Executives talk about the arrival of color TV in their lives

Welcoming visitors in the 70s with a TV in the living room was something that gave indications of the family’s social status at the time. If she broadcast a program “live and in color”, then it was a sign that the owners of the house were doing very well financially, having access to a technology available to few.

Some executives and businessmen heard by the leaf recall the moment when the respective family acquired the color TV, which this year completes 50 years in Brazil. In some cases, the trigger was the 1974 World Cup, which would follow the launch. The broadcast of the event left everyone ecstatic — but the result, not so much.

Cláudio Galeazzi

founding partner of Galeazzi & Associados and advisor to BTG Pactual

“When I was around 12 years old, we lived in Alto de Pinheiros. We already had a black and white TV and everyone came to watch the programming at home. I remember my mother watching “Alô, Doçura!”, with John Hebert and Eva Wilma. But when color TV arrived, it was a great news! I was already married, with two children, and I remember watching the first football game in color. A unique experience! I also remember having The movie “Casablanca” was broadcast in color and many people complained, until a critic in the newspaper called everyone “stupid” and said that it was enough to turn off the color function in the settings button [risos]. Today, I enjoy watching CNN and Bloomberg, as well as National Geographic.”

Fábio Barbosa

President of the Itaú Foundation for Education and Culture and member of the Board of the United Nations Foundation

“I was already 20 years old when the color TV arrived. It was bought especially to watch the 1974 World Cup, it was a house party! Neighbors and friends arrived to watch it together. Too bad the championship left something to be desired, Brazil was eliminated by Holland, the “A Clockwork Orange”, and was in fourth place. There was great expectation, because the 1970 World Cup, in Mexico, had been spectacular, with Brazil champion. My family has always been very attached to football and that’s what I’m still watching on TV today, especially Santos games, in addition to the news. The difference is that the screen is now gigantic!”

Liliana Aufiero

President of Lupo

“I was a child and lived in Araraquara (SP) when TV appeared. I was anxious to come to São Paulo, at my aunt’s house, to watch “Sítio do Picapau Amarelo”, which was broadcast only in the capital. I loved it! I have always been a soap opera artist and I remember watching the actress Vida Alves at lunch. Later, as an adult, already living in São Paulo, my mother gave me a “black mask”, a portable TV by General Electric, but still in black and It was only when I went to live with a cousin that we bought a color TV. The soap opera became much more beautiful! I loved watching “O Bem-Amado”. In the 1980s, I bought a device to record soap operas on tape, so so tied to schedules. It was a “streaming” of its own [risos]. Today I’m no longer a soap opera and I watch some things on Netflix.”

Silvio Stagni

President of Allied Tecnologia

“My father was Italian and was outraged by Brazil’s victory over Italy in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. When the ’74 World Cup arrived, he insisted on buying a color TV, where we saw Brazil lose and take fourth. Italy was not even among the top four. I was a child, but I remember the animation at home: visitors came to watch TV in the living room, which was small and the TV cabinet took up more than half of the space! we couldn’t even afford that luxury at the time, but it was my father’s wish. After the World Cup, the sensation was soap operas, closely watched by my mother and older sister. Today I watch movies and the newspaper —it’s nice to have a summary of the day’s news.”