Poster of Television: The First Fifty Years

Television: The First Fifty Years

Plot: Trace the history of television and its impact on American culture with clips, newsreels, and exclusive interviews from television greats like Walter Cronkite, Carol Burnett, and Jay Leno.
Release Date: Friday, January 1 1998
25 years ago
Scroll to Crew

Cast

Portrait of Walter CronkiteWalter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite was
82 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sat, Nov 04 1916 –
Fri, Jul 17 2009
Portrait of Carol BurnettCarol Burnett
Carol Burnett was
65 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Wed, Apr 26 1933
Portrait of Jay LenoJay Leno
Jay Leno was
48 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Fri, Apr 28 1950
Portrait of Phyllis McGuirePhyllis McGuire
Phyllis McGuire was
67 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sat, Feb 14 1931 –
Tue, Dec 29 2020
Portrait of Doc SeverinsenDoc Severinsen
Doc Severinsen was
71 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Thu, Jul 07 1927
Portrait of Dick Van PattenDick Van Patten
Dick Van Patten was
70 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sun, Dec 09 1928 –
Tue, Jun 23 2015
Portrait of Ed McMahonEd McMahon
Ed McMahon was
75 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Tue, Mar 06 1923 –
Tue, Jun 23 2009
Portrait of Alan YoungAlan Young
Alan Young was
79 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Wilbur Post (archive footage)'.
Wed, Nov 19 1919 –
Thu, May 19 2016
Portrait of Dick PowellDick Powell
Dick Powell would have been no older than
58 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Mon, Nov 14 1904 –
Wed, Jan 02 1963
Portrait of Sheree NorthSheree North
Sheree North was
66 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jan 17 1932 –
Fri, Nov 04 2005
Portrait of Patrick MacneePatrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee was
76 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / John Steed (archive footage)'.
Mon, Feb 06 1922 –
Thu, Jun 25 2015
Portrait of Ron HowardRon Howard
Ron Howard was
44 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Opie Taylor / Ritchie Cunningham (archive footage)'.
Mon, Mar 01 1954
Portrait of Frank GorshinFrank Gorshin
Frank Gorshin was
65 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'The Riddler (archive footage)'.
Wed, Apr 05 1933 –
Tue, May 17 2005
Portrait of Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower would have been no older than
78 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Tue, Oct 14 1890 –
Fri, Mar 28 1969
Portrait of Sid CaesarSid Caesar
Sid Caesar was
76 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Fri, Sep 08 1922 –
Wed, Feb 12 2014
Portrait of Ringo StarrRingo Starr
Ringo Starr was
58 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self – The Beatles (archive footage)'.
Sun, Jul 07 1940
Portrait of John LennonJohn Lennon
John Lennon would have been no older than
40 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self – The Beatles (archive footage)'.
Wed, Oct 09 1940 –
Mon, Dec 08 1980
Portrait of George HarrisonGeorge Harrison
George Harrison was
55 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self – The Beatles (archive footage)'.
Thu, Feb 25 1943 –
Thu, Nov 29 2001
Portrait of Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney
Paul McCartney was
56 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self – The Beatles (archive footage)'.
Thu, Jun 18 1942
Portrait of Linda EllerbeeLinda Ellerbee
Linda Ellerbee was
54 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Tue, Aug 15 1944
Portrait of Eddie AlbertEddie Albert
Eddie Albert was
92 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Oliver Douglas (archive footage)'.
Sun, Apr 22 1906 –
Thu, May 26 2005
Portrait of David HasselhoffDavid Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff was
46 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Mitch Buchanon (archive footage)'.
Thu, Jul 17 1952
Portrait of Ethel MermanEthel Merman
Ethel Merman would have been no older than
76 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Thu, Jan 16 1908 –
Wed, Feb 15 1984
Portrait of Betsy PalmerBetsy Palmer
Betsy Palmer was
72 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Mon, Nov 01 1926 –
Fri, May 29 2015
Portrait of Desi ArnazDesi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz would have been no older than
