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The Magic Window: American Television, 1939-1953

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MORE THAN MEMORIES
Reading THE MAGIC WINDOW brought back many memories of some of my wife, and my favorite TV programs, such as The Texaco Star Theater, Studio One, Play House Ninety, The Goldbergs, I Remember Mama, Kukla, Fran,& Ollie, the Saturday westerns, and many others. We especially enjoyed Dr. Von Schilling's thoughtful insights into the historical background of those programs and how they either affected or were affected by events in our history. We hadn't realized the role TV played during WWII, the impact of the Cold War on early television, the tight hold that the censors had on some of the early TV stars, and how TV helped shape our American history and customs. We keep referring to our copy of THE MAGIC WINDOW to share facts and tidbits about programs and programming with our friends and family. We've had some lively discussions while we reminisced! As former teachers it is very easy for us to wish that we were back in the classroom and teaching some of the material that Dr. Von Schilling presents; however,it is not just a teaching tool, but rather an enjoyable reading and discussion opportunity for every one.

The Magic Window: American Television 1939-1953 by American popular culture expert James Von Schilling (Professor of English, Northampton Community College) provides a scholarly presentation of the inherently fascinating story of how television became the immensely popular attraction and cultural force it is today. From the electronic phenomenon's first public appearance in the 1939 New York World's Fair, to the creation and development of landmark and influential programming from 1939 to 1953, and television's rapid proliferation to the point where it became an integral part of almost every American household ever since, The Magic Window is meticulously detailed in its presentation. Especially recommended reading for TV buffs wanting to learn more about the history of this widespread and widely beloved form of mass-media, The Magic Window is also commended to the attention of students and scholars in the fields of 20th Century American History, American Popular Culture, and Communications & Media Studies.

Like many people of my generation, I grew up in front of the television. As far as I was concerned, there was no `history' of TV-it was simply always there and I was doubtful that a book that explored television before the advent of The Brady Bunch would be as interesting and enlightening as The Magic Window is. Dr. Von Schilling's well-researched and highly readable book is not simply another nostalgic look at the 40s and 50s, however; rather, it traces the history and politics and sporting events of those decades and how these events seen on television for the first time shaped America's culture. From political campaigns to the integration of baseball to the first network censors, The Magic Window documents television's rapid rise and enormous popularity in the United States and tells its story from the point of view of a fan.