Entertainment on a Rainy September Night...in 1950

Hey sweetie, since we're not going walking because of the rain, why don't we finish these dinner dishes and watch some TV?

OK! What's on?

I'm just checking the paper...hey, at 7 p.m. there are three channels to choose from! Three! Geez! I'm not a fan of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, though.

How about that Edison Electric Theater play there, "The Invisible Wound?"

Maybe...Hey, Voice of Firestone is coming on at 8:30. That's usually pretty good.

Kinda slim pickin's till then, isn't it?

Well, yeah...wanna listen to the radio till 8:30?

Sure, what's on?

Well, you've got six stations, here, let's see, 7 p.m... there's an orchestra on WUOM.

I like the Railroad Hour.

That's not on till 8. Ooh, and the Railroad Hour is the same time as Inner Sanctum! I never miss that!

You got to listen to Inner Sanctum last time.

That's because I never miss it!

I think I'll take a walk after all.

When the New Television in Ypsilanti was...Analog

As analog TV disappears forever today, some among us can remember when it was the hot new thing. You could get a beautiful 1950 Philco or RCA, with a big 12 and 1/2 inch screen, over at Shaefer's for $240--$2,050 in today's money. Black and white only.

In 1950, just one of every eleven Ypsilanti homes had a TV. Programs were broadcast for only a few evening hours. Prime time was the only time. Here were your choices according to the September 22, 1950 edition of the Ypsilanti Daily Press:

NBC
8:00 Quiz Kids (pictured; originally a radio show)
9:30 The Clock with Raymond Massey (suspense show; also from radio)

CBS
9:00 Friday Theater "The Married Look"
10:30 By Popular Demand (Talent)

ABC
8:30 Pro Football Program (I love how they don't bother to name the teams--TV was such a novelty that any old football game was just fine)
10:00 Betty Furness Party (the Westinghouse lady; her show "Adventures in Mystery" was sponsored by the Kaiser Frazer car company based at Willow Run)

Dumont (the "Forgotten Network," a one-time rival to NBC)
8:30 Hold That Camera Quiz (quiz shows were cheap to produce!)
10:00 Cavalcade of Stars with Jackie Gleason (vaudeville-style variety show not unlike an early "Tonight Show").

Farewell, analog.

p.s. Kind reader, does your home have Two Ford Freedom?