We’ve Always Been Dramatic!

A strong fall line-up of quality programming has always been a priority of PBS SoCal’s — even in our earliest days, as evidenced by the illustration found in our 1974 Viewer Guide.

And drama was a priority even then.

In 1974, drama on KOCE ranged from mysteries to dramedies, and even dabbled in the theatrical! Among the premier dramas that season was the incredibly popular Upstairs, Downstairs, a show that, according to The Guardian, “has been viewed by over 1 billion people worldwide.” The lineup also included Vienna 1900: Games of Love and Death from novelist Arthur Schnitzler, a Lord Peter Whimsey mystery called The Nine Tailors, and Classic Theater a program that afforded viewers the opportunity to see plays like MacBeth and The Duchess of Malfi. Another notable drama that season was Murder Must Advertise, a MASTERPIECE THEATRE offering that was regarded as one of poet and novelist Dorothy L Sayer’s finest detective stories.

And as our station has grown, so too have our drama offerings. Visit our schedule page to get a full view our current programming.

This article was updated Jan. 20, 2023.