69 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)'.
Fri, Mar 02 1917 –
Tue, Dec 02 1986
Portrait of Lucille BallLucille Ball
Lucille Ball would have been no older than
77 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)'.
Sun, Aug 06 1911 –
Wed, Apr 26 1989
Portrait of Imogene CocaImogene Coca
Imogene Coca was
90 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Wed, Nov 18 1908 –
Sat, Jun 02 2001
Portrait of Bob HopeBob Hope
Bob Hope was
95 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Fri, May 29 1903 –
Sun, Jul 27 2003
Portrait of Nancy MarchandNancy Marchand
Nancy Marchand was
70 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Tue, Jun 19 1928 –
Sun, Jun 18 2000
Portrait of Edward R. MurrowEdward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow would have been no older than
57 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sat, Apr 25 1908 –
Tue, Apr 27 1965
Portrait of Victoria PrincipalVictoria Principal
Victoria Principal was
48 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Pamela Ewing (archive footage)'.
Tue, Jan 03 1950
Portrait of David NelsonDavid Nelson
David Nelson was
62 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sat, Oct 24 1936 –
Tue, Jan 11 2011
Portrait of Tony RandallTony Randall
Tony Randall was
78 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Thu, Feb 26 1920 –
Mon, May 17 2004
Portrait of Gene SiskelGene Siskel
Gene Siskel was
52 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sat, Jan 26 1946 –
Sat, Feb 20 1999
Portrait of Roger EbertRoger Ebert
Roger Ebert was
56 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Thu, Jun 18 1942 –
Thu, Apr 04 2013
Portrait of Ray WalstonRay Walston
Ray Walston was
84 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Mon, Nov 02 1914 –
Mon, Jan 01 2001
Portrait of Adam WestAdam West
Adam West was
70 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Batman (archive footage)'.
Wed, Sep 19 1928 –
Fri, Jun 09 2017
Portrait of Burt WardBurt Ward
Burt Ward was
53 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Robin (archive footage)'.
Fri, Jul 06 1945
Portrait of Efrem Zimbalist Jr.Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was
80 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Stuart Bailey (archive footage)'.
Sat, Nov 30 1918 –
Fri, May 02 2014
Portrait of George BurnsGeorge Burns
George Burns would have been no older than
100 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Mon, Jan 20 1896 –
Sat, Mar 09 1996
Portrait of Richard NixonRichard Nixon
Richard Nixon would have been no older than
81 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Thu, Jan 09 1913 –
Fri, Apr 22 1994
Portrait of David McCallumDavid McCallum
David McCallum was
65 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Illya Kuryakin (archive footage)'.
Tue, Sep 19 1933 –
Mon, Sep 25 2023
Portrait of Kay KyserKay Kyser
Kay Kyser would have been no older than
80 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sun, Jun 18 1905 –
Tue, Jul 23 1985
Portrait of Linda GrayLinda Gray
Linda Gray was
58 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Sue Ellen Ewing (archive footage)'.
Thu, Sep 12 1940
Portrait of Dick ElliottDick Elliott
Dick Elliott would have been no older than
75 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Bartender (archive footage)'.
Thu, Apr 29 1886 –
Fri, Dec 22 1961
Portrait of Buddy EbsenBuddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen was
90 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Jed Clampett (archive footage)'.
Thu, Apr 02 1908 –
Sun, Jul 06 2003
Portrait of Jerry MathersJerry Mathers
Jerry Mathers was
50 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver (archive footage)'.
Wed, Jun 02 1948
Portrait of Diana DouglasDiana Douglas
Diana Douglas was
75 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Elly May Clampett (archive footage)'.
Mon, Jan 22 1923 –
Fri, Jul 03 2015
Portrait of Sammy Davis Jr.Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr. would have been no older than
64 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Tue, Dec 08 1925 –
Wed, May 16 1990
Portrait of Jed AllanJed Allan
Jed Allan was
63 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Fri, Mar 01 1935 –
Sat, Mar 09 2019
Portrait of Tom ArnoldTom Arnold
Tom Arnold was
39 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Fri, Mar 06 1959
