The Golden Age Of Television | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Golden Age Of Television | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jim Harrison
06/11/20
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Growing up, my affection for our television set may have become an addiction instead of entertainment, a visual aid for me as a child. I spent several hours in front of my escape (our tv set) learning about the wild, wild west, and solving crime for the authorities. Of course, my homework, study time, and chores had to come before I was allowed to turn on my visual encyclopedia per se, no, I'm just kidding, that was my attempt at a little humor.
As a man in my seventies, I can genuinely say that I lived through the Golden Age Of Television. Yes, the term television I'm sure may sound ancient to some, or maybe you prefer tv nowadays. From the first moments that my parents brought a " tv " into the house, I was it's captive. Now, this started my love affair with Western movies, police, and likewise Whodunit dramas in the mid to late 1950s.

I didn't mean to leave you with the wrong impression; I didn't spend all of my free time in front of the tv, attempting to figure out whodunit, even though I am pretty good even to this day at solving on the air crime. My first love was watching anything with Cowboys and American Indians. I was captivated as a younker watching: David Crockett (1959-1961); The Roy Rogers Show (12/30/51-6/9/57); Gene Autrey (7/23/50-8/7/56); Broken Arrow (1956-1958); Bat Masterson (1958-1961); Bonanza (9/12/59-1/16/73); Brave Eagle (9/28/55-3/14/56); Bronco (1958-1962); Cheyenne (1955-1962); and The Cisco Kid (1950-1956). I can go on and on, but I just wanted to give you a taste of the good-quality TV. I genuinely miss the moral compass and the values portrayed in my viewing in those days. Our tv hero's nor the villains would utter a curse word. You see, the MPAA seemed to be up and down in what they allowed. The Motion Picture Association of America, to me, is wishy-washy. I came along at an ideal time in the history of westerns, tv dramas, and sitcoms.

In the time designated as The Golden Ages of Television, this now ancient industry was subjected to continuous ups and downs, growing pains. Once the vehicle was up and running, progressing through the Mechanical Television process, also called Mechanical Scan Television, this became something that was highly anticipated by American families. The next step was for network television or broadcaster, which is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program context, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay television providers.
CBS was a pioneer, a pathfinder, who took assiduous care with their new
baby. In the early 1930s to be specific 1931-1933, CBS put out a television series with a continuous run, Murder-Mystery, " The Television Ghost." This series played from an experimental television station. This station ran for two years as a Mechanical Television station.

As the years passed by, it was time for electronic tv to make an entrance. By the late 30s, CBS was busily introducing other experimental programs to the public. Sportcasts and even what became known as gameshows ( CBS Television Quiz), this program ran from July 2, 1941, to May 25, 1942. The first television game show, Spelling Bee, was broadcast in 1938, hosted by British broadcaster Freddie Grisewood.
In 1940 Truth or Consequences, hosted by Bob Barker, became the first American game show to air on commercially licensed television.

Another man that I believe we all have heard of was the Evangelist Billy Graham. This giant in the faith founded the " Billy Graham Evangelistic Association " (BGEA) in 1950. Who's mission was to trumpet, the Gospel of our Lord and God Jesus Christ in every useful way available to encourage others to do the same.
He took Christ literally when He read in Mark 16:15, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." BG films have been distributed around the world since 1953, and viewers have reached two million-plus in Decisions for Christ.
I read that Mr. Graham said, paraphrase, " That his main duty in life is to help people find a Personal Relationship with God, in which, he believes, comes through knowing Christ." I say Amen Brother.

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