A Brief History of Televison

The Tube Through Time:

1927 April 7 marks the first U.S. public broadcast: the voice and image of Herbert Hoover.

1947 First TV couple shares a bed on Mary Kay and Johnny. The next may have been Fred and Wilma Flinstone in the 60's.

1950 Laugh track debutss on NBC's The Hank McCune Show.

1955 Wireless remote control invented. Earlier versions were attached to the TV by a cable.

1972 VCR replaces previous open-reel home video systems.

1983 M*A*S*H airs most watched TV show finale in history, viewed by almost 106 million Americans.

2009 Contract renewal puts the Simpons on track to pass CBS's Gunsmoke (1955-75) as the longest-running prime-time scripted series.

(source: from Times magazine The Health Issue)