Television Then and Now

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:38 pm

I was watching a boxing match last night on my 44 inch Flat Screen TV with amazing clarity. When the blood squished from a cut over one of the fighters eyes, I felt like I was in the ring with him. It brought back some memories of watching my first fight on television. It was May of 1941 and I was seven years old, Billy Conn vs. Joe Lewis. It was a special event as television was not even available on a daily basis and the only people that had TV sets were the very wealthy. I had a friend who's father was a wealthy lawyer and had invited 30 people or so to watch this fight as he was the only person for miles around to even own a TV set. The group huddled in a large living room, around a huge cabinet that held a six inch screen. We could not tell who was who by watching two shadows and therefore had the radio on as well. It was nine years later 1950 before seeing television again, and then, it was on a friends TV, we couldn't afford one. It wasn't until 1958 that I bought my own TV set, a 12 incher black and white (color was not available). I am glad that I have lived long enough to be able to see, appreciate and enjoy the advanced technology that many of us take for granted.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:19 pm

The first event in the UK to make, as you say, the wealthy few to go out and buy the little black and white sets, was the Queens coronation in 53. I wasn't born till 56, so I'm stuggling to think of the first thing I saw on tv. Probably Churchills funeral in 65, I seem to vaguely recall that. I agree totally about these high definition tv sets we have now, amazing clarity.

QUINNSCOMMENTARY · Post by **QUINNSCOMMENTARY** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:52 am

My parents first got a TV the day the Mickey Mouse show went on the air and we thought we were hot stuff at the time. I remember "color" TV back then, you bought a plastic sheet that had blue at the top, green in the middle and brown on the bottom and you placed it over the TV screen and there you go, color TV.

For the first ten years of our marriage starting in 1968 we had one 16" B&W TV and it was sufficient, now we have more TVs than brains I suspect and the irony of it is that there is little of value to watch and nothing of value on the network channels at all.

And if anyone out there says they like the garbage that is presented for us to view, including some of the commercials, I am scared to death because now I am thinking, that person votes too.

minks · Post by **minks** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:59 am

The Canadian Equivalent to the Super Bowl is the "Grey Cup" I remember it was my folks year to host it and well weren't we all surprised and amazed when dad brought home our first Color TV so we could all (family and friends) watch it in color. Heck if I remember the year but I remember the event. And wow since then what have we seen eh... microwaves, microchips, computers (aw how I miss those giant mainframes hahahahaha NOT), internet... gads I remember when internet was just "text" ahahahahaha

Redtail · Post by **Redtail** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:47 am

Oh my goodness, I forgot about those color screens you placed over the tube!! :wah:

I remember running to my best friends house just when Dorothy's house was flying through the air, rushing to get there in time for the landing and her opening the door in OZ..........all color! Wow, that was such a trip back then. I'm guessing I was around 8 or 10, I was born in 59..........then I remember the first "clicker" whoa, that was so cool.........of course, we only had like 3 or 5 channels back then, but we sure did feel wealthy. :wah:

why am i suddenly feeling so old? oh, cuz i am :wah:

minks · Post by **minks** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:55 am

Redtail;868337 wrote: Oh my goodness, I forgot about those color screens you placed over the tube!! :wah:

I remember running to my best friends house just when Dorothy's house was flying through the air, rushing to get there in time for the landing and her opening the door in OZ..........all color! Wow, that was such a trip back then. I'm guessing I was around 8 or 10, I was born in 59..........then I remember the first "clicker" whoa, that was so cool.........of course, we only had like 3 or 5 channels back then, but we sure did feel wealthy. :wah:

why am i suddenly feeling so old? oh, cuz i am :wah:

the clicker oh my I remember when they first came out and they were corded there we sat thinking how amazing we could change channels while sitting on the couch and not caring that the silly cord was a real tripper upper hehehe

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:57 am

:wah: We are all old. We didn't get a TV until I was 7, we went over to my grandparents house a block away to watch TV. My grandfather always had on boxing, wrestling and roller derby. :p

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:00 am

I remember the first time I saw a color TV. I'd been staying tuned for Bewitched .... IN COLOR! ... forever it seemed. Then I saw our neighbor's new color TV. There was Samantha and Darren ... IN COLOR! ... really fuzzy color. The only thing that went through my 7 or 8 year old brain: Our picture's clearer than that. :wah:

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:32 am

The first program I saw in color was an episode of Bonanza, the one with the leprachans. It was at an aunt and uncles house......not ours.

Early TV.....black and white, few channels, limited programing time,and limited programs. But it was great because the whole family sat in front of the tube and watched together. And commented on the programs afterwards. It was good family time.....until us kids had to go to bed.

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:55 pm

along-for-the-ride;868451 wrote: The first program I saw in color was an episode of Bonanza

There's a great line in "Diner", a Barry Levinson movie from the early '80s set in 1959.

The scene is in a TV store. Old fella comes in asking for a particular TV brand (can't remember which one). Young sales guy tells him he should take a look at the new RCA colour TVs.

"Nah, don't like colour. My brother's got a colour set. Makes the Ponderosa look fake."

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:01 pm

Lon;867904 wrote: I was watching a boxing match last night on my 44 inch Flat Screen TV with amazing clarity.

Ironic that the technology has come so far, yet most TV programming is exceedingly lame.

Reminds of a stand up comedy bit from 25 years ago where the comedian (Gallagher, IIRC) is complaining about how a lot of TV is really stupid . He said he tried turning up the "brightness" control, but it didn't work.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:38 pm

the first things i remember watching on tv oddly enough were reruns, i was about 3 years old and i remember very clearly watching reruns of

Star Trek,hugh crush on Kirk then when i got a little older i got really into Spock he was just so cool!

Gilligan's Island, i thought it was so funny, even after i started to school i wouild watch them in the afternoons and laugh myself silly and

Dark Shadows! watching this as a 3 year old may be why i have such a love for vampire movies even today!

my parents had a black and white tv, so my first experience with a color tv was at an aunt's house, the Wizard of Oz was on and i'd never seen anything like it! it was so beautuful!

the the wicked witch of the west showed up and set the scarecrow on fire and scard me half to death!:wah::wah:

it was a good while before i could stand to watch that movie all the way through!

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:14 pm

We must have been the last family in town to get a TV. I was about 15. That was in 1955. And I didn't miss it at all. We got two newspapers, I used my library card, dad and I subscribed to all the outdoor magazines, I owned an old Philco wood cased radio with a shortwave band. Spent my spare time outdoors doing chores, fishing etc. I have two grandkids that have to be threatened to get 'em outdoors, then they just sit in the shade, not knowing what to do. Damn playstations etc..