TV,+Radio,+Media

Television

**__ Comedy __** I Love Lucy The Honeymooners The Families of the Fifties



media type="youtube" key="uztA6JCKB4s" height="390" width="480" **__ Drama __** Dragnet The Twilight Zone Superman Private Everywhere

**__ Kids __** Howdy Doody Time Lassie Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Club media type="youtube" key="nOBlXZyKC6A" height="390" width="480"

TimeLine

1951
CBS broadcasts the first color program on June 21, but only 25 receivers can accommodate mechanical color. Viewers of 12 million existing sets see only a blank screen.
 * " ** I Love Lucy** ," ** a half-hour filmed TV sitcom, is born. The show, unlike the live TV productions typical of the time, ranks No. 1 in the nation for four of its first six full seasons.
 * " ** Hallmark Hall of Fame** " ** series launches in December with "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

1952
Bob Hope takes his comedy from radio to TV when "The Bob Hope Show" debuts in October. NBC's "Today" show, first and longest-running early-morning network show.

**1953**
Color broadcasting officially arrives in the U.S. on Dec. 17

1954
**1954** NBC launches "The Tonight Show," featuring comedian Steve Allen, on Sept. 27. For nearly four decades -- until CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" enters the scene in 1993 -- the show dominates late night.
 * " **Captain Kangaroo** " ** the first network kids show, begins on CBS.

1955
Future U.S. President Ronald Reagan becomes host of "General Electric Theater," long-running anthology series on CBS (1953-61) in which many top Hollywood film stars appeared. One of NBC's perennial specials -- "Peter Pan" with Mary Martin and Cyril Richard -- first telecast in March as a live production. It's billed as the first network presentation of a full Broadway production. The classic Western series "Gunsmoke" begins its 20-year run on CBS. **"** The $64,000 Question** ," ** sponsored by Revlon, premieres in June on CBS, igniting a U.S. game show craze.

1956
The 1939 movie "Wizard of Oz" debuts in November on CBS's "Ford Star Jubilee." After more than three decades of exposure, the feature is considered one of the most successful single programs in TV history and the longest continually sponsored theatrical movie on TV.

1957
**Variety reports** in May that during a typical week, viewers encounter **420 commercials** totaling 5 hours, 8 minutes. By August**, ** for the first time, more countries worldwide allow TV advertising than forbid it. In an October report in the //Journal of the American Medical Association//, Dr. Meyer Naide identifies "television legs," blood clots that result from watching TV too long. CBS's "Ed Sullivan" show is the year's most-watched network program, with a 50.4 average audience rating.

1959
NBC's Sunday night hit "Bonanza" makes its debut. It becomes the highest-rated program.

Movies media type="youtube" key="JVX5ZfTcGNU" height="390" width="480" media type="youtube" key="jEKQwy13j_8" height="390" width="480" media type="youtube" key="VUPh7XWoq7Q" height="390" width="480" media type="youtube" key="yDL8UeYpnxk" height="390" width="480" media type="youtube" key="2miAukzxHNI" height="390" width="480" media type="youtube" key="Xhyuey4xU3Q" height="390" width="480"
 * //Sunset Boulevard//**
 * //Treasure Island//**
 * //The Day the Earth Stood Still//**
 * //High Noon//**
 * //Singing in the Rain//**
 * //Roman Holiday//**
 * //Dial M For Murder//**
 * //The Wild One//**
 * //Rebel Without a Cause//**
 * //White Christmas//**
 * //On the Waterfront//**
 * //Oklahoma//**
 * //Invasion of the Body Snatchers//**
 * //Love Me Tender//**
 * //The Brave One//**
 * //Around the World in 80 Days//**
 * //Twelve Angry Men//**
 * //Gigi//**
 * //Pillow Talk//**
 * //Ben–Hur//**
 * //The Day the Earth Stood Still//**
 * //20,000 Leagues Under the Sea//**