Invasion of the Mind Snatchers: Television's Conquest of America in the Fifties

by Eric Burns

When the first television was demonstrated in 1927, a headline in "The New York Times "read, OC Like a Photo Come to Life.OCO It was a momentous occasion. But the power of television wasnOCOt fully harnessed until the 1950s, when the medium was, as Eric Burns says, OC At its most preoccupying, its most life-altering.OCO And Burns, a former NBC News correspondent who is an Emmy-winner for his broadcast writing," "knows about the impact of television. a "Invasion of the Mind Snatchers "chronicles the influence of television that was watched daily by the baby boomer generation. As kids became spellbound by "Howdy Doody "and "The Ed Sullivan Show, "Burns reveals, they often acted out their favorite programs. Likewise, they purchased the merchandise being promoted by performers, and became fascinated by the personalities they saw on screen, often emulating their behavior. It was the first generation raised by TV and Burns looks at both the promise of broadcasting as espoused by the inventors, and how that promise was both redefined and lost by the corporations who helped to spread the technology. a Yet Burns also contextualizes the social, cultural, and political events that helped shape the FiftiesOCofrom Sputnik and the Rosenberg trial to Senator Joseph McCarthyOCOs Red Scare.a In doing so, he charts the effect of television on politics, religion, race, and sex, and how the medium provided a persuasive message to the young, impressionable viewers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Eric Burns is an American media critic and journalist. He began his career as a correspondent for NBC News where he appeared regularly on NBC Nightly News and on the Today show.

Burns has written five critically-acclaimed books and continues to work in television. He has worked as a commentator for Entertainment Tonight, host of Arts & Entertainment Revue on A&E, and is the former host of Fox News Channel's Fox News Watch, as well as a media analyst for the network.

Burns received an Emmy Award for media criticism and was named by the Washington Journalism Review as one of the best writers in the history of broadcast journalism.

Reviews

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You bastards. I hope a goddamn atom bomb falls on every goddamn one of you." --Mafia mistress Virginia Hill Hauser, making her opening statement to the Kefauver Commission; the proceedings were televised live

"Ten Percent Off During Kefauver Hours" --department-store ad printed in a Chicago newspaper; by some estimates, 70 percent of sets were tuned to the commission's broadcasts

"I like the idea of sadism, but I hope we can come up with another approach to it." --Quinn Martin, producer of the series The Untouchables

"Sex is all a woman thinks about while she's sitting at home, and we can give it to her." --the aptly named Albert McCleery, executive producer of Matinee Theater

"I was booked on the Sullivan show, but my bear died." --Don Rickles, referring to Ed Sullivan's fondness for booking animal acts

"In the beginning, a television set cost hundreds of dollars and you could see a few bad shows. In a couple of years, you'll be able to buy a television set for a few dollars and see hundreds of bad shows." --comedian Ed Wynn

"I don't care what you're going to do to me, but the whole world is going to know about it." --journalist John Chancellor, holding a radio microphone up to white supremacists who were threatening him

"Television is like the New Testament, for the Word is seen as it becomes flesh and dwells among us." --Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, host of Life Is Worth Living

The part of this book that intrigued me most was the description of a TV show about unemployed veterans. The show consisted of the guy showing what he knew how to do--make a cabinet, repair a car, whatever--and a doctor talking about the guy's injuries and war record. Then the announcer gave a number to call if you wanted to hire the guy. The veterans on the show went from being unemployed to having several job offers to choose from . . . plus the neighborhood kids treated them like celebrities. So explain to me why nobody is doing this on the Internet?

I also liked the theory that 1950s TV was not subtle because the video and audio quality wasn't good enough. In a movie, you can communicate a lot through a raised eyebrow; on a little TV screen, the viewer probably can't even see the eyebrow.

[Peggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turned out to be better than I thouight it would. I was expecting stories about how TV changed family life in the 50's and how shows like Donna Reed and Leave It to Beaver reflected life then. And it did that. But it also talked about how politics was changed when Eisenhower let the press into the White House for news conferences, how televising the McCarthy hearings contributed to his downfall and the quiz show scandals and how blacks were depicted on TV.

Very interesting.

[Scott Butki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished it - really liked it and would recommend it to others. My interview with the author should be up in the next few days (when i have a few free hours to spare)

[Patrick Gabridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this would be much more interesting if you grew up in the 50s. Has some good points, but grew tiresome.

[Joni Hilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful look at the role television plays in our lives. One of those great nonfiction titles that truly makes you think about TV's impact on our world today.

[victor harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on the impact of television on culture that I have read. A lot of fun anecdotes too.