The Television Revolution
Assignment 1
Entertainment since 1945
Television revolutionised the way our society looks at the world. Television quickly replaced newspapers and radio as the main source of information and is now a permanent fixture in all our homes. It was not only a new way to entertain with sitcoms, movies and music, but it enticed people to buy new products through effective advertisements. Television was important for the music industry by providing a performance opportunity for upcoming musicians, and it has continued to develop innovative ways to market music. Variety shows quickly became one of the main television programs that provided opportunities for performers to gain attention and create large followings for their music, style and fashion. Programs like ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and ‘The Nat King Cole Show’ pioneered the way for music shows including Countdown and Rage that used increasingly sophisticated graphics to hold audience’s attention. They also brought new sounds and faces in our homes through television. This series of ‘pop culture’ variety shows contributed significantly to major shifts within entertainment history by promoting emerging forms of music. This saw change from jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, from punk to pop. This changed our society as a whole because the music brought to light a new way of thinking about important issues that needed to be changed within our world.
The Ed Sullivan Show
Formally known as the ‘Toast of the Town’ until it was renamed after its host in 1955, ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ ,aired from 1948 to 1971, and was the longest running variety show in television’s history (Bio., undated). Over 23 years, the show introduced more than 10,000 performers to the United States of America. Sullivan’s strong belief was that the TV audience should be exposed to all forms of entertainment ranging from juggling to opera (Simon, 2010). Big names that first performed on the ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ include Dean Martin, Elvis Priestly, Woody Allen,
Entertainment since 1945
Television revolutionised the way our society looks at the world. Television quickly replaced newspapers and radio as the main source of information and is now a permanent fixture in all our homes. It was not only a new way to entertain with sitcoms, movies and music, but it enticed people to buy new products through effective advertisements. Television was important for the music industry by providing a performance opportunity for upcoming musicians, and it has continued to develop innovative ways to market music. Variety shows quickly became one of the main television programs that provided opportunities for performers to gain attention and create large followings for their music, style and fashion. Programs like ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and ‘The Nat King Cole Show’ pioneered the way for music shows including Countdown and Rage that used increasingly sophisticated graphics to hold audience’s attention. They also brought new sounds and faces in our homes through television. This series of ‘pop culture’ variety shows contributed significantly to major shifts within entertainment history by promoting emerging forms of music. This saw change from jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, from punk to pop. This changed our society as a whole because the music brought to light a new way of thinking about important issues that needed to be changed within our world.
The Ed Sullivan Show
Formally known as the ‘Toast of the Town’ until it was renamed after its host in 1955, ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ ,aired from 1948 to 1971, and was the longest running variety show in television’s history (Bio., undated). Over 23 years, the show introduced more than 10,000 performers to the United States of America. Sullivan’s strong belief was that the TV audience should be exposed to all forms of entertainment ranging from juggling to opera (Simon, 2010). Big names that first performed on the ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ include Dean Martin, Elvis Priestly, Woody Allen,
References: ABC Rage, Official website. 2009. About Rage. Viewed on March 17, 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/ rage/about/ Anon Bio. Undated. Ed Sullivan Biography. Viewed March 5, 2010. http://www.thebiography channel.co.uk/biographies/ed-sullivan.html Davidson, Jim Experts Search, undated. Rage TV Program: Encyclopedia. Viewed on March 18, 2010. http://en.allexperts.com/e/r/ra/rage_(tv_program).htm Harrison Marck, JT. (undated) Part 19: The Beatles and The Ed Sullivan Show. In: I am the Beatles. Viewed on March 1, 2010. http://www.iamthebeatles.com/article1036.html Simon, Ron Spadoni, Mike. 2001. ‘The Ed Sullivan Show: Variety show presenting the biggest stars in show business (1948 – 1971). Review for Television Heaven. Viewed March 6, 2010. http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/edsullivan.htm This Day in History, undated Watson, Mary-Ann. 2010. The Nat “King” Cole Show.” copyright 2010 The Museum of Broadcasting Communications (MBC). Viewed March 5, 2010. www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php? entrycode=natkingcole