RE Antenna:
Yes, I do remember those boxes. They also had the round “UHF Antenna” on them. Connected to the back of the TV with little spade connectors, and to a servo for the VHF antenna (the monster) on the roof.
We got “HBO” around 1983 as well; shortly after “First Blood” (Rambo) came out of the theaters; I remember it was one of the very first movies I got to see on HBO. It had it’s own separate antenna on the roof, and was also a small box with a backlit push button switch. I think we had to tune to channel 4 or some other empty channel.
Primitive now, yes, looking back; but back then, awesome!!! I was on a VHS taping frenzy for a few years after, getting a movie collection built... they’ve all been relegated to the trash heap, now.
I’m not sure how much our console TV cost, but I do remember it was a BIG deal for the folks to get it. They’d scrimped and saved for it. Dad had a stroke that summer, that’s why I remember it so well.
Funny how some things stand out in your mind, related to other events...
Cable TV came through in 1976 and my parents got HBO then.
I still remember movies that I first saw on HBO when we first got it, even it they were not very good ones.
I still remember the novelty as I had a black and white TV in my bedroom..
HBO would play a bunch of movies in the summer then in fall the TV networks would air cut up versions of them as part of their fall lineups, with commercials. It would make me appreciate HBO.