HISTORY OF TELEVISION IN AMERICA

By R Heflin, James Newton, Julie Demeis, Stephanie Demeis,
Mellisa


There are inventions that have altered the American lifestyle, for example the automobile, electricity, the computer, and the telephone. However one of most important inventions in American history has to be television. Television was not the invention of just one person, but the accumulation of many inventions; believe it or not television’s roots date back to 1831 with Joseph Henry’s and Michael Faraday’s work with electromagnetism. Also, in 1873, scientist May and Smith experiment with selenium and in 1880 inventors Alexander Gram Bell and Thomas Edison theorize about television devices that transmit an image as well as sound. Other important dates include 1906 first mechanical television system by,Lee De Forset 1923 Vladimir Zworykin patents his iconscope.
After one hundred years of experimenting and tinkering, in 1937 CBS begins its television development and in 1939, the first live television broadcast took place and television sets are for sale for at the New York’s world fair. Also in 1939 the Federal Government issue television broadcast license to CBS and NBC, however less than ten TV broadcasting were in operation throughout the country. Despite all the publicity, from the world’s fair, Television sales by the only manufacture RCA were disappointing. Many people believed the lack of public response was because there were few stations to broadcast or transmit shows. Also, the programs were not popular with the public, most of the programming served the New York and Philadelphia areas. People would rather listen to the well written and performed radio they had grown up with.
Consequently, television bombs during World Was II. American had more important things to think about then new forms of entertainment. However CBS leaped on the Pearl Harbor attack, with a broadcast that lasted more than nine hours. Television could have played a more important role in World War II, however when the United States entered the war television production was ordered stopped by the government. Also shut down were the TV stations because the technically skilled men and women who ran the stations were needed for the war effort. With only a few thousand sets built most Americans relied on the radio for there war news. Even though, television missed a golden opportunity in the early 1940’s one major development occurred, ABC was born.
In 1945, with the war won, and Americans moving to the suburbs, television reawakened to a new era of opportunity, TV stations reopened and new ones were built all over the country. Advancement in technology and new programs such as quiz shows helped. New cameras made it possible to film over a large area and this benefit sports, accordingly in 1947 the broadcast of the World Series attracted 3.9 million viewers. Most viewers 3.7 million watched in bars and the clarity of the picture convinced most Americans needed one in there homes. Accordingly, television production levels skyrocket from 178,000 in 1947 to 975,000 in 1948. Manufactures could hardly keep up with demand. During this time programming changed with more scripted programming and series, most jumping from radio. Americans were just warming up there TV sets in the 1940’s, for the golden age of television was on the horizon.

