A Welcome Guest in the House (1957)

★★★★ · "12 years old with a 20 inch screen" · Steve Nordby · 2003-10-11

Once upon a time the FCC required TV stations to air news, public service, and public affairs programming, and limited advertising. This 1950's film from the National Association of Broadcasters tries to explain why by way of the education of a boy. Because of these requirements and the marginally stricter code of the NAB, TV "will always be a welcome guest in the house." We are told that TV is a free system, based on the free flow of goods and ideas, based on quality and taste. NAB self regulation ensures you this will ALWAYS be so. Comedy, drama, and all other entertainment programming…

★★★★ · There's irony in this of course.. · Spuzz · 2005-04-28

Wickedly ironic piece (but totally straight) about how wonderful Television is to entertain our children about Communism, the Hungarian revolution, prison riots and other heartwarming stories! Let's plop him down in front of the TV rather then him doing creative stuff outside! Honestly, I thought this whole film was pulling my leg, when in fact the sponsors of this film (which look like they meet in someone's living room) is being damn serious about this. So parents, call jimmy in from his playtime (wherever you are, since there's no hint of parental supervision at all in this one) and plop…

★★★ · TV is your friend · trafalgar · 2004-04-01

I know it says circa 1957 above, but I'm guessing this is from '58 or '59, when broadcasters were under fire during the quiz show scandals, and the feds started interfering. This sure seems like an attempt to spin public opinion back in the broadcasters' favor. In any event, the film is pretty laughable, especially when it claims that TV is a tool that can warn young people against propaganda...

★★★ · How Ironic... · JayKay49 · 2012-01-21

...that 55 years later I prefer to watch this film (and others of its genre and era) over watching what television offers in the current day. 70 channels, nothing for intelligent life on any of em. Lets call it reverse evolution. At least in those days with a fraction of the channels one could watch Concentration with Hugh Downs The Mickey Mouse Club and The Danny Thomas show with no sociopolitical schpiel injected into all aspects of every program. PBS stations had truly educational programming during almost its entire day - you could learn a foreign language or how to paint in watercolors.…

★★ · Dull propaganda · ERD · 2005-11-03

This 1957 film tries to tell us how important the National Association of Broadcasters is in getting American youngsters to properly see the world about them via television. The dull film has a lot of propaganda that is made to seem legitimate by using the sincere off screen voice of actor Don Amache.

This is not a review, But... · Robin_1990 · 2008-03-20

I'm sure you people would be interested in the following. Back in the 50's NBC, CBS and DuMont all broadcasted adaptations of famous books; NBC & DuMont both aired classical music; NBC, CBS, ABC & DuMont all broadcasted broadway/Musical music (Even the ultra-crass "Cavalcade of Stars" featured performances by Broadway actresses); DuMont aired the McCathy hearings; DuMont & ABC both aired many political discussion programs; NBC & DuMont aired some science programs (I've actually seen a DuMont broadcast with Werner Von Braun); and there were less minutes of commercials in most programs (Don't…