“What’s a Dick Van Dyke?” That’s what the Dec. 9, 1961, issue of TV Guide Magazine asked in its cover story headline only two months after the premiere of The Dick Van Dyke Show.

First published in 1953 (which is surprising, given only 9% of American homes had a TV in 1950), TV Guide became almost as much a part of the television experience as the actual programs it covered.

From “Who Shot J.R.?” to the 'M*A*S*H' farewell, TV Guide — and those unforgettable covers — were once a treasured part of every TV lover’s weekly routine.