Competition brings the best from products…and the worst from men. -David Sarnoff

Development of Television

• TERMS/CONCEPTS/NAMES TO KNOW:

• Philo T. Farnsworth (Utah)

• David Sarnoff/Vladimir Zworykin

• John L. Baird (Great Britain)

• By 1948 only 1% had TV sets

• By 1960 90% of all Households

More key concepts...

• Mechanical vs. Electronic Television

• RCA (manufacture) NBC (programs)

• David Sarnoff goes public in 1939

• Wartime need for electronics

• 1948 FCC license freeze - WHY?

• FCC 6th Report and Order

• After 3 years FCC combines 4 frequencies

Golden Age of Television

• Program QUALITY was a high priority for Network Executives… who wanted to sell more television sets

• Local affiliates were innovative… they HAD to be in order to fill time. They took their obligation to serve the community seriously

Golden Age of Television

• Programmers took ideas from radio:

• -variety entertainment

• -sitcoms and soap operas

• -artistic and elite programming gave-way to shows with mass appeal

• Sponsors brought radio stars to television

• Serling interview an example of the debates

Texaco Star Theatre, 1951

• Uncle Miltie’s trademark comic routine was “dressing in drag”

• This was lost to Ru Paul, who treated Berle rudely at the Academy Awards a few years ago

Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts1950

• Forerunner to “Star Search”

• Among the stars “discovered” were Tony Bennett and Patsy Cline

• Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly failed their auditions

Your Show of Shows, 1950

• LIVE variety show with comic skits & satire

• Writers: Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon

• Original director brought back to get “Saturday Night Live” on the air

Ernie Kovacs

• Background in theatre• 1st job was hosting a

cooking show in Philly

• Somehow found “visual art” in TV

• His tragic death in a Corvair launched Ralph Nader’s career

Websites to Visit:

• Museum of Television and Radio, with sites in NYC and LA: www.mtr.org

• The Broadcast Archive: www.oldradio.com

• Golden Age of Television: www.fiftiesweb.com

Decline of Network Era

• The network audience peaks in late 70s

• Satellite services, video, erode dominance

• Network Regulations impose restrictions

• Still attractive business investments

• Bulk of prime time created by Indies

• FCC Relaxes network rules

• A.C. Nielsen tracks prime time viewing