Tv in the 50s and 60s
TV in the 50s and 60s
Throughout the 1950s television fought to become the top form of mass communication, and became a cultural force in good and bad ways by the 60s. Before the end of the 1960s over three national networks began were broadcasting programs that were alternately earth shaking, sublime and ridiculous.
During 1940s, the three major networks consisted of: NBC, CBS and ABC were "networks" by name only. All programming show originated, live, in New York. The only possible way to dispense these programs across the country was to point a camera at the television screen and turn that into film. 16mm films known as kinescopes were then copied and shipped to the few joined stations for later broadcast. By necessity, most programming on these stations was local and took up most of the day. (Pruit, C.A.) (Kinescope)
These networks began on the path that has lead them to what they are today because of AT&T laying a system of Coaxial cable across the nation. Coax, the now common cables that run from wall cable TV outlets to today's Televisions, has enough bandwidth or electrical carrying capacity, to transmit hundreds or even thousands of telephone calls as well as television signals. (Coaxial)
For the first time in 1952, the republican and democratic national conventions were able to be broadcasted from Philadelphia to the rest of the nation. The significance of this event for rural America went beyond who was running against each other that year. The TV signals that were sent out could reach into the most remote corners of the U.S. took down the remainder of isolation in America.
The visual and hearing experience together that television created (especially after the arrival to color TV in early 60s) meant that regional cultural differences were ironed out. A more generalized "American" culture designated regional subcultures. Television familiarized country residents with other regions making relocation even more appealing.
Between 1949 and 1969,
Throughout the 1950s television fought to become the top form of mass communication, and became a cultural force in good and bad ways by the 60s. Before the end of the 1960s over three national networks began were broadcasting programs that were alternately earth shaking, sublime and ridiculous.
During 1940s, the three major networks consisted of: NBC, CBS and ABC were "networks" by name only. All programming show originated, live, in New York. The only possible way to dispense these programs across the country was to point a camera at the television screen and turn that into film. 16mm films known as kinescopes were then copied and shipped to the few joined stations for later broadcast. By necessity, most programming on these stations was local and took up most of the day. (Pruit, C.A.) (Kinescope)
These networks began on the path that has lead them to what they are today because of AT&T laying a system of Coaxial cable across the nation. Coax, the now common cables that run from wall cable TV outlets to today's Televisions, has enough bandwidth or electrical carrying capacity, to transmit hundreds or even thousands of telephone calls as well as television signals. (Coaxial)
For the first time in 1952, the republican and democratic national conventions were able to be broadcasted from Philadelphia to the rest of the nation. The significance of this event for rural America went beyond who was running against each other that year. The TV signals that were sent out could reach into the most remote corners of the U.S. took down the remainder of isolation in America.
The visual and hearing experience together that television created (especially after the arrival to color TV in early 60s) meant that regional cultural differences were ironed out. A more generalized "American" culture designated regional subcultures. Television familiarized country residents with other regions making relocation even more appealing.
Between 1949 and 1969,