TV By The Decades: Television in the 1960s

TV in the 1960s

The 1960s were definitely one of TV’s oddest decades! The 1960s began with Westerns dominating the ratings! The old West soap opera Bonanza became the most popular show on the air. One after another competing show was vanquished by the old time sensibilities of an old-fashioned Western. All you need to know about the diverse nature of TV in the 1960s is found in the answer to the question: “What show finally was able to compete with Bonanza in the ratings?” The answer was a liberal, modern and very controversial challenger: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. This bastion of hip, cutting edge liberal comedy gave young viewers quite a stark alternative to the Ponderosa!

So the 1960s were the era of Gunsmoke and Wagon Train, Gilligan’s Island and The Beverly Hillbillies and Laugh-In and The Smothers Brothers! We will talk about how TV grew and changed as viewers who had enjoyed Combat began tuning in to Hogan’s Heroes. You won’t want to miss this fast paced multimedia presentation!

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – LIST YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW OF THE 1960s!