Comments on: The Decline and Fall of the Space Action Hero http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/12/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-space-action-hero/ A history of the future that never was Mon, 27 May 2013 01:32:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Dean Finder http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/12/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-space-action-hero/#comment-1443 Dean Finder Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:21:58 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6546#comment-1443 The early business model of the radio networks (and the TV networks they spawned) was to sell half-hour blocks of time to advertisers, who then developed the shows to put on the air. The major exception was the DuMont TV network in the 40s and 50s, that had no radio network to support them, and invented the business model of selling 30-second spots to multiple advertisers. This all changed in the early 1960s, after FCC Commissioner Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech. The networks then took over developing the programs themselves, and gearing them towards ones that would please the FCC, to avoid any further FCC demands on content. Without the ability to sell blocks of time to advertisers, the major networks adopted the 30-second format, too. The early business model of the radio networks (and the TV networks they spawned) was to sell half-hour blocks of time to advertisers, who then developed the shows to put on the air. The major exception was the DuMont TV network in the 40s and 50s, that had no radio network to support them, and invented the business model of selling 30-second spots to multiple advertisers.
This all changed in the early 1960s, after FCC Commissioner Newton Minow’s “vast wasteland” speech. The networks then took over developing the programs themselves, and gearing them towards ones that would please the FCC, to avoid any further FCC demands on content. Without the ability to sell blocks of time to advertisers, the major networks adopted the 30-second format, too.

]]> By: Mike Flugennock http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/12/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-space-action-hero/#comment-1440 Mike Flugennock Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:33:38 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6546#comment-1440 "Lawrence R. Samuel notes in his essay 'The Sky Is The Limit: Advertising and Consumer Culture in Rocketman Television Series of the 1950s' that the lines between entertainment and advertising were often blurred in those days, leaving kids to digest the sales pitch as simply an integral part of the show..." ...unlike today, when there's no such blurring because the shows pretty much ARE the commercials. “Lawrence R. Samuel notes in his essay ‘The Sky Is The Limit: Advertising and Consumer Culture in Rocketman Television Series of the 1950s’ that the lines between entertainment and advertising were often blurred in those days, leaving kids to digest the sales pitch as simply an integral part of the show…”

…unlike today, when there’s no such blurring because the shows pretty much ARE the commercials.

]]> By: Chris L http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/12/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-space-action-hero/#comment-1437 Chris L Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:03:34 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6546#comment-1437 Jean Noel Bassior wrote a very good book about that particular era of TV (Space Patrol:Missions of Daring In The Name Of Early Television). Space Patrol is the sole focus of the book, but it provides a good feel for what putting on a live TV show was like. There's also a bit about the effect on popular such shows had. Jean Noel Bassior wrote a very good book about that particular era of TV (Space Patrol:Missions of Daring In The Name Of Early Television). Space Patrol is the sole focus of the book, but it provides a good feel for what putting on a live TV show was like. There’s also a bit about the effect on popular such shows had.

]]> By: Sam Adams http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/12/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-space-action-hero/#comment-1431 Sam Adams Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:43:52 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=6546#comment-1431 "Lawrence R. Samuel notes in his essay ”The Sky Is The Limit: Advertising and Consumer Culture in Rocketman Television Series of the 1950s” that the lines between entertainment and advertising were often blurred in those days, leaving kids to digest the sales pitch as simply an integral part of the show. “Show-related merchandise was an essential element of sponsorships,” he writes, “used to raise brand awareness and, more importantly, as a sales incentive." The Space Action Hero may have faded away but some things haven't changed much. It's still all about the merchandising. “Lawrence R. Samuel notes in his essay ”The Sky Is The Limit: Advertising and Consumer Culture in Rocketman Television Series of the 1950s” that the lines between entertainment and advertising were often blurred in those days, leaving kids to digest the sales pitch as simply an integral part of the show. “Show-related merchandise was an essential element of sponsorships,” he writes, “used to raise brand awareness and, more importantly, as a sales incentive.”

The Space Action Hero may have faded away but some things haven’t changed much. It’s still all about the merchandising.

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