Posts tagged television
Television: An Introduction
Oct 16th
I am so old that I remember when people didn’t have televisions in their homes. Back in the Olden Days, we had radios and listened to radio stories while we “watched” them in our minds.
For example, as a kid I listened to and “watched” “The Lone Ranger,” “Straight Arrow,” “Tom Mix” and “Billy Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders.”
Google ’em, Dudes and Dudettes.
So, when I heard about television, how it was the “coming thing” and how it added pictures to radio, I naturally assumed that all my favorite radio programs would just automatically migrate to new-fangled television.
Well, of course, some of them did, but many of them didn’t.
Other favorites of my radio listening were “Inner Sanctum” and “Suspense.” Imagine my surprise when years later after I became older and developed an interest in reading and I would read stories by famous authors and recognize some of those same stories that I had listened to and “watched” on radio!
Yes, Dear Reader, Hollywood recycles stories. But then, so did Shakespeare. (Google him, Dudes and Dudettes.)
Anyway, when my parents bought our first television set, guess what. The pictures weren’t in color! They were in black and white! Imagine that. And we were so fascinated with this new-fangled technology that we sat in front of it and watched whatever was being broadcast until the station went off the air at the end of the night.
Yes, Dear Reader, in the Olden Days, TV stations weren’t on 24 hours a day and when they signed off, they showed a picture of a waving American flag and played “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
As a matter of fact, in the city where we lived, there were only three TV stations in operation, which broadcast television programs from the only three networks that existed at the time! (Google ’em, Dudes and Dudettes.)
And all those television signals come through the air from the stations’ broadcast towers right to our television set and the rabbit-ears antenna on top of our TV set. And we didn’t even have to pay for it! Our only expense for watching television in those days was what we paid for our television set! And TV sets were so large that they were just like furniture in the room!
That’s right. Back in those days, so-called “cable-TV” was used only for homes that couldn’t get over-the-air reception from the broadcast towers.
And, then, guess what. When cable-TV became popular and people were willing to pay for television broadcasts, some people were so naive as to believe that if they had to pay for television, there shouldn’t be any commercials!
But then television became so popular, more stations popped up in town, more networks came into existence, and even more commercials took over the programming.
In fact, back in those Olden Days, advertisers owned the programs! There was only one advertiser for an entire show! You could google it.
Another oddity back then was that a program lasted all year long! Yes,there would be 39 new episodes each year, followed by 13 repeats during the summer. Imagine that.
Then color showed up, and that meant that it became more expensive to buy a TV set. That also meant that it became more difficult to adjust the picture. And adjusting the picture meant actually getting up out of your chair, walking over to the TV set, and turning dials on the back of the set!
As a matter of fact, the first remote control that I ever owned was actually connected to the TV set by a wire! Can you imagine? Picture it in your mind.
Talk about ancient history!
Kids today just don’t appreciate how easy it is to watch television.
Back in the Olden Days, watching television was an experience. It was something we appreciated, because we had to make an effort to watch it.
And don’t even get me started about kids who have their own television set in their own bedroom! I didn’t own a TV set until I was an adult and had moved away from home!
Well, that’s enough for now. All this reminiscing has made me tired and it’s time for my nap.
Goodbye and good watching.
Boulder Channel One Television latest videos
May 18th
yoohoo. How do you like the new look (this week for boulder Channel 1.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast announces next great band competition Get your applications in early
Apr 8th
Bands can compete to entertain thousands of fans at the region’s best fireworks show. The contest is open to any band that performs an original song with a Boulder connection. The contest is open to all genres: rock, country, pop, hip-hop, rap or something new – just make sure it’s family friendly.
“Ralphie’s Independence Day is an iconic event in Boulder, and people love coming here to celebrate the 4th of July,” said Lew Kingdom of Wright Kingdom Real Estate, premier sponsor of the event. “This year we want to combine the biggest event of the summer with the ‘I Love Boulder’ campaign by inviting bands to join us in celebrating the cultural, traditional and happily unconventional characteristics of Boulder life. It’s an ideal theme for something we all love to attend.”
The winning band, or bands, will open the fireworks celebration to an estimated crowd of up to 40,000 people when the gates open. Runners up will see their music videos displayed on the Jumbo Tron at Folsom Field.
To enter, contestants must submit a YouTube video of the band performing its song. Tribute bands playing another artist’s song will not be considered. Bands will be evaluated for musical ability and style; bonus points may be given for creativity.
Video submissions will be judged based on quality, a “Boulder connection”, and the number of YouTube views by June 6, 2011. Obviously, self promotion to generate YouTube views is allowed. Multiple music video entries by the same artist are permitted. The Ralphie’s Independence Day committee will make the final selection of band(s).
Submissions are due no later than noon on June 1, 2011. Bands must grant written permission to play the video at Folsom Field, on Boulder municipal television stations, and event/sponsor websites as a requirement for submission.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Great Band Competition guidelines:
To be considered for the YouTube music video contest and a chance to play at Folsom Field on July 4, submissions must be received by noon on June 1 and must include:
1) Band’s name, address and phone number
2) Band’s permission (copyright release) to air the music video at Folsom Field, on event/sponsor websites and City of Boulder communication platforms, including municipal channels 8 and 22
3) Songs must include the word “Boulder”.
4) YouTube tags must include: “Boulder Colorado”, “I Love Boulder”, “Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast”
5) Videos may not contain nudity, profanity, or depict illegal activity
6) Email a YouTube link for your music video along with band contact information to Cindy Schlager at Wright Kingdom Real Estate bands@wkre.com.
Finalists will be notified by June 10 and may be asked to perform a live audition.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast, at Folsom Field, will be held July 4. Gates open at 8 p.m.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast is hosted by the associates of Wright Kingdom Real Estate, the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) and the City of Boulder. Media Sponsors include the Daily Camera, and Boulder Channel 8.
For more information on this year’s event, go to www.boulder4thofjuly.com.