History of Television in America


Though television started in the mid-1940s, the 1950s was the first full decade in which the number of TV stations and TV sets was large enough for wide spread use. In 1950, Arthur Godfrey and Faye Emerson were named most pleasing personalities on CBS’s Look"s TV awards show. Advertisers moved from radio to TV in record numbers. In 1951 Omnibus; an honored cultural series, started and in its five year run it took in $5.5 million in advertising revenues, with $8.5 million in costs. Also the I Love Lucy show debuted, CBS broadcasted the first color program and the Hallmark Hall of Fame series started. By 1952 the number of households with TVs grew to 20 million and NBCs Today Show went on the air. The Bob Hope Show went on the air and a House subcommittee investigated "offensive" and "immoral" TV programs. Highlights of 1954 were the starts of Captain Kangaroo, The Tonight Show and the first color commercial were televised. During 1955 the show Queen for a Day came to TV from radio, Ronald Reagan became the host of General Electric Theater, Gunsmoke and The $64,000 Question debuted. The perennial special Peter Pan started its annual run. Videotape use is introduced to replace the kinescope process in 1956. Also, in 1956 the movie The Wizard of Oz first appeared on TV. The Ed Sullivan Show is the most-watched show in 1957 and Jack Paar begins as host of the Tonight Show. By 1958 there are 525 cable TV systems with 450,000 subscribers and there are 22 network quiz shows. Herbert Stempel charges that the quiz show Twenty-One is rigged, causing a congressional investigation. The cartoon character Mister
Magoo becomes spokesman for General Electric bulbs in 1959 and the show Bonanza first goes on the air.
The show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet went on the air in 1952. It was about the real-life Nelson family and their two boys. At first, the show was centered on the four Nelsons, with occasional poor advice from a neighbor, Thorny Thormberry. When the boys started dating, girlfriends appeared on the show and later their real-life wives appeared as well. Besides Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, the show included their sons David and Eric Nelson and David’s wife, June Blair and Eric’s wife, Kristen Harmon. The show ran from 1952 to 1966.
The show Leave It to Beaver went on the air in 1957 and was about the Cleaver family, Ward played by Hugh Beamont, his wife June played by Barbara Billingsley and their sons Wally played by Tony Dow and Theodore "Beaver" played by Jerry Mathers. Theodore was seven when the series began and his friends were Larry, Whitney and Gilbert. Wally was twelve when the series began and his friends were Eddie and Lumpy. Theodore’s teachers were Miss Canfield played by Diane Brewster and Miss Landers played by Sue Randall. The show ran from 1957 to 1963.
The show I Love Lucy went on the air in 1951, and was about Ricky Ricardo played by Desi Arnaz and his wife Lucy played by Lucille Ball. It was about Lucy’s scatterbrain antics and her desires for a career in show business. It included their neighbors and landlords, Fred Mertz played by William Crawley and Ethel Mertz played by Vivian Vance. Ricky Ricardo was an orchestra leader at the Tropicana Club in New York. The Mertz’s and Ricardo’s were inseparable and did everything together. The show ran from 1951 to 1961.

History of Television

Entertainment continued rendering culture in the sixties. Major technological advancements promoted new waves of American consciousness, and television industries were quick to adapt. In 1962, Telstar was launched as the first communication satellite to retrieve data from outer space. The media now harbors a voice.
The cold Vietnam War’s affect on society was broadcasted nationwide. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech shined new light on the civil rights movements. Sports figures begin to influence society while war continues to break out; Mahammad Ali is stripped from his heavyweight title because he refuses to fight in the Vietnam War. America was gaining wind of these measures fast.
In response to a national devastation, television networks resorted to warm hearted propaganda. Knee slapping sitcoms, such as: The Munsters, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Gillagan’s Island pushed situational humor on a post-panic public. More viewers were tuned into the media now than ever before.
By the mid sixties, End the War Rallies are introduced to current political issues. Musicians are invited on national television. Counterculture rock bands like the Beatles and the Monkees set “groovy” trends while their subliminal messages settle social distortions in the atmosphere. Variety shows such as Lawrence Welk and the Ed Sullivan Show also incorporate musical theatrics in their comedy routines.
By 1973, television sets are mostly manufactured in color. One million colored television sets are sold in 1962. Ten years later, thirty seven million colored televisions sets are sold.
The seventies brought another genre of television into the picture. Staged comedies like; Mork and Mindy, Laverne and Shirley, and All in the Family directed the camera over to hyperactive friendships and positive family values; something the majority could relate to. Also, Saturday Night Live unleashes its first stand up skit in 1975.
Shows portraying abnormal human strength and extraterrestrial activity were also popular during the seventies. The Bionic Woman premieres in 1976 as a spin-off of 1974’s Million Dollar Man. With technology still progressing and space exploration now possible, America is able to watch “small, baby steps” evolve into “giant leaps” throughout mankind. The television set changes size, shape, and built. Now, consumers are able to purchase televisions with a colored picture. The tabletop television soon looses its value once larger models hit the sale rack. At this point, television has done more than just evolve. Nearly every American owns a television by now; access to the world outside is at consumer fingertips. Television industries continue supplying the demand for more televisions as multi-million communication corporations begin collaborating. History revives itself as television networks begin reproducing over night.

