Maude made a statement about 19 inch a Color TV set in this episode and I figured it would be something behind that Statement and I went to research it and found out that Color TV sets became popular in 1972 and started out selling Black and White TV sets.

Maude made a statement about 19 inch a Color TV set in this episode and I figured it would be something behind that Statement and I went to research it and found out that Color TV sets became popular in 1972 and started out selling Black and White TV sets.


Yes, back then color TV's were more a luxury item then a common thing. Much like HD and LCD tv's are today.

Yes, back then color TV's were more a luxury item then a common thing. Much like HD and LCD tv's are today.

Yeah you could tell, even when Watching sanford and Son during that time, how the Prize on the Gong Show was a Color TV set like a LCD would be Today

Yeah you could tell, even when Watching sanford and Son during that time, how the Prize on the Gong Show was a Color TV set like a LCD would be Today


Exactly, all those times Fred Sanford wanted a brand new tv, he always said, "I want a brand new COLOR tv." lol

Cory would say that Earl J. Waggerdon's mommy and daddy have a color TV set. Julia said that Earl's father had a job. Color TV's were quite the luxury item back in 68' as well.

yes, they were. I remember a guy I used to work with said once that when "STAR TREK" debuted in 1966, that he and his wife used to go over to his brothers to watch it, since he had a brand new color TV.

Exactly, all those times Fred Sanford wanted a brand new tv, he always said, "I want a brand new COLOR tv." lol
Yes, and he wound up with Grady's (which was stolen and pawned off to Fred)! :eek: :lol:

When I was a kid, in the 80s, we still only had one color TV in the house, a large unit that was itself a piece of furniture. When I was about 15, in 1988, my parents agreed that I could get my own TV to have in my room, but I had to save up something toward its purchase. I think the price was about $50, perhaps a bit more, and it was a black and white TV, still, and a small one. I don't know how much a color one would have cost at the time, but certainly you couldn't go out and get one as cheaply as you can find them today.

I also remember when my mom got a dish washer and microwave--a huge thing! Around '82 or '83, I think, and it seemed like a big deal at the time. And the first VCR, clunky machine by today's standards, and it seemed like such a luxury to own! :) It doesn't even seem that long ago, but even thinking back on the 1980s, the world is so different, now.

I do love the references to popular items/people of the time in these older shows. It is fun to Google names and such, and it helps in understanding some of the jokes that we, who were not old enough at the time of original broadcast, may not be likely to get. I'd rather do a little research, rather than have something go right over my head. :)

We had our first Color TV in 84 and I didn't get one in my room until 88