With the vast amount of information on television programs and the rich history of the medium itself, it is important to find quality resources that examine the history of vintage TV, not just as a product, but as a relic of the 20th century media landscape. Television history parallels every page of a history book, and there is always something new to learn. Here are, in my opinion and in no particular order, the most comprehensive resources on the cultural and societal influence of vintage TV programming. These resources also cover the largest range of vintage television topics, and give the greatest insight from a variety of reliable sources.
1. It’s About TV
A blog written by historian and writer Mitchell Hadley, this well-crafted, daily-updated site chronicles vintage television through textual analysis, essays and interviews, as well as scans from old issues of TV Guide. The site’s special focus on how vintage television programs mirrored our lives, was also the subject of Hadley’s outstanding book, The Electronic Mirror: What Classic TV Tells Us About Who We Were and Who We Are (and Everything In-Between!).
“Does television drive culture, or reflect it? Did the cathode ray tube of the old RCA console act as a looking glass into the future or a mirror reflecting the present? The answer, as is almost always the case in questions like this, is ‘Yes.’” – Mitchell Hadley
2. The Paley Center for Media
A television and radio archive, museum and organization dedicated to providing the public with knowledge of media’s past, and it’s ever-growing influence. The museum’s two locations provide many public resources, including exhibits, events, discussions, screenings, and a library where one can view the thousands of television programs in their archive.
“The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public.” – The Paley Center for Media, Mission
3. Television Obscurities
Fellow Millennial Robert Jay’s extensive history of television’s most forgotten programs, and the forgotten influence that many obscure and well-known programs have had on our world. The site contains vital information about lost programs and detailed Nielson ratings that cannot be found anywhere else.
“It is my personal belief that our television history is a history of us. Over the decades, television shaped our society while also being influenced by changes within society.” – Robert Jay
4. Encyclopedia of Television
Written and compiled by Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications, this giant four-volume book set, which can be found in the reference sections of many universities and public libraries, is the quintessential resource for all things vintage TV and beyond (though the most recent edition was published in 2005, it’s vintage TV sections stay relevant).
“It is simply indispensable for anyone seeking information or perspective about a medium that has shaped our nation like no other. It is the Britannica for television.” – Jim Longworth, tvparty.com
5. Pioneers of Television
An excellent 16-part television documentary series produced by PBS, “narrated” by over 200 of television’s most influential and popular stars, as they discuss the contributions their programs have made to entertainment and to society. Recollections and firsthand accounts of television’s successes and failures give this series a unique, informative edge.
“Few television programs really challenge the genre into which they are delivered, developing cult followings or fundamentally morphing the expectations of viewers. But the pioneering programs profiled here did more than light up the small screens with hours of entertainment: They confronted our stereotypes, questioned our core values and made whole generations of viewers re-examine the limits of our humanity.”