Work Sited:

Communication History

http://www.fcc.gov/omd/history/tv/1960-1989.html

History of Film and Television

http://www.high-techproductions.com/historyoftelevision.htm

Television-The History

http://library.thinkquest.org/18764/television/history.html

The history of television

The 1980's was a very popular year for television. There were many companies that introduced many items that helped make television a better entertainment source. Many of these items that were introduced in the 1980's are still well known in today's society. In the 1980's, most families that owned a television only were able to receive 12 different channels. The Antenna was a very important part of the television to Americans because it helped get a better resolution and it also helped a lot with static. Later in the 1980's, the first satellite system was introduced. The satellite system gave out over 100 different channels. The total cost for this item was $10,000. To Americans that seemed like a lot of money but it really wasn't that bad because you only had to pay a one time fee and no monthly bills. This item didn't do so well on the market so the company decided to reduce the cost to only $7,000 a year. Also in 1981 a new television advancement was developed call High Definition Television (HDTV). This was made to help with the resolution on the television.
On August 1, 1981 MTV was introduced to the public. MTV changed the music industry for the better. Up and coming artists used MTV as a source of communications to society. Music videos were launched through MTV. Instead of using the radio as the only source of entertainment, musicians could now portray their images and messages through the television. The first music video aired was called “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles (Wikipedia). During the 1980’s, MTV premiered different varieties of artists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Through the years MTV has changed its tune from only playing music videos to now showing a variety of programs. They debuted videos of Madonna and Michael Jackson and now to The Hills and Laguna Beach, both shows about life as teenagers in California. The Real World and Road Rules set the standard for today’s reality shows. MTV’s popularity has steadily increased since the 1980’s. Overall, MTV made a huge impact in the 80’s and still continues to thrive with today’s pop culture.
During the 1980’s, family based shows dominated the airwaves. With the shows like Charles in Charge, The Crosby Show, Different Strokes, and Full House all have changed the perspective of family living. Society has seen that every family is different and that we are all dysfunctional in some way. From the subjects of sex, deaths in the family, and even drugs, these 80’s sitcoms made a big impact on society and the way you can approach issues within the household. No subject went untouched. The family based sitcoms showed in the 1980’s, paved the way for today’s programming. From the King of Queens, to Everybody Loves Raymond and even to the cartoon Family Guy. Today’s family programming is a little bit more topic sensitive then the quality family shows in the 1980’s.
Also, during the 1980’s television shows from detectives, police, and war based programs were aired. For example, Murder She Wrote, and Miami Vice were both television shows that portrayed detective work. Late episodes of M.A.S.H were also very popular on television in the 1980’s. COPS, was a police program introduced in the late 80’s that was about real police officers patrolling the streets. These shows paved the way for today’s fictional police dramas.

