impact of television
Due to purchases of electrical appliances and televisions electricity, consumption more than doubled in the 1950's. Motorola color TV was the greatest develpment of the electronic age. When the great depression ended, americans craved for new cars, electronics, appliances and much more gadgets. Americans bought 750,000 television sets in 1948, and 2 years later 7.5 million sets were bought. By the end of the 50's, 87% of americans owned at least 1 television. As television increased so did the advertising industry and the gospel of consumerism. Television networks paid programs that they produced from the advertising revenues. For most people in the U.S., television was a novelty, and they watched commericials just as much as the programs. As the 50's grew, television ads became persuasive and the goods became needs of the middle class. A lazy way to make supper in 25 minutes without dishes and without thawing out food, resulted in TV dinners. They were made so that families could eat while they watched TV. Different programs started being aired on television such as religion, music, etc. Baby boomers grew up in the television age, critics argued that child programming was boring, mindless, and often violent. Yet some programs had positive messages that good triumphed over evil, gentleness over kindness, and truthfulness was spread.