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When Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses Who Pioneered the Way We Watch Today
The New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry we know today.
It was the Golden Age of Radio and powerful men were making millions in advertising dollars reaching thousands of listeners every day. When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women—each an independent visionary— saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.
Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.
Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.
But as the medium became more popular—and lucrative—in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up—and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It's time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.
This amazing and heartbreaking history, illustrated with photos, tells it all for the first time.
It was the Golden Age of Radio and powerful men were making millions in advertising dollars reaching thousands of listeners every day. When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women—each an independent visionary— saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.
Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.
Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.
But as the medium became more popular—and lucrative—in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up—and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It's time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.
This amazing and heartbreaking history, illustrated with photos, tells it all for the first time.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 23, 2021
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About the author
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
13 books260 followersJennifer Keishin Armstrong’s writing takes readers behind the scenes of major moments in pop culture history and examines the lasting impact that our favorite TV shows, music, and movies have on our society and psyches. She investigates why pop culture matters deeply, from The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Seinfeld, to Sex and the City and Mean Girls, to Beyoncé, Taylor, and Barbie. She has written eight books, including the New York Times bestseller Seinfeldia, When Women Invented Television, Sex and the City and Us, and So Fetch.
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March 29, 2022
When Women Invented Television by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong is a 2021 Harper publication.
Gertrude Berg, Irna Phillips, Betty White, and Hazel Scott are true television pioneers. Before televisions were a staple in American households, these women saw its potential and helped to propel the medium into the mainstream…
After women laid the foundation, men took notice of this new medium and swooped down to overtake it. This book pays long overdue homage to these four women and presents to us the ways they changed television, and the impact they made, which can still be felt today.
I am embarrassed to admit I was not aware of this history. This is a very interesting profile of these trailblazing women and I’m so glad their stories are finally seeing the light of day and they are being recognized for their contributions to television, even if it is a long overdue accreditation.
We all know who Betty White is, but I had no idea she had her own talk show until after her death. The show aired in 1952-53 on one network, and in 1954 on another one- but the show was canceled soon after she refused to cancel Arthur Duncan’s appearance on the show.
It goes without saying that Betty’s television career was a big success, but this book gives us more insights into her early days as a television performer and a glimpse into her past that few are aware of. One could talk for days about all the impressive work Betty left behind, but there were three other groundbreaking women in this book whose names I was not familiar with:
Hazel Scott-
Hazel, a jazz performer, was the first black woman to host her own television show in the 1950s- but her show ended abruptly after she had to testify before the House of un-American Activities Committee.
Irna Phillips-
If you ever enjoyed ‘As the World Turns’ or ‘The Guiding Light’ you have Irna Phillips to thank for that. Irna was a script writer who created her stories with women in mind. She got her start in radio, but eventually transitioned over to television. (A fun bit of trivia-That organ music so often associated with soaps was Irna’s creation as well. It was meant to mimic a church organ- and was first heard at the beginning of Guiding Light and was inspired by the spiritual sermons Irna took comfort in after suffering personal losses.) Irna Phillips created a huge soap empire and mentored others in that business.
Gertrude Berg:
Gertrude, like Irna, got her start in radio. She was the first woman that multi-tasked a series- which was called ‘The Goldbergs’. The show featured a Jewish family living in a Bronx tenement. The show was adapted for television in 1949 and was aired until 1954. (The show was well- received, and Berg won an Emmy for her role in the show)
When I got to thinking about how truly incredible it was that these women broke through so many barriers at a time when those achievements were incredibly hard, I am amazed! Because men have long been given credit for advancements in television, they could not have achieved any of it were it not for these women who saw the potential television had. We owe a debt of gratitude to them, but it also boggles the mind that we don’t hear more about these women and their contributions and foresight. They stood up to bullies and brought loveable, diverse characters into American homes, something it took men decades to duplicate.
I’m sad that, other than Betty White, I had never heard of the other three women featured in the book, but I’m so glad I found this book and was finally made aware of them, and their accomplishments.
*The research is good, the history is enlightening, and it’s about time we were made aware of these women; the construction of the book, however, is not the best. The flow is not as smooth as I would have liked, and while the author’s work is obvious, the presentation is a little sloppy. Despite that, I recommend the book, for the history lesson and homage to these ladies who were ahead of their time.
Gertrude Berg, Irna Phillips, Betty White, and Hazel Scott are true television pioneers. Before televisions were a staple in American households, these women saw its potential and helped to propel the medium into the mainstream…
After women laid the foundation, men took notice of this new medium and swooped down to overtake it. This book pays long overdue homage to these four women and presents to us the ways they changed television, and the impact they made, which can still be felt today.
