Over the course of 80 years television has produced countless programs, many of which fit a particular profile. Did you know, for example, some programs are devoted to ghosts, genies, angels and even mermaids? Color broadcasting was first tested in 1941? Live models were used to advertise lingerie as early as 1950? Or that nudity (although accidental) occurred on TV long before cable was even thought possible? These are just a few of the many facts and firsts that can be found within the 145 entries included.
Appropriate for fans and scholars, and bursting with obscure facts, this work traces the evolution of specific topics from 1925 through the 2005-2006 season. Entries include such diverse themes as adolescence, adult film actresses on TV, bars, espionage, gays, immigrants, lawyers, transsexuals and truckers, as well as locations like Canada, Hawaii, New York and Los Angeles. Each entry is arranged as a timeline, clearly displaying how television’s treatment of the subject has changed through the years. Each entry is as complete as possible and contains series, pilot, special and experimental program information. Whether just a fan of television and eager to know more about the medium or a scholar seeking hard-to-find facts and information, this book traces the history of specific topics from television’s infancy to its changes in the early twenty-first century.

Vincent Terrace has been a researcher for ABC television and is the television historian for BPOLIN Productions. He has written more than 50 books about television and radio.

Vincent Terrace
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 435
Bibliographic Info: index
Copyright Date: 2012 [2007]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6630-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0445-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

The Encyclopedia      5

Index      361

• “Whether television reflects our society has been a subject of debate for as long as the glowing box has graced our homes…a starting point into research of our collective television past”—Library Journal
• “Terrace is arguably the most prolific developer of television reference material, with more than 30 books to his credit”—ARBA
• “Invaluable”—Communication Booknotes Quarterly