50's culture

The 50’s saw the beginning of many of the things we take for granted today, the most notable being the television. Early TVs showed only a small black and white picture with broadcast a couple hours a week. Early programs only reached about 9% of Americans. But WWII inventions such as microwave relay made television much more practical. Industry quickly took advantage of there new advertising opportunity, spending 170 million dollars one television ads in 1950 and 2 billion in1960. Despite all this TV was not universally accepted. People feared the effect that shows with stereotypical roles would have on children. Also most shows were centered around rich white men, rarely showing minorities or people in poverty. Despite TVs new popularity radio still remained a part of people’s lives. They did so not by opposing TV but by moving in a different direction. Stations that previously played dramas or variety shows moved to news or music.

by Spencer