The Golden Age of Television

The Golden Age of Television, in the United States, is generally considered to have been from the late 1940s through about 1960. Television was just coming out of its infancy in the 1940s, and productions were generally live. Examples include Kraft Television Theatre, Playhouse 90, and Your Show of Shows along with many others.

Some of these shows grew out of earlier radio dramas, and some, like The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman were essentially moralistic cartoons aimed at a young audience. Others, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, and 77 Sunset Strip were more complex and appealed to a more mature audience. Some of these shows explored new territory in television, such as the episode of 77 Sunset Strip, "The Silent Caper." The episode was written by Roger Smith and aired in 1960. For the entire episode, there is not a single line of dialog -- it was an entirely visual presentation.

In the latter part of the period westerns were popular, to the dismay of some, and the delight of others. Two of the best known examples are Gunsmoke and Have Gun - Will Travel. The former (which also grew out of a radio series) was one of the longest running TV series, and for good reason. The latter, which had a number of references to classical literature, also featured a more theatrical approach.

I have long been of the opinion that a large part of the success of these shows, and the cultural values of the time, grew from the fact that many of those involved in these productions lived through the Great Depression and were veterans of WWII.

If you're an old fart, such as myself, you grew up watching some of these shows. If you are younger, they are worthy of your investigation.