THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION PART II

Television has been more essential now than ever before, as we continue to watch our favourite programs, keep up to date on the news and champion on our sport's teams. Few remember it's initial and humble beginnings 95 years ago on January 26, 1926. Here is a short history of Television, as we look at the Five Ages of TV.

THE SILVER AGE OF TELEVISION

1946-1953 – Eight Years

Although only eight years were captured in this early era of TV programming; it was this pioneering period that got America and the World addicted to television, making way for morning programming options, thereby helping to build a case for more hours of programming to be presented to the viewers. 

Though Television has been in operation for the early 1930s, and commercial licensing has been available in 1941, the coaxial cable connection invention allowed stations to share the exact program schedules, thus birthing the first American network season in 1946-1947. N.B.C. and DuMont were the only operational networks. C.B.S. was just gearing up at this point, and A.B.C. was planning to join the medium in a few years.

Notable programs on the schedule this first season include: DuMont’s first soap opera, Faraway Hill (1946), the first American variety show, Hour Glass (1946-1947); the first game show, Cash and Carry (1946-1947), and the first anthology series, Kraft Television Theatre (1947-1958). The first sitcom to air in America was Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-1950). There was also the first crime series, Chicagoland Mystery Players (1947-1950). The third television season (1948-1949) brought the important anthology series Studio One (1948-1958) to audiences. The fourth television season (1949-1950) gave us one of the earliest sci-fi show, Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1948-1955).

The U.S. Congress was televised for the first time on January 3, 1947. Hollywood receives its first commercial television station on January 29, 1947. America also televises the first World Series on September 30, 1947. Another important premiere was on October 13, which showcased the first puppet show called Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947-1957) from Chicago. Howdy Doody (1947-1960), the first child program to use kids on stage in the peanut gallery, with classic characters Buffalo Bob Smith, Clarabell the Clown, and Princess Summerfall Winterspring.

The longest-running television show begins its first broadcast on November 6, 1947, titled Meet the Press (1947-Present), having been on the air for seventy-four years. It is essentially a one-on-one interview with D.C. politicians, and in its run, has had twelve moderators to ask the tough questions. By this point, America has sold over 250,0000 television sets. On March 4, 1948, the first television ratings were realized by C E Hooper, two years before the established Nielsen TV Ratings would be the dominant source for audience popularity.

The nightly newscast eventually called CBS Evening News (1948-Present), anchored first by Douglas Edwards, and then by the most trusted man in America: Walter Cronkite, premiered on May 3, 1948. Televised political conventions started in June of 1948. The London Summer Olympic Games became the most advantageous and successful broadcast pulled off by B.B.C., beginning on July 28, 1948. The year ended with C.B.S. beginning its network programming and A.B.C. establishes its first stations in New York. In contrast, Canada begins their manufacturing of TVs, as the number of households with a T.V. reached one million.

At the end of the 1940s, we got our first look at what a variety T.V. series has to offer, starting with The Texaco Star Theatre (1948-1953), on June 8, 1948, which showcased, Milton Berle, doing a wide variety of sketches. Another example of a host presenting actual variety acts is The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971), airing for the first time on June 20, 1948. It provided the true scope of variety with different and eclectic acts changing all the time. 1950 continued with more variety shows including The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950-1955) and Four Star Revue (1950-1953), aimed at bringing radio legends to Television, including Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Danny Thomas and Edgar Bergen. In time other variety shows made an entrance to the T.V. medium like The Jack Benny Show (1950-1965), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958), The Alan Dale Show (1948-1951), and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (1949-1959). Your Show of Shows (1950-1954), which began on February 25, 1950, was the first of its kind, a repertory of sketch artists performing live, with a new guest host each week, featuring musical acts throughout the show. The first late-night variety show only lasted one year, Broadway Open House (1950-1951). Forgotten Faye Emerson makes her debut with The Faye Emerson Show on October 24, 1949. She originated the talk show late night format, discussing politics with guests.

