August 1957…’Home’ With Arlene Francis Ends Three Year Run

NBC’s ‘Home’ show debuted March 1, 1954 at 11 AM from their 67th Street Studios which were built just a few years earlier by WOR. The concept came from a show NBC President Pat Weaver had originally titled ‘Shopping’ and was designed for the upscale female demo. Weaver’s other creations ‘Today’ and ‘Tonight’ are alive and well, but ‘Home’, the third of the triad, ended with the 893rd and final episode on August 9, 1957.

When Arlene Francis was chosen as the host, Weaver changed the name to ‘Home’ and broadened the scope of the show to add more entertainment and interviews, but each show did have a twelve minute segment on shopping and new products that ranged from food and furniture to clothes and cosmetics.

Instead of trying to present the show on a household type set, NBC spent $200,000 on a circular set that made it clear to viewers that it was done on in a modern television studio. As you can see it was shot “in the round”, but the set also rotated on a huge turntable and was one of the most versatile sets ever.

As you can see In the photo with the girls with umbrellas, there were often special effects and there was even special plumbing on the set to make and drain rain as well as operate the kitchen sinks.

In the third year of the show, it was moved to the 10 o’clock hour as CBS was doing their best to counter program with Lucy reruns at 11. Although critics loved the show, it’s aim at the upper class female demo was too narrow and the ratings continued to drop forcing NBC to cancel the show. Still under contract for another year, NBC replaced ‘Home’ with ‘The Arlene Francis Show’, which was much livelier and had more entertainment. – Bobby Ellerbee

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