40 Years Ago: The Debut of Nick at Nite

July 1, 1985 saw the debut of the Nickelodeon network’s programming initiative Nick at Night.

The revolutionary concept of this nightly block in Nickelodeon’s schedule was “television oldies”. Taking a page from the radio format, the network bundled together decades-old tv shows for the purposes of nostalgia (and, for young people, discovery). It was an inspired concept, since Nickelodeon was supposed to be a kid’s network, but kids (young ones, at least) theoretically were not watching TV at night. So this was for older people. Writing about it today generates a sort of bi-level nostalgia — I fondly remember watching programs from the 1950s in the 1980s.

Through the courtesy of syndicated re-reuns I was already well versed in many of the classics of the ’50s and ’60s in my kidhood. But Nick at Nite proved a wonderful schooling in many of the older classics I had not previously experienced in syndication. Am I hallucinating that I watched The Jack Benny Program and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Showthere? They don’t have those listed among their shows online, though I for sure watched those shows on cable at around the same time. They may have been shown on another network though. Shows I definitely first saw on Nick at Night includedMake Room for Daddy, Father Knows Best,Hazel,The Donna Reed Show, Dennis the Menace,The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Patty Duke Show,Car 54 Where Are You?, Gidget, and The Smothers Brothers Show (their earlier sitcom; I already knew their variety show, of course). It also allowed me to re-connect with scores of other shows I had dim memories of from my early childhood (late ’60s/ early ’70s). The list of those is too long to name.

As will happen, the format changed over time, and I get it. What’s “old” for the next generations isn’t “old” to me. And many of the older classic shows are now available to watching at will on streaming services and youtube. But back in the day — Nick at Night gave me my first glimpse. Seldom does one have cause to salute television programmers and marketing departments, but I do that very thing today!

For more on the history of show business,consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, and pleasestay tuned for my upcomingElectric Vaudeville: A Century of Radio and TV Variety.