NY TV debut 12/25/48 at 9 pm on WPIX. Alexander Korda initially syndicated brother Zoltan's 1942 epic to local stations in black-and-white. Disappeared by 1967 due to Disney remake. Resurfaced on FSM Holiday Network, hosted by Orville Redenbacher. Copyright expired 1976. 
12/25/53 at 9 pm on WOR. Released in the US by Universal-International in 1947, Cavalcante's adaptation for Ealing Studios oddly made its NY TV debut on July 4, 1950, courtesy of Standard Television.
12/25/58 from 5 to 7 pm on WCBS' "The Early Show.'' Channel 2 showcase expanded from usual 90 minutes for holiday. 1935 Selznick/Cukor classic, 130 minutes in theaters, made unseasonal but longer NY TV debut 7/27/58 on WCBS' "The Late Show'' from 11:15 pm to approximately 1:45 am
12/25/63 at 1:05 am on WCBS' "The Late Late Show.'' Donat, whose frail health often seemed to inform his later roles, plays dying parson in 1952 Ealing Studios production, a Christmas staple available in TV syndication since at least 1959.
12/25/68 at 1 pm on WOR. Proportion of British films on TV clearly rose around Christmas, at least in New York City. Gilliat's Korda-sponsored 1953 biopic, distributed theatrically by UA, made local debut 2/12/56 on WOR's "Million Dollar Movie,'' via National Telefilm Associates.
12/25/73 at 1 and 2:30 pm on WNEW. Channel 5 wisely sagely some less ponderous movies for Christmas. By this point, the Marxes and the Fieldses were re-packaged by TV distributor MCA in a comedy collection with Mae West's Paramounts.
12/25/78 from 12:40 to 2:30 am on "The CBS Late Movie.'' One of Selznick's stealth productions that originally made the rounds in syndication in the '50s. Showed in prime-time on ABC, which later licensed it in a package to rival network CBS for late-night showings.
That's it for today. I'd like to thank everybody who had such kind words for yesterday's Christmas Eve mega-thread. Have a great holiday while my 12/25/57 self prepares to watch TREASURE ISLAND (1934) from 5 to 7 on WCBS' "The Early Show'' on Uncle Al's television set in Astoria.
