The Edie and Elmira Show

In the summer of 1864, an entrepreneur built an observation tower just outside the walls of the federal prison at Elmira, New York. He charged 15 cents for citizens to climb the tower and observe the Confederate prisoners below. Ginger cakes and drinks were sold. The venture paid for itself in a matter of weeks. Then winter came.

Shortly afterward another observation tower was constructed by another business interest, and competition being what it is, the cost for admission was driven to 10 cents. Business was booming.

A generation ago, television entertainment ventured into shock modes regarding outlandish relational turmoil and screams for validation from guests who longed for an escape from anonymity. Audiences laughed at the absurdity, confidently comforted by the normalcy that supposedly governed their lives. But the guests left with the assertion that at least their story made it to the screen.

Television ratings remained strong enough to maintain the genre for a few more years. Then came social media forms lending themselves to some of the same attention-getting over-reaches.