I am embarrassed to admit I was not aware of this history. This is a very interesting profile of these trailblazing women and I’m so glad their stories are finally seeing the light of day and they are being recognized for their contributions to television, even if it is a long overdue accreditation.
We all know who Betty White is, but I had no idea she had her own talk show until after her death. The show aired in 1952-53 on one network, and in 1954 on another one- but the show was canceled soon after she refused to cancel Arthur Duncan’s appearance on the show.
It goes without saying that Betty’s television career was a big success, but this book gives us more insights into her early days as a television performer and a glimpse into her past that few are aware of. One could talk for days about all the impressive work Betty left behind, but there were three other groundbreaking women in this book whose names I was not familiar with:
Hazel Scott-
Hazel, a jazz performer, was the first black woman to host her own television show in the 1950s- but her show ended abruptly after she had to testify before the House of un-American Activities Committee.
Irna Phillips-
If you ever enjoyed ‘As the World Turns’ or ‘The Guiding Light’ you have Irna Phillips to thank for that. Irna was a script writer who created her stories with women in mind. She got her start in radio, but eventually transitioned over to television. (A fun bit of trivia-That organ music so often associated with soaps was Irna’s creation as well. It was meant to mimic a church organ- and was first heard at the beginning of Guiding Light and was inspired by the spiritual sermons Irna took comfort in after suffering personal losses.) Irna Phillips created a huge soap empire and mentored others in that business.
Gertrude Berg:
Gertrude, like Irna, got her start in radio. She was the first woman that multi-tasked a series- which was called ‘The Goldbergs’. The show featured a Jewish family living in a Bronx tenement. The show was adapted for television in 1949 and was aired until 1954. (The show was well- received, and Berg won an Emmy for her role in the show)
When I got to thinking about how truly incredible it was that these women broke through so many barriers at a time when those achievements were incredibly hard, I am amazed! Because men have long been given credit for advancements in television, they could not have achieved any of it were it not for these women who saw the potential television had. We owe a debt of gratitude to them, but it also boggles the mind that we don’t hear more about these women and their contributions and foresight. They stood up to bullies and brought loveable, diverse characters into American homes, something it took men decades to duplicate.
I’m sad that, other than Betty White, I had never heard of the other three women featured in the book, but I’m so glad I found this book and was finally made aware of them, and their accomplishments.
*The research is good, the history is enlightening, and it’s about time we were made aware of these women; the construction of the book, however, is not the best. The flow is not as smooth as I would have liked, and while the author’s work is obvious, the presentation is a little sloppy. Despite that, I recommend the book, for the history lesson and homage to these ladies who were ahead of their time.
April 30, 2021
Of the four women on the cover of this book the only one familiar to me is Betty White.
The book was a huge revelation. I didn’t know there was so much I didn’t know. Here are a few:
I’ve been watching soap operas since the 1960’s and still watch one today and live in fear of it going off the air. I suppose because I never looked it up I didn’t know soap operas were envisioned and created by a woman – Irna Phillips.
I didn’t know that a Black performer had her own show on TV in 1950 – Hazel Scott.
I had never heard of the DuMont Television Network.
I knew about the ‘Hollywood 10”, but I didn’t know that there was another blacklist "Red Channels"
“Men have dominated TV in every decade after these women ruled the airwaves. But they have done so in formats invented and perfected by women.” (Pg.274)
This book is a lesson in TV history and how women shaped much of what we watch even today. It’s informative as well as entertaining.
Thanks to the author for preserving this essential history.
The book was a huge revelation. I didn’t know there was so much I didn’t know. Here are a few:
I’ve been watching soap operas since the 1960’s and still watch one today and live in fear of it going off the air. I suppose because I never looked it up I didn’t know soap operas were envisioned and created by a woman – Irna Phillips.
I didn’t know that a Black performer had her own show on TV in 1950 – Hazel Scott.
I had never heard of the DuMont Television Network.
I knew about the ‘Hollywood 10”, but I didn’t know that there was another blacklist "Red Channels"
“Men have dominated TV in every decade after these women ruled the airwaves. But they have done so in formats invented and perfected by women.” (Pg.274)
This book is a lesson in TV history and how women shaped much of what we watch even today. It’s informative as well as entertaining.
Thanks to the author for preserving this essential history.
February 16, 2022
I read this for our local library book club. The book chronicles four female pioneers of early television: Irna Phillips, mother of the soap opera and creator of The Guiding Light; Hazel Scott, a Black pianist, singer and early activist; Gertrude Berg, America’s Jewish Mother on The Goldbergs; and Betty White, America’s Sweetheart. It also touched on McCarthyism, and how it affected the members of the entertainment industry.
