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Religion Series -
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was television's first religious star. His award
winning show LIFE IS WORTH LIVING ran on ABC, opposite "Mr. Television"
Milton Berle. Sheen's highly successful interdenominational religious talk
program ran from 1952-57, first on the Dumont network and then in 1955 on
the ABC Network. When his show won an Emmy, he thanked his writers "Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John." His program was filled with stories and lessons of
morality intended to help the viewers attain a more holy existence.
The New
York City NBC station W2XBS aired the first televised religious services on
March 24, 1940. Beginning at 11:30 A.M., Dr. Samuel McCrea Cavert presided
over the Protestant Easter Services for the Federal Council of the Churches
of Christ in America. Later at 12:30 A.M. Msgr. Fulton John Sheen of the
Catholic University of America presided over the Roman Catholic Easter
Services.
TRIVIA NOTE: According to a 1987 Roper Poll,
Evangelist Billy Graham was the most popular TV preacher (based on 25% of
those who get their religion from TV). Next came Jimmy Swaggart with 15% of
the votes, then Oral Roberts with 11% and Pat Robertson and Robert Schuller
tied for fourth place with 8%.
Other television evangelists included Rex Hubbard who
broadcast from his Cathedral of Tomorrow; Jerry Falwell's OLD TIME GOSPEL
HOUR broadcast since 1956; and Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, host of the PTL
CLUB.
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