MindMap Gallery Evolution of Black Entertainers on Television

Evolution of Black Entertainers on Television

This insightful guide examines the journey and influence of black entertainers as TV variety show hosts from 1949 to 1974. It discusses how oligopolistic network practices, social and political changes, and shifting cultural boundaries impacted the types of roles black entertainers could accept. This resource is valuable for historians, media scholars, and those interested in the intersection of race, entertainment, and societal transformation.

Edited at 2021-12-19 22:39:09

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Evolution of Black Entertainers on Television

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Outline

Thesis: Examining the experiences of 7 Black entertainers as TV variety show hosts between 1949-1974 reveals that only one acheived longevity because oligopolic networks, under influence of social and political changes, set shifting boundaries on the types of Blackness they would accept in that crucial role.

Types of Blackness

7 Black Entertainers

Willy Bryant,1949

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Sugar Hill Times

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to his Black Projection

Hazel Scott, 1950

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Hazel Scott Show

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to her Black Projection

Billy Daniels,1952

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Billy Daniels Show

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to his Black Projection

Nat King Cole, 1956-57

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Nat King Cole Show

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to his Black Projection

Sammy Davis, 1966

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Sammy Davis, Jr. Show

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to his Black Projection

Leslie Uggams, 1969

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Leslie Uggams Show

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to her Black Projection

Flip Wilson, 1970-1974

Learning to be Black

Performing Career

Qualifiers for Hosting Role

Flip Wilson Show

Why Show Failed

Later Career

Reactions to his Black Projection

Other Black hosts outside this time period

Ethel Waters, 1939

Amanda Randolph, 1948-1949

Deep River Boys, 1948

Southernaires Quartet, 1948

The Striders, 1949

All Covered Ch1, pt 1

Bob Howard, 1948

Cover in Ch 1, pt 2/Exclude BH per undeveloped networks

TV Variety Show Hosts

TV Variety Genre Definition

Done--covered in Preview

TV Variety Show Origins

TV Variety Show Evolution

Host Traits

Social & Political Changes

Relative Liberal Attitudes Post WWII, 1946-49

McCarthyism, 1950-54

School Desegration, 1954-1970 ff

Civil Rights, 1961-1965 ff

Black Power

Shifting Boundaries

Between 1949-1974

Why this period? It marks rise & decline of both networks & variety show format

Start date is done--covered in Preview. Need to justify end date.

Oligopolistic Networks

Growth of Net Infrastructure, 1946-1951

TV signal Needs Coax, Radio Relay

Briefly considered alternatives

Theater TV

Stratovision

Radio signal can travel on reg phone lines

Phase 1 1946-1949

NYC Dominated TV 1946-48

Theater performers

Vaudeville

Cabaret & Nightclubs

Jewish,"Borscht" Circuit--Berle, Caesar, et. al.

Joining of "East" & "Midwest" chains diluted NYC influence

Audiences in Midwest were less tolerant of racial, sexual liberalism of NYC

Cover in Ch 1, pt 2

Phase 2 1950-1951

Coast to Coast coax open in Sep, 1951 "Status Map", TV Mag, 16-17 Sep 51, p16-17

AT&T Links into South by Nov 1950: Norfolk, Greensboro, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis--TV Mag Nov 50, p 16-17, Nashville added Dec 51, TV Mag, p 20-21

Growth of Oligopolistic Power, Dates?

Why US TV is advertiser-based

Briefly considered alternatives

Subscription TV on Coax or phone meter

Rapid sale of TVs "got ahead" of alternatives

Effects of advertiser-based system

TV stations are not in business to produce programs. They are in the business of producing audiences--TV Economics, p 4

Effect of advertisers of program offerings

Advertisers shifted from tolerance to avoidance of Blacks

Mass Audience, LOP, etc.

Role of FCC in creating scarcity & protecting market entry

1945 decisions that limited channels to VHF 2-13, created an artificial scarcity

Freeze on issuing new station licenses in effect 30 Sep 1948 to Apr 1952

Why UHF failed in 1952, Reel pp 23-24

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