Watching Television Come of Age: The New York Times Reviews by Jack Gould

by Louis L. Gould (Editor)

Overview

Providing video companionship for isolated housewives, afternoon babysitting for children, and nonstop evening entertainment for the whole family, television revolutionized American society in the post–World War II years. Helping the first TV generation make sense of the new medium was the mission of Jack Gould, television critic of The New York Times from 1947 to 1972. In columns noteworthy for crisp writing, pointed insights, and fair judgment, he highlighted both the untapped possibilities and the imminent perils of television, becoming "the conscience of the industry" for many people. In this book, historian Lewis L. Gould, Jack Gould’s son, collects over seventy of his father’s best columns. Grouped topically, they cover a wide range of issues, including the Golden Age of television drama, McCarthy-era blacklisting, the rise and fall of Edward R. Murrow, quiz show scandals, children’s programming, and the impact of television on American life and of television criticism on the medium itself. Lewis Gould also supplies a brief biography of his father that assesses his influence on the evolution of television, as well as prefaces to each section.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292758766
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	02/24/2022
Series:	Focus on American History Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	267
File size:	676 KB

About the Author

LEWIS L. GOULD has appeared on "Howdy Doody," "The CBS Morning News," and "The ABC World News Tonight." A resident of Austin, Texas, he is an internationally recognized scholar of American political history and commentator on the role of First Ladies.