The 1940s ended with classic T.V. shows that have stayed in our minds for decades to come: First, On August 10, 1948 the hidden camera show, Candid Camera (1948-2004), hosted by Allen Funt premiered. Next, on September 15, 1949, the Western genre unofficially launched with The Lone Ranger (1949-1957). Then, airing on July 1, 1949, was the dramatic comedy Mama (1949-1957), and lastly airing on September 29, 1949, the first dance competition in the U.K., the long running Come Dancing (1949-1998) premiered. Another exciting reality show precursor was Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (1948-1958), a kind of American Idol (2001-Present), originator.

As we move swiftly to the 1950s, Colour Televisions are being approved and developed, showcasing America’s first color program on June 25, 1951, with C.B.S.’s then stars: Arthur Godfrey, Ed Sullivan, and Faye Emerson. The studio that would bring Star Trek (1966-1969) and Mission Impossible (1966-1973) to the small screen, Desilu Productions, formed on May 1, 1950, by Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball.

The game shows found popularity in the 1950s. with some of the more iconic include: Break the Bank (1948-1957; 1976-1977; 1985-1986), Beat the Clock (1950-1961; 1969-1974; 1979-1980; 2002-2003; 2018-2019), What’s My Line (1950-1967; 1968-1975), I’ve Got a Secret (1952-1967; 1972-1973; 1976; 2000-2001; 2006) and Truth or Consequences (1950-1974; 1977-1978; 1987-1988). They all have unique challenges contestants have to do to win prizes. With the game show genre, you will find that they can be revamped and tried again in later decades.

1951 and 1952 premiered some of the longest-running shows on television: Canada’s sports program, Hockey Night in Canada (1952-Present); the morning show, Today (1952-Present); anthology series, Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-Present); and the soap opera The Guiding Light (1952-2009); Notably, the first lengthy soap opera was Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986)

In 1952, C.B.S. Television City in Hollywood opened on November 16, 1952 bringing TV to west coast for the first time, as the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is televised that same month. Also, on October 7, 1952, American Bandstand (1952-1989), which showcased the popular music of the day to teens around America, brought us Dick Clark in one of his first important roles in television.

As we move into 1953, the world of comedy received its first set of classics. They also showed us how American networks see the more traditional home life. The Goldbergs (1949-1956) dealt with a Jewish family in a crowded house. I Love Lucy (1951-1957) starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez, which set the tone of what a situation comedy should be, by giving us wacky adventures of a married couple and their neighbors. It helped set the stage for sitcoms to be filmed with a multi-camera approach. The deal Lucy and Desi struck with the studio for N.B.C. to finance the multi-camera production: Lucy and Desi would reduce their salary, while they retained 100 percent ownership of, I Love Lucy, thereby allowing it to look crisp for reruns.  The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966) and Make Room for Daddy (1953-1964) showed the ideal home situation where dad and mom correct their children’s behavior with life lessons.  

Having Jackie Gleason, the star of The Honeymooners, move to C.B.S., caused a massive blow to the DuMont studio. Luckily A.B.C. picked up the programming slack left by DuMont that competed with N.B.C. and C.B.S. Against the variety shows of the period, DuMont’s programs were weak. Because of cheap production and horrible writing, they continued to lose audiences. DuMont needing to make a dent, purchased the right to air the National Football League and N.B.A. basketball, thinking this was the only effort that would help them.

The last year in the Silver Age of Television, gave us the first must-watched TV event in its history. On January 19, 1953, 68% of the audience watched I Love Lucy, as Lucy gives birth to her son, Ricky. Mother and son eventually make the cover of the first T.V. Guide magazine as well, which its initial April 3, 1953 edition drawing in more than 1.5 million in circulation.