I love books where I learn about events or people that I didn’t know about before, and in this case, I couldn’t help jumping back and forth between the book and YouTube to watch an episode of The Goldbergs, or Hazel Scott playing the piano with her stylized version of The Caissons Go Rolling Along. Sadly, many of the performances will be lost forever due to the technology of the times or the lack of forethought to preserve their works. So reading about these women and their accomplishments was a real treat!
I love books where I learn about events or people that I didn’t know about before, and in this case, I couldn’t help jumping back and forth between the book and YouTube to watch an episode of The Goldbergs, or Hazel Scott playing the piano with her stylized version of The Caissons Go Rolling Along. Sadly, many of the performances will be lost forever due to the technology of the times or the lack of forethought to preserve their works. So reading about these women and their accomplishments was a real treat!
September 7, 2021
I tweeted to the author: "I kind of didn't think TV really existed before I Love Lucy." And she tweeted back, "Me neither until I started researching this book!"
But of COURSE there was television before I Love Lucy. Lucy tends to overshadow much of what went before because she was not only super popular in her day, but syndication makes sure she has remained popular in perpetuity. But it's not just Lucy that hid the early days of early television. See, as a culture, we tend to think of "early TV" in the way that the advertisers and producers and, heck, politicians at the time thought about it: patriarchal, with the happy female homemaker in the kitchen and 2.5 kids running around like scamps. It's not how reality ever was, but because this was such a pervasive image in the formative years of TV, it sticks in our minds - both as what TV was and what America was.
We were fed lies that made us forget the pioneering women who made television possible. Gertrude Berg, who took her radio serial, The Goldbergs, about the exploits of a Jewish-American family living in New York onto live TV. Irna Phillips, who invented soap operas, starting with The Guiding Light. Hazel Scott, the first African American to host a national evening variety program. And of course, Betty White, was one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show ... and who is still shining today.
All these women helped force people to sit up and notice TV, and notice the women at the center of the programs they watched and loved. Hazel Scott refused to play pickaninny characters - or maids, or servants - preferring to play herself and to sing her swinging versions of classic songs. And she was heard. Betty White, who co-starred on a FIVE AND A HALF HOUR DAILY SHOW that was mostly improv, before she became a talk-show host and early sitcom star. It's kind of astounding to discover this rich history, and to learn how it was all swept aside in the wake of McCarthyism, the Red Scare, and post-WWII patriarchy, as men realized they could wrest control over the airwaves.
In a lot of ways, When Women Invented Television is frustrating. To learn that Gertrude Berg - who basically invented the sitcom - was seen as possibly "too Jewish" to hold down new shows is insane. Even more insane is how they tried to tone down the Jewishness of Fran Drescher and Jerry Seinfeld, believing that Jewish sitcoms could not be popular. And this is like FIFTY YEARS after Berg had her first successes. Hazel Scott should have paved the way for a whole generation of talented Black women, but she was labeled a Communist (though she was anti-Communist) and eventually the white men in charge decided she wasn't worth the hassle.
These women's stories are structured as inspirational, and they are ... but the codas are a little sad. You start off with the knowledge that these pioneering careers are mostly forgotten, but you forget that as the stories continue and success starts to pile up. None of those successes were really built to last ... except, of course, in the case of Betty White, who is still going strong in her 90s. At least, the book seems to be saying, one slipped through. It's not enough, but it'll do.
But of COURSE there was television before I Love Lucy. Lucy tends to overshadow much of what went before because she was not only super popular in her day, but syndication makes sure she has remained popular in perpetuity. But it's not just Lucy that hid the early days of early television. See, as a culture, we tend to think of "early TV" in the way that the advertisers and producers and, heck, politicians at the time thought about it: patriarchal, with the happy female homemaker in the kitchen and 2.5 kids running around like scamps. It's not how reality ever was, but because this was such a pervasive image in the formative years of TV, it sticks in our minds - both as what TV was and what America was.
We were fed lies that made us forget the pioneering women who made television possible. Gertrude Berg, who took her radio serial, The Goldbergs, about the exploits of a Jewish-American family living in New York onto live TV. Irna Phillips, who invented soap operas, starting with The Guiding Light. Hazel Scott, the first African American to host a national evening variety program. And of course, Betty White, was one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show ... and who is still shining today.
All these women helped force people to sit up and notice TV, and notice the women at the center of the programs they watched and loved. Hazel Scott refused to play pickaninny characters - or maids, or servants - preferring to play herself and to sing her swinging versions of classic songs. And she was heard. Betty White, who co-starred on a FIVE AND A HALF HOUR DAILY SHOW that was mostly improv, before she became a talk-show host and early sitcom star. It's kind of astounding to discover this rich history, and to learn how it was all swept aside in the wake of McCarthyism, the Red Scare, and post-WWII patriarchy, as men realized they could wrest control over the airwaves.
