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Need for Speed: Cars on TV

Friday, May 9, 2025
4:00 pm
The Paley Museum, 25 West 52 Street, NYC
Curator: Allison Kraft

Nearly every May since 1911, race fans have descended upon the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch what is called “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The first televised broadcast of the race was in 1949 and so began our fascination with cars on television. Since then, cars have been a major presence on our television screens. We get a thrill watching the Batmobile, Mystery Machine, and K.I.T.T. fight crime, feel our hearts race as IndyCars fly around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at top speeds, laugh along with Jerry Seinfeld and his guests on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and sing our hearts out with James Corden and his passengers on Carpool Karaoke. It’s no surprise that car commercials, filled with the same sense of adventure, nostalgia, and character, continue to captivate us. Join Paley curator Allison Kraft as we feature clips from the Paley Archive, exploring how cars have been at the very center of so many of our favorite television moments.

Free for Paley Members, included in General Admission.
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