Religion Series/Services. -  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.