When did color tv's become common in the average household?

While the first color television was introduced in the US in 1953, it wasn't until the late 1960s and early '70s that color televisions became commonplace. Color sets did not outsell black-and-white sets until 1972.

A German patent dating to 1904 contained the first proposal for a color television system, however, it failed, along with a second attempt in 1925. The first successful system to begin commercial broadcasting was designed by RCA and was authorized by the FCC on December 17, 1953.

The very first color television set for sale to the general public was the Westinghouse H840CK15. It had a 15 inch screen and was released in March 1954 for a cost of $1295. The RCA CT-100 was released a few months later.