History  of  Radio
&  Television  Page
Page One
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Current Filmmakers XXth Century Directors Early Filmmakers Foreign Cinema Favorite Films (and Why) Film Genres Actors: Stars & Unknowns Movies: Great & Unsung Film Festivals & Orgns Reference & Technical Film Businesses Page |       | ![]() |       |
pioneers of radio & TV
early TV programs links on page two:
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"When television is bad, nothing is worse. You will observe a vast wasteland." —  Newton N. Minow  (9 May 1961) "There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful. Stonewall Jackson, who knew something about the use of weapons, is reported to have said, 'When war comes, you must draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.' The trouble with television is that it is rusting in the scabbard during a battle for survival. "Life doesn't imitate art, it imitates bad television." "(Television) won't be able to hold on to any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night." |
Magic Lantern's Television & Radio Networks Page
Magic Lantern's History of Cinema Page
Books About Hollywood & Cinema History
Old Time Radio Page at Spirit of America Bookstore
Radio  &  Television  Pioneers
  | "Pioneers of Primetime" [P.B.S. Nov 1995]
1-hour b&w/color documentary; extras on DVD include extended interviews with Steve Allen, Milton Berle, Buddy Ebsen, Donald O'Connor, Rose Marie & Red Skelton Produced & directed by Steve Boettcher; written by John Hoylman & Jack Jones P.B.S. Paramount widescreen b&w/color DVD [11/2005] for $16.99 full credits at IMDb official P.B.S. program site |
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"Pioneers of Television" [P.B.S. Jan 2008]
4-episode mini-series: Late Night, Sitcoms, Game Shows, Variety Directed by Steve Boettcher; written by Mike Trinklein P.B.S. Paramount widescreen b&w/color DVD [1/2008] for $22.49 full credits at IMDb official P.B.S. program site |
Abbott & Costello
see Abbott & Costello on the Movie Series & Comedy Teams Page
browse Bud Abbott on DVD
browse Lou Costello on DVD
Milton Berle  [1908-2002]
browse Milton Berle on DVD IMDb listing
Wikipedia
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"The Milton Berle Collection" [2004] from the 'Milton Berle Buick Show' [1953-55] Passport b&w DVD [2/2004] 5 disks for $26.99 |
  Stan Chambers
television reporter for KTLA-TV 5 in Los Angeles since 1947
KTLA homepage IMDb listing
Wikipedia
Stan Chambers Journalism Awards [est. 1999]
A.P.T.R.A. annually presents the Stan Chambers Lifetime Achievement Award
2009 inductee of the A.P.T.R.A. Hall of Fame
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KTLA's News At Ten: 60 Years With Stan Chambers [2008] by Stan Chambers, with Lynn Price Behler Publns 8¼x5½ pb [2/2008] for $1.66 |
Walter Cronkite  [1916-2009]
browse Walter Cronkite on DVD IMDb listing
Wikipedia
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"A Reporter's Life" [1996] by Walter Cronkite Ballantine Books 8¼x5½ pb [10/97] for $12.44 Knopf 9½x6½ hardcover [11/96] for $19.80 |
Philo T. Farnsworth  [1906-71]
The Inventor of Modern Television
Ernie Kovacs  [1919-62]
browse Ernie Kovacs on DVD IMDb listing
Wikipedia
"Ernie Kovacs: Between The Laughter" [1984 TV movie] starring Jeff Goldblum
"The Ernie Kovacs Phile" [Simon & Schuster 1987] by David Walley
"Kovacsland: A Biography of Ernie Kovacs" [HB&J 1990] by Diana Rico
"The Importance of Being Ernie" stage play [2004] by Sean Sanczel
  | "The Best of Ernie Kovacs" [1977 P.B.S. series] White Star b&w DVD [11/2000] 2 disks for $44.99 |
Groucho Marx  [1890-1977]
Groucho Marx Section on Magic Lantern's Marx Brothers Page
