My grandmother was born in 1900. In the late 1950s I used to watch Japanese Brush Painting with her on Channel 13, the New York educational channel. We were both very amused because the Japanese instructor always said “Use the right coror” when he meant “light color.”
She also watched cooking shows, especially Julia Child.
One thing my parents didn’t like: college football cutting into The Lawrence Welk Show. They would always bitch about the “stupid football” all the time cutting into that show.
I’m with them. Give me Lawrence Welk over sports any day.
There were two types of shows that my Grandpa would never miss. He was born in 1907 and was Finnish.
As he didn’t have cable and we lived in a small rural town they were really far in-between but they were not missed.
Mother’s father – died around 1950, not sure if he even had access to a TV
Mother’s mother – I don’t remember too clearly, but I know she loved Lawrence Welk
Father’s father – don’t think he bothered much with television; he wasn’t a sit-down-and-be -passive sort of person.
Father’s mother – only spoke a few words of English, so most programming was incomprehensible to her. Mostly watched musical or variety shows because of this, although I don’t remember which ones. She loved the Kennedy family, so during the early 60’s she’d watch the news to get a glimpse of JFK and his family. She couldn’t understand much of what was being said, but at least she could look at them.
I’m old enough that I should be allowed to substitute “parents” for “grandparents.” Hell, one grandfather died in his 70s shortly before I was born in the 1950s. I was never up on what any of my grandparents watched, especially since we all lived in different parts of the country.
So for my parents, to my mind the weirdest show they regularly watched and loved was Lawrence Welk.
heh my grandparents didn’t watch much tv until the grandkids came along in the late 70s and 80s
and then it was like the stuff on the old “superstations” mainy the 60s and 70s reruns …occasionaly grandma watched waltons or little house on the prarie
Grandmas one addiction was wheel of fortune and when she married step grandpa thered try to solve a puzzle for like the whole round and then id be passing by say it and then keep going … theyed get so mad …
stepgrandpa would love Netflix now tho all the 80s shows he never got caught up on
For sure she liked The Flintstones, Looney Tunes, Woody Woodpecker, Mighty Mouse… I think Scooby Doo too. And I don’t exactly remember either way but it wouldn’t be surprised if she watched contemporary things like the Smurfs and the 1983 version of Alvin and the Chipmunks too.
I don’t remember either pair having a TV. I don’t know that I would have known any of them well enough to know what they watched on TV, if they had one.
Which is a rather sad thing to say.