In a lot of ways, When Women Invented Television is frustrating. To learn that Gertrude Berg - who basically invented the sitcom - was seen as possibly "too Jewish" to hold down new shows is insane. Even more insane is how they tried to tone down the Jewishness of Fran Drescher and Jerry Seinfeld, believing that Jewish sitcoms could not be popular. And this is like FIFTY YEARS after Berg had her first successes. Hazel Scott should have paved the way for a whole generation of talented Black women, but she was labeled a Communist (though she was anti-Communist) and eventually the white men in charge decided she wasn't worth the hassle.
These women's stories are structured as inspirational, and they are ... but the codas are a little sad. You start off with the knowledge that these pioneering careers are mostly forgotten, but you forget that as the stories continue and success starts to pile up. None of those successes were really built to last ... except, of course, in the case of Betty White, who is still going strong in her 90s. At least, the book seems to be saying, one slipped through. It's not enough, but it'll do.
July 25, 2023
Have you ever read the title of a book and been so disappointed with what you actually got?
When Women Invented Television is a book with a hook of a title and what you actually get (besides speculation) is damn near nothing at all. Don't get me wrong, a few parts in the chapters about the Red Scare in Hollywood were good, but everything else was so... Just the thought of writing a full review is making me so tired and I'm sure others have already listed the book's flaws and better than I could have.
When Women Invented Television is a book with a hook of a title and what you actually get (besides speculation) is damn near nothing at all. Don't get me wrong, a few parts in the chapters about the Red Scare in Hollywood were good, but everything else was so... Just the thought of writing a full review is making me so tired and I'm sure others have already listed the book's flaws and better than I could have.
January 31, 2022
women are the COOLEST
it’s so upsetting that i had never heard of 3/4 women that were covered in this book. this book wonderfully weaved together the stories of these incredible women with the social climate of the US during the 1940s and 50s and i loved it. i haven’t learned this much from a single book in a long time
it’s so upsetting that i had never heard of 3/4 women that were covered in this book. this book wonderfully weaved together the stories of these incredible women with the social climate of the US during the 1940s and 50s and i loved it. i haven’t learned this much from a single book in a long time
December 7, 2020
Such an interesting book about early television. The author cleverly focuses on a few women and their impact on television. Armstrong has also woven in the background of the tumultuous post WWII years and the HUAC hearings.
I was totally fascinated by this book and I admire the authors discipline in limiting the focus to four women. Those are Hazel Scott, Irna Phillips, Gertrude Berg and Betty White. She has thrown in a bit about Lucille Ball. The anecdotal reportage is delightful.
I remember Gertrude Berg from my own childhood and certainly Betty White is still a national treasure. This is a historians’ dream, reading so much about the social and media history within a delightful framework.
The author has done a remarkable job and I highly recommend this to college classes interested in media history and women’s studies.
Bravo! A fine piece of scholarship wrapped in an easily read non-fiction book.
.
I was totally fascinated by this book and I admire the authors discipline in limiting the focus to four women. Those are Hazel Scott, Irna Phillips, Gertrude Berg and Betty White. She has thrown in a bit about Lucille Ball. The anecdotal reportage is delightful.
I remember Gertrude Berg from my own childhood and certainly Betty White is still a national treasure. This is a historians’ dream, reading so much about the social and media history within a delightful framework.
The author has done a remarkable job and I highly recommend this to college classes interested in media history and women’s studies.
Bravo! A fine piece of scholarship wrapped in an easily read non-fiction book.
.
September 14, 2021
Fascinating from start to finish...to say nothing of enlightening. If you think you know the story of the golden age of television, you may be surprised about what you actually don't know, especially about the role of women. Triumphant and tragic in equal measure.
May 7, 2024
Betty White supremacy! I really enjoyed learning about how the television we watch today has evolved and where the roots of broadcast were laid.
March 22, 2023
Ha sido una lectura inspiradora que me ha hecho sentir orgullosa de que Keishen se haya tomado el tiempo de recobrar la historia de estás mujeres pioneras, valientes y resilentes que han allanado el camino para que muchas más pudieran llegar, su sacrificio y coraje es celebrado.
It has been an inspiring read that has made me feel proud that Keishen has taken the time to recover the history of these pioneering, brave and resilient women who have paved the way for many more to come, their sacrifice and courage is celebrated.
It has been an inspiring read that has made me feel proud that Keishen has taken the time to recover the history of these pioneering, brave and resilient women who have paved the way for many more to come, their sacrifice and courage is celebrated.
June 15, 2025
3.5? I really enjoyed this but had a hard time with how the story jumped from person to person. I didn’t feel like I spent enough time with one woman before being told about another. I found the way that we jumped back and forth to be disorienting. However, learning about these women was enlightening and so enjoyable.