browse Groucho Marx on DVD at Amazon
Edward R. Murrow  [1908-65]  Page
Edward R. Murrow Quotations Page at Working Minds Philosophy website
Jack Paar  [1918-2004]
IMDb listing
Wikipedia
  | "The Jack Paar Collection" [2004] Shout Factory color DVD [3/2004] 3 disks for $26.99 includes the documentary "Smart Television: The Best of Jack Paar" [P.B.S. 2003] and 3 episodes of the prime-time "The Jack Paar Program" [1962-65] |
Nikola Tesla  [1856-1943]
The Inventor of Radio
Early  Television  Programs
"Amos 'n' Andy"
Bob Clampett's "Time For Beany"
"Engineer Bill"
"Howdy Doodie & Buffalo Bob"
"Kukla, Fran & Ollie"
Laurel & Hardy
"Little Rascals" {syndication of 'Our Gang' shorts}
"Perry Mason" tv series [1957-66]
"Sheriff John"
'The Three Stooges' {syndication from 1958}
"The Twilight Zone"
"Watching Mr. Wizard" [1951-65]
"Webster Webfoot"
at 'Readers of The Purple Sage' Western Bookstore
Elfego Baca [Disney TV series 1958-60]
Cisco Kid & Pancho Page
Hopalong Cassidy Page
"The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp" TV series [1955-61]
The Lone Ranger Page
  | "1950s TV's Greatest Westerns" [2002]
indep 5-hour DVD set [7/2002] 3 disks for $24.99 contains 12 TV episodes, 1949-1960: "The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956 episode) starring Scott Forbes; "Annie Oakley" (1956 episode) starring Gail Davis; "Bat Masterson" (1958 episode) starring Gene Barry; "The Cisco Kid" (1951 color episode) starring Duncan Renaldo & Leo Carillo; "Death Valley Days" (1953 episode) hosted by Stanley Andrews; "Fury" (1956 episode) starring Peter Graves; "Judge Roy Bean" (1955 episode) starring Edgar Buchanan; "The Lone Ranger" (1949 episode) starring Clayton Moore & Jay Silverheels; "The Roy Rogers Show" (1955 episode) starring Roy Roger & Dale Evans; "Sergeant Preston of The Yukon" (1957 episode) starring Richard Simmons; "Sky King" (1958 episode) starring Kirby Grant; and "Tate" (1960 pilot) starring David McLean |
  | "1950s TV's Greatest Detectives" [2002]
remastered b&w DVD [7/2002] 3 disks for $24.99 includes 12 TV episodes, 1951-1959: "Martin Kane, Private Eye" (1951) with William Gargan; "Dick Tracy" (1952) with Ralph Byrd; "Dragnet" (1952) with Jack Webb; "Man Against Crime" (1952) with Ralph Bellamy; "Mr. & Mrs. North" (1952) with Richard Denning & Barbara Britton; "Mystery Theatre Presents" (1952) with Tom Conway; "I Am The Law" (1953) with George Raft; "The Lone Wolf" (1954) with Louis Hayward; "Sherlock Holmes" (1954) with Ronald Howard; "Gangbusters" (1955) with Myron Healey; "Treasury Men In Action" (1955) with Charles Bronson; and "Peter Gunn" (1959) with Craig Stevens |
  | "Best of TV Detectives" 150-episode DVD Box Set [2007]
Mill Creek Ent. b&w/color DVD [6/2007] 12 disks for $19.99 includes 150 episodes from: "The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu" [1956]; "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" [1950]; "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" [1955] hosted by Alfred Hitchcock; "Bulldog Drummond" [1957 pilot]; "Burke's Law" [1963] starring Gene Barry; "The Cases of Eddie Drake" [1952]; "Checkmate" [1960]; "Code 3" [1957] hosted by Richard Travis; "Colonel March of Scotland Yard" [1956] starring Boris Karloff; "The Court of Last Resort" [1957] created by Erle Stanley Gardner; "Decoy" [1957] starring Beverly Garland; "Dick Tracy" [1950] 6 episodes starring Ralph Byrd;"Dragnet" [1951-59] 25 episodes starring Jack Webb; "Federal Men" [1950] 5 epiosdes; "Follow That Man" [1949-54] 6 episodes starring Ralph Bellamy; "Front Page Detective" |
