Figure 1.--This shows an English family watching television, probably in the mid-1950s. The size of the tv screen dictates how close to the set the family have to sit. Many aspects of the photograph hlp date the image. All the family members appear to have dressed smartly for the occassion. Many English parents still dressed formally in the 1950s. Also both parents are smoking. The husband has the pick of the chair. The photograph looks to be posed. We say this not because of the formality of the picture and the open box of candy. Families with kids or pets don't usually leave candy boxes open like this.

Britain was the first country to launch regular daily begin television transmissions. The BBC began these transmissions in November 1936. Few English people had TV sets at the time. The transmissions were suspended in September 1939 on the outbreak of World War II. Television was not an important factor in most people's lives until the mid-1950s. It was Queen Elizabeth II's cornanation in 1953 that caused many to buy a set so they could have a look. English viewers for many years watched television rather as they had listened to the radio. TV viewing was likely to be scheduled. Viewers would only turn on the set for specific programs. As there were only a few stations, and broadcasting had limited hours, it was possible to determine what was on offer with a very quick glance at the paper or Radio Times. Many older viewers still watch television in this way. Today of course, the in many households is often kept rinning throughout the day, often even whern it is not being watched. Some will leave it on while preparing dinner, doing housework, preparing meals, doing homework, chatting on the phone, working on the computer. etc. Color television arrived in Britain during 1967. Viewing hours were still very limited even in the 1960s. There were no late night broadcasts and even during the day there were scheduled breaks. Unfortunately most of England's early television programing is completely lost. At the time few producers realized the potential commercial value of rebroadcasting programs in the future. Most programs were broadcast live and not recorded. At the time, the only way of recording a program in a quality that could be rebroadcast was film. But this was prohibitively expensive to both do and archive. As a result, not only has the commercial value of early television lost, but also a potentially valiable source of ciltural and historic value. Video taping was not introduced until the mid-1960s, but was also at first expensive. Often only samples or excerpts were archived and tapes reused for other episodes and programs. Programs were not routienly taped and archived until well into the 1970s.

Television Broadcasting

British researchers were working on television during the 1920s. Baird mechanical system was transmitted from Alexander Palace in the 1920s. Britain was the first country to launch regular daily begin television transmissions. The BBC began these transmissions in November 1936. Few English people had TV sets at the time. The Germans were also working on television at the time. The transmissions were suspended in September 1939 atn the outbreak of World War II and Alexander Palace went off the air. Its last transmission was a Walt Disney cartoon. Television broadcasts were resumed after the War. All broadcasting was one by the BBC for years. Eventually two BBC channels were broadcast. at first there was only national broadcasts, but regional broadcst stations eventually appeared. Eventually a commercial channel ITV began broadcasting.

Watching Television

Television was not an important factor in most people's lives until the mid-1950s. It was Queen Elizabeth II's cornanation in 1953 that caused many to buy a set so they could have a look. English viewers for many years watched television rather as they had listened to the radio. TV viewing was likely to be scheduled. Viewers would only turn on the set for specific programs. As there were only a few stations, and broadcasting had limited hours, it was possible to determine what was on offer with a very quick glance at the paper or Radio Times. Many older viewers still watch television in this way. Today of course, the in many households is often kept rinning throughout the day, often even whern it is not being watched. Some will leave it on while preparing dinner, doing housework, preparing meals, doing homework, chatting on the phone, working on the computer. etc.

Televisions

Early televisions had very small screens. I remember our first TV in America had a kind of lens in front of it to magnify the picture. This may have been the same in England. The children in particular would want to sit right in front of the screen. Larger screens began to become more common by the mid-1950s. Color television arrived in Britain during 1967.

Programming

Programming and viewing hours were at first very limited. A lot of American programs were broadcast in Britain. One British reader in particular remembers: 'Rin Tin Tin', 'The Lone Ranger', 'Wagon Train', 'I Love Lucy', 'Dragnet', 'Highway Patrol', 'My Friend Flicka', 'Hanna Barbara Cartoons', 'Top Cat', 'Popeye Cartoons', 'Lassie', among others. Even in the 1960s. There were no late night broadcasts and even during the day there were scheduled breaks. Unfortunately most of England's early television programing is completely lost. At the time few producers realized the potential commercial value of rebroadcasting programs in the future. Most programs were broadcast live and not recorded. At the time, the only way of recording a program in a quality that could be rebroadcast was film. But this was prohibitively expensive to both do and archive. As a result, not only has the commercial value of early television lost, but also a potentially valiable source of cultural and historic value. Video taping was not introduced until the mid-1960s, but was also at first expensive. Often only samples or excerpts were archived and tapes reused for other episodes and programs. Programs were not routienly taped and archived until well into the 1970s. This is about the time tahr British programming begana appearing on American television. We do ot see British program on commercial net works, but rather they were carried on the Public Boadcasting Ststem (PBS). British progamming was seen as too 'highbrow' for Americans. That coninues to be the case, although Briish contemprary programming seems more like American pogramming. PBS ha a special reputation for childen's programming. For whatever reason, PBS picked on adult Britosh programming, but raely British children's programmin. 'Narnia' is a rare exception. We have some information on English program series.

Notable Series

We have noted several English programs which illustrate English children's clothes. Here are some of the English TV series that we have found particularly notable. We have not necesarily selected the best produced or most popular series, but rather those that have provided the most useful insights into boys' clothing. Many of the TV series we have noted in HBC are American. Most of the other are English. A few countries have produced a small number of series (Australia ad Canada). With few exceptions, England is one of the few countries that have produced notable TV series.

Whirligig

Whirligig tellus, "Everyone feels some nostalgia for the TV programmes that they watched when very young, so here we attempt to bring back to you some of the flavour of television in the Fifties." This is a fascinating site with all kinds of information avbout British television in the 1950s.

Created: November 18, 2003
Last updated: 3:37 AM 4/21/2019