Television in the 1960s: A Decade of Change
The 1960s witnessed television’s meteoric rise to become the dominant mass media platform. From its humble beginnings in the early 20th century, television rapidly evolved, transforming entertainment, news, and culture. This article delves into the development of television technology, its societal impact, and some notable predictions about its future from the early days of broadcasting.
The Evolution of Television Technology
The dream of “seeing at a distance” captivated visionaries like Mark Twain and H.G. Wells long before the technology became a reality. Scientists across the globe tirelessly worked to bring this dream to life, leading to significant advancements in the early 20th century.
Charles Francis Jenkins, an American inventor, achieved a milestone in 1923 by transmitting images of then-Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover from Washington to Philadelphia. His “radiovision,” a mechanical television scanning system using a revolving disk, foreshadowed the future of home entertainment. Jenkins predicted that events like inaugurations and sporting events would soon be viewable in homes, though his system’s slow speed and blurry images needed refinement.
Further advancements came from American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) in 1927, transmitting moving images of Hoover using a 185-line system. General Electric followed in 1928 with a 24-line mechanical image broadcast. While inventors like Denes von Mihaly, Kenjiro Takayanagi, and John Logie Baird contributed to the development of television, Philo Taylor Farnsworth is widely credited with inventing the first fully electronic television system with his “image dissector” in 1927.
RCA’s president, David Sarnoff, recognized the potential of Farnsworth’s work. However, a patent dispute arose when RCA engineer Vladimir Zworykin developed the “inconoscope,” a device remarkably similar to the image dissector. Years of litigation ensued before RCA agreed to pay Farnsworth royalties.
By the 1930s, experimental television broadcasts began, with NBC and CBS establishing stations in New York. World War II temporarily slowed progress, but the postwar era saw television’s rapid ascent. In 1946, only 8,000 US households had televisions. By 1960, that number exploded to 45.7 million, marking television’s dominance over radio.
Television’s Global Impact
The rapid development of television in the United States was fueled by a competitive free market, limited government intervention, and a culture of innovation. This led to a flourishing of high-quality programming, a stark contrast to nations with state-controlled media where creativity and production were often stifled. Consequently, American television programs achieved worldwide popularity, exporting American culture and transforming entertainment into a lucrative global industry.
Predictions and Perspectives on Television
The early days of television were filled with both optimistic and skeptical predictions. Lee DeForest, a radio pioneer, dismissed television as commercially unfeasible in 1926. Others envisioned “smellyvision” and “tastyvision,” anticipating a future where all senses could be engaged.
Some predictions proved remarkably accurate. In 1927, the Indianapolis Star foresaw a future where events and conversations could be experienced across vast distances. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, at an AT&T television demonstration, declared that distance had been conquered in a new and unprecedented way. Ironically, John Logie Baird, a pioneer in mechanical television, initially dismissed the potential of cathode ray tubes, only to later acknowledge their crucial role in television technology.
The 1960s solidified television’s place in homes and hearts across the globe. From a scientific novelty to a cultural powerhouse, television’s transformative journey continues to shape how we consume information and entertainment.
