September 10, 2018 (Monday)
National TV Dinner Day is observed annually on September 10th. In 1953, T.V. was just getting itself going with limited viewing hours. Swanson’s foods capitalized on this new development, soon to be in almost every home, with a prepackaged frozen meal.
When I saw the name of this National Day, I was surprised because I thought the name, “T.V. Dinner,” was no longer around. Well, in 1962, the name was dropped in many places around the world, but seems to have hung around in the U.S.A.
The first Swanson TV Dinner consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, peas and sweet potatoes. The original tray was made of aluminum and each food item had separate compartments. The dinner had to be heated in the oven and took about 25 minutes to cook. Today most frozen food trays are made of microwaveable safe material.
The original product sold for 98 cents and the production estimate for the first year was 5,000 dinners. To their surprise, Swanson far exceeded that amount and in the first year, sold more than 10 million of them.
1960 – Swanson added desserts to a new four-compartment tray.
1964 – Night Hawk name originated from the Night Hawk steak houses that operated in Austin, Texas from 1939 through 1994. The original diners were open all night catering to the late-night crowd. The restaurants produced the first frozen Night Hawk TV dinner in 1964.
1969 – The first TV breakfasts were marketed. Great Starts Breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches followed later.
1973 – The first Swanson Hungry-Man dinners were marketed; these were larger portions of its regular dinner products.
1986 – The first microwave oven-safe trays were marketed.
1986 – The Smithsonian Institute inducted the original Swanson TV Dinner tray into the Museum of American History.
Swanson’s may have been first, but now is only one of at least 52 brands of frozen foods found at your store. Variety is the name of the game now as your choices for frozen foods at the store are virtually endless. From corn on the cob to ice cream, you can find almost anything you might want.
Much has changed since the original TV Dinners, and they also remain a popular choice for a fast and convenient meal.
That old story about Rip van Winkle seems to come to life today as we look around us and see a rapidly changing world. We don’t have to sleep for twenty years to notice the difference. It’s all changing day by day.
But there is one who never changes. Hebrews 13:8 tells us he offers us an abundant life that energizes and motivates us today just as it always has. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!”