1951 in television

The year 1951 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1951.

Events

• March 22 - RCA introduces an eight-pound (3.6 kg) monochrome television camera with a 53-pound (24 kg) backpack transmitter, both operated by batteries. It is the first portable television camera.
• May 28 - The US Supreme Court upholds the FCC's approval of the CBS color television system.
• June 25 – CBS presents its first commercial color telecast with Arthur Godfrey, Ed Sullivan, and Faye Emerson.
• June - RCA demonstrates its new electronic color system.
• August 11 - The first baseball game is televised in color, a double-header between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves.
• September 4 - The first live transcontinental television broadcast takes place in San Francisco, California from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference.
• September 29 - The first live sporting event seen coast-to-coast, a college football game between Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh, is televised on NBC.
• September 29 - CBS broadcasts the first American football game in color, between the University of California and the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia.
• October 3 - The first live coast-to-coast network telecast of a World Series game.
• October 12 - The Holme Moss transmitter is opened in Northern England, making BBC Television available to the region for the first time.
• October 17 - Television broadcasts begin in Argentina from Primera Televisora Argentina on channel 7, Buenos Aires.
• October 20 - The iconic CBS eye logo makes its television debut.
• November 11 - Bing Crosby Enterprises demonstrates black-and-white video recording using a modified Ampex tape recorder.
• November 18 - Edward R. Murrow on See It Now presents the first live coast-to-coast commercial television broadcast in the US, showing a split screen view of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.
• December 24 - The first televised opera written for television, Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti, airs on NBC.
• Television broadcasts begin in Peru.
• Ernie Kovacs' Time for Ernie and Ernie in Kovacsland television shows premiere. Kovacs pushes the limits of television technology with his use of camera tricks and special effects.

Debuts

• January 3 - Dragnet debuts on NBC (1951–1959).
• July 16 - What's My Line? debuts on BBC Television. It will be one of the top-rated programs for the rest of the decade and make a star of its host, Eamonn Andrews, who takes over from Gilbert Harding from the second episode.
• September 3 - The first long-running soap opera, Search for Tomorrow, debuts at 12:30 p.m. on the CBS television network (1951–1986).
• September 24 - Love of Life premieres on CBS (1951–1980).
• October 15 - Television sitcom I Love Lucy debuts on CBS (1951–1960). The groundbreaking show is produced on film, instead of being broadcast live. The show also makes Lucille Ball the world's first major female television star. The show stars Lucille Ball with her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz.
• Television version of Amos & Andy (1951–1953).
• The Roy Rogers Show (1951–1957), debuts on NBC, starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
• Hallmark Hall of Fame premieres (1951–present).
• March 3 - "Watch Mr. Wizard" debuts on NBC (1951–1965).^[1]

Television shows

listed by starting year

• Bozo the Clown (1949–present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995)
• Martin Kane, Private Eye (1949–1954)
• The Goldbergs (1949–1955)
• The Voice of Firestone (1949–1963)
• Hawkins Falls (1950, 1951–1955)
• Cisco Kid (1950–1956)
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950–1958)
• The Jack Benny Show (1950–1965)
• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
• What's My Line (1950–1967)
• Your Hit Parade (1950–1959)
• Your Show of Shows (1950–1954)
• "I Love Lucy" (1951–1960)

Ending this year

• The Alan Dale Show (1948–1951).
• Club Seven (1948–1951).

Births

• January 7 - Helen Worth, British actress.
• January 12 - Rush Limbaugh, radio personality.
  • Kirstie Alley, actress, Cheers.
• January 15 - Charo, Spanish-American singer and actress.
• February 15 - Jane Seymour, British actress.
• February 16 - William Katt, actor.
• March 13 - Fred Berry, actor (died 2003).
• March 17 - Kurt Russell, actor.
• April 13 - Peter Davison, British actor, Doctor Who.
• April 21 - Tony Danza, actor.
• June 13 -Richard Thomas (actor), The Waltons
• June 27 - Julia Duffy, actress
• July 12 - Cheryl Ladd, actress and singer, Charlie's Angels
• July 17 - Lucie Arnaz, actress, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
• July 21 - Robin Williams, actor.
• July 23 - Edie McClurg, actress.
• July 24 - Lynda Carter, actress and singer, Wonder Woman.
• August 6 - Catherine Hicks, actress.
• August 14 - Carl Lumbly, actor.
• September 2 - Mark Harmon, actor.
• September 5 - Michael Keaton, actor.
• September 7 - Julie Kavner, actress, Rhoda.
• September 12 - Joe Pantoliano, actor.
• October 18 - Pam Dawber, actress.
• October 30 - Harry Hamlin, actor, L.A. Law.
• November 9 - Lou Ferrigno, actor, The Incredible Hulk.
• December 1 - Treat Williams, actor.
• December 4 - Patricia Wettig, actress.
• December 5 - Morgan Brittany, actress, Dallas.

References