The first TV Guide and other classic issues to read online - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sal · 08-25-2019, 10:57 PM

TV Guide Magazine first hit the newsstands on April 3, 1953 and, from then on until the dawn of the new century, it became a prized possession and must have item for the home, usually placed on the coffee table near the remote or hidden inside the couch by the more devilish types in the family.

Until recently, I have had a hard time finding complete issues to read online since I was interested in reading some of the old articles that were written about some of my favorite stars from the old days. Today, I finally found what I wanted --- and a lot more. The Internet Archive has now added several complete issues of TV Guide to its large book and magazine database. Not only are there recent issues from the last few years but now there are also a few older ones that are starting to show up, even going all the way back to the first ever edition in April 1953 with Lucy and baby Desi Jr. on the cover. The following are all complete old issues that can be read and downloaded for free at any time. Just don't leave them under the couch!

TV GUIDE - #1 - April 3, 1953

April 10, 1953 - Jack Webb ("Dragnet")

April 17, 1953

April 24, 1953 - Ralph Edwards ("This Is Your Life")

May 1, 1953 - Eve Arden ("Our Miss Brooks")

May 8, 1953 - Arthur Godfrey

May 15, 1953 - David and Ricky Nelson ("The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet")

May 22, 1953 - Red Buttons

May 29, 1953 - Queen Elizabeth

June 5, 1953 - Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis

June 12, 1953 - Eddie Fisher

June 19, 1953 - Ed Sullivan

June 26, 1953 - Dinah Shore

---The next issue was July 3 with Perry Como on the cover which the Internet Archive removed for copyright reasons. The rest of the 1953 editions, which include local listings from the Chicago area, are all good to read.

July 10 - Dave Garroway

July 17 - Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz ("I Love Lucy")

July 24 - Groucho Marx

July 31 - ("Your Show Of Shows")

August 7 - Ray Milland

August 14 - Patti Page

August 21 - ("Super Circus")

August 28 - Audrey and Jayne Meadows

Sept. 4 - Wally Cox ("Mr. Peepers")

Sept. 11 - Ralph Edwards

Sept. 18 - The first FALL PREVIEW issue

Sept. 25 - George Reeves ("The Adventures Of Superman")

October 2 - Red Skelton

October 9 - Bishop Fulton J Sheen ("Life Is Worth Living")

October 16

Other various issues from different years and cities:

April 2, 1954 (Philadelphia) - Eve Arden

March 29, 1958 (Boston) - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Sept. 1, 1973 (San Francisco/Bay Area)

Sept. 13, 1980 (Buffalo) - Fall Preview 1980-81

MikeLutton · 08-26-2019, 01:49 AM

where can we go to read these do they got ones to the 90s to

RetroGuy2000 · 08-26-2019, 02:21 AM

Thanks Sal! So helpful!

MA · 08-26-2019, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

where can we go to read these do they got ones to the 90s to

You can go here:

https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A"TV+Guide"

There are also the links that Sal provided as well.

mets82 · 08-26-2019, 10:31 PM

I have to look this up. I've always wanted to see and read the old TV Guides.

tvfan25 · 08-27-2019, 07:28 AM

Is there a place to download old TV Guides, mostly the 80s and 90s?

rcbrad · 08-28-2019, 08:55 PM

Thanks, Sal! More reading pleasure. I too, have looked for issues, but have found very few vintage issues!

Hawkee · 08-28-2019, 11:25 PM

TV Guide is such an iconic magazine that has been a part of TV history that i'm glad that they finally brought the first issues out of the vault for people to read online because with the modern generation of computers and magazines going digital for people to read on their tablets TV Guide has given people that chance. I wonder because of this the original paper TV Guides will go up in value? I also wonder if TV Guide will have the famous issue with Lucille Ball's and Desi Arnaz's baby on the cover because from what I read about it that issue is very collectible because of the cover alone
Bestie

TSMIV · 08-28-2019, 11:31 PM

These are so cool! The ads are fascinating; one of them advertises a 24 inch console TV for $399 which is equivalent to $3800 today.

