"Bible Time", A Chicago TV Classic!

Bible Time

WNBQ-TV Chicago, October 4, 1953 - 1957

Starring: Marcella Hein

For 4 years in the Golden Age of Classic Chicago Television a Sunday morning program captivated children with stories from the Bible. "Bible Time" was created and hosted by Marcella Hein who was also the procurement supervisor for station WNBQ. 

Hein, a native of Milwaukee was inspired to start the series after a hometown visit. Her pastor suggested that she could do a lot of good for the Gospel with the new medium of television.

The series was successful and popular with Chicago audiences. The exact format of Hein's program isn't clear from press articles at the time. Based on the episode titles, she told stories from the Old and New Testaments. It is fascinating that "Bible Time" seems to be the only program from it's time that taught children about the Book of Revelation. In December 1954, Hein taught a multi part episode on the birth of Christ.

In 1956 WNBQ became the first TV station in the world to broadcast entirely in color. "Bible Time" therefore may have been the first live action Bible series broadcast in color. 

The series ended in 1957 when Hein left for California for a position at another station.

If you have memories of "Bible Time" or information on the life of Marcella Hein, please leave a message in the comments area.