Can magnets permanently damage CRTs?

Can magnets damage a CRT: yes.
Do most fix themselves: yes.
Most modern CRT's automatically 'degauss' at turnon. Your old screen may not have that feature.
A large looped wire with at least six loops with an AC current flowing in it will fix your screen.
You can use a LONG extension cord and make it into a perfect circle 20" diameter. At least six loops, better ten, and let it be in use running some big current draw item.
the loops should be rigid!! use a coathanger wire as a form.
Take this contraption and bring it (while powered) near you TV screen.. moved it slowly!! slowly around and around the turned on TV screen. VERY close! 1 inch away. Then slowly very slowly move the coil away from the screen while both have current running through them. DO NOT TURN OFF THE COIL NEAR THE SCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This should fix the worst old TV magnetization.

As Elizabeth said, don't forget to include resistance [light bulb in a socket will work] in your home-made degausser, or the TV will be the least of your problems!

The heavy duty $24 ebay degausser worked and some. The picture on the RCA XL-100 is even better than before the magnet experiment.
Thank you all for the advice.
Howell

Actually there is a easy way to fix it. It seems a little strange but I tried it & it works excellent.

Homemade degausser. And yes it truely works. :)

Go to this link:
http://woil.ws/fixmonitor/

Sean (who said "this 'might' discharge...):

What are the nonsense quotation marks supposed to be for? You should know that they're not meant for emphasis. Why would you think they could be?