Yes, and Julia was the first; although there were certainly other cooking shows on the air before her-- who remembers them?
And she did introduce words like chiffonade and souffle that none of us had ever heard before.
It was Julia Child, and Jackie Kennedy as well, who were two women responsible for elevating this country's taste in food from the ridiculous (pigs-in-blankets and string bean casserole) to the sublime beginnings of haute cuisine.
As a result, every greasy spoon in America began serving omelettes and eggs benedict. And even my mother, who was strictly "Joy Of Cooking," could whip up a passable bechamel.