[old_tv_nut]

Early color sets (all roundies, for sure) had about 85% or so DC coupling. This resulted in the effect you see. You can turn up the "brightness" control (actually black level) somewhat and get the opposite effect, where bright scenes have correct blacks, but dark scenes are washed out and have gray shadows. This lack of 100% DC coupling (or restoration) helped prevent attempts to draw too much beam current, making the high voltage go out of regulation. The bad effects on picture contrast in the shadows were decried by Consumer Reports for years, until later solid state sets were designed with 100% DC restoration. The first of these sets had beam current limiter circuits that reduced the black level to prevent over-current (giving the same effect you see, but only if the "Contrast" was turned up too high). Later sets with integrated video circuits had DC-controlled "Contrast" or "Picture" (really video drive level) that could be limited automatically instead of "brightness" to prevent drawing too much beam current. This gave Consumer Reports one less thing to complain about.

So, people who are used to modern sets (and computer monitors) with 100% DC restoration readily see the flaw in older sets. Back when these were built, consumers didn't know better, plus the contrast range available with ordinary room lighting on a gray-faced CRT wasn't very great anyway. I would just consider this a learning moment that you can lecture about when you show your sets to non-collectors.