Read
July 28, 2021*audio book via overdrive app*
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
Content: 4 stars 🌟
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
Content: 4 stars 🌟
May 19, 2022
this entire book was a revelation from start to finish. it details the lives and careers of gertrude berg, irna phillips, betty white, and hazel scott, who each broke the glass ceiling, prevailing in the Television industry at a time in which women, particularly black women, struggled to further and fuel careers in an industry and world overpopulated by white men.
other than betty white, i had never heard of the other three women featured in this book - their careers, their inventions, their history-making decisions and appearances erased from conversation, but thanks to this book their awe-worthy legacies are cemented in writing forever for us to retell and continue post all four of their deaths. it was about time something like this was written.
other than betty white, i had never heard of the other three women featured in this book - their careers, their inventions, their history-making decisions and appearances erased from conversation, but thanks to this book their awe-worthy legacies are cemented in writing forever for us to retell and continue post all four of their deaths. it was about time something like this was written.
March 30, 2021
Even though I'm not much of a tv watcher, I found this completely fascinating. I had no idea that television started out with such an opportunity to be more diverse and equal (though the women in this story all had to fight for their places) before all that was quashed. These are women to be admired and remembered. I listened to this one as an audiobook and found the narrator to be fantastic.
February 10, 2022
Great subject, poorly executed. How the author managed to take such a fascinating subject and turn out such a dull, repetitive account is a mystery to me. I’m shocked that this book was professionally edited.
That being said, I appreciated getting to know the women featured here. I especially liked Getrude Berg and Hazel Scott’s stories, and I’m interested in exploring more of their work.
That being said, I appreciated getting to know the women featured here. I especially liked Getrude Berg and Hazel Scott’s stories, and I’m interested in exploring more of their work.
March 10, 2022
Betty White's recent passing makes this a tear-jersey but it's an important story, nonetheless!
November 27, 2021
When we think of women in early television most people think of Lucille Ball and I Love Lucy, but there were women both on camera and behind the scenes before her. In this book Jennifer Armstrong tells the stories of four women who helped invent television - Irna Phillips, Gertrude Berg, Hazel Scott, and Betty White. These four women were very different, but were all trailblazers as women and in the new field of television. They all struggled with being working women in the 1950's when being a mother and housewife were the societal norm. They also struggled with racism, anti-Semitism, and being blacklisted during the McCarthy/anti-Communist era. It's sad that several of the early shows these women created and starred in have been lost because early television was live and not recorded (Lucille Ball was one of the pioneers of filming and editing her show which is why it's still around in syndication today). But, Armstrong does a great job of telling these women's stories and showing the impact they had on television and society during their lives. And amazingly one of them - Betty White - is still around and about to turn 100 years old! This is a unique look at the beginning of television and how these four women helped shape it into what we know today.
Some quotes I liked:
"[Irna Phillips] $300,000-per-year pay put her into the upper echelons of all American earners at the time but was particularly astonishing for a woman. (An average nonfarm family took in about $3,000 per year in 1946, for comparison. In 2020 terms, she was pulling in nearly $4 million a year.)" (p. 32)
"[I Love Lucy] was all recorded on film to be edited later, which was significantly more expensive than broadcasting live. Arnaz and Ball agreed to a pay cut to help offset the costs, a deal that in exchange gave them ownership of the film of the show itself. For decades their method would be the industry standard for half-hour comedies...A significant unforeseen benefit of shooting on film emerged later: it preserved the show in pristine recordings, which allowed it to be shown in syndicated reruns for decades to come and now even to be shown via streaming services...The bargain Arnaz and Ball made to shoot on film so they could remain in Los Angeles also paid dividends for the rest of their lives; they owned the films, so they reaped the syndication profits...Her undeniable influence as a creator, producer, and visual comedy genius would grow larger over the decade as many of TV's early female pioneers faded from view. She was the explosion that came at the end of a long line of women before her, and she would shine so brightly that those women's contributions would be forgotten." (p. 170-71)
"White did, however, have more radical plans afoot. She invited the dancer Arthur Duncan, who had been a guest performer several times on Hollywood on Television, to appear on her show several times. The difference this time was that a Black tap dancer would be seen nationwide, rather than just in Los Angeles. That included the American South...[when stations complained and threatened to boycott her show] Her response: 'I'm sorry. Live with it.' She used Duncan as much as she could. The network, at least, backed her decision...White's casting of Duncan would lead to his becoming one of the first Black regulars on a variety program, The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982, and a major inspiration for the future tap superstar Gregory Hines." (p. 219-21)