The Motion Picture Industry connected with Television for the first time. The Academy Awards needed funds to produce their annual event, and television sponsorship would give them the money they needed. Thus the 25th Academy Awards was the first to be televised by N.B.C. This is important too, because before this moment, on March 17, 1953, you couldn’t find A-list movie stars on the small screen. This opened the floodgates for film actors to star in made for television movies, and eventually starring in their own T.V. shows.

A year before it receives national attention, The Tonight Show (1954- Present) starts as a local variety show originally called Knickerbocker Beer Show on July 18, 1953. The police procedural Dragnet (1951-1959), became the first drama televised in color for a major American network. I Love Lucy and Dragnet were the first filmed series for C.B.S. and N.B.C. In 1952, more shows became filmed series, as opposed to being broadcasted live.

I chose to cut the Silver Age in 1953 for the one major event in London: Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation. Not only did it spark a record number of sales of British TV before the June 2nd broadcast, it was one of the earliest events recorded for prosperity that still exists in its entirety. Twenty million people around the world view the event. For Canada’s benefit, the British military flew the footage over to the Canadian military in Labrador on a nonstop flight, where the Canadian Air Force handed it over to Montreal’s C.B.C. network. This occurs three times during the coronation day.

The Silver Age, a short eight-year window period, brings with it for the first-time analytics the gauge the popular shows utilizing audience viewership figures to develop a ranking and rating system. These Nielsen Ratings become the standard for network programming decisions. Add to that the first Emmy Awards were presented on February 25, 1949, eventually honoring the popular TV Shows, and the actors that starred in them.

Some of the Emmy Award-winning shows of these early years include The Texaco Star Theatre, The Red Skelton Show (1951-1971), and Your Show of Shows. The best comedians of the time include Milton Berle (Mr. Television), Alan Young (The Alan Young Show), Red Skelton (The Red Skelton Show), Gertrude Berg (The Goldbergs), Imogene Coca (Your Show of Shows), and Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy).

The first Nielsen Ratings list in the 1950-51 season the top three popular shows: The Texaco Star Theater, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, and I Love Lucy. In 1950, N.B.C. had the first six popular shows of the season, including Fireside Theatre (1949-1958), Philco T.V. Playhouse (1948-1955), The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950-1955), and Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960) – the last one being a sports program - with A.B.C. getting number seven with The Lone Ranger. By 1951, C.B.S. and N.B.C. took the top five popular shows, and by 1952, C.B.S. took the lead with the top three shows, with I Love Lucy and the two Arthur Godfrey variety shows. 1953, the first drama show, Dragnet, took second place in the ratings. Interestingly enough, in the last year, A.B.C. has none of the top 30 popular shows.

Interestingly, in years of Nielsen Ranking coverage in the Silver Age of Television, two sports programs were ranked each of those first four years, with Gillette Cavalcade of Sport listed in the 1950-1951 season at number 8. This is interesting for two reasons. The sports programs ranked lower and lower each year, which is surprising because sporting programs were the popular elements in the experimental period of the Bronze Age. When we eventually get the current Nielsen Ratings, sporting programs will be ranked in the top three.

The Peabody Award, which honors the most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories on the radio, Television, and online, have awarded some impressive people and shows of this Age: the children’s shows: Howdy Doody; Kukla, Fran and Ollie; Ding Dong School and Mr. Wizard in 1948, 1949, 1952 and 1953 respectively; the dramatic anthology, Actors Studio (1948-1950) in 1948; the comedy/variety program, The Ed Wynn Show (1949-1950) in 1949; the newsmagazine See It Now (1951-1958) in 1951; the interview panel show, Meet the Press in 1952; the music show, Your Hit Parade in 1953. As well personality awards to Jimmy Durante of The Jimmy Durante Show; Edward G Murrow of See It Now in 1953 and Imogene Coca of Your Show of Shows in 1953.

The takeaway from this Silver Age of Television is variety programming is king in this early period. With Milton Berle’s Texaco Star Theatre raising supreme, other legends of the radio show quickly followed with their own variety acts for all three virtual networks.