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The Daily Insight

Did they have TV in 1952?

Author

Christopher Harper

Updated on April 05, 2026

September 20 – The first commercial Ultra High Frequency (UHF) television station in the world, KPTV (now a Fox company affiliate), begins broadcasting in Portland, Oregon on channel 27. November 16 – CBS Television City in Hollywood, California opens. The first political advertisements appear on US television.

Why was TV so popular in the 1950’s?

Many critics have dubbed the 1950s as the Golden Age of Television. TV sets were expensive and so the audience was generally affluent. Television programmers knew this and they knew that serious dramas on Broadway were attracting this audience segment. During the 50s, quiz shows became popular until a scandal erupted.

What was the biggest variety show in the 1950’s?

The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show – Beginning in 1948 as The Toast of the Town and renamed in 1955 (though commonly referred to as The Ed Sullivan Show for years prior), this is probably the most famous television variety show in history.

What was watched on 50’s TV?

Sitcoms and comedies were among the best with shows like I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners and I Married Joan earning high ratings. Later in the decade, Westerns became the most popular shows as folks were watching series like Rawhide, Bonanza and The Lone Ranger.

How many homes had TVs in the 1950s?

In 1950 only 9 percent of American households had televisions; by 1959 that figure had increased to 85.9 percent.

How much was a TV in the 50’s?

Buying power of $300 since 1950

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1950$300.00
1951$292.13-2.62%
1952$257.32-11.91%
1953$248.29-3.51%

What was the most popular TV show in the 1950s?

The Top Ten TV Shows in 1950 were: Texaco Star Theatre (NBC) Fireside Theatre (NBC) Philco TV Playhouse (NBC) Your Show of Shows (NBC) The Colgate Comedy Hour (NBC) Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (NBC) The Lone Ranger (ABC) Arthur Godfrey ’s Talent Scouts (CBS) Hopalong Cassidy (NBC) Mama (CBS)

What were televisions like in the 1950’s?

What was television like in the 1950s? Many critics have dubbed the 1950s as the Golden Age of Television. TV sets were expensive and so the audience was generally affluent. Television programmers knew this and they knew that serious dramas on Broadway were attracting this audience segment.

What was television like in the 1950s?

The television in the 1950’s was just a round simple box tv it required not much power to use the tv and it was black and white if we had the same tv today we would have some big problems. People were very used to the tv so when the changes came they were very sad and mad or excited or just bored of it.