May 17, 1948

NBC-TV premieres "Village Barn," a New York-based country show. During part of its run, it's hosted by "Sioux City Sue" songwriter Dick Thomas

Jul 10, 1948

ABC's "Hayloft Hoedown" debuts from Town Hall in Philadelphia. The half-hour Saturday night broadcast is one of the first country shows on network TV, with Wesley Tuttle its best-known regular. It lasts just two months

Aug 7, 1948

Spade Cooley hosts the first installment of his long-running TV show on Los Angeles station KTLA. It goes under several names over its run but is best known as "The Spade Cooley Show." The theme song: "Shame On You"

Sep 18, 1948

"Hayloft Hoedown" ends an 11-week run on ABC-TV. One of the first network shows to feature country music, the program aired from Town Hall in Philadelphia, with Wesley Tuttle the best-known performer in its weekly cast

Dec 4, 1948

NBC-TV debuts "Saturday Night Jubilee," a New York-based country music show hosted by Elton Britt

Dec 18, 1948

Elton Britt hosts NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Jubilee" for the third and final time. He's replaced by Boyd Heath

Dec 25, 1948

Three years after he earned a country hit with a remake of "Smoke On The Water," Boyd Heath takes over as host of the NBC music show "Saturday Night Jubilee," aired live from New York

Feb 21, 1949

"The ABC Barn Dance" debuts on television. The music-and-comedy series features the stars of "The National Barn Dance" on WLS Radio in Chicago

Jul 2, 1949

"Saturday Night Jubilee" airs for the last time on NBC-TV. Boyd Heath, who earned a country hit in 1945 with his version of "Smoke On The Water," hosted the show from New York City

Sep 5, 1949

"Al Morgan," hosted by the Cincinnati-born vocalist and piano player, debuts on the DuMont television network. During its first month on the air, Morgan earns a country hit with "Jealous Heart"