The Fifties
Television

The television of the fifties saw the emergence of the sitcom as a definitive aspect of modern TV. From "I Love Lucy" to "Captain Kangaroo," most shows focused on humorous, energetic programs to encourage adults and children alike to watch and continue watching station programs. There were three major TV stations of the time: NBC, CBS, and ABC. Each station created a symbol to represent them. NBC had their colorful peacock, CBS had their large eye, and ABC had their simple circle with ABC in the center.

On June 25, 1951, the Columbia Broadcasting System made the First Commercial Colorcast using the FCC-approved CBS Color System. The first coast to coast color broadcast was the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 1954. This occasion marked the beginning of a mania that swept through almost every household by the late 1960's. Color television became the status symbol of the fifties. It even went so far as to become a symbol of the presidency with the first color telecast of a commencement address for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1955.

I Love Lucy

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The Honeymooners

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Superman

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Lassie

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The Twilight Zone
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz fired up the screen together in this hilarious sitcom about a show biz wannabe redhead (Lucy Ricardo), her Cuban bandleader husband (Rickky Ricardo), and their landlords/best friends/co-conspirators (Fred and Ethel Mertz) that lived next door.

This sitcom centers around the lovable New York City bus driver, Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) and his sharp-tongued wife, Alice. Ralph mires himself in get-rich-quick schemes (like investing in no-cal pizza or marketing plastic shoehorns), often coercing his pal and neighbor, Ed Norton, into joining his hairbrained schemes.
Sent to Earth in a miniature rocket as an infant, Superman grew up as Clark Kent. As he grew older, Clark began to discover that he was endowed with superhuman powers. He became a reporter along with Lois Lane at The Daily Planet. The show details the many heroic adventures the Superman goes through in his attempts to defeat evil villians.
The sitcom that captured the hearts of animal-lovers everywhere, Lassie told the story of a little boy, Timmy, and his loving collie Lassie who would frequently get little Timmy out of the many scrapes he was wont to get himself into.
"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition".......this show was about many strange and bizarre events as written by Rod Sterling, the show's creator.

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American Bandstand

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The Ed Sullivan Show

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The Price is Right

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Howdy Doody

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Captain Kangaroo
With performances by top music personalities, dancing contests, undiscovered professional talent, and a host like Dick Clark, American Bandstand was an icon to teenagers of the 1950's. There was even a "Rate-A-Record," section where selected studio audience members were asked to rate a record from thirty-five to ninety-eight.
The Ed Sullivan Show was the longest-running variety show in TV history. It broke all of TV's single night ratings counts when a young Elvis Presley appeared on the show. Other famous acts such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, and June Taylor paved the way for the show to become a Sunday night institution.
This extremely popular game show hosted by Bob Barker coined the famous phrase "Come on down, you're the next contestant on the price is right!" With beautiful models to decorate the prizes and Rod Roddy announcing, it was irresistible to watch.
Buffalo Bob Smith introduced a character named Elmer who later came to be known as the puppet, Howdy Doody. Responding to the children who adored this show, NBC first introduced Howdy Doody in 1947 to the public on The Puppet Playhouse. Following some early changing and settling into form, The Howdy Doody Show became official in 1949.
The host was a gentle man whose jacket had large pockets much like a kangaroo. He entertained home viewers from his Treasure House with stories and lessons in morality. Other lessons were provided by Mr. Green Jeans, a farmer who brought animals to the show and taught kids about their habits.