TelevisionThe age of television was born during the postwar era. There were over 40 million television sets in use by 1957 compared to the measly 17 thousand in 1946, 11 years earlier. Television became a major source of advertising, broadcasting sporting events and portraying the newest fashions and styles. Programs that were broadcasted generally portrayed an image of white, suburban, middle-class life.
The first color system was created in 1928 by John Logie Baird using mechanical techniques. In the early 1940s, CBS developed a television that transmitted the primary colors sequentially. While this system worked, the system had low resolution and could not be used with the existing black and white broadcasting stations. It wasn't until 1954 when the first color televisions were sold in America. The first color system, the RCA compatible system, was initially released with a 15 inch screen, later to have 19 inch and 21 inch models that same year.
Pictured above is the 1957 television network with the 1950 network highlighted in red.
Along with innovations in color television, during the postwar era, the entire nation was connected with broadcasting stations. Bell Labs and A.T.&T. used coaxial cables and microwave links to linked the entire nation into one network by 1957. This network was used until satellite networks arose in the 1970s and 1980s,
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MusicPostwar America gave birth to era in music, rock 'n' roll. This genre of music became extremely popular in the late 1940s and 1950s. One iconic rock 'n' roll artist of this era was Elvis Presley. Presley's first massive hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," established him as a rock 'n' roll icon in 1956 and for many more years to come.
Rock 'n' roll did not become popular spontaneously; innovations in radio and television both greatly contributed to rock 'n' roll's popularity. Many radio stations solely broadcasted music. These radio announcers, now referred to as "disc jockeys," created radio programs geared toward young American fans of rock 'n' roll music.
Pictured above, Dick Clark was the television host for his hit show, American Bandstand. This show began in 1957 and featured a live audience dancing to prerecorded music in order to promote rock 'n' roll music.
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