Carol Stream was home to original reality show

The Village of Carol Stream is known for many things: the Town Center, friendly neighbors, good schools.

But, what about the birth of reality TV?

NBC once aired a television program about life on the farm based in 1954 in what is now Carol Stream.

"Out on the Farm" starring the Landmeier Family. The farm was located off Gary Avenue where Carol Stream's Bielawski Municipal Center is now located.

The program was hosted by Eddy Arnold, Hugh Downs and Clint Youle with special appearances by Mr. Wizard Don Herbert, Marlin Perkins and others. The farm was also the site of the first live remote color broadcast during an appearance on NBC's "Home" program hosted by Arlene Francis.

To celebrate the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Village of Carol Stream in 2009 and to honor the village's place in broadcasting history, the Carol Stream Village Board will host an event at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 in the board room of the Bielawski Municipal Center.

Janet Zoellick and Judy Hesterman, two of the Landmeier children who starred in the program, will be part of a moderated discussion on the television program, growing up on a farm and how the area has changed since the early 1950s. Following the discussion, for the first time in over 50 years, an episode of the program will be screened. The program was made available by the Museum of Broadcast Communications, NBC and WMAQ-TV Chicago.

This event is free and will also be broadcast on Carol Stream's local cable Channel 6.