Certainly we learned from our parents, but TV programming back in the day was wholesome, family-centric and we learned from most of the shows that the good guys always win out in the end...
And if Timmy fell down the well - again - Lassie would always come to the rescue. Here's a list of the top 20 shows on TV in 1960, based on the US Nielsen TV ratings for the 1960–1961 television season, the top 20 most-watched shows were dominated by Westerns and traditional family comedies.
Top 20 TV Shows of 1960–1961
Gunsmoke (CBS)Wagon Train (NBC)
Have Gun – Will Travel (CBS)
The Andy Griffith Show (CBS)
The Real McCoys (ABC)
Rawhide (CBS)Candid Camera (CBS)
The Untouchables (ABC) (tied)
The Price Is Right (NBC) (tied)
The Jack Benny Show (CBS)
Dennis the Menace (CBS)
The Danny Thomas Show (CBS)
My Three Sons (ABC) (tied)
77 Sunset Strip (ABC) (tied)
The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS)
Perry Mason (CBS)
Bonanza (NBC)
The Flintstones (ABC)
The Red Skelton Show (CBS)
General Electric Theater (CBS)
With the exception of the variety shows, even the shoot-em-ups had a moral to teach us. Think about Mayberry. All of the main characters on that show - Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer, Sam, Earnest T. Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara, & of course, Opie were all single, except for Otis Campbell, and he was the town drunk. Didn't know then what that meant, but I've come to a complete understanding of it now. Juss' sayin'...
What a wake up call to grow up and learn that only the good die young.
ReplyDeleteI remember Fred Flintstone selling cigarettes on prime time TV... Winston??? That was a long time ago!
ReplyDeleteBack when the powers that be loved the USA. Most of the wankers in charge now don’t and it shows in the shows they green light.
ReplyDelete