Portrait of Billy BartyBilly Barty
Billy Barty was
74 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sat, Oct 25 1924 –
Sat, Dec 23 2000
Portrait of Milton BerleMilton Berle
Milton Berle was
90 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Sun, Jul 12 1908 –
Wed, Mar 27 2002
Portrait of William BoydWilliam Boyd
William Boyd would have been no older than
77 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Hopalong Cassidy (archive footage)'.
Tue, Jun 04 1895 –
Tue, Sep 12 1972
Portrait of William DemarestWilliam Demarest
William Demarest would have been no older than
91 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Charlie O'Casey (archive footage)'.
Fri, Feb 26 1892 –
Wed, Dec 28 1983
Portrait of Bing CrosbyBing Crosby
Bing Crosby would have been no older than
74 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sun, May 03 1903 –
Fri, Oct 14 1977
Portrait of Joyce BrothersJoyce Brothers
Joyce Brothers was
71 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Thu, Oct 20 1927 –
Mon, May 13 2013
Portrait of Wally CoxWally Cox
Wally Cox would have been no older than
48 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Robinson J. Peepers (archive footage)'.
Sat, Dec 06 1924 –
Thu, Feb 15 1973
Portrait of John WayneJohn Wayne
John Wayne would have been no older than
72 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sun, May 26 1907 –
Mon, Jun 11 1979
Portrait of Bob CrosbyBob Crosby
Bob Crosby would have been no older than
79 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sat, Aug 23 1913 –
Tue, Mar 09 1993
Portrait of Charlton HestonCharlton Heston
Charlton Heston was
75 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Thu, Oct 04 1923 –
Sat, Apr 05 2008
Portrait of Arte JohnsonArte Johnson
Arte Johnson was
69 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self / Wolfgang (archive footage)'.
Sun, Jan 20 1929 –
Wed, Jul 03 2019
Portrait of Allan LaneAllan Lane
Allan Lane would have been no older than
64 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Mister Ed (archive audio)'.
Wed, Sep 22 1909 –
Sat, Oct 27 1973
Portrait of Dick MartinDick Martin
Dick Martin was
76 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Mon, Jan 30 1922 –
Sat, May 24 2008
Portrait of Barry MorseBarry Morse
Barry Morse was
80 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Lt. Philip Gerard (archive footage)'.
Mon, Jun 10 1918 –
Sat, Feb 02 2008
Portrait of Hugh O'BrianHugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian was
73 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self (archive footage)'.
Sun, Apr 19 1925 –
Mon, Sep 05 2016
Portrait of Donna ReedDonna Reed
Donna Reed would have been no older than
64 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Donna Stone (archive footage)'.
Thu, Jan 27 1921 –
Tue, Jan 14 1986
Portrait of George ReevesGeorge Reeves
George Reeves would have been no older than
45 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Superman (archive footage)'.
Mon, Jan 05 1914 –
Tue, Jun 16 1959
Portrait of Red SkeltonRed Skelton
Red Skelton would have been no older than
84 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Buffalo Bob Smith / Howdy Doody (archive footage)'.
Fri, Jul 18 1913 –
Wed, Sep 17 1997
Portrait of Vivian VanceVivian Vance
Vivian Vance would have been no older than
70 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Ethel Mertz (archive footage)'.
Mon, Jul 26 1909 –
Fri, Aug 17 1979
Portrait of Henry WinklerHenry Winkler
Henry Winkler was
53 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Self'.
Tue, Oct 30 1945

Crew

Portrait of Kent HagenKent Hagen
Kent Hagen was
>> in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Director'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Jeff MillerJeff Miller
Jeff Miller was
>> in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Writer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Barry ZeVanBarry ZeVan
Barry ZeVan was
61 in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Producer, Writer'
Thu, Aug 05 1937 –
Wed, Jan 01 2020
Portrait of Steve EdwardsSteve Edwards
Steve Edwards was
>> in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Producer'
Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Dante J. PuglieseDante J. Pugliese
Dante J. Pugliese was
>> in Television: The First Fifty Years
as 'Executive Producer'
Unknown Birthday