The Columbia History of American Television
Television is a form of media without equal. It has revolutionized the way we learn about and communicate with the world and has reinvented the way we experience ourselves and others. More than just cheap entertainment, TV is an undeniable component of our culture and contains many clues to who we are, what we value, and where we might be headed in the future.\ Media historian Gary R. Edgerton follows the technological developments and increasing cultural relevance of TV from its prehistory...
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Richly researched and engaging, The Columbia History of American Television tracks the growth of TV into a convergent technology, a global industry, a social catalyst, a viable art form, and a complex and dynamic reflection of the American mind and character. Renowned media historian Gary R. Edgerton follows the technological progress and increasing cultural relevance of television from its prehistory (before 1947) to the Network Era (1948-1975) and the Cable Era (1976-1994). He considers the remodeling of television's look and purpose during World War II; the gender, racial, and ethnic components of its early broadcasts and audiences; its transformation of postwar America; and its function in the political life of the country. In conclusion, Edgerton takes a discerning look at our current Digital Era and the new forms of instantaneous communication that continue to change America's social, political, and economic landscape.
Acknowledgments viiIntroduction xiPart I Going Public 11 An Idea Whose Time Had Come: Imagining Television-Before 1940 32 Not Going According to Plan: Remodeling the Tube in a Time of Crisis-1940-1947 603 Learning to Live with Television: Technology, Gender, and America's Early TV Audiences Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley 91Part II Becoming National 1114 Here Comes Television: Remarking American Life-1948-1954 1135 The Halcyon Years: Beyond Anyone's Wildest Dream-1955-1963 1566 Television and the Presidency: Eisenhower and Kennedy Mary Ann Watson 205Part III Becoming International 2357 A Great Awakening: Prime Time for Network Television-1964-1975 2378 The Sky's the Limit: Satellites, Cable, and the Reinvention of Television-1976-1991 2859 The Changing Face of Television: Turner Broadcasting System Jimmie L. Reeves Michael M. Epstein 323Part IV Becoming Global 34710 The Business of America Is Show Business: U.S. TV in Global Context-1992-Present 34911 The Greatest Show on Earth: The Cosby Show and the Ascent of U.S. Sitcoms in the Global Television Marketplace Timothy J. Havens 39012 Tune in Locally, Watch Globally: The Future of Television in the Age of the Internet 410Notes 427General Index 477Television Programming Index 489
\ The Virginian-PilotA useful overview... [that] captures the technological, economic, and cultural sweep of an industry that influenced... what would become the Global Village.\ — Bill Ruehlmann\ \ \ \ \ \ CHOICEAn extensive, readable... informative, well-written study... Recommended.\ \ \ \ Communication Booknotes QuarterlyA tour-de-force narrative of more than six decades of American television and its impact on U.S. society.... An important contribution.\ — Christopher H. Sterling\ \ \ \ \ \ American Reference Books AnnualAn excellent addition to any undergraduate library and also a nice addition to public libraries.\ — Linda W. Hacker\ \ \ \ \ \ Film & HistoryA marvelous, detailed, and comprehensive narrative... This remarkable book, unquestionably one-of-a-kind, belongs in every reference library.\ — Robert Fyne\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic MediaPositioned with the monumental works of Erik Barnouw, Asa Briggs, Christopher Sterling and John Kittross, Edgerton contributes a comprehensive study of American television's popular culture.... The Columbia History of American Television should be on the shelf of every television historian and popular culture scholar, as well as the non-specialist.\ — Donald G. Godfrey\ \ \ \ \ \ The Midwest Book ReviewA seminal work of meticulous scholarship... Welcome and highly recommended.\ — James A. Cox\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of American StudiesHighly informative... eminently readable... Edgerton tells a compelling history of the medium. His book would work well as a primer for general readers, as well as for scholars (particularly international readers) wanting to gain an understanding of the history, forms, and economics of the U.S. television system as well as pointers for further research from his meticulous referencing.\ — Faye Woods\ \ \ \ \ \ American Journalism[The book] is meticulous and inspired. Devoted to television, it is richly resourced, eloquently written, and nicely illustrated.\ — Craig Allen\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of American HistoryThis book is best seen as an update of Erik Barnouw's widely read and concise history, Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television. Moving beyond Barnouw, Edgerton has attempted to craft a unified narrative that simultaneously engages some of the more fine-grained scholarship in the field.... A highly readable account of the development of a complex industry and cultural form.\ — Michael Kackman\ \ \ \ \ \ Media International AustraliaA monumental and definitive account of American television.\ — Jason Jacobs\ \ \ \ \ \ ChoiceAn extensive, readable... informative, well-written study... Recommended.\ \ \ \ \ The Virginian-PilotA useful overview... [that] captures the technological, economic, and cultural sweep of an industry that influenced... what would become the Global Village.\ \ \ \ \ \ Communication Booknotes QuarterlyA tour-de-force narrative of more than six decades of American television and its impact on U.S. society.... An important contribution.\ \ \ \ \ \ American Reference Books AnnualAn excellent addition to any undergraduate library and also a nice addition to public libraries.\ \ \ \ \ \ Film & HistoryA marvelous, detailed, and comprehensive narrative... This remarkable book, unquestionably one-of-a-kind, belongs in every reference library.\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic MediaPositioned with the monumental works of Erik Barnouw, Asa Briggs, Christopher Sterling and John Kittross, Edgerton contributes a comprehensive study of American television's popular culture.... The Columbia History of American Television should be on the shelf of every television historian and popular culture scholar, as well as the non-specialist.\ \ \ \ \ \ The Midwest Book ReviewA seminal work of meticulous scholarship... Welcome and highly recommended.\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of American StudiesHighly informative... eminently readable... Edgerton tells a compelling history of the medium. His book would work well as a primer for general readers, as well as for scholars (particularly international readers) wanting to gain an understanding of the history, forms, and economics of the U.S. television system as well as pointers for further research from his meticulous referencing.\ \ \ \ \ \ American Journalism[The book] is meticulous and inspired. Devoted to television, it is richly resourced, eloquently written, and nicely illustrated.\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of American HistoryThis book is best seen as an update of Erik Barnouw's widely read and concise history, Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television. Moving beyond Barnouw, Edgerton has attempted to craft a unified narrative that simultaneously engages some of the more fine-grained scholarship in the field.... A highly readable account of the development of a complex industry and cultural form.\ \ \ \ \ \ Media International AustraliaA monumental and definitive account of American television.\ \ \