"But no one who knew Gertrude Berg ever knew the woman to cook. Her hired cook, Louise Capers, was the one who made the food in the Berg residence. That didn't stop Berg from agreeing to coauthor a cookbook. Nor did her penchant for fine dresses, furs, and pearls stop her from putting her name on a popular line of housedresses. Empire building required perpetuating such illusions at times - that is, if you were a woman building an empire...As her granddaughter said, 'She would never have worn a housedress. I mean never.' This woman had her hair done, in her classic chignon style, even when she was at home with her family. Her grandchildren never saw her hair down. In fact, they never saw her bare feet, either. She owned dozens of dress gloves, hats, fur coats, and opulent pins. She would have no use for a low-cost, simple frock meant only for a housewife to do her housework in. But Berg did not pass by an opportunity when it presented itself to her." (p. 236-38)
"The Guiding Light would eventually run continuously on radio and television for seventy-two years, making it not only the longest-running soap opera but also the longest running of all scripted programs in broadcast history. Phillips created the genre itself and is credited with several of its innovations: professionals such as doctors and lawyers as main characters with endless story possibilities, episode-ending cliff-hangers, organ music cues, and characters who crossed over from one serial to another. The daytime soap never truly gained the respect Phillips deserved, likely because it was associated with female audiences." (p. 263)
Some quotes I liked:
"[Irna Phillips] $300,000-per-year pay put her into the upper echelons of all American earners at the time but was particularly astonishing for a woman. (An average nonfarm family took in about $3,000 per year in 1946, for comparison. In 2020 terms, she was pulling in nearly $4 million a year.)" (p. 32)
"[I Love Lucy] was all recorded on film to be edited later, which was significantly more expensive than broadcasting live. Arnaz and Ball agreed to a pay cut to help offset the costs, a deal that in exchange gave them ownership of the film of the show itself. For decades their method would be the industry standard for half-hour comedies...A significant unforeseen benefit of shooting on film emerged later: it preserved the show in pristine recordings, which allowed it to be shown in syndicated reruns for decades to come and now even to be shown via streaming services...The bargain Arnaz and Ball made to shoot on film so they could remain in Los Angeles also paid dividends for the rest of their lives; they owned the films, so they reaped the syndication profits...Her undeniable influence as a creator, producer, and visual comedy genius would grow larger over the decade as many of TV's early female pioneers faded from view. She was the explosion that came at the end of a long line of women before her, and she would shine so brightly that those women's contributions would be forgotten." (p. 170-71)
"White did, however, have more radical plans afoot. She invited the dancer Arthur Duncan, who had been a guest performer several times on Hollywood on Television, to appear on her show several times. The difference this time was that a Black tap dancer would be seen nationwide, rather than just in Los Angeles. That included the American South...[when stations complained and threatened to boycott her show] Her response: 'I'm sorry. Live with it.' She used Duncan as much as she could. The network, at least, backed her decision...White's casting of Duncan would lead to his becoming one of the first Black regulars on a variety program, The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982, and a major inspiration for the future tap superstar Gregory Hines." (p. 219-21)
"But no one who knew Gertrude Berg ever knew the woman to cook. Her hired cook, Louise Capers, was the one who made the food in the Berg residence. That didn't stop Berg from agreeing to coauthor a cookbook. Nor did her penchant for fine dresses, furs, and pearls stop her from putting her name on a popular line of housedresses. Empire building required perpetuating such illusions at times - that is, if you were a woman building an empire...As her granddaughter said, 'She would never have worn a housedress. I mean never.' This woman had her hair done, in her classic chignon style, even when she was at home with her family. Her grandchildren never saw her hair down. In fact, they never saw her bare feet, either. She owned dozens of dress gloves, hats, fur coats, and opulent pins. She would have no use for a low-cost, simple frock meant only for a housewife to do her housework in. But Berg did not pass by an opportunity when it presented itself to her." (p. 236-38)
"The Guiding Light would eventually run continuously on radio and television for seventy-two years, making it not only the longest-running soap opera but also the longest running of all scripted programs in broadcast history. Phillips created the genre itself and is credited with several of its innovations: professionals such as doctors and lawyers as main characters with endless story possibilities, episode-ending cliff-hangers, organ music cues, and characters who crossed over from one serial to another. The daytime soap never truly gained the respect Phillips deserved, likely because it was associated with female audiences." (p. 263)
June 5, 2021
I LOVED this book. My favorite books, as I have said before, are those that integrate biographical info about a select few fascinating people with cultural, economic, and social history. This was the perfect mix! The information regarding Irna Phillips, Gertrude Berg, Hazel Scott, and Betty White was absolutely fascinating. I also loved the background information about early television, the impact of McCarthyism, and post WWII culture. Although I was learning a ton, the book felt like a joy to read. Highly recommended!
January 26, 2022
Sensational. Absolutely sensational.
