Son Lance Loud died years ago from HIV and Hep C.
Posted on 07/27/2018 2:16:22 PM PDT by EveningStar
Bill Loud was not the first person to play the role of a father on television. What made him a pioneer was that he was not acting — and that he was often not acting responsibly.
In 1973, when PBS broadcast “An American Family,” Mr. Loud, who died on Thursday in Los Angeles at 97, was the tan and philandering head of an affluent real-life household whose domestic dramas in Santa Barbara, Calif., were captured on camera for 300 hours and edited into 12 hourlong episodes now regarded as the genesis of reality television.
“An American Family” shocked American families. Aired with the imprimatur of public broadcasting, it was portrayed as sociological exploration, not exploitation, and although many people found it irresistible, it was also hard to watch.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I think there was a sketch on Sat Night Live or SCTV or something about “the Loud Family”—who all spoke loudly.
This inspired an Albert Brooks comedy film:
“Real Life is a 1979 American comedy film starring Albert Brooks (in his directorial debut), who also co-authored the screenplay. It is a spoof of the 1973 reality television program An American Family and portrays a documentary filmmaker named Albert Brooks who attempts to live with and film a dysfunctional family for one full year.”
RIP.
I remember when they were all the rage. Surprised any of them are still alive.
But I must admit that "Pat" was kinda hot.
Son Lance Loud died years ago from HIV and Hep C.
Inspire MTV The Real World
I lived in Santa Barbara for 17 years, in the 1970’s until 1989.
I once saw Bill Loud walking down the street, walking in the opposite direction.
“The Loud Family” is believed to be America’s first reality TV show.
I watched every minute of it———I remember wondering why any family would do it???
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“I watched every minute of it———I remember wondering why any family would do it???”
Only a seriously dysfunctional family would do it. And they proved they were that.
I was in high school.. I tuned in every week to watch. It was a trainwreck indeed, but a fascinating trainwreck.
I was in my teens at the time. I think I watched about ten minutes of an episode once and was bored out of my mind. I don’t watch reality shows now, either.
Looking back, I think it was the Left’s first try at coming out of the closet. It didn’t go well.
Formula still works.see Kardashian.Just another carnival freak.show. Bring in the paying suckers.
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