Andy Williams was an American singer that recorded 18 gold, three platinum albums and five Grammy nominations as well as having his own variety show from 1962-1971. He also owned a theater in Branson, Missouri that was named after his signature song, Moon River. In the 1960s, he has a middle American, Establishment appeal that was different from the counterculture movement at the time. He was also known for his easy listening style. He remained on the charts thoughout the 1970s and had several television specials during the Holidays. He was also known for his famous Christmas time "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" and for singing the theme song for Oscar winning tear jerker, "Love Story".
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
R.I.P Andy Williams
Andy Williams was an American singer that recorded 18 gold, three platinum albums and five Grammy nominations as well as having his own variety show from 1962-1971. He also owned a theater in Branson, Missouri that was named after his signature song, Moon River. In the 1960s, he has a middle American, Establishment appeal that was different from the counterculture movement at the time. He was also known for his easy listening style. He remained on the charts thoughout the 1970s and had several television specials during the Holidays. He was also known for his famous Christmas time "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" and for singing the theme song for Oscar winning tear jerker, "Love Story".
Monday, September 24, 2012
What's On TV? Stations And Program Schedules Throughout The Years: An Overview.
For many decades in the United States, television was dominated by what was called "the big three" stations; CBS, ABC and NBC. Two of these stations, NBC and CBS, were around since the 1920s (starting as as radio networks), the third one, ABC, was a spin off from NBC in 1943.
In the first season of television, 1946-1947, broadcasts were only shown in prime time and NBC was the only station. From 1948-1954, all three networks started showing broadcasts and the broadcasing schedules expanded to weekdays.
In 1954, we see the advent of late night TV with NBC as they begin with the ever popular Tonight Show with Steve Allen. In 1957, Jack Parr became host of the program and from 1962-1992, Johnny Carson was the ever popular host before Jay Leno.
Starting in 1960, there was another change in the program schedule with the start of Saturday morning programs. Popular with children throughout the decades, Saturday morning programing consisted of shows for kids and created great memories.
In 1970, another television station made it's debut. Public Broadcasting Station, PBS for short, was different from it's counterparts in that it has no central program production arm or news department. It also consists of educational shows, documentaries and other cultural entertainment such as symphony concerts, ballets and operas. A television station with edgier program made it's debut in 1986 that was owned by Fox Entertainment Group. Even though they were never a part of the "big three", they enjoyed much success.
Today, cable TV, with it's round the clock broadcasts and wide variety of programs, surpasses the "big three" in popularity. Among the wide variety of channels include Educational channels such as the History, Science, Discovery and The Learning Channel. Others include, food and cooking channels, travel, cartoon, home improvement and movie channels.
In the first season of television, 1946-1947, broadcasts were only shown in prime time and NBC was the only station. From 1948-1954, all three networks started showing broadcasts and the broadcasing schedules expanded to weekdays.
In 1954, we see the advent of late night TV with NBC as they begin with the ever popular Tonight Show with Steve Allen. In 1957, Jack Parr became host of the program and from 1962-1992, Johnny Carson was the ever popular host before Jay Leno.
Starting in 1960, there was another change in the program schedule with the start of Saturday morning programs. Popular with children throughout the decades, Saturday morning programing consisted of shows for kids and created great memories.
In 1970, another television station made it's debut. Public Broadcasting Station, PBS for short, was different from it's counterparts in that it has no central program production arm or news department. It also consists of educational shows, documentaries and other cultural entertainment such as symphony concerts, ballets and operas. A television station with edgier program made it's debut in 1986 that was owned by Fox Entertainment Group. Even though they were never a part of the "big three", they enjoyed much success.
Today, cable TV, with it's round the clock broadcasts and wide variety of programs, surpasses the "big three" in popularity. Among the wide variety of channels include Educational channels such as the History, Science, Discovery and The Learning Channel. Others include, food and cooking channels, travel, cartoon, home improvement and movie channels.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Musical Performances From The Ed Sullivan Show
This is a video of the top 10 musical performances from The Ed Sullivan Show. The Ed Sullivan Show ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971 and it featured, what was to be known, some historical performances. Among these performances included Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Supremes, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Jackson 5, The Mamas & The Papas, The Doors, Rosa Morena and The Lovin' Spoonful.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Queen For A Day
When you think of game shows, you may think of contestants competing for money and prizes through a series of trivia questions, card games, word puzzles and other game like challenges. However, from 1945-1957, a different breed of game show took place. You could say that it is a pre curser to the modern day "reality TV show".
Queen For A Day, which ran from 1945 as a radio then later as a television game show until 1957, help ushered in what is called, the "big giveaway" game shows. It was very unique in the fact that it featured four ladies who have had their share of hard luck. Each of the ladies would be interviewed in front of a studio audience by host Jack Baily and they would each tell about their struggles publicly. The winner was determined by how terrible her circumstances were and by the amount of applause she would receive by the audience. After the winner was announced, the tune Pomp And Circumstance would play, she would be draped in a sable trimmed velvet robe, given a crown, placed on a red velvet throne and given a dozen roses. Often the winner would break down in sobs while the list of prizes won were announced. At the end of each episode, Jack Baily would sign off with, "This is Jack Bailey, wishing we could make every woman a queen, for every single day!"