Our culture has us hanging on the edge of our seats for the next hot fad. Television does not only conform to fads, it could possibly be the culprit for them. From the 1990’s to the present, television has morphed into our ideal source of entertainment. From technological advances to advertising the hottest new shoe, we use TV to keep up with the times.
Today, we can watch virtually anything at the push of a button. Channels like HBO, OnDemand, and ShowTime give us the option of watching any movie or documentary we wish. This advance had come around in 90’s. To satisfy our needs more, such advances as TiVo gave us the ability to record, pause, and rewind our favorite television shows. One our newest, and most favorite upgrade could possibly be high definition television, or HDTV. It was invented in the 90’s and is currently the most popular television accessory. Today a living room doesn’t seem to be complete without a high definition flat screen television mounted above the fireplace.
In the 90’s, you weren’t cool or with it unless you were rocking the “Rachel haircut”, or sporting a pair of Reebok pumps. Television made grunge rock and roller blades popular in the 90’s. A favorite television landmark of that time was also the talking frogs in the Budweiser commercials. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to greet you with a friendly “wasssssuuuupp” because of it. From hairstyles to shoes, the newest fad would have to be owning the latest in technology. Items such as the iPhone have created a stir in trends. It seems the newest television trend is reality TV. It started with MTV’s Real World, turning the boy or girl next door into a television star. Now reality shows are everywhere, America’s Top Model, The Bachelor, American Idol, Beauty and the Geek, I love New York, and So You Think You Can Dance, are just to name a few.
Although, the 90’s are now considered retro, is pushed out many of society’s favorite television shows. Full House, Roseanne, Home Improvement, and Doogie Houser M.D. were T.V. shows that all families could sit and enjoy together. Shows like Beverly Hills 90210 gave us a glimpse into high-class society and all the drama that comes with it. Classic comedies, such as Seinfeld and Married with Children, lightened up our 90’s life, and are still playing on television today. Now, it seems that the life inside of a hospital seems most appealing. Grey’s Anatomy, House, and Scrubs are new household favorites. With the ability to block certain channels or shows, cable TV is pushing the limit with nudity, language, and adult scenarios. Nip Tuck, Gossip Girl, and The Shield are shows that seem to “push it” with each new episode.
Television is constantly changing. Much like our lives in human world there are always new trends, ideas, and different audiences to appeal to. Over the decades television has changed rapidly, who knows what will be next for our entertainment.

Like Father Like Son

There is no doubt that genetics link our personal traits to our parents’. The movie Transamerica demonstrated that certainty with a twist. It is a humorously bizarre film about a transsexual father, Bree or Stanley, and his tragically delinquent son, Toby. The two are constantly compared through out their long journey from New York to Los Angeles.
When the two first met in New York, they both had some major secrets. Bree did not tell Toby from the start that she was a transsexual, nor did she tell him she was actually his estranged father, Stanley. She played the role of a church lady trying to save him from his horrible living conditions, which was another fallacy. Bree didn’t confess she was actually a man; Toby discovered it when he saw her going to the bathroom one night on the side of the road. Then, a few days later Bree told him the real scenario (she is his transsexual father) when they were at her parents’ house. Toby’s secrets were revealed earlier. When Bree took Toby to his stepfather’s house it was obvious that his stepfather molested him. Shortly after, Toby’s neighbor told Bree that his mother did not die from a stroke; she committed suicide. After that he was using drugs in front of her, which he said he would never do when they were still in New York.
It was very apparent that both Bree and Toby were gender or sexually confused. Bree was going through a sex change, and had told her doctor that she hated her penis. She didn’t want anything to do with her previous life as Stanley. Toby makes gay pornography and was hustling himself off to men for money. Although he was engaging in sex with men, he also was making out with girls. There is a point in the movie where he admits being sexually attracted to Bree, whom he knows is a man posing as a woman. Although, Toby did not want to become a woman, he stated that he wanted to move to California and change his name to Stanley, so he could leave his past behind.
Bree’s doctor told her that wanting a sex change is classified as a severe mental disorder. Being a transsexual is obviously not the norm in society. Anyone who would do such a thing to his or her body would automatically be classified as an outcast. Toby is also an extreme outcast of society. He stated that he was a loner, and Bree encouraged him saying, “That’s the spirit.” Those who are addicted to drugs, sell their body, and were molested are most certainly outsiders in America. Neither Bree nor Toby lived in upper class or even middle class areas. Toby lived in a one-bedroom apartment with multiple roommates. Even though her living conditions weren’t as intense, Bree lived in a small house, in a lower class part of town. Although they did not have the same dreams, and went about achieving them differently; Bree and Toby are very similar people. Both of them got where they wanted and were doing what they wanted by the end of the film.

