The World Used to be Black and White

Whether you were there when TV made the revolutionary jump to color, or if you grew up wondering why there used to be no color in the world at large, everyone should be able to come up with at least one B&W TV series that he/she can't live without. Comedy, drama, or thriller, talk about your favourite black-and-white entertainment.

 

I can remember coming home from school and my mother being really excited. She had bought a new colour TV and the first programme I watched was a snooker tournament. Was pretty mind blowing back then.
I loved watching Morecambe and Wise in black and white on a weekend as I was allowed to stay up to watch them. Fond memories of cooking toast over the coal fire while laughing to Eric and Ernie still make me smile.

 

Funny you should mention snooker (Pot Black) as it was screened originally only to introduce colour TV to Britain, and led to the classic 'whispering' Ted Lowe comment, "and for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green."

 

I always enjoyed "Dragnet," "I Love Lucy," and "Superman" (with George Reeves), though "Have Gun Will Travel" was sometimes fun. All before my time, though I did see most of them in reruns as a kid. My dad always used to tell me how much he loved "The Lone Ranger," and I guess it was something for its time, but I couldn't get past poor old Jay Silverheels having to do stereotypical Indian grunt dialogue....

 

Not that I watch them now, but I really enjoyed The Adams Family, Beverley Hillbillies and The Rat Patrol when I was a tot.

 

Since I was a kid, I've been watching old reruns of The Addams Family, Dick van Dyke, and Bewitched (Morticia, Laura, and Samantha were hot!), and as long as I draw breath I can't get by without The Twilight Zone. In elementary school, I'd come home and watch Perry Mason with Mom. I've just recently started getting into Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

 

Three Stooges

 

Andy Griffith and the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette!!

 

As a kid there was a lot of content on TV that was in black and white. I used to watch re-runs of Gilligan's Island in black and white (the first season wasn't in colour) as well the Addam's Family and the Munsters.

Just recently, the channel that used to be called Sci-fi, started airing old episodes of The Twilight Zone. Not only is this some great television, but it's in black and white. I had to explain why it was in black and white to my 9-year-old daughter.

 

Not sure how I forgot about Gilligan's Island!
The SciFi Network that I know and love has always aired old Twilight Zone episodes. One thing I have come to look forward to every year is the New Year's Twilight Zone Marathon. 36 hours of nonstop Rod Serling!

 

I should have pointed out that I was talking about Sci-Fi Asia.

 

Whoops. Sometimes I forget we're not all in the same hemisphere. Apologies.

 

Mr Ed

Bewitched

The adams family.. actually i think if the Adams family is ever re-made it needs to stay in black and white

 

My family didn't have a color tv until 1989 when I bought it with money I had saved up for Christmas.
Hell, I didn't even know The Wizard of Oz switched over into color until I was in highschool.

I couldn't imagine all the Westerns I loved as a kid in b&w, being shown in color. They were great in color, but somehow the b&w versions were more gritty and evoked the feel of the Old West for me, if that makes any sense.

 

when i was a kid i used to think that the people in the old days ( and especially the little people in the box) lived a life in black and white and wondered what they would think if they lived in our times. i was about 4 back then

 

For the record, I really hate colourization.

 

The twilight zone terrified me as a kid. Was like a train wreck, I had to keep watching, but my brother used to scare me after the shows and left me a blubbering mess. The music still creeps me out.

 

Yup, they all look kinda like watercolor prints to me. It's okay in a painting, but watching a film like that just makes me sad that they made a good picture washed out looking.

 

I always though amateurish crayon work more than watercolor. But yeah, I agree with you.

 

I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith and Beverly Hillbillies. When I was a kid, those shows were in syndication on the local tv channel during the afternoons. Come home from school and watch black and white shows on a color tv set.