Virtual Visit - History of Television

Museum of Television and Radio

For a vast majority of Americans today it is hard to image life without television. Some people have moved to online streaming of programs and movies, but even in this case much of the technology involves streaming these programs through a TV. Television has impacted our culture in numerous ways from the way that we get our news, how we vote, and popular culture that transcends regional, cultural, and ethnic lines.

Prior to 1950, television existed but was only limitedly available with few high-power stations and only a small percentage of the population having a TV in their homes. This all began to change with the Post World War II economic boom. During the 1950s the typical American family purchased their first television. Evening could now be filled with the family viewing numerous programs from variety shows, quiz programs, and situation comedies (sit-coms). Advertisers soon realized this new medium was an efficient way to mass market their products to a growingly affluent customer base. Politicians bought into the power of television to influence voters after Kennedy's strong televised debate performance against Nixon in 1960. News organizations gained a wider audience by using powerful images from key events in their nightly newscasts. America would never be the same.

This virtual visit will be a bit different than others you have encountered in this course. Rather than visit a specific location, you will be asked to explore and reflect on the impact of television as a whole.

Please read this information from Boundless to get a background on the history of television. Also watch this 9 minute video.

Additionally the on-level course provides a lesson on the impact of television that you can access through our shared resources: https://gavirtual.instructure.com/courses/2706/pages/cwcr-impact-of-television-lesson?module_item_id=420511

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.