The world of sitcoms in the 1950s and 1960s

Since I am interested in the history of television, I enjoy watching old TV shows.  When I view them, I marvel at how much the world has changed.  Some of what is shown on the comedy classics would never ever be acceptable today.   Let's take I Love Lucy for example.  I Love Lucy, one of the great television sitcoms of all time, ran on CBS from 1951 to 1957.  However, its plots reflect the prevailing attitudes of the 1950s, as well as the customs and styles of that era.

In one particular episode, entitled "Ricky Loses His Temper" (Season 3, Episode 19, Air Date: February 22, 1954), the hot-tempered Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) becomes fed up with Lucy buying so many hat, which were considered a must-have fashion item back then.  The couple decides to find out who can hold out the longest: Lucy has to stop buying hats and Rick can't lose his temper.  By the end of the episode, Ricky realizes that Lucy has been manipulating him into buying her a hat.  He pretends to laugh about the situation, but then orders her to return her hat.  He punishes her by taking her over his knee and spanking her bottom as the show fades out.  It was a portrayal of domestic violence that would never never be considered acceptable on television today.  

Here are some other things that were considered acceptable on old TV shows. 

* Smoking was promoted.  I Love Lucy was sponsored by the Philip Morris tobacco company.

In fact, doctors promoted cigarette smoking on television sitcoms and on commercials.

* Nobody wore seatbelts while driving.

*  Women had to ask their husbands for permission to purchase items, as they did not earn any money themselves.

* On old TV shows, native people are sometimes described as "wild Indians" or "savages."

* On the game show What's My Line? (1950-1957), host John Charles Daly always asked the female contestants they're marital status.  They had to reveal whether they whether they were a "Miss" or "Mrs."  Everything was much more formal.  The panelists were not always called by their first name.  Arlene Francis was often "Miss Francis" and Steve Allen was often "Mr. Allen."  Daley and the male panelists mostly wore tuxedos.

* Women such as comedy writer Sally Rogers (Rose Marie) on The Dick Van Dyke Show were expected to quit their jobs if they got married.  In the episode "Jilting the Jilter" (Season 2, Episode 31, Air Date: May 1, 1963), Sally becomes engaged to comedian Freddy White (Guy Marks), who wants to marry her for the comedy material she would provide for him.  She prepares to leave her job until she realizes the truth about Freddy.  Below is a photo or Rose Marie and Guy Marks in "Jilting the Jilter."

* On Leave it to Beaver, little boys, such as Theodore "Beaver Cleaver" (Jerry Mathers) wore suits and ties to attend birthday parties.

* Don't forget the malt shops on Leave it to Beaver and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.  

Yes, it was a very different world, in some ways much better, in some ways much worse.  It's was an almost all-white world, foreign to Generation Y and Generation Z.  There was black and white TV on small screens, no cell phones or personal computers. No texting.  People actually conversed with each other.  Very few beards and tattoos.  Much more formal.

- Joanne