In what decade did the "Golden Age of Television" begin to affect the cinema industry?

The 1950s marked the beginning of the "Golden Age of Television," which significantly impacted the cinema industry. During this period, television became widely accessible in American households, leading to a dramatic shift in how audiences consumed entertainment. As television sets became more affordable and popular, cinema faced competition for viewers’ attention and time.

This era saw major studios struggling to maintain their audiences, resulting in changes within the film industry, such as the production of more innovative and larger-scale films to entice viewers to choose cinema over television. Additionally, the rise of television prompted filmmakers to experiment with new formats, such as widescreen and 3D, to create a more distinguished cinematic experience.

While the 1940s saw the growth of television, it was not until the 1950s that its impact on cinema became pronounced, as the medium secured a place in popular culture and began shaping audience expectations and industry responses. The 1960s and 1970s saw further developments in cinema that responded to television’s influence, but the initial wave of change began in the 1950s.