1. 19.3
Popular Culture
The Golden Age of Television and Rock ’n’ roll

2. Mass Media Rise Of Television
Mass Media – communication that reach large audiences
Television rapidly grew
By 1960 close to 90% of homes have a TV
Rise Of Television
First regular broadcasts start 1949
With innovation of microwave relays, TV waves can be transmitted over large distances
TV industry booms (“Golden Age”)
Federal communications Commission (FCC) – government agency that regulates and licenses communication industry
1956 FCC allows 500 new TV stations
Popular shows include- I Love Lucy and The Mickey Mouse Club

3. Stereotypes and Gunslingers
Stereotypical portrayal of women and idealized white America
Minorities poorly represented and stereotyped
Critics object to effects it has on children
TV glorified the western frontier with shows like Gunsmoke
Violence in these shows leads to more concerns
Radio and Movies
Radio stations change programming to local news, weather, music, and community issues
Moviegoers decrease by half with the rise of TV
Movies use stereophonic sound and color to keep audiences

4. A Subculture Emerges
Beat movement- expressed of the social and literary nonconformity of poets, artists, and writers
Followers called beats or beatniks
Look for higher consciousness through music, Buddhism, and sometimes drugs
Read poetry at coffeehouses
Mainstream Americans did not like the lifestyle

5. African Americans & Rock ‘n’ Roll
Electronic Instruments added to blues music, created rhythm and blues
Alan Freedman gave rock n roll its name and was one of the first dj’s to play it
Rock n Roll was started by African Americans
Its audience included white and African American teens
Elvis Presley became very famous from this music and got played on all radio stations
African Americans only got played on their own radio stations, not mainstream

6. Questions When the TV age boomed what was it called? a) The Golden Age
b) Mass Media
c) Beat Movement
d) The Industrial Age
There was over 90% of these in American homes.
a) Radio
b) Microwave
c) Televisions
d) Internet
3. Who allowed over 500 new TV stations in 1956?
a) The Universal Licensing System (ULS)
b) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
c) Digital TV Transition (DTV)
d) Harris’s Corps (HTC)
What was the first TV show that involves violence?
a) I Love Lucy
b) The Mickey Mouse Club
c) Twilight Zone
d) Gunsmoke
He became famous for his music that was played all over the radio?
a) Chuck Berry
b) Elvis Presley
c) Adam Freedman
d) Bono from U2
Answers: 1) a, 2) c, 3) b, 4) d, 5) b

7. Notes
TV picture:
Gunsmoke Picture:
Beatnik image: