Figure 1.--Here we see an add for a Motorola TV in 1951 with a rather ideolized view of the American family. Note how dressed up ebveryone is. Also moticethat vthe YV is rather a piece of furniture anda full entertaimnent center.

Television was introduced to Americans at the New York World's Fair (1939). The sme was going on in Britin and Germany at the time. A whole new industry wold have developed at the time. But of course, World War II was erupting. Television was sidelined, but importannt technolical advances were underway as proto-television screens were built in large numbers. Vast resources were devited to electonics creatng techology thart wouud assist the televsion industry after the War. The War ended (1945). The 1940s was still the Golden Age of radio. I can recall listening to radio programs like 'Amos and Andy," "'Fiber McGee abd Molly," "Gangbusters." "The long Ranger", and others before we got our first TV set. TV existed, but few people had them, and mist big srarts stayed in radio. This only really changed at the end of the 1940s. Wiih increased programming, and the post-War economic boom, people began to buy television sets which first were very expensive. Early television sets were both large and bulky, ften pieces of fyrniture. The analog circuits were complicated and made of vacuum tubes. The RCA CT-100 color TV set used an amazing 36 vacuum tubes. And when one blew, you had to call the TV repairman. The first screens, however, were very small. I recall our first set had a magnifying glass over the screen. TV quickly became America's favorite source of entertainment and all at home. Only about 20 percent of American homes had a TV set (1950), but by the end of the decade, some 90 percent of homes had TV sets (1960). Even more imoressive, a few had more than one set and color TV had appeared (1960). The number of TV stations, channels, and programs all grew to meet the voracious demnd. Although comsidered primitive by today's standards, this first decade is commonly described as the Golden Age of television. Television was dominated by three networks (ABC CBS, and NBC). CBS and NBC--the two surviving radio networks were the most important. ABC was a new comer, greatly ided by getting Disney programming. There were also unaffliated local stantion. So for the most part there were four choices avalable to Americans. Programming was at first limited. There was at first no daytime prigramming. Local statis began daytime TV and then oicjked up networknorigramming later inb the day. Many stations began when the kids came home from school. "Howdy Doody" was an early favorite as was "Hopalong Cassidy"which you can see on the previous page. And there was no late-night programming, but this wsas just the beginning.

The 1930s

Television was introduced to Americans at the New York World's Fair (1939). The sme was goiing on in Britin and Germany at the time. A whole new industry wold have developed at the time. But of course, World War II was erupting.

The 1940s

As a result of World War II, television was sidelined, but importannt technolical advances were underway as proto-television screens were built in large numbers. Vast resources were devited to electonics creatng techology thart wouud assist the televsion industry after the War. The War ended (1945). The 1940s was still the Golden Age of radio. I can recall listening to radio programs like 'Amos and Andy," "'Fiber McGee abd Molly," "Gangbusters." "The long Ranger", and others before we got our first TV set. TV existed, but few people had them, and mist big srarts stayed in radio. This only really changed at the end of the 1940s. Wiih increased programming, and the post-War economic boom, people began to buy television sets which first were very expensive. Early television sets were both large and bulky, ften pieces of fyrniture. The analog circuits were complicated and made of vacuum tubes. The RCA CT-100 color TV set used an amazing 36 vacuum tubes. And when one of these tunes blew, you had to call the TV repairman. The first screens, however, were very small. I recall our first set had a magnifying glass over the screen. By the end of the decade, Americans could wtch some classics, "The Texaco Star Theater" (1948) starring Milton Berle or the kids could watch "Howdy Doody" (1947) after school. There was, however, still no late-night programming, but this wsas just the beginning. News and weather also became standard. Weather was done by local stations. The news was done by network feed. At first this was 15-minute newscasts CBS TV News (1948) with Douglas Edwards and NBC's Camel News Caravan (1948) with John Cameron Swayze . Camel insisted he have a lit cigarette visible when he was on camera).

The 1950s

TV quickly became America's favorite source of entertainment and all at home. Only about 20 percent of American homes had a TV set (1950), but by the end of the decade, some 90 percent of homes had TV sets (1960). Color TV appeared (1960). The number of TV stations, channels, and programs all grew to meet the voracious demand. Although comsidered primitive by today's standards, this first decade is commonly described as the Golden Age of television. Television was dominated by three networks (ABC CBS, and NBC). CBS and NBC--the two surviving radio networks were the most important. ABC was a new comer, greatly ided by getting Disney programming. There were also unaffliated local stantion. So for the most part there were four choices avalable to Americans. Programming was at first limited. There was at first no daytime pogramming. Local statis began daytime TV and then picked up networknorigramming later inb the day. Many stations began when the kids came home from school. "Howdy Doody" was an early favorite as was "Hopalong Cassidy"which you can see on the previous page. Much of the early programs such as "Amos and Andy (1951) or The "Jack Benny Show" (1950-65) were rafio fvorites that sinoly moved to TV. Formats of the new TV programs, including newscasts, situation comedies, variety shows, and dramas were all based on radio prigramming. The two major netwoks (NBC and CBS) dinanced their TV opertions from their radio profits. The TV television networks were soon generating thir own substantial profits. Network radio began to disapper and becme more local operations playing popular music..

The 1960s

Bell labs grew out if the Work of Alexabder Grham Bell. It became an imprtant research center, especially during World War II, the firsrt electonics war. One of the importnt inventions flowing from Bell Labs was the transistor (1946). Its imprtance at first was no well understood, but gradually electronics companies begn to utilize the power of the transutor. Dony founder Masaru Ibuka predicted that the transition to electronic circuits made of transistors would lead to smaller and more portable television sets (1952). And he was right, so by 1960 all those vacuume tunns were being replaced by transistors. The first fully transistorized, portable solid-state television set was the 8-inch Sony TV8-301, developed in 1959 and first sold (1960). The first fully transistorized color TV set, the HMV Colourmaster Model 2700, was not until the British Radio Corporation came up with one (1967). Small portable TVs populrized by Sony were much more important than it sounds. It began a huge trnsition. It chnged television viewership from a communal viewing experience. Through the 1960s, most himes had only on TV. And mom and dad controlled whht the family watched in the living rrom where the TV w loicated. The transustors not only reduced prices, but mean that the kids nolonger had to watch what mom and dad turned on.

Created: 7:44 AM 6/8/20228
Last updated: 7:44 AM 6/8/2022