| [1951] starring Edmund Lowe; "Gang Busters" [1951]; "I'm The Law" [1953] starring George Raft; "The Lawless Years" [1959] 6 episodes; "Lock Up" [1959] 8 episodes starring Macdonald Carey; "Lone Wolf" [1955] starring Louis Hayward; "The Man Behind the Badge" [1953] 6 episodes; "Man With A Camera" [1958] starring Charles Bronson; "Mannix" [1967-75] starring Mike Connors; "Martin Kane, Private Eye" [1949] 6 episodes; "Miami Undercover" [1961]; "Michael Shayne" [1960] starring Richard Denning; "Mr. & Mrs. North" [1952] 16 episodes starring Richard Denning & Barbara Britton; "The Public Defender" [1954-56] starring Reed Hadley; "Racket Squad" [1951] 7 episodes starring Reed Hadley; "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" [1957-60] starring David Janssen; "The Shadow" [1954 pilot]; "Sheriff of Cochise" [1956-58] starring John Bromfield; and "U.S. Marshal" [1958-60] starring John Bromfield |
  | "The Golden Age of Television" DVD Box Set [2009]
Criterion Collection b&w DVD [11/2009] 3 disks for $37.99 contains 8 live teleplays: "Marty" (24 May 1953) written by Paddy Chayefsky, starring Rod Steiger; "Patterns" (15 Jan 1955) written by Rod Serling, starring Ed Begley; "No Time For Sergeants" (15 March 1955) starring Andy Griffith & Harry Clark; "A Wind From The South" (14 Sept 1955) written by James Costigan, starring Julie Harris; "Bang The Drum Slowly" (26 Sept 1956) starring Paul Newman & Albert Salmi; "Requiem For A Heavy-weight" (11 Oct 1956) written by Rod Serling, starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason & Mickey Rooney; double Emmy-winner "The Comedian" (17 Feb 1957) adapted by Rod Serling, starring Mickey Rooney & Mel Tormι; "Days of Wine and Roses" (2 Oct 1958) starring Cliff Robertson |
Television  &  Radio  Links
Museum of Broadcast Communications [est. 1987] in Chicago, IL
"TV History: The First 75 Years" website
Early Television Museum/Foundation in Hilliard, OH
F.C.C. History of Television pages
ArtLinksList.com - arts directory / TV
Television Station Index
Radio Locator station listings website
50 Years of Western Australia TV
National Media Museum [est. 1983] in Bradford, West Yorkshire, U.K.
Associated Press Television-Radio Association
A.P.T.R.A. Hall of Fame [est. 2009]
Important  Dates  in  the  History
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Fiction  About  Radio  &  TV
  | "The Great Man" A Novel" [1955] by Al Morgan
When a popular radio commentator dies in a car accident, his successor is ordered to produce an hour-long tribute, but he can't find anyone who knew the guy with good things to say about him. Pocket/Cardinal mass pb [1957] out of print/scarce Dutton 7¾x5¼ hardcover [1955] out of print/used "The Great Man" feature film [Universal Dec 1956] Co-written & directed by & starring Josι Ferrer; based on the novel by Albert E. Morgan; also starring Dean Jagger, Keenan Wynn, Julie London, Joanne Gilbert, Ed Wynn, Jim Backus, Lyle Talbot, Henny Backus & Johnny Grant VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available full credits at IMDb |
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"The God of Channel 1" [1956] by Frederik Pohl (writing as Donald Stacy) "The diamond-hard novel of a man who became TV's biggest personality"; the Danny Dahl character is perhaps modeled after C.B.S.'s daily host Arthur Godfrey [1903-83] Ballantine mass pb [1956] out of print/scarce Ballantine mass pb [1956] for out of print/scarce |
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"Zoomar: A Sophisticated Novel About Love and TV" [1957] by Ernie Kovacs A comic romp, (loosely) based on the life & career of television pioneer Pat Weaver Bantam mass pb [1959] out of print/scarce Doubleday hardcover [1957] out of print/scarce Doubleday hardcover [1957] out of print/used |
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"The 21" Screen" [1958] by Edwin Fadiman, Jr.
