Another thought: The JFK thing may be one of the first major historic events that we all more or less lived through "live".
Radio was a novelty during WWI. Most people read about news in the newspapers or got it by word of mouth from friends and such. That does't give quite the same feeling of being part of it.
Likewise, I think most people heard about Pearl Harbor after the fact, although some of the ensuing speeches and Congressional action may have been broadcast live.
Maybe the end of WWII? That may have had a feeling of public participation.
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1950's was starting to get there. Audio was carried live, and still photos were in effect faxed from England to be shown on American TV a few minutes after the fact.
But the JFK thing may have been the first major one where the public (after the initial surprise) was able to watch the proceedings more or less live.
There were political conventions and maybe some sports events before that, but they may not really count.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-09-14 06:47 am (UTC)Radio was a novelty during WWI. Most people read about news in the newspapers or got it by word of mouth from friends and such. That does't give quite the same feeling of being part of it.
Likewise, I think most people heard about Pearl Harbor after the fact, although some of the ensuing speeches and Congressional action may have been broadcast live.
Maybe the end of WWII? That may have had a feeling of public participation.
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1950's was starting to get there. Audio was carried live, and still photos were in effect faxed from England to be shown on American TV a few minutes after the fact.
But the JFK thing may have been the first major one where the public (after the initial surprise) was able to watch the proceedings more or less live.
There were political conventions and maybe some sports events before that, but they may not really count.