I don’t know what my life would be like if television didn’t exist. Even more so, what would life be like had color television never been invented.
The color television was originally rolled out in 1954 with the first broadcast in color of Tournament of Roses Parade. While it took time for networks and studios to adapt to the changes as well as the prices of colored televisions to come down, people were on board. It’s crazy to think about how recent color television truly is as an invention, when it’s the only thing we now know today.
When I was kid growing up, I would watch I Love Lucy reruns with my parents and that show was filmed in both black and white and then in color. The color contrast and the bright red of Lucy’s hair and lipstick and the over the top colors of the shenanigans was mesmerizing.
In today’s Golden Age of television (at least by my own opinion) the shows we watched rely so much on visual nuance, especially with colors. Whether it’s the filter that’s applied to a show or the lighting, the final visual viewers get is the one that leaves the lasting impression. For example, take a look at shows like Game of Thrones or Westworld that rely on the imagery to aid in telling the story. Could you imagine seeing these shows in anything but black & white?
Even if we’re obsessed with filtering our photos in black & white, that doesn’t mean we should have to watch our favorite television shows and movies in that filter. The only downside to color television is watching medical procedure shows and I get squeamish at all the blood (Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, ER).
The magic of color television has brought us so many magical marvels. Could you imagine watching The Handsmaid Tale in black & white? The visual aesthetic of the show is the driving force to the somber nature of the plot. If the show was in black & white, the bleak dystopian future would not feel the same.
Each and every week we turn our televisions on and enter into a world unlike our own, or simply for an escape from our current reality. Had color TV not been invented, would there be a need for The Real Housewives or any lifestyle themed programming? I don’t think so. It wouldn’t be as important for us to know how other people lived.
Personally, I spend too much time watching television and I can say that I’m constantly in shock & awe at the production on some of my favorite shows. The visuals are so clear, so pristine, vibrant and harrowing and everything in between. These moving pictures serve a purpose other than for entertainment. Storytelling is about finding captivating ways to lure a listener or viewer in through a combination of sound, visuals and engagement.
Think about the blue French horn that Ted gives to Robin in How I Met Your Mother or the importance of Olivia Pope with her white hat on Scandal. These small but colorful details are intrinsically tied to the show and pop culture forever. They provide water-cooler moments and opportunities for people to engage with one another.
Most importantly, with the advent of color television, we as a society have been able to see people who are not like us. Whether it’s people from minority backgrounds, people from the LGBTQ community, and those who are considered different, they are on our televisions. Yes, television has a long way to go in having fair and equal representation of everyone, but change doesn’t happen overnight. That is why we have to consistently ask for, demand and beg that progress occur.
On this Color TV day, I urge you to sit down wherever you watch your shows and appreciate the invention of color television.
You can tweet me @RudnickRants and tell me your favorite shows that have benefited from color television!
Photo by Roberto Nickson (@g) on Unsplash
