1950 s comparison chart Television in Canada Television

1950 s comparison chart

Television in Canada • Television made its debut in 1952 with television division of the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) with CBLT-Toronto & CBFT-Montréal • Only about 10% of population had a tv because it was so expensive • Broadcast was 3 hours a day, in 2 languages • Mostly cultural elements – Shakespeare and opera • And, of course, sports – Hockey Night in Canada began in 1952

Hockey Night in Canada • 1 st televised game for French Canada was in October 11, 1952 • Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings • 1 st televised game for English Canada 3 weeks later • Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins • http: //archives. cbc. ca/sports/hockey/clips/16388/ • By the end of the decade, it would be the only show making money – 475% profit!

The Golden Age of Television • In America, black & white television sets exploded at the beginning of the '50 s. • By mid-1950 s, there came electronic colour TVs, which was followed by launching of remote control towards 1959.

Variety Shows • The Ed Sullivan Show aired Sundays from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971 • Featured a variety of musical performances, notably three appearances in the 1950 s by Elvis Presley, the debut of the The Beatles in the 1960 s, and so on • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. Ov. Ud. Zgl 7 vo&feature=player_embedded#at=26

Sitcoms – Situation Comedies Glossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=4 wp 3 m 1 vg 06 Q But. . . I Love Lucy The Honeymooners

Game Shows • Twenty-One was a huge hit in the 1950 s but was hit with scandal in 1956 -58 when it was revealed that a contestant, Charles van Doren, had been given answers by the show’s producer • So dramatic was this revelation that there were Senate hearings to help decide the fate of game shows on television

Westerns Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier Sheriff Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke The Lone Ranger (and his faithful sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked man?

Suburbia • 1950 s was the first decade of “urban sprawl” • Many “planned communities” cropped up around major urban areas • In the 1950 s, 1. 1 million housing units were built • In the US, the first was Levittown, NY • In Canada, it was Don Mills – Both were prototypes for future developments

Planned Communities Levittown, NY: “The American Dream” In 1949, William Levitt produced 150 houses per week. $7, 990 or $60/month with no down payment.

Don Mills, Ontario • In 1950, the area was farmland • E. P. Taylor, a prominent businessman, bought 2000 acres • 1953 -1965, area was transformed. It introduced many design features that would define generations of suburbs. • Each quadrant had a school, church, and a local store • Wide variety of housing types (e. g. small apartment buildings, semi-detached homes, and ranch-style singlefamily houses). • At the centre of the community were plans for a shopping centre, community centre, curling rink, and hockey arena • The outdoor plaza opened in 1955

Automobile • Cars made the suburbs possible • In the 1950 s, Hwy 401 and 400 -series developed, along with more urban roads getting paved • Because of cars cities and suburbs become more homogeneous (where things are the same) First Mc. Donald’s (1955) Drive-In Movies

Car registrations: 1958 Pink Cadillac 1945 25, 000 1960 60, 000 1959 Chevy Corvette In 1956, the largest public works project in history begins in the US: The Interstate Highway Act • Cost $32 billion • 41, 000 miles of new highways built

Teenagers • In the 1950 s, the word “teenager” enters North American lexicon • By 1956 in the US, there are 13 million teens (remember the Baby Boom!) with $7 billion to spend a year • Marketers took advantage of this new category in order to make $ and geared advertising and movies to teens

“Juvenile Delinquency” 1951 J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye Marlon Brando The Wild One (1953) James Dean Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Music for teens – “Race” music Elvis Presley “The King” Chuck Berry Bill Haley & The Comets http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=F 5 fsq. Yct. Xg. M

Literature for teens J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye The “Beat” Generation: Jack Kerouac On The Road Allen Ginsberg “Howl” William S. Burroughs Junkie “Beatnik” “Clean” Teen

Educational Reform • Strict rules of conduct for dress code & behaviour – Specific boy and girl doors to enter/exit school • Attendance through high school was the norm • Science and history were added to the curriculum vs. the previous focus on 3 ‘R’s – Reading – Writing – Arithmetic

Rules for Behaviour in 1950 s • Obey Authority. • Control Your Emotions. • Don’t Make Waves Fit in with group. • Don’t Even Think About Sex!!! HAVE TIMES CHANGED? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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