1950s TV ushered in a new era of entertainment. You may remember that in the 80s the Buggles sang “Video Killed the Radio Star” but in the 1950s, popular radio programs found new life on the small screen.
The adventures of The Lone Ranger thrilled television audiences from 1949 to 1957. In fact, the series was the first hit of the ’50s for a young ABC network. As much of a hit as the series was, it’s interesting to note that it originated as a radio drama in 1933, more than a decade before its first TV appearance.
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ran from 1950 to 1958 and brought the classic vaudeville comedy of the golden era of radio to a new generation. Burns and Allen were a husband and wife team and one of the decade’s most popular comedy acts. The duo captivated audiences and laid the groundwork for tv comedies for years to come.
George Reeves thrilled audiences as the man of steel from 1951 to 1958, however, “The Adventures of Superman” first climbed from the Comic book page as a radio series in 1940. So many versions of the character have hit the TV and movie screen now that it’s hard to imagine a time before Superman appeared on television.
1950s tv was innovative in the way it explored new stories and found exciting new ways to tell old ones. We love looking back at the way things were. If you enjoy a nostalgic trip as well, follow The Greatest Generation on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
