Editor’s Note: It’s not only people that have a lasting impact, or Ripple Effect, on society. Social trends can have an impact too. Are all of them positive?
Thinking back to 1950, it might be easy to picture most families eating around the family table because only nine percent of US households had television sets. The History of the TV Tray | Apartment Therapy
Following a national advertising campaign for folding tray tables in 1952, it was just as likely you’d find families gathered around their television set watching “I Love Lucy” while eating their supper. TV Trays became a popular way to hold food and beverages while watching television.
Do you still use TV Trays?
In 1954, Swanson debuted its frozen TV dinners and sold ten million trays. It was a lucrative concept as millions of women entered the workforce in the early 1950’s and were no longer able to cook elaborate meals.
Suddenly, the “what’s for dinner” question had an answer. In just 25 minutes, the prepared meal was ready to eat and the family could enjoy the new national pastime: watching live television without missing a moment.
By 1960, nearly 90 percent of American homes owned a TV set, making portable snack tables a standard accessory in the living room.
TV trays offered a more relaxed environment to traditional family dinners. Even President Dwight Eisenhower and later President Ronald Regan famously used tray tables for casual meals.
The casual dining revolution was born.
It’s your turn!
What was your favourite Swanson dinner? (Mine was fried chicken, hands down).
Do you think TV Trays and Swanson TV dinners influenced future generations to spend less time cooking and breaking bread together?
Share your memories.
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