The History of Television

 

 

 

The Beginning

1.         When was television actually invented?
2.         Who besides Philo Farnsworth is credited for inventing television?
3.         Where was television first introduced to the public?

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Woman listening to radio

Radio to TV

4.         List three names of radio personalities that left radio to be on television:
5.         Explain what Vaudeville is and when it was most popular.

6.         What types of acts could you see if you went to a Vaudeville show?

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For Vaudeville info, you may want to look at this
 
  

40’s and 50’s

1947 marks the premiere of Puppet Playhouse, also known as HOWDY DOODY. 

7.         List three characters from the show and what type of puppets they where.

8.         Why do you think this show was so successful?

9.         Would this show be successful if it were broadcast now?

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The game show genre takes off in 1955 with THE $64,000 QUESTION.

10.       Which show fell victim to the GREAT QUIZ SHOW SCANDAL?

11.       Explain why the show was such a controversy.

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Thumbnail image of the Time Magazine cover, October 10, 1960 showing Nixon and Kennedy facing each other

60’s and 70’s

 

 

12.       When was the first televised presidential debate and who partook in it?

 

13.       Why did television play a major role for getting presidential votes?

 

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14.       Vietnam was the first televised war, who was the major correspondent that brought the images of war into

people's home?

15.       Do you feel the images of war should have been televised?  Why or Why not?

16.       Why is news important in broadcasting?

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80’s and 90’s

 

Cable is introduced in the 80's. 

17.        List three major cable stations that debuted and are still on today?

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HDTV broadcasts begin in 1998.

 

18.       What is HDTV and why is the industry changing to it?

 

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2000

 

Reality TV takes over Prime Time.

 

19.       Why are reality shows so popular?

 

20.       Do you think the popularity will die down?

 

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For more facts on the History of Television, check out this site:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/technology/bigdream/milestones.html

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