | magenta | pc | |
Dec 15, 1951 | Dean Martin & Jerry lewis | photo | blue | pc | |
Dec 22, 1951 | Walt Disney characters | art | red on white | pc | |
Dec 29, 1951 | Football Special | photo montage | green | pc | |
1952 | |||||
Jan 5, 1952 | Dinah Shore | photo | orange | pc | |
Jan 12, 1952 | Dorothy Collins Hit Parade Honey | photo | green | pc | |
Jan 19, 1952 | Ed Sullivan | photo | red | pc | |
Jan 26, 1952 | TV Awards | photo-art | gold | pc | |
Feb 2, 1952 | Wanda Lewis | photo | orange | pc | |
Feb 9, 1952 | Captain Video | photo | blue | pc | |
Feb 16, 1952 | Kay Westfall Night on the Town | photo | purple | pc | |
Feb 23, 1952 | Marie Wilson | photo | green | pc | |
Mar 1, 1952 | Claudia & David | photo | red | pc | |
Mar 8, 1952 | Peggy Taylor | photo | Blue | pc | |
Mar 15, 1952 | Hal Block | photo | tan | Chic | slight water damage |
Mar 22, 1952 | Jack Benny & Mary Livingstone | photo | green | pc | |
Mar 29, 1952 | Mimi Benzell | photo | dark Orange | Chic | |
Apr 5, 1952 | Gay Compton – How to Treat Pets | photo | brown-orange | Chic | |
Apr 12, 1952 | TV’s Easter Family | photo | pink | pc | |
Apr 19, 1952 | Dave Garroway | photo | green | Chic | |
Apr 26, 1952 | Athletic Angel | photo | pink | Chic | |
May 3, 1952 | boxing Chico Vejar vs Chuck Davey | photo | blue | pc | |
May 10, 1952 | Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz | photo montage | orange | pc | |
May 17, 1952 | Donald O’Connor | photo | blue-green | Chic | |
May 24, 1952 | Howdy Doody | photo | magenta | Chic | |
May 31, 1952 | Gene Autry | photo | pink | Chic | |
Jun 7, 1952 | Lena Horne | photo | white on orange | pc | |
Jun 14, 1952 | Bishop Fulton Sheen | photo | magenta | pc | |
Jun 21, 1952 | Lois Collier | photo | blue-green | pc | |
Jun 28, 1952 | Chet Roble | photo | orange | pc | |
Jul 5, 1952 | Bob & Ike Republican Convention | photo | red | Chic | |
Jul 12, 1952 | Jimmy Durante | photo | blue | pc | |
Jul 19, 1952 | Democratic Convention | photo-art | brown | pc | |
Jul 26, 1952 | Sam Levenson | photo-art | red on white | pc | |
Aug 2, 1952 | Space Patrol | photo | light green | pc | |
Aug 9, 1952 | Groucho Marx | photo | red | pc | |
Aug 16, 1952 | Roxanne of Beat the Clock | photo | pink | pc | |
Aug 23, 1952 | Garry Moore | photo | orange on white | pc | |
Aug 30, 1952 | John Daly of What’s My Line? | photo | green | pc | |
Sep 6, 1952 | Don McNeill | photo | red | Chic | |
Sep 13, 1952 | Larry Storch | photo | orange | Chic | |
Sep 20, 1952 | Oliver J. Dragon | photo | light blue | pc | |
Sep 27, 1952 | Margaret Truman | photo | pink on black | pc | |
Oct 4, 1952 | Marilyn Monroe | photo | orange on white | pc | |
Oct 11, 1952 | Bob Murphy | photo | green | pc | |
Oct 18, 1952 | Luigi | photo | orange | pc | |
Oct 25, 1952 | Eve Arden of Our Miss Brooks | photo | pink | pc | |
Nov 1, 1952 | Arthur Godfrey | photo-art | red-orange | Chic | |
Nov 8, 1952 | Ozzie & Harriet & Ricky & David | photo | blue | pc | |
Nov 15, 1952 | Fred Waring | photo | light green | pc | |
Nov 22, 1952 | Marion Marlowe & Frank Parker | photo | purple | Chic | |
Nov 29, 1952 | Eddie Cantor | photo | brown | Chic | |
Dec 6, 1952 | Perry Como | photo | red | pc | |
Dec 13, 1952 | Carmelita Pope | photo | blue | pc | |
Dec 20, 1952 | many shows | photo montage | red on white | pc | |
Dec 27, 1952 | 1953 calendar / TV couples | photo montage | light green | pc | |
1953 | |||||
Jan 3, 1953 | Jackie Gleason | photo montage | dark orange | pc | |
Jan 10, 1953 | TV Awards | photo-art m | gold | pc | |
Jan 17, 1953 | Ed Sullivan | photo montage | red | pc | |
Jan 24, 1953 | Great TV Cowboys | photo-art m | blue | pc | |
Jan 31, 1953 | Mary Hartline of Super Circus | photo | red | pc | |
Feb 7, 1953 | Davey or Galivan? Boxers | photo montage | brown | pc | |
Feb 14, 1953 | Kukla- Fran & Ollie | photo montage | red | Great Lakes | |
Feb 21, 1953 | Johnny Coons | photo | blue | Great Lakes | |
Feb 28, 1953 | Eddie Fisher & Julius La Rosa | photo | purple | Great Lakes | |
Mar 7, 1953 | Jimmy Durante | art | orange | pc | |
Mar 14, 1953 | Wally Cox as Mr. Peepers | photo | brown | Great Lakes | Forecast and Guide |
Mar 20, 1953 | Wayne Griffin- Operation Foxhole | photo | blue-green | Chic | Guide and Forecast |
Mar 27, 1953 | Patti Page | photo | dark orange | Great Lakes | Guide and Forecast |
Becomes TV Guide- a national publication |