Week 1: History of Entertainment Industry: 1950s - 1960s (post-war period)

Question 1

What was a key development during this time?

Answer 1

rise of network television
*sales of tvs exploded in the 50s

Question 2

*Network television model

Answer 2

followed network radio model – radio networks became tv networks
(e.g. Amos n Andy)

Question 3

Describe a key change in radio during this time

Answer 3

Shift to local radio, rather than network radio
This is due to a vacancy chain after network radio left, there was a space to fill

Question 4

What was played on local radio?

Answer 4

filled with cheap music to fill air time rather than shows
*didn’t have as much variety as today and didn’t play different genres of music until the late ’60s with the rise of FM radio

Question 5

What caused the collapse of the Hollywood Studio System?

Answer 5

The Paramount Case (1948), which forced studios to sell their theaters and prevented them from having tight franchise relationships (could no longer blockbooking)

Question 6

How did the Paramount case affect the movie system?

Answer 6

movie production developed into a project based system where workers were no longer kept under contract but were free agents