"On television, Rex Lundy was the idol of millions, off-camera he was a cheating husband, an indifferent father, and a ruthless lover." Signet/NAL mass pb [1959] out of print/used Signet/NAL mass pb [1959] out of print/used Doubleday hardcover [1958] out of print/used |
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New York TV exec Matt Cobb mystery series [1978-96] by William L. DeAndrea [1952-96] "Killed In The Ratings" [HBJ 1978] hardcover out of print/many used pb out of print/used "Killed In The Act" [Doubleday 1981] hardcover out of print/used pb out of print/used "Killed With A Passion" [Doubleday 1983] hardcover out of print/used "Killed On The Ice" [Doubleday 1984] hardcover out of print/used pb out of print/used "Killed In Paradise" [Mysterious Press 1988] hardcover out of print/used pb out of print/used "Killed On The Rocks" [Mysterious Press 1990] hardcover out of print/many used pb out of print/many used "Killed In Fringe Time" [S&S 1995] hardcover out of print/used "Killed In the Fog" [S&S 1996] hardcover out of print/used |
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"WLT: A Radio Romance" [1991 bestseller] by Garrison Keillor
Two brothers set up radio station WLT ('With Lettuce and Tomato') in Minneapolis in 1926 to draw crowds to their wilting sandwich restaurant. The station is a success, and they are soon hiring local talent whose on-air personalities are not exactly the same as in real life: winsome child star Little Becky is a chain-smoking practical joker, the sports announcer is blind, and the always-cheerful songstress is confined to her wheelchair by polio and fat. The novel's hero is young straight man Francis White, who comes of age at the station and, as the station's success fades, goes on to greater things in television. Penguin 7½x5 pb [11/92] for $10.20 Viking 8½x5¼ hardcover [11/91] out of print/many, many used Highbridge ABR auduio CD [10/2006] for $20.48 |
  | "The Network" [2009] by Bill Siderski He was supposed to go down with the ship while they walked away with the money. But he had other ideas, big ideas, bold ideas, ideas that blurred the line between reporting the news and being the news. Now the ratings are high, and everybody is happy ... until the body count starts to rise. CreateSpace 8x5 pb [5/2009] for $14.00 |
Old  Time  Radio
Old Time Radio Page at Spirit of America Bookstore
Old Radio Programs Dept.
on Old Time Radio Page at Spirit of America Bookstore
Nikola Tesla  [1856-1943] - The Inventor of Radio
browse Old Time Radio books & audio & CDs at Amazon
radio drama shows {some modern} on audio CD at Amazon
  | "Listening In: Radio and The American Imagination - From Amos 'n' Andy & Edward R. Murrow To Wolfman Jack & Howard Stern" [1999] by Susan J. Douglas Univ MN Press 9x6 pb [2/2004] for $13.57 Crown 9½x6¾ hardcover [4/99] out of print/used |
Music
  | "All-Time Top 100 TV Themes" [2005]
includes themes from current/recent shows all the way back to the "Leave It To Beaver", "Gilligan's Island", "Dragnet", "The Twilight Zone" & "I Love Lucy" era T.V.T. audio CD [8/2005] 2 disks for $18.99 |
jump to History of Radio & Television Page Two
History of Cinema Page
Books About Hollywood & Cinema History
Magic Lantern's History of Radio & Television Pages
here on page one:
pioneers of radio & TV
early TV programs
links
important dates
old time radio
fiction books
music
on page two: videos & DVDs non-fiction books
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