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“Frozen Television”. Early 1950s Programming. Early 1950s TV Landscape. Consequences of the Freeze and the 1952 Allocation Plan VHF/UHF Intermixture Older channels had advantages NBC and CBS a virtual duopoly in 1950s Independent non-affiliated stations struggle
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“Frozen Television” Early 1950s Programming
Early 1950s TV Landscape • Consequences of the Freeze and the 1952 Allocation Plan • VHF/UHF Intermixture • Older channels had advantages • NBC and CBS a virtual duopoly in 1950s • Independent non-affiliated stations struggle • ABC and DuMont lack strong affiliates due to intermixture
Early 1950s TV Landscape Cont’d • Coaxial Cable • No viable commercial videotape until 1956 • AT&T (Bell System) stringing coaxial cable across the country • Freeze worked to protect networks from competition
Early 1950s Programming • Variety and variety comedy • Live Drama • Clip from Bang the Drum Slowly • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWVK-mJAElk • Discuss theatrical aesthetic and “quality”
Early 1950s Programming Cont’d • Sport • Boxing (stays) • Wrestling (goes) • Roller Derby (goes) • Resurgence? Or Fad? • Filmed Hollywood product • First run product • Recycled Hollywood serials and series
Early 1950s Programming Cont’d • TV minstrelsy • Transition from Radio • Beulah (ABC, 1950-53) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO28pJLY56o • The Amos ‘n’ Andy Show (CBS, 1951-53) • Protests and Sponsor Problems
Early 1950s Programming Cont’d • Striking diversity in terms of racial and ethnic characters. • Clip from Life with Luigi • http://en.sevenload.com/shows/Classic-TV/episodes/XYymJQm-Life-with-Luigi-The-Dance-1953 • Stations/sets were in urban areas • Thematics of assimilation and proper consumerism