As I think of my life and the television, thoughts of the day my parents brought home our first tv still brings me joy. It was during the year of 1953. Our household was so excited. At that time, there was only a few channels that would broadcast some of my favorite shows. Everyone would wait with excitement knowing that Red Skelton Show was about to start. Some other favorites was the Ed Sullivan Show, Life of Reily, Rin Tin Tin and of course the very funny I Love Lucy Show. Those were great times for families. Everyone would sit at the table and have dinner, then go into the living room to watch some great shows on a 12" screen. I still have this togetherness with my parents but it’s sports now instead of a comedy or variety show. These Tvs cost about $300 - $400, so many families had to wait to save enough to purchase one. There was no remotes, no special features like today. Just a plain black and white screen that tickled the hearts of children everywhere.
As the years progressed, so did the television. Color tv sets started to show up in the late 50’s. The screens sizes were around 21” and I remember getting a tv around the early 60’s with a remote. Shows started to change too. More violence, language that seemed to come from another world and comedy just didn’t seem to be as funny as it was back in the 50’s. A different culture was brewing and it was brewing fast.
Today the Tvs are more complex and very confusing to many. Sometimes I wonder, does anyone really know everything that these new Tvs can do. I read their specifications and wonder want the heck is all this stuff, like the specs on this Toshiba 42” tv:
"42"" ClearFrame 120Hz LED TV 1080p Net TV with Yahoo Widgets CineSpeed LED Panel DynaLight Built-in WiFi."
Toshiba 42SL417U42" LED-LCD TV
Direct LED - ATSC - NTSC - HDTV 1080p - 16:9 - 1920 x 1080 - 1080p - 120 Hz
UPC Code: 022265004371
Estimated Retail Price: 1,099.99
It took me a long time to find out what 1080p meant. Now there’s some sets being sold with Net TV, Cine Speed, LED, LCD, WiFi, some have features for video games, some with dvd players right in the tv unit, Plasma and 3D Tvs. I’ve also heard of a tv coming that is 4D TV.
But is all this good? Technology is great and the pictures are better than ever but I have also seen a dismantling of the family. Children have a full time babysitter, the TV. Parents spend less time talking and teaching their children and depend more on the tv to teach them what they don’t seem to have time for.
As I close I have mixed feelings but some great memories. To be born in a world of such amazing new gadgets developed in my lifetime but sad that the wonder that I had as a child is lost in a world where the gadgets are more important to a child than getting to know each other as I did with my family.
"42"" ClearFrame 120Hz LED TV 1080p Net TV with Yahoo Widgets CineSpeed LED Panel DynaLight Built-in WiFi."
Toshiba 42SL417U42" LED-LCD TV
Direct LED - ATSC - NTSC - HDTV 1080p - 16:9 - 1920 x 1080 - 1080p - 120 Hz
UPC Code: 022265004371
Estimated Retail Price: 1,099.99
It took me a long time to find out what 1080p meant. Now there’s some sets being sold with Net TV, Cine Speed, LED, LCD, WiFi, some have features for video games, some with dvd players right in the tv unit, Plasma and 3D Tvs. I’ve also heard of a tv coming that is 4D TV.
But is all this good? Technology is great and the pictures are better than ever but I have also seen a dismantling of the family. Children have a full time babysitter, the TV. Parents spend less time talking and teaching their children and depend more on the tv to teach them what they don’t seem to have time for.
As I close I have mixed feelings but some great memories. To be born in a world of such amazing new gadgets developed in my lifetime but sad that the wonder that I had as a child is lost in a world where the gadgets are more important to a child than getting to know each other as I did with my family.
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