Summary: The first television station in the South, WSB, began broadcasting in 1948. By the early 1960’s most families had a television set. Television quickly became the number one leisure activity for children. It brought news to the masses with unprecedented immediacy. This contributed to some big changes in society. Congressman John Lewis believes that, “Without television, the Civil Rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.” In the late 1960’s, people saw the Vietnam War every day. Many people feel that this closeness to the war was a prime factor behind much of its unpopularity. Commentators include historians and people alive during the “Golden Age of Television.
