February 1959 - Color TV was fairly new:
Not every family could afford a color set - we didn't have one when we were growing up.
Remember when we used to love those Swanson TV dinners? (I know I did!)
And maybe we'd eat them on our TV trays:
OH! And remember when the "TV Guide" REALLY WAS ONE ??!!#*! Yep, we used to be able to look in the TV Guide and know for sure what was on at any time of the day - in our very own house! Imagine that.
Well, not any more. Changes through the years (none for the better), by not only the magazine but also the networks, have rendered the old magazine nearly useless. CBS has different prime times in different parts of the country, and the networks change their programming so often after the magazine has gone to press that, well - good luck if you think you know what's on when. Yes - I could look online, but we pay good money for a subscription! Oh - and daytime and the middle of the night pretty much no longer exist in the world- did you know that? I told my sister when they changed to the large format that they should be calling it "PEOPLE (on tv)". If I could make that "on tv" any smaller, I would. I just want to know what's on. I want it to be like it used to. I want to whine about the fact that it's not. Yes - I know there are a ton of stations - I'm sorry about all that - but I just miss the days when the TV Guide was just that - your guide to what was on TV. I know what you're thinking - "Get over it, Heidi". I'm trying.
When I was growing up we always had a TV Guide. It was the only magazine I knew as a child. I loved it then and wish I still had those old ones. I don't even bother looking at it nowadays as it looks more like a celebrity mag. I loved the ad for the tv trays. It was a changing world then wasn't it? People were just beginning to see how television was changing our lives. Twyla
ReplyDeleteI am just going through my new yearly "do I want to renew TV Guide again or not?" Used to be I always wanted to renew it. I do enjoy reading the articles but is it worth what they want for a subscription? It used to be such a great magazine, and I liked it when it was little, it fit onto the coffee table easily. It was unique. I used to save copies of it all the time. I don't any longer. I may not subscribe this year and start looking on line for what is on TV. I just might! Take that TV Guide. Love T
ReplyDeleteThe RCA calendar is amazing. Great stuff.
ReplyDeletei agree the rca calendar is amazing. i can remember a lot of my parents friends did not have tvs - we never used tv guide - my folks used the daily newspaper - so fortunately i never got hooked. but i know people are and the are horrified at what it has become. my aunt and uncle had one of the first color tvs. does anyone remember the days when there was not around the clock tv? they used to run a test pattern and my brothers and i were so addicted we would even watch that!
ReplyDeleteoops - i cannot believe i did not mention arlene francis - what about kitty carliyle (spelling ugh!) - then there was betsy palmer - how funny that i recall all the women from the panels on game shows of the day - i can remember the mens faces but.......oh lets see bill cullen? but there were many others and i did like them. guess i can own up to a seniors moment.
ReplyDeleteI remember when our neighbors bought a color TV. It was at night and we went over and watched Lost In Space. Wow! !
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, my husband still loves TV dinners- only we changed their name to DVD dinners! :> (I really am a good cook. Just don't do it often enough I guess?)
Ohhh my goodness! Yes, we Loved those Swanson TV Dinners... LOL ...well, us kids did; I'm not so certain about how well my Dad cared for them! I recall the neighbors, without color TV, coming over to our home to watch Disney in color... they always brought snacks. My parents did not do the TV Guide thingie, they always checked the newspaper for listings. This was a fun post, and makes me wish I had my Mom's TV tray sets...
ReplyDelete~Pearl
I have been loving all of your posts lately, but this one especially. We knew it was Sunday night when we got to eat on the tray tables and watch Walter Cronkite (what was that show? The 21st Century?) followed by The Wonderful World of Disney. Good times!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Heidi. There are just too many channels and you know what I really despise? Editing portions of old shows to make room for more commercials. I loved TV Guide and I always remember it being on the arm of my dad's dark green recliner. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteDeanna :D
The new TV guide is just awful really. Its not a good magazine, it's not a guide for the television. Totally useless.
ReplyDelete