--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When television came along, I'd already…" description: "\"When television came along, I'd already done more than 10 years of radio work and I thought everyone would want me. I sat around waiting for the phone ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/orson-welles-1628_done_when-television-came-along-i-d-already-d_138188.jpg" --- # When television came along, I'd already done more than 10… ![“When television came along, I'd already done more than 10 years of radio work and I thought everyone would want me. I sat around waiting for the phone to ring - and it didn't.” quote by Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/orson-welles-1628_done_when-television-came-along-i-d-already-d_138188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/orson-welles-1628_done_when-television-came-along-i-d-already-d_138188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/orson-welles-1628_done_when-television-came-along-i-d-already-d_138188.jpg) > “When television came along, I'd already done more than 10 years of radio work and I thought everyone would want me. I sat around waiting for the phone to ring - and it didn't.” [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite extensive radio experience, the speaker expected TV work to follow automatically, but faced silence, illustrating the unpredictability of media transitions. **In simple terms:** Radio success didn’t guarantee TV opportunities. Key Takeaway Adapt and network proactively when shifting media platforms. Themes career media expectation disappointment adaptation Mood disappointed reflective resilient Type career media strategic When to use this quote - broadcasting - entertainment - personal ambition Key Concepts industry change career pivots media evolution Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to create new opportunities? - How can you leverage past experience in new media? A Different Perspective Market dynamics can be unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone/) [Phone Ring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-ring-997919/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Radio Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio-work-1566844/) [Ring Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ring-didn-1566845/) [Rings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rings/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-came-1453270/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-phone-843896/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-me/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [If you're an actor, even a successful one, you're still waiting for the phone to ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/if-you-re-an-actor-even-a-successful-one-you-re-still-waiting-for-the/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [Was there a chance for me to walk the other way and now in bed I lay all alone waiting for my phone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jerzak/was-there-a-chance-for-me-to-walk-the-other-way-and-now-in-bed-i-lay/) [Stephen Jerzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jerzak/) > [I have to create opportunities for myself. But the thing I really have learned is that you gain nothing from sitting around waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-have-to-create-opportunities-for-myself-but-the-thing-i-really-have/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [The film world is a crazy place to be. You sit around all day waiting for the phone to ring. Are people talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/the-film-world-is-a-crazy-place-to-be-you-sit-around-all-day-waiting/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [Be it television, theatre, or radio, I can work in any medium. I don't want to limit myself to just movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-tripathi/be-it-television-theatre-or-radio-i-can-work-in-any-medium-i-don-t/) [Shweta Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-tripathi/) > [My first big break was with the Ted Fio Rito band. Fio Rito had a bunch of record hits in the 1930s and did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-bellson/my-first-big-break-was-with-the-ted-fio-rito-band-fio-rito-had-a/) [Louie Bellson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-bellson/) > [It is to TV that I owe my freedom from bondage of the Latin lover roles. Television came along and gave me parts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-montalban/it-is-to-tv-that-i-owe-my-freedom-from-bondage-of-the-latin-lover/) [Ricardo Montalban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-montalban/) > [You know, when we were kids, we had to go to a theater to see a movie. And then television came in and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/you-know-when-we-were-kids-we-had-to-go-to-a-theater-to-see-a-movie/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [When television first came on, it had all the comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-macmurray/when-television-first-came-on-it-had-all-the-comedy/) [Fred MacMurray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-macmurray/) > [I have to admit, I never watch television; once in a while I'll see things, but I grew up without it. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-have-to-admit-i-never-watch-television-once-in-a-while-i-ll-see/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [Television came looking for me; it was never a plan to become a presenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/television-came-looking-for-me-it-was-never-a-plan-to-become-a/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [When television came roaring in after the war (World War II) they did a little school survey asking children which they preferred and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/when-television-came-roaring-in-after-the-war-world-war-ii-they-did-a/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [I remember in high school trying to get home from water-polo practice in time so I could see Happy Days on television when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-remember-in-high-school-trying-to-get-home-from-water-polo-practice/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [Broadcasting began, essentially, in the hands of very, very few players - actually two - and when television came along, there were two networks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/broadcasting-began-essentially-in-the-hands-of-very-very-few-players/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [I gravitated toward being a funny guy. I liked the radio comedians. I lived in the Golden Age of radio, and the Golden Age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-gravitated-toward-being-a-funny-guy-i-liked-the-radio-comedians-i/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Orson Welles > [The two things you cannot do effectively on stage are pray and copulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-two-things-you-cannot-do-effectively-on-stage-are-pray-and/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [There are a thousand ways of playing a good classic. If it were effective, I would play Hamlet on a trapeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/there-are-a-thousand-ways-of-playing-a-good-classic-if-it-were/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I am essentially a hack, a commercial person. If I had a hobby, I would immediately make money on it or abandon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-am-essentially-a-hack-a-commercial-person-if-i-had-a-hobby-i-would/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [The essential is to excite the spectators. If that means playing Hamlet on a flying trapeze or in an aquarium, you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-essential-is-to-excite-the-spectators-if-that-means-playing/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [There are three intolerable things in life - cold coffee, lukewarm champagne, and overexcited women...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/there-are-three-intolerable-things-in-life-cold-coffee-lukewarm/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I'm extremely surprised to learn that a story, which has become familiar to children through the medium of comic strips and many succeeding novels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-m-extremely-surprised-to-learn-that-a-story-which-has-become/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I hate women, hate them generally, not in particular but in an abstract way. I hate them because one never really learns anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-hate-women-hate-them-generally-not-in-particular-but-in-an-abstract/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Look at the real prodigies, and I look like nothing compared to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/look-at-the-real-prodigies-and-i-look-like-nothing-compared-to-them/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [The laws and the stage, both are a form of exhibitionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-laws-and-the-stage-both-are-a-form-of-exhibitionism/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [In the theater there are 1,500 cameras rolling at the same time - in the cinema, only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/in-the-theater-there-are-1-500-cameras-rolling-at-the-same-time-in/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [In Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/in-italy-for-30-years-under-the-borgias-they-had-warfare-terror/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I would rather be on the set than doing anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-would-rather-be-on-the-set-than-doing-anything/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I prefer people who rock the boat to people who jump out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-prefer-people-who-rock-the-boat-to-people-who-jump-out/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [If I don't like somebody's looks, I don't like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/if-i-don-t-like-somebody-s-looks-i-don-t-like-them/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Create your own visual style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/create-your-own-visual-style-let-it-be-unique-for-yourself-and-yet/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) [Explore all 218 Orson Welles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. 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