Television (& Movies) Through The Years

In Grandma Lucille's autobiography she wrote "In my lifetime many things have taken place. Phonograph, radio, stereo, TV, airplanes, electric and gas stoves, electric irons, inside plumbing, push button phones, gas and electric heating, coal furnaces, electric and gas water heaters, blenders, fry pans, mix masters, and polyester materials." I always thought that was an interesting snap shop of the convivences and changing technology, and though to reflect on my own memories.

Television (&Movies)

• As a child, I remember there just being one TV in the house, it was in the "dining room" off the kitchen in the Hermitage house. A big boxy television with rabbit ear antennas and a knob to change the channel. Mom/Margie had her recliner but we kids would usually just sit on the floor to watch cartoons. Commercial breaks were times to run to the bathroom or do other quick items. Eventually this was replaced with a newer television, and when the basement was finished, another big TV was added there. 
• We Westras did NOT have a VCR in the beginning. We'd go to the rental shop and pay for a couple of VHS tapes and a machine. At some point we got our own machine and could buy blank tapes to record shows as they aired so we could watch them later.  
• Gray's family had some favorites on VHS that they'd watch over and over: LesMis (non-musical version), The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of LaMancha ... as far as television programs, Gilligan's Island, The Beverly Hillbillies, MASH were ones he remembers watching.
• In school, if a TV/VCR on a cart was rolled in, we kids were excited - it was always fun to watch something instead of regular lessons. I remember there was a show where a book was being read while an artist drew scenes from the book. There were similar setups in the church library for lessons and classes on Sunday.
• VCRs were still the thing when I got married and set up our own home. In addition to a VCR, we also had a big video camera (that recorded to standard size tapes), the same kind the Westra family had.  The video cameras had a big transition over the years too, from the big & bulky recorder, to a smaller one with mini-tapes, to a digital file on a card. Check out the Blackham Home Video post on the family blog, and the family videos (links in sidebar). 
• When the boys were little, we had a big collection of Disney movies on VHS, as well as a machine to rewind them faster/separately. Little Landon had a small TV/VCR combo in his room and would fall asleep with a movie playing. 
• I can't remember exactly when we converted to DVDs ... Google says DVDs outsold VHS in 2003.  We'd rent VHS, then DVDs from Blockbuster, and borrow them from the library. In addition to the stores, Blockbuster had a DVD by mail option that we enjoyed. Netflix started out with DVDs by mail too, before they started streaming. 
• We got a TIVO digital recording machine, which was a lot easier than a VCR. Our first machine had "lifetime service" and all other boxes after than started charging a monthly/annual subscription fee. We took advantage of one deal that got us lifetime service on our current box. When we changed our cable service (from Comcast to DirectTV) we couldn't get it to work, so passed it onto Mom/Margie, who utilized it for many years (through their move to Highland). 
• Television was available "through the air" with an antenna, but many (including us) paid for cable which provided us with more channels.  We used both Comcast/Xfinity and DirectTV (satellite) through the years. People would complain that cable/satellite offered so many channels, many they weren't interested in, and wouldn't it be great if you could just pick and choose which ones you wanted and only pay for those? Then streaming started up: Netflix, AmazonPrimeVideo, Hulu, Starz, Showtime, Disney+, AppleTV, HBO, AMC, Peacock ... then people said "why do we have to pay for so many different subscriptions? Wouldn't it be nice if everything was just together on one service?"  Like ... the old cable/satellite? 
• Netflix started streaming in 2007 and that totally changed everything! No more trips to the video store, immediate gratification! So many shows available. No commercials.  Then some streaming services did have ads, or different payment platforms for ads/no ads. Prices continually going up! The streaming services starting making their own original content. So many different services to subscribe to!
• Between VCRs/DVDs and streaming, came the purchase of digital content. Some DVDs would come with a "digital copy" you could register for. We bought many tv series and movies on Itunes, to play on the ipods and first ipads, and hooked them up to the TV to play on a bigger screen.
• Televisions themselves changed so much over the years! While black&white TVs were a little before my time (or was the original Westra one just b&w?) the older tube TVs started small (because big ones were expensive) but boxy. The bigger ones were so heavy! You had to get up to change the channel, long before remotes became the norm. Homes started with one television, and soon had two or three. Televisions got bigger, and more rectangular in shape, and flatter, and lighter. The inputs changed from a simple electric plug, to accept connection with other devices (vcrs, dvd players, video game consoles) ... RCA connectors, S-Video, HDMI cables, etc.
• MOVIES ... I remember going to the Cottonwood Mall to see movies when I was young. Mom/Margie would drop us off, then pick us up when it was done. Theaters have sure changed over the years ... from simple concessions to full restaurants within some. More comfortable seating ... from standard theater seats to nice recliners. What was once first come first served for seating, now has assigned seats selected and purchased digitally ahead of time. 3D and other options for some films.  Landon really enjoyed "Movie Pass" (unlimited movies) for a time before that folded. Covid shut down the theaters (along with everything else) in 2020.  I always just preferred to wait and watch at home, where I could have subtitles and the ability to pause if needed, watching either in bed (still more comfortable that even the latest recliners) or while in the gym. 

Our kids might have a vague recollection of VHS ... they definitely grew up in the DVD era and then saw the switch to streaming. As far as programming, the Westra Siblings grew up on such classics as Sesame Street (I remember Derek was still young enough to be watching then Snuffelufagus was finally seen by everyone!), Mr. Rogers, Romper Room, ZOOM and The Electric Company. For the Blackham Boys,  there was Blue's Clues, The Wiggles, Dora the Explorer and Teletubbies.  As they got a little older and out of the "educational" shows into entertainment, Pokemon, Power Rangers, Zac&Cody, and Avatar were favorites.  The Disney channel (Landon LOVED Toy Story!) and Nickelodeon were frequented channels.  One of the reasons we stuck with cable once streaming hit the scene was sports ... NBA League pass for basketball and Red Zone for football. We have yet to try out YouTube TV and some of the other newer options. It will be interesting to see what the future holds!

Check out the Talking About My Generation on The Westra Way blog as well!