Table of Contents

Preface and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Portrait of a Television CriticChapter One: The Golden Age of Television DramaTelevision Debut: Theatre Guild Makes Video Bow on NBC with Production of "John Ferguson," November 16, 1947Matter of Form: Television Must Develop Own Techniques If It Is to Have Artistic Vitality, October 31, 1948"Julius Caesar": Worthington Miner's Version in Modern Dress Proves Spectacular Television, March 13, 1949A Plea for Live Video: Switch to Film for TV Was a Major Mistake, December 7, 1952NBC Playhouse Offers Valid and Moving Hour with Production of Paddy Chayefsky's "Marty," May 27, 1953"Patterns" Is Hailed as Notable Triumph, January 17, 1955TV's Psychodrama: How to Keep 'Em Down on the Couch after They've Written for TV, August 7, 1955Cheese, Mustard Ad Also Stars on Kraft Theatre, December 1, 1955"Requiem for a Heavyweight": Rod Serling's Drama Scores a Knockout, October 12, 1956Study of Alcoholism: Piper Laurie and Cliff Robertson Are Impressive in "Days of Wine and Roses," October 3, 1958Chapter Two: The Shadow of a BlacklistCase of Jean Muir: Principles of Fair Play Yield to Pressure, September 3, 1950Again, "Red Channels": The Civil Liberties Union Revives an Issue, April 13, 1952The Case of Lucille Ball: Treatment of the Star Should Be Standard in Industry, September 20, 1953Fifth Amendment: Danger Seen in Union Plan to Punish Members Claiming the Privilege, July 31, 1955Report on Blacklisting: Fund for the Republic Study Dealing with Radio-TV Is Found Deserving of Commendation and Censure, July 1, 1956What a Blacklist Means: A Review of John Henry Faulk's "Fear on Trial," November 22, 1964Blacklisting's Effect: Censored Tape of Jean Muir's Remarks on '50s Travails Shown on ABC, January 15, 1965Jack Gould to John Pope, October 13, 1971Jack Gould to John Pope, October 31, 1971Chapter Three: The Rise and Fall of Edward R. MurrowEdward R. Murrow's News Review "See It Now" Demonstrates Journalistic Power of Video, November 19, 1951Murrow's "This Is Korea" Film over CBS Captures Poignancy and Frustration of Life in Battle, December 29, 1952Celebrity Time: Murrow Puts Cameras into Their Homes in "Person to Person," October 7, 1953Video Journalism: Treatment of Radulovich Case History by "See It Now" Is Fine Reporting, October 25, 1953Murrow vs. McCarthy: "See It Now" on CBS Examines Senator and His Methods, March 11, 1954"See It Now" Finale: Program Unexpectedly Ends Run of Seven Distinguished Years on CBS, July 8, 1958"Harvest of Shame": Exploitation of U.S. Migratory Workers Is Documented on "CBS Reports," November 25, 1960Murrow Departs: Commentator Leaving Broadcast Post For Challenging Federal Job, February 5, 1961Chapter Four: The Influence of a CriticKaufman Incident: "This Is Show Business" Dismisses Panelist for Pre-Christmas Quip, January 4, 1953On Faith Healing: Preacher's Timely TV Miracles Raise Questions of Stations' Standards, February 18, 1956Disgrace of the Networks: Chains Ignore Session at United Nations, October 31, 1956More on U.N.: Networks Make Limited Progress in Their Coverage of World's Realities, November 2, 1956TV Can Be Good, Too: "The Play of the Week" Is a Case in Point, November 22, 1959Madison Avenue Case Study: "The Play of the Week" Faces Doom Jan. 30, December 29, 1959"The Play of the Week": Demise of Drama Series Has Economic Moral, June 11, 1961Lively Panel Show: Betty Furness Is Spry Hostess on WNTA, August 2, 1961Jack Gould to Louis Loeb, October 19, 1961Chapter Five: A Critic's Likes and DislikesComment on "Today": NBC's Early Morning Show Needs Some Work, January 20, 1952The Nixon Telecast: Personal Story Brings High Drama to TV, September 28, 1952Sweeping and Imaginative in Conception, "Omnibus" of Ford Foundation Makes Video Debut, November 10, 1952Why Millions Love Lucy, March 1, 1953Delightful "Peter Pan": Marriage of Media Is Noted in Inspired Video Offering, March 13, 1955Johnny Carson: CBS Offers Answer to That Man Gobel, July 8, 1955New Phenomenon: Elvis Presley Rises to Fame as Vocalist Who Is Virtuoso of Hootchy-Kootchy, July 6, 1956Witty Commentator: Brinkley Enlivens NBC Convention Coverage, August 17, 1956Elvis Presley: Lack of Responsibility Is Shown by TV in Exploiting Teenagers, September 16, 1956Tribute to "Omnibus": Expected Loss of Program Brings Call for Similar Experimental Shows, July 30, 1958Forthright Radio News Commentator: Smith's Analysis of Alabama Violence Shows Real Role of Commentator, May 28, 1961Chapter Six: The Quiz Show ScandalsMan in the Street: The Public Often Can Outshine TV Stars, August 14, 1955Quizzes Mostly Talk: "$64,000 Question" and "Big Surprise" Use Less than Half Their Times on Queries, September 26, 1956Under Suspicion: Investigation of TV Shows Shakes Viewer's Faith in TV's Integrity, September 7, 1958A Plague on TV's House: Rigged Quiz Shows Viewed as Symptom of the Age, with Many Guilty Parties, October 12, 1959Journalists' Junkets: Quiz Show Headlines Raise Question of How Clear Is Conscience of Press, October 27, 1959The Quiz Scandal: Legal and Moral Issues of Van Doren Affair Said to Need Resolution, November 4, 1959Formula for TV: Quiz Scandal Shows a Need for New Rules, November 8, 1959Assessing Effects of Life under the Table: Influence of "Payola" on Culture Weighed, November 20, 1959Chapter Seven: Children and TelevisionKukla and Ollie: Burr Tillstrom's Puppets Have a Spirit and Personality Unique in Video, March 27, 1948Hail Howdy Doody! He Triumphs over Mr. X, Survives Mr. Y and Always Delights the Youngsters, November 14, 1948Video and Children: Parents and Broadcasters Have Separate Roles, January 8, 1950A Boy's Question: School Youngster Raises an Issue for Video, April 29, 1951Pinky Lee Show Turns Children's Hour into Conspiracy against Parents, November 8, 1954Peril in Small Pills: Pushing of Vitamins by "Ding Dong School" Indicates Deficiency in Commercials, December 23, 1955Juvenile Audiences Suffering from Chains' Delinquency in Planning, December 2, 1956Parent-Teacher Organization Issues Its First Appraisal of Programs, September 13, 1959Chapter Eight: Tracking the Impact of TelevisionThe Paradoxical State of Television, March 30, 1947Family Life, 1948 A.T. (After Television), August 1, 1948TV Daddy and Video Mama: A Dirge, May 14, 1950What TV Is--and What It Might Be, June 10, 1951TV at the Crossroads: A Critic's Survey, March 9, 1952Europe's TV Picture--and Ours, August 23, 1953Chapter Nine: Television and Its CriticTV Tube Bites TV Critic, January 3, 1954Television Today: A Critic's Appraisal, April 8, 1956Tuning in on Dixie: Mocking Birds Sing, but Who Listens? Everyone's Inside Looking at TV! April 15, 1956Where TV Critics Strike Out: Some Sweeping Charges about Their Manifold Deficiencies, May 19, 1957A Critical Reply: An Answer to Objections Raised in the TV Industry to the Role of Critics, May 26, 1957Critic Dissects the Anatomy of a Flop, Ruminates about His Role on "Open End," January 27, 1959Index