Indeed.  Our first TV was in 1949.  It was a Dumont about the size of a Volkswagen with a screen about the size of a laptop's.  We got two channels...one from San Diego and one from L.A.  ....black and white with a lot of snow thrown in for free. 

 You're far from a geezer....just barely beyon being a "punk kid."  You're right about In the Heat of the Night....a great flick.  Poitier was a really good actor and Rod Steiger was a really GREAT actor.  regards, Gary Crum