The days of watching television when it was just black and white and still being so exciting! It opened so many possibilities to young children that are grown up in the 50’s and 60’s. We got to watch what some consider the best shows of all time in stunning black and white. Let me take you back to the time when watching TV wasn’t the same.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. The Rabbit Ear Dance
- 2 2. The Test Pattern
- 3 3. Saturday Morning Rituals
- 4 4. The TV Repairman
- 5 5. The Vertical Hold Battle
- 6 6. The Lone TV Set
- 7 7. The Three-Channel Universe
- 8 8. The Warm-Up Wait
- 9 9. Static Electricity Build-up
- 10 10. The TV Guide Bible
- 11 11. Snow and Ghost Images
- 12 12. The Living Room Spotlight
1. The Rabbit Ear Dance
Does everyone remember using clips at the top of a tv antenna to give the best reception? One person would have to stand still with the metal clip to keep the picture clear while the rest of the group shouted perfect. We even invented a trick using a piece of metal foil to amplify the signal believe it or not.
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2. The Test Pattern
Every later evening of the night, and very early morning, we were accompanied by the native american signal, Going to bed after the tv people stopped midday shows and only started evening shows the next morning, and at 4 am, the pattern switched to signal a break.
3. Saturday Morning Rituals
On saturdays, the most amazing cartoons played on tv and me and all my friends would sit and eat breakfast and watch. Mighty Mouse and Felix the Cat are cartoons that are so good, we loved them just as much as the tv cartoons in color.
4. The TV Repairman
The TV breaking was an event. We would call out the repair man and we would watch him as he diagnosed the problem. These TVs were like pieces of furniture, and fixing them was often cheaper than replacing them.
5. The Vertical Hold Battle
The vertical hold present challenges for so many of us. People had their own techniques to try to get the picture to stop rolling.
6. The Lone TV Set
Having one TV meant household family viewing was mandatory. We all watched together, and dad usually had the final say on channel selection. Everyone got exposure to different tastes, which does not happen with today’s multiple-screen households.
7. The Three-Channel Universe
Most households with TVs had just three channels to choose from: ABC, CBS, and NBC. If you were lucky, you might get a local independent station or two.
8. The Warm-Up Wait
They would literally take time to warm up, meaning you had to watch the TV wake up to wait for the picture to fill the screen.
9. Static Electricity Build-up
Touching the screen would give us little shocks because it would build up static electricity. Some of us turned it into a game to see who could hold their hand closest to the screen without getting shocked. The screen also attracted dust like a magnet!
10. The TV Guide Bible
Every household had The TV Guide which was a plan of attack for the week in front of the television. We would plot out what shows to watch and circle those titles with the threat of missing an episode waiting for a rerun several months later. Who would get the luxury of recording or streaming shows?
11. Snow and Ghost Images
Reception was hit or miss and even barraged images were snow storms and see double effects. We would endure the blizzard to see our favorite shows. The weather always determined our show options and how clear the picture was.
12. The Living Room Spotlight
The television lit the room and sparked concern for our eyes. It would also emit a warm hum and heat that was dangerous for us to sit too close to. Today’s televisions have none of what makes that so unique.