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta is an action sci-fi thriller that was produced in 2005. It is directed by the Wachowski Brothers (Matrix Trilogy). It stars Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond. Hugo Weaving plays "V" who is a modern day anarchist that is obsessed with Guy Fawkes. We later learn that "V" has overcome a very troubling past. The story takes place in future Great Britain where Chancelor Adam Suttler (John Hurt), a power crazy tyrant, controls the people and everything within his jurisdiction. Curfews and secret police limit the people from accomplishing simple tasks. Posters of the expressions strength through unity where as unity is seen throughout the streets. The story takes place with Evey taking a nrevous stroll in an alley past curfew. She is confronted and almost assaulted if it wasn't for our hero V. After greetings were exchanged, V invites Evey to a musical demolition of a government structure. Confused yet intrigued, Evey doesn't know what to think of V, but is greatly appreciated of his help. Later we find Evey at her job at a major television news station. Coincidently, V's next plan of attack was to televise his viewpoints and his plan to destroy Parliament through the station. Upon exiting, V is confronted by a guard and Evey returns the favor that she received before. In the process, she is knocked unconscious. Concerned for her safety, V "kidnaps" her and takes her to his underground home. After the televised announcement, Suttler demand that's Inspector Finch (Stephen Rea) finds V and brings him to justice. Later in the investigation, Finch begins to learn about a detention center called Lark Hill. V had been imprisoned at Lark Hill and a series of experimental drugs had been used on some of the prisoners. While others continued to die from the drug, V only grew stronger. The name V came from the number on his cell. He made an escape and vowed to seek vengeance on the other ones responsible for his mutation and incarceration. As the murders proceeded, Finch grew closer to him and grew more of an understanding of his story. While the police were out searching for V, society in Great Britain grew restless. After costumes and masks were delivered to every home, crime and anarchy spread throughout. Meanwhile, Evey grew aware of the slaughters and decided to escape away from V. V eventually caught up to Evey and kidnapped her. Evey was unaware that it was V. Evey later found herself in a prison cell. An interrogator then proceeded to torture Evey by telling her that if she would just tell him where V was, then she would be free to go. Evey refused to cooperate. When the time came for her execution she stated that she would rather die then to tell where he was, the cells door opened. Evey left the prison only to find herself in the headquarters. At first, Evey was upset but later had a better understanding of why V had done that to her. As November 5th grew closer (the day of destruction of Parliament) V continued his vendetta by making a deal with a man named Creedy (Tim Pigott-Smith) to obtain Suttler. Creedy was a man in high empowerment in the government. After Suttler was killed, the final battle took place with V and Creedy. All banged up, V barley made it into Evey's arms explaining that his job was complete. He told her that the train of explosives on track towards Parliament was her decision to make. V died and Evey placed his body on the train ready for the final scene. As she was pulling the switch, Fitch confronted her and was going to stop her. After seeing V dead and listening to his ideas, Fitch allowed her to get the train going. Fitch asked Evey who V was and she said he was "all of us". The ending scene was Parliament exploding with citizens watching on in awe.
Watching V for Vendetta changed alot of my viewpoints on many different levels. First off, it reminds me of how this country, the USA, has changed from a democracy to a fascist government. Dictators in office today are beginning to the end of us. The small threats that are made everyday on the news can sicken one. The never ending instances of the stripping of our rights and freedoms that go unnoticed with the outrageous increase in commerce. But those viewpoints are not the only thing that I got from the movie. To me, the word "idea" is the most important aspect of the movie. V said it best in the line "Beneath this mask there is more then flesh, beneath this mask there is idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof". If you believe in something enough no one else can tell you otherwise. I think its very important to have strong ideas and viewpoints on everything in life. The people captured and put in Lark Hill were prosecuted for their ideas. V's vendetta was an attack on government that put their own people in political repression. V for Vendetta, most importantly is a movie about ideas and strengths of beliefs. It is a movie that will either strike you in a good way or in a bad way. I believe that it should be viewed as a gift from the Wachowski Brothers' minds.