Sixty-five years ago today, Motorola explained in this ad, appearing in the Pittsburgh Press, September 5, 1950, how parents could benefit their children. Of course, there’s only one possible answer, and that was television!

The ad shows the happy children watching Howdy Doody, and the caption proclaims, “home, sweet TV home! Peace! Quiet! No more ‘rainy day riots’ with television keeping small fry out of mischief, and out of mother’s hair.”

The ad even quoted one child psychology expert who noted that “taking away television from children who act up is a punishment that really works. The very thought of missing some pet program turns little lions into lambs. And incidentally, those favorite programs in the late afternoon are the world’s finest magnet for getting tardy youngsters home on time for dinner.”

And there were more benefits to television. Educators, religious and social workers all agreed that TV was a strong force for bringing parents and children together to enjoy clean, wholesome entertainment right in the home.

There was apparently a rumor going around that TV caused eyestrain, and Motorola nipped this in the bud by quoting the Journal of the American Medical Association in stating that television in itself does not produce eyestrain. It noted that if television seemed to tire a child’s eyes, the probable answer was that the child needs an eye examination.

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