Queen For A Day was so popular, that NBC increased it's run time from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to sell more commercials. Despite it's popularity, it was not always looked upon with fondness by some. Television writer Mark Evanier dubbed it as "one of the most ghastly shows ever produced" because it was tasteless and demeaning to women, demeaning to anyone who watched it, cheap, insulting and utterly degrading to the human spirit."
Other shows of it's kind, which had people tell their of their struggles were "Strike It Rich", "It Could Be You" and "On Your Way"
Queen For A Day, which ran from 1945 as a radio then later as a television game show until 1957, help ushered in what is called, the "big giveaway" game shows. It was very unique in the fact that it featured four ladies who have had their share of hard luck. Each of the ladies would be interviewed in front of a studio audience by host Jack Baily and they would each tell about their struggles publicly. The winner was determined by how terrible her circumstances were and by the amount of applause she would receive by the audience. After the winner was announced, the tune Pomp And Circumstance would play, she would be draped in a sable trimmed velvet robe, given a crown, placed on a red velvet throne and given a dozen roses. Often the winner would break down in sobs while the list of prizes won were announced. At the end of each episode, Jack Baily would sign off with, "This is Jack Bailey, wishing we could make every woman a queen, for every single day!"
Queen For A Day was so popular, that NBC increased it's run time from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to sell more commercials. Despite it's popularity, it was not always looked upon with fondness by some. Television writer Mark Evanier dubbed it as "one of the most ghastly shows ever produced" because it was tasteless and demeaning to women, demeaning to anyone who watched it, cheap, insulting and utterly degrading to the human spirit."
Other shows of it's kind, which had people tell their of their struggles were "Strike It Rich", "It Could Be You" and "On Your Way"
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Remember Those Educational Films In School?
If you were in a classroom somewhere between the 1950s and the 1970s, you may remember your teacher showing various films on subjects such as science, social studies and the language arts. You may also recall seeing films on other topics such as responsibility, anatomy, manners,traffic safety, personal safety and drug use.
Produced by corporations such as Encyclopædia Britannica, Centron Corporation, Mcgraw hill and Coronet Films, social guidance films are a genre of short films that attempted to help teach children, teens and even adults how to behave in more socially acceptable ways. Despite it's attempts to be helpful and the overall good messages of some, social guidance films as a whole are often perceived as dated and somewhat comical. Being in the public domain now, they are viewed for entertainment purposes and several were even lampooned in the television comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Duck And Cover (1951)
Produced by corporations such as Encyclopædia Britannica, Centron Corporation, Mcgraw hill and Coronet Films, social guidance films are a genre of short films that attempted to help teach children, teens and even adults how to behave in more socially acceptable ways. Despite it's attempts to be helpful and the overall good messages of some, social guidance films as a whole are often perceived as dated and somewhat comical. Being in the public domain now, they are viewed for entertainment purposes and several were even lampooned in the television comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
A Date With Your Family (1950)
Duck And Cover (1951)
Saturday, September 8, 2012
.....And now a word from our sponsor (1950s)....
Friday, September 7, 2012
1950s Movie Reviews: Singin In The Rain (1952)
When it comes to happy, feel good movies that are good for the whole family, the 1950s were certainly a good decade for them. Some well known musicals that were made into film that came out of the 1950s include Oklahoma, South Pacific, Carousel and the delightful Singin In The Rain.
Singin' In The Rain takes place in 1927 around the dawn of "the talkie" (aka. films with sound). Don Lockwood, a silent film star, was a humble actor who's fame did not only come by hard work, but with the help of his friend and former partner Cosmo Brown. His leading lady, Lina Lamont, was a often shallow, squeaky voiced diva who mistakes their on film romances as the real thing even though the feelings were not mutual. Lockwood preferred the company of an aspiring young actress by the name of Kathy Selden whom he met while escaping from fans one evening.
It wasn't long before the technology of the "talkie" made it's way to Monumental Studios and after a particularly disastrous premier of their latest film, they decided to remake it into a musical. Along with their plans for a musical came the idea of dubbing Lina's voice with the aspiring Kathy's. Will Kathy find get the break she worked so hard for? Will Lina, out of jealousy retaliate and sabotage the budding romance between Kathy and Don? Will the new musical be successful?
I must say that this movie is truly a fun classic and the comedy never gets old.
Singin' In The Rain takes place in 1927 around the dawn of "the talkie" (aka. films with sound). Don Lockwood, a silent film star, was a humble actor who's fame did not only come by hard work, but with the help of his friend and former partner Cosmo Brown. His leading lady, Lina Lamont, was a often shallow, squeaky voiced diva who mistakes their on film romances as the real thing even though the feelings were not mutual. Lockwood preferred the company of an aspiring young actress by the name of Kathy Selden whom he met while escaping from fans one evening.
It wasn't long before the technology of the "talkie" made it's way to Monumental Studios and after a particularly disastrous premier of their latest film, they decided to remake it into a musical. Along with their plans for a musical came the idea of dubbing Lina's voice with the aspiring Kathy's. Will Kathy find get the break she worked so hard for? Will Lina, out of jealousy retaliate and sabotage the budding romance between Kathy and Don? Will the new musical be successful?
I must say that this movie is truly a fun classic and the comedy never gets old.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Welcome to Yesteryear World!
One of my passions, other than music is pop culture and history; especially from the 1950s through the 1980s. As someone who grew up in the 1970s and 80s, these decades have special meaning to me because of all the fond memories as well as giving the impression to much simpler times. I am looking forward to sharing a bit of history with you all and a ton of memories. :)
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