1. Tv Shows In The 70's And 80's

Tv Shows In The 70's And 80's

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Television really came into its own as a form of home entertainment during the 1950s. It also become a major tool for influencing public opinion during the decade. Following WWII, the technology improved greatly. Plus, the booming economy and expanding middle class meant more disposable income for buying such a luxury item—and the leisure family time to enjoy it. The first national color broadcast occurred in the ’50s—it was the 1954 Tournament of Roses Parade—and while color was occasionally used after that, most programming remained local and in black and white until the middle of the ’60s.

Variety shows, sitcoms, game shows, and Westerns were particularly popular television programming genres throughout the fifties. Here’s a look at some of the most iconic shows from the period. Popular 1950s TV Shows • Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts – Popular from the late ’40s up to the end of its run in 1958, Arthur Godfrey, Lenny Bruce, and Sally Marr starred in this music- and comedy-oriented variety show. It was adapted for television from its first incarnation as a radio program, as so many TV shows of the era were.

• The Colgate Comedy Hour – From 1950 to 1955, this NBC variety show was one of the most popular to deliver comedy, music, and more from up-and-coming performers and lots of major stars of the day into American homes. • The Ed Sullivan Show – Beginning in 1948 as The Toast of the Town and renamed in 1955 (though commonly referred to as The Ed Sullivan Show for years prior), this is probably the most famous television variety show in history. It ran continuously until 1971 and is responsible for introducing so many entertainment stars to a national American audience. • Dragnet – Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday is an iconic television role of the 1950s. Running from 1951 to 1959, this is arguably the most famous and influential police procedural crime drama in the history of television. • Fireside Theater – Though widely panned by critics, this was a top-10 show through much of the ’50s. It offered low-budget retellings of dramatic stories in the public domain, as well as some created by freelance writers (including Rod Serling).