Entertainment Pt.1 (A History In Television)

Today, television is found nearly everywhere, but less than 100 years ago, almost nobody had one.

Television was experimented with throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but it was still extremely rare. Then came World War Two, which slowed its growth as America's attention and manufacturing went toward the war.

However, once the war ended, television exploded.

In 1948, only around 2 percent of American households had a television. By 1960, nearly 90 percent did.

Think about that. In just twelve years, television went from something almost nobody owned to something found in nearly every American home.

The 1950s became television's Golden Age. Shows such as I Love Lucy, Dragnet, Father Knows Best, and Leave It to Beaver became extremely popular. Families would gather together in the living room and watch the same television.

However, television soon became much more than simple entertainment. It became America's window to the world.

During the 1960s, Americans watched the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, and the aftermath of President Kennedy's assassination right from their living rooms. In 1964, around 73 million Americans watched the Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.

For the first time in history, one person or event could influence tens of millions of Americans at the exact same time.

Then television itself began changing.

During the 1970s, television programs increasingly pushed the boundaries with sexual content, language, and controversial subjects. Then came cable television.

ESPN launched in 1979, CNN in 1980, and MTV in 1981. Instead of Americans having just a few channels to choose from, they soon had dozens and eventually hundreds.

The 2000s brought another major change with reality television, YouTube, and eventually streaming. Then came smartphones, which basically put a television into everyone's pocket.

Think about how much television has changed.

In the 1950s, America put a television in the living room. Eventually we put one in nearly every room of the house. Today, we carry a screen around everywhere we go.

Now I'm not saying television itself is evil. Certainly not. Television can be used for many good things.

The problem is how much influence we have allowed entertainment to have over our lives.

The Bible says:

Psalm 101:3

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes...”

In less than 100 years, television went from a strange invention that almost nobody owned to something we carry with us nearly every moment of the day.

The screen may have changed.

But its influence has only grown.

"Here’s the thing you need to realize. Media mass communication is not just a what. It’s not just a TV show or a movie or a podcast; a who is behind it. Somebody is producing it. Somebody’s mindset. Somebody’s philosophy. Somebody’s worldview is being put into that product. We have to understand that." - Joshua Gimenez, “The Subconscious Mind Mold,” Sandy Creek Stirrings, Ep. 345

As the rise of television began to happen, it gradually became the center of the family's life. Soon, time spent reading or playing together turned into watching whatever the television was showing, from news and cartoons to soap operas. On the surface, television was wholesome entertainment, but behind the scenes it was building the trust of nearly every American family.

Now you might ask, how was television building trust in the home?

One way is the fact that the baby boomers were the first generation to be under the constant influence of television. Whether we like it or not, television is a huge influencer. Their understanding of happiness, success, beauty, family, rebellion, and morality was increasingly influenced by what they watched.

Television is not inherently evil, but I'm rather pointing out that it gained a powerful foothold in the door of many American homes. This placement let television have influence and control in the minds of families, which is a dangerous thing.

As Christians, we too have a great responsibility to guard our hearts and minds from the influence of the world. Our lives should not revolve around the things of this world but rather the things of God.

Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

While television is ever-popular in today's society, we still have to guard what comes into our homes and minds. Our entertainment must be carefully inspected by the principles found in God's Word.