I had never heard of Gertrude Berg or Hazel Scott. Betty White of course is known to everyone and I vaguely knew of Irna Phillips' work but not her.
The women talked about in this book were nothing short of amazing and did their best to not let anything stop them in the pursuit of their dreams.
I had never heard of Gertrude Berg or Hazel Scott. Betty White of course is known to everyone and I vaguely knew of Irna Phillips' work but not her.
The women talked about in this book were nothing short of amazing and did their best to not let anything stop them in the pursuit of their dreams.
September 29, 2025
An unexpected joy and gem of a read!
Incredibly well researched chronicle of the contributions of women in the development of television, focusing on four women in particular: Gertrude Berg, Irna Phillips, Hazel Scott, and Betty White.
Fascinating to learn how much I didn’t know!
I didn’t always love the structure of the book, which often felt a bit clunky and repetitive. But the research is solid, the passion for the subject is clear, and the learnings are valuable.
Incredibly well researched chronicle of the contributions of women in the development of television, focusing on four women in particular: Gertrude Berg, Irna Phillips, Hazel Scott, and Betty White.
Fascinating to learn how much I didn’t know!
I didn’t always love the structure of the book, which often felt a bit clunky and repetitive. But the research is solid, the passion for the subject is clear, and the learnings are valuable.
August 2, 2024
Podcasts have truly ruined me. There was a lot of interesting stuff in here but all I could think was “this would be much more interesting as a podcast limited series.” I skimmed my way through because there was so much detail
January 20, 2026
This would have been better in a podcast. Overall format was a little choppy and disjointed, causing timelines to be repeated or lost. However I did learn a lot about the women who pioneered television during its early days, making it what we know today.
July 30, 2023
This was a fascinating listen. Of the four women profiled, Betty White was the only one I knew and even then I had no idea that Betty started her career as a talk show host. I do think the book could’ve gone through some tighter editing, it dragged and was repetitive in the middle.
November 15, 2023
Let’s hear it for the girls (and by the girls, I mean the legendary women who created the talk shows, soaps, dramas, and variety shows we all know and love)!
June 6, 2021
Gertrude Berg. Hazel Scott. Irna Phillips. Betty White. Yes, that Betty White. Everyone’s favorite Golden Girl. But kids, these women were all that back in the day and more.
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of SEINFELDIA, has brought their stories together with nontrivial research in a wiz-bang historical look at the early days of television and how these actresses from different media became the first ladies of the burgeoning possibilities of our good friend during the pandemic (and otherwise) --- the wondrous world of television. WHEN WOMEN INVENTED TELEVISION reads like a thriller, moving you through vast amounts of information in no time as you cheer for these real-life protagonists to pave the way for Oprah, Ellen and Joan Ganz Cooney, the creator of “Sesame Street.”
Gertrude Berg came from the world of radio, where “The Goldbergs,” a Jewish family saga, was one of the highest rated shows in broadcasting. She was already in her 50s, with teenagers in the house, when she took on the responsibility of adapting her radio show to television. She was the first “influencer” to ensure that her work had many ancillary outlets for monetary success.
Hazel Scott, a renowned jazz musician, was the first woman to produce and star on a live variety show. She had spent half her life on the road, playing for the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and others. She was ready to get off the road and settle in with her husband, Senator Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who served in Congress from 1945 to 1971. But the possibilities of broadcast television proved a strong magnet for her skills, talents and beauty.
Irna Phillips took the idea of the soap opera serial and planted it front and center for millions of Americans, a tradition refashioned by cultures all over the world to represent the people of their country. She understood deeply the connection between stories and the kind of audience that television would normalize --- thousands of viewers sharing in the lives of these characters at the same time every day --- but the process caused her lifelong illness and anxiety.
Betty White, the oldest host ever of “Saturday Night Live,” started on a talk show and went on to write, produce and star in her own weekly series. She already had been married twice and didn’t care about sharing duties with anyone as she tried to become a household name (until years later when she would meet the host of “Password,” Allen Ludden, and find true love for nearly two decades).
Armstrong belongs to my generation of television fanatics, the ones for whom TV Guide was the most important part of the week, the kids who watched anything and everything with absolute glee. Afternoon TV in the ’70s and ’80s was riddled with female-friendly shows (“I Love Lucy,” “The Brady Bunch,” game shows galore), and the sound of the words “Filmed before a live audience in Burbank, California” was mysterious and magical. Those of us who have worked professionally in television broadcasting watched women struggle even in the ’90s and 2000s, so looking at the hard-won successes of these ladies in the late ’40s and ’50s can only inspire those who are just entering the industry. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s also ready for another level of creativity and ingenuity. Of course, it has changed so much, but these stories are exciting and will make an impression on even the most tech-savvy Zoomers.
