In the latter part of 1968, George Schlatter, a successful TV producer riding the wave of his hit show, “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” had an intriguing pitch for a new television program. This innovative show was to be brimming with short clips, rapid movements, and daring discussions on controversial topics.

ABC was quick to pick up the concept, committing to a 13-episode run initially. However, advertisers were so impressed by the first episode that they purchased additional episodes, extending the total to 17. Remarkably, three complete episodes were filmed before the premiere.

The half-hour pilot episode made its debut on February 5th, 1969, at 8:30 PM on the East Coast, filling the time slot previously occupied by the primetime soap opera “Peyton Place.” Notably, the inaugural episode featured the comedic talents of Tim Conway and the creative contributions of Albert Brooks among its writers.

At first glance, the show appeared poised for success. However, just 10 minutes into the broadcast, between the first and second commercial breaks, an unexpected turn of events unfolded at WEWS in Cleveland. A decision was made that left viewers stunned—the remaining part of the program would be “not be seen this evening… or ever.”

In place of the abruptly canceled show, the Cleveland audience was met with a pitch-black screen. To fill the remaining airtime, a local organist, typically on retainer, was hastily summoned and proceeded to entertain with lively organ music.

Cleveland’s decision set off a chain reaction, with news of the cancellation spreading like wildfire. Other TV programmers across the nation swiftly followed suit and pulled “Turn-On” from their schedules. Astonishingly, the show never even aired once on the West Coast.

ABC eventually made an official cancellation, buying out Schlatter’s contract and including a stipulation that “Turn-On” should never be rerun.

However, fast forward to the present day, and the first two episodes of “Turn-On” have recently surfaced online. Now, at the age of 94, George Schlatter has decided to revisit the show with the idea of an “official release” via YouTube.

This anticipated release will feature a new on-camera introduction from Schlatter himself, sharing his personal story and providing context for the two known episodes. Both of these episodes are scheduled to be released at 4 PM PT/7 PM ET on Monday, Oct. 9.

In an exciting development, Schlatter is also working on an updated version of “Turn-On.” This revamped edition will incorporate the best elements from the first two episodes and introduce never-before-seen content from the elusive third episode.

This updated version will also find its place on the George Schlatter Productions and Clown Jewels YouTube pages at a later date, promising to bring a piece of television history back into the spotlight for a new generation to discover.