Sal · 08-29-2019, 10:36 PM

I'm glad that you are enjoying the vintage TV Guides just as I was in finding them. Now if you like those so much, then I have another treat for you. Are you ready to see and read some vintage Sports Illustrated issues, all the way from the very beginning in 1954? These links are also from the Internet Archive and they are found here:

First Issue - August 16, 1954

1950s

1960s

1974-79

1980-83

08-25-2019, 10:57 PM	#1
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,175	The first TV Guide and other classic issues to read online TV Guide Magazine first hit the newsstands on April 3, 1953 and, from then on until the dawn of the new century, it became a prized possession and must have item for the home, usually placed on the coffee table near the remote or hidden inside the couch by the more devilish types in the family. Until recently, I have had a hard time finding complete issues to read online since I was interested in reading some of the old articles that were written about some of my favorite stars from the old days. Today, I finally found what I wanted --- and a lot more. The Internet Archive has now added several complete issues of TV Guide to its large book and magazine database. Not only are there recent issues from the last few years but now there are also a few older ones that are starting to show up, even going all the way back to the first ever edition in April 1953 with Lucy and baby Desi Jr. on the cover. The following are all complete old issues that can be read and downloaded for free at any time. Just don't leave them under the couch! TV GUIDE - #1 - April 3, 1953 April 10, 1953 - Jack Webb ("Dragnet") April 17, 1953 April 24, 1953 - Ralph Edwards ("This Is Your Life") May 1, 1953 - Eve Arden ("Our Miss Brooks") May 8, 1953 - Arthur Godfrey May 15, 1953 - David and Ricky Nelson ("The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet") May 22, 1953 - Red Buttons May 29, 1953 - Queen Elizabeth June 5, 1953 - Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis June 12, 1953 - Eddie Fisher June 19, 1953 - Ed Sullivan June 26, 1953 - Dinah Shore ---The next issue was July 3 with Perry Como on the cover which the Internet Archive removed for copyright reasons. The rest of the 1953 editions, which include local listings from the Chicago area, are all good to read. July 10 - Dave Garroway July 17 - Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz ("I Love Lucy") July 24 - Groucho Marx July 31 - ("Your Show Of Shows") August 7 - Ray Milland August 14 - Patti Page August 21 - ("Super Circus") August 28 - Audrey and Jayne Meadows Sept. 4 - Wally Cox ("Mr. Peepers") Sept. 11 - Ralph Edwards Sept. 18 - The first FALL PREVIEW issue Sept. 25 - George Reeves ("The Adventures Of Superman") October 2 - Red Skelton October 9 - Bishop Fulton J Sheen ("Life Is Worth Living") October 16 Other various issues from different years and cities: April 2, 1954 (Philadelphia) - Eve Arden March 29, 1958 (Boston) - Tennessee Ernie Ford Sept. 1, 1973 (San Francisco/Bay Area) Sept. 13, 1980 (Buffalo) - Fall Preview 1980-81
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08-26-2019, 01:49 AM	#2
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,883	where can we go to read these do they got ones to the 90s to
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08-26-2019, 02:21 AM	#3
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Thanks Sal! So helpful!
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08-26-2019, 10:31 PM	#5
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	I have to look this up. I've always wanted to see and read the old TV Guides.
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08-28-2019, 11:25 PM	#8
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,782	TV Guide is such an iconic magazine that has been a part of TV history that i'm glad that they finally brought the first issues out of the vault for people to read online because with the modern generation of computers and magazines going digital for people to read on their tablets TV Guide has given people that chance. I wonder because of this the original paper TV Guides will go up in value? I also wonder if TV Guide will have the famous issue with Lucille Ball's and Desi Arnaz's baby on the cover because from what I read about it that issue is very collectible because of the cover alone Bestie
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08-27-2019, 07:28 AM	#6
tvfan25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 634	Is there a place to download old TV Guides, mostly the 80s and 90s?

08-28-2019, 08:55 PM	#7
rcbrad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Posts: 479	Thanks, Sal! More reading pleasure. I too, have looked for issues, but have found very few vintage issues!

08-28-2019, 11:31 PM	#9
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 696	These are so cool! The ads are fascinating; one of them advertises a 24 inch console TV for $399 which is equivalent to $3800 today.

08-29-2019, 10:36 PM	#10
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,175	I'm glad that you are enjoying the vintage TV Guides just as I was in finding them. Now if you like those so much, then I have another treat for you. Are you ready to see and read some vintage Sports Illustrated issues, all the way from the very beginning in 1954? These links are also from the Internet Archive and they are found here: First Issue - August 16, 1954 1950s 1960s 1974-79 1980-83