Armstrong’s style is easy to read, and I found myself whipping through the book as if it were a grade-school paperback. She tells an important story to which lots of people have paid pomp and circumstance, but it is my hope that this tome will cement the contributions of these women on the memories of all the streamers, YouTubers, gamers and other content creators who feel like they are writing new paths forward. Whether they are aware of it or not, WHEN WOMEN INVENTED TELEVISION will ensure that the stories of these innovative, hard-working, inspirational, individualistic ladies are known to everyone who aspires to the same.
Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of SEINFELDIA, has brought their stories together with nontrivial research in a wiz-bang historical look at the early days of television and how these actresses from different media became the first ladies of the burgeoning possibilities of our good friend during the pandemic (and otherwise) --- the wondrous world of television. WHEN WOMEN INVENTED TELEVISION reads like a thriller, moving you through vast amounts of information in no time as you cheer for these real-life protagonists to pave the way for Oprah, Ellen and Joan Ganz Cooney, the creator of “Sesame Street.”
Gertrude Berg came from the world of radio, where “The Goldbergs,” a Jewish family saga, was one of the highest rated shows in broadcasting. She was already in her 50s, with teenagers in the house, when she took on the responsibility of adapting her radio show to television. She was the first “influencer” to ensure that her work had many ancillary outlets for monetary success.
Hazel Scott, a renowned jazz musician, was the first woman to produce and star on a live variety show. She had spent half her life on the road, playing for the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and others. She was ready to get off the road and settle in with her husband, Senator Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who served in Congress from 1945 to 1971. But the possibilities of broadcast television proved a strong magnet for her skills, talents and beauty.
Irna Phillips took the idea of the soap opera serial and planted it front and center for millions of Americans, a tradition refashioned by cultures all over the world to represent the people of their country. She understood deeply the connection between stories and the kind of audience that television would normalize --- thousands of viewers sharing in the lives of these characters at the same time every day --- but the process caused her lifelong illness and anxiety.
Betty White, the oldest host ever of “Saturday Night Live,” started on a talk show and went on to write, produce and star in her own weekly series. She already had been married twice and didn’t care about sharing duties with anyone as she tried to become a household name (until years later when she would meet the host of “Password,” Allen Ludden, and find true love for nearly two decades).
Armstrong belongs to my generation of television fanatics, the ones for whom TV Guide was the most important part of the week, the kids who watched anything and everything with absolute glee. Afternoon TV in the ’70s and ’80s was riddled with female-friendly shows (“I Love Lucy,” “The Brady Bunch,” game shows galore), and the sound of the words “Filmed before a live audience in Burbank, California” was mysterious and magical. Those of us who have worked professionally in television broadcasting watched women struggle even in the ’90s and 2000s, so looking at the hard-won successes of these ladies in the late ’40s and ’50s can only inspire those who are just entering the industry. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s also ready for another level of creativity and ingenuity. Of course, it has changed so much, but these stories are exciting and will make an impression on even the most tech-savvy Zoomers.
Armstrong’s style is easy to read, and I found myself whipping through the book as if it were a grade-school paperback. She tells an important story to which lots of people have paid pomp and circumstance, but it is my hope that this tome will cement the contributions of these women on the memories of all the streamers, YouTubers, gamers and other content creators who feel like they are writing new paths forward. Whether they are aware of it or not, WHEN WOMEN INVENTED TELEVISION will ensure that the stories of these innovative, hard-working, inspirational, individualistic ladies are known to everyone who aspires to the same.
Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
November 22, 2021
Amazing audiobook, listening wise. It almost felt like a podcast. Content wise, MINDBLOWING. I literally just finished crying because as much as i thought i loved Betty White, i knew NOTHING about how incredible she truly is. And it’s so amazing that she is still with us. And then i thought about that particular hard truth that is coming…. And cue the waterworks.
The other 3 women stories featured are also incredible in their own right. They were just new to me. But each accomplished so much, it’s a damn shame that’s the case!
The other 3 women stories featured are also incredible in their own right. They were just new to me. But each accomplished so much, it’s a damn shame that’s the case!
July 11, 2021
Everyone should read this book! I had no idea about these brilliant woman who shaped all of television and lead to what everyone watches today! If you loved The Marvelous Mrs. MAISEL you will find this interesting as there are so many references of these experiences. The read sucked me in so much for more of a historical perspective. Highly recommend!!!
May 2, 2022
This book has an interesting premise, telling the stories of four women who transitioned from radio to television and the challenges that brought. These women have great stories to tell but the writing style of this author was hard to stay interested in. This is Linda's book club pick for May 2022.
October 11, 2021
Dry but well researched.
July 10, 2025
Interesting info about the early days of television. Excellent audio book.
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