The Dawn Of Television In The '50s

The Decade's Television at a Glance

One of the most popular products sold and bought in the 1950s was the TV. At the start of the decade, three million households owned a set. By the time the ‘60s were ready to roll in, that number had skyrocketed to more than 55 million. There were around 530 stations at the time. From the $500 price tag a TV carried in 1949, its popularity and mass production caused it to drop to a far more affordable $200 by 1953.

Zenith Radio Corporation developed the first-ever remote used to control TVs from afar. They called it “Lazy Bones,” and it had a long wire that connected it to the TV. There were many shows available for families to watch like I Love Lucy, Leave it To Beaver, The Twilight Zone, The Honeymooners, and more. While initially released with black-and-white capacity only, color TVs have been available on the market since 1953. It wasn't until the 1970s that they finally outsold their monochromatic counterparts.

The first-ever TV commercial was aired on September 22, 1955, at precisely 9:01 PM. It was a 70-second ad for the Gibbs SR Toothpaste. While the first-ever political campaign on TV happened in 1952, entitled Eisenhower Answers America. One of the most famous American programs of the decade was called I Love Lucy, and it was aired on CBS. Another show that made waves during the decade was Tonight Starring Steve Allen; a program that would eventually evolve into The Tonight Show. The success of these shows was mainly due to the affordability of TV sets and the fact that people opted for entertainment over the depressing reality of the news.

The 5 Best Television Shows Of The '50s Decade

I Love Lucy

American actor Lucille Ball (1911-1989) reacts to Cuban-born actor Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) in a still from the television show, — Hulton Archive/GettyImages

This show’s 180 episodes had multiple directors, namely, Marc Daniels, William Asher, and James V. Kern. Jess Oppenheimer and Desi Arnaz produced the show which aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957.

It followed the life of Lucy Ricardo, who was a middle-class housewife living in New York City. The American Television sitcom was a family-oriented show that always included a healthy dose of comedy. Overall, it received 23 Emmy awards from 1952 to 1958.

Probably the most famous episode from the show came in Season 2 and was titled ”Job Switching.” It showcased Lucy and Ethel's friendship and was basically a funny take on the battle of the sexes. Watch a snippet of the episode below:

Gunsmoke

The actor, entertainer and voice actor Harald Juhnke dressed as a cowboy during a performance or sketch with Ken Curtis (Festus Haggen) from the TV series Gunsmoke, Germany, 1970s. (Photo by Helmut Reiss/United Archives via Getty Images) — United Archives/GettyImages

Gunsmoke was directed by Norman Macdonnell and written by John Meston. The series ran from 1955 to 1975, and CBS originally aired its episodes. The story revolves around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement years. The main protagonist is a lawman named Marshal Matt Dillon. The Western drama series received 11 Emmy Awards from 1956 to 1959.

The most unforgettable episode of Gunsmoke was, in fact, its debut, entitled “Matt Gets It.” The main character explains to the audience the whole theme of the series. The show opens with Matt walking amidst the headstones on Boot Hill. Watch the rest of the episode here:

Leave It To Beaver

Promotional studio portrait of actors Tony Dow (L) and Jerry Mathers from the television series, — Hulton Archive/GettyImages

Leave It To Beaver needed a director who knew how to work with children, and so, they got Norman Tokar to handle most of the episodes. Other directors included David Butler, Earl Bellamy, Gene Reynolds, Bretaigne Windust, and Hugh Beaumont. The show aired on CBS from 1957 to 1958, and was then transferred to ABC from 1958 to 1963.

It was about a naive boy named Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver and his adventures at school, home, and around his suburban neighborhood. The sitcom became such an iconic show in America that it received over two Emmy nominations in 1958 for Best New Program Series of the Year and Best Teleplay Writing.

One of the most famous moments from the Leave It To Beaver came in season one, in an episode called “The Haircut.” Beaver gives himself a haircut which results in unwanted consequences. The kids try to ask help from Wally who makes the problem even worse. The show's writers were experts at taking small problems often experienced by the kids and creating entertaining stories around them. And that's what made the show so relatable and relevant at the time. Watch a snippet of the episode:

Father Knows Best

Father Knows Best was a TV show directed by Peter Tewksbury and produced by Murray Bolen, Ken Burton, Fran Van Hartesfeldt. It initially aired on CBS from 1952 to 1955, but transferred to NBC from 1955 to 1958. The show would later return to CBS from 1958 to 1960.

The story revolves around Jim Anderson, a wise family man, his common-sense wife Margaret, and their kids Kathy, Bud, and Betty. The kids would take advice from their dad because “fathers know best.” The American sitcom won four Emmys from 1956 to 1959 and received an additional four nominations during that time.

Here you can see Season One Episode One of Father Knows Best, entitled “Bud Takes Up The Dance”:

The Danny Thomas Show

American actors Jesse White (left) and Danny Thomas (1914 - 1991) in a scene from the television show — Hulton Archive/GettyImages

The Danny Thomas Show was directed by Sheldon Leonard, William Asher, and Danny Thomas. It aired on ABC from 1953 to 1957 and on CBS from 1957 to 1964.

The show follows a successful comedian and entertainer at the Copa Club. The bar is based off an iconic NYC nightclub named Copacabana. Its premise involves Danny having very little time to spend with his wife and family. The conflict in the show revolves around his family’s attempts to get by without him and the neglect they feel in his absence. The American sitcom received four Emmy nominations from 1955 to 1959. They also managed to win one award in the year 1955.

Check out this Danny Meets Andy Griffith episode: