Television in the 1950s

Television was the first audio-visual aid that opened the door towards the realm of recreation and mass communication. Unlike radio, it made it possible to watch live events sitting in one’s living room. It were the fifties that started influencing the lives of the common man. Do you want to know about the early days of television?

After the horrible effect of the Second World War, the post-war economy was booming around the world. According to surveys, approximately 3.1 million people had enjoyed television in America in the fifties. Radio, cinema and print media were already there to entertain and to connect people. However, with the advent of television, popularity of radio and print media faded away, as television has both the effects: sound as well picture.

Facts on Television in the 1950s

The decade of 1950s is known as "the Golden Age of Television". Every family member tried their best to get hold of a set of TV, as it was one of the sources of cheaper, simpler entertaining media. Programs such as I love Lucy, Father knows Best, Our Miss Brooks and Burns & Allen were some popular shows in the fifties.

Towards the mid-fifties, live performances of reality TV shows were broadcasted for the first time that created a different form of television entertainment. These programs of reality television like Candid Camera broke the monotony of scripted drama.

News programs of the 1950s

In 1952-1953, while NBC faced financial crisis and reduced its news programming, CBS expanded its news operations. 1951 onwards, television networks started telecasting news item such as See It Now. This was hosted by veteran news presenter Edward R Murrow. It was a documentary series on public affairs that was telecasted in sequences. Hence, television in the '50s played a great role in making the people aware of their rights by telecasting news, information as well as the election coverage.

Television Advertising

Television became the much sought-after medium of telecasting advertisements in the 1950s. Various companies started looking at the television as the best medium to advertise for better sale and popularity of their products. These companies began to sponsor popular television shows and programs as television advertising on them brought them a wide publicity. Thus, the businessmen found a medium through which they can get a market for their products.

Television was first used as a medium for advertising the presidential campaign in the year 1952, by Dwight Eisenhower. Later on, all future presidential candidates started to rely on television for advertising as a part of their strategy.

In America, black & white television sets exploded on to the whole scenario at the beginning of the '50s. Gradually, by the mid-fifties, there came electronic color television, which was followed by launching of remote control and transistorized television sets towards 1959.

Thus, we can conclude that television in the 1950s brought an element of reality, news and fun for the people and also helped create a sense of awareness against all the social ills. The availability of movies and movie-related shows, reality shows, daily soaps and of course the news programs have made television the prime media of entertainment in every household.