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Introduction: The Radio in the U.S. in the early Twentieth Century.
In 1906, “the first human voice and music recording was sent by Canadian physicist Reginald Fessenden from a station in Massachusetts and heard by listeners as far away as Virginia. The voice and music? Fessenden himself, singing and playing the violin. The radio as we know it had begun to take shape” (DPLA). -
Introduction
The development of the radio affected many aspects of U.S. culture in the early twentieth century. Americans gained access to entertainment and news in real time, and experienced greater intimacy with politics and war. The rise of the radio “signaled a major shift in how Americans communicated” (DPLA). By the 1920s, when radios became affordable, around half of urban U.S. families had one in their living room. -
Introduction
News broadcasts became regular occurrences on ABC, NBC, and CBS, and journalists became media personalities. Presidential campaigns focused funding to radio advertisements, and people could feel closer to the candidates. Presidents such as Franklin Roosevelt used the radio to involve Americans in their plans and policies. -
Introduction
The development of the radio affected politics as well as entertainment. The radio allowed rural families to stay connected, as news traveled slower to isolated towns. In 1920, President Warren G. Harding was elected president, and the results were broadcast on the radio station KDKA Pittsburgh. This station was the first licensed radio station to broadcast news, and Americans could hear election results in real time, days before the newspapers. -
Introduction
Not only did the development of the radio aid listeners, but professionals as well. Disk jockey jobs were on the rise, and they became radio personalities. DJ’s earned money from record companies to promote their albums, as well as popularity. Artists gained more listeners and their music became more accessible. NBC became the first permanent network, “a profitable entity in and of itself” (DPLA). Networks such as CBS arose to rival it. -
Introduction
Journalists shifted to on-air reporters, and radio interviews were regular occurrences for people in politics, sports, and music. Companies profited off of radio advertisements and became able to target specific audiences. -
Introduction
During World War II, radios were used for communication in airplanes, at sea, and on the battlefield. Marines used the Navajo language as a code for radio transmissions in the pacific. -
This is a photograph of Guglielmo Marconi, the "Father of the Radio," and his apparatus for transmitting telegrams. It was taken by Russell and Sons in London for McClure's Magazine and obtained by the New York Public Library.
In 1899, Italian scientist Guglielmo Marconi used a telegraph to broadcast the results of the America's Cup races from a ship at sea to New York. This was the first time the public experienced wireless transmission. The breakthrough was made possible through previous experiments in electromagnetic waves. Marconi is known as the "Father of the Radio" and won the Nobel Prize for his work in 1909. -
This is an advertisement for Majestic Radio models from a magazine in Wyoming in 1928. It was published by the University of Colorado Boulder Archives. Radios became accessible and affordable, making the radio the staple of American homes.
As radio technology developed, the audience expanded from scientists to American families. People could now have access to music, entertainment, and news. Rural families could also be more connected, as news traveled slower to isolated towns. Black Americans could experience sports and events that they were segregated from. However, there were still some barriers. During the Great Depression, many struggled to afford one, and they were more accessible in white urban areas. -
(https://d.lib.msu.edu/vvl/3045). This is a recording of Franklin Roosevelt's Fireside Chat for CBS Radio Network in 1940. It can be found in the Vincent Voice Library. The President used the radio to communicate with the public during World War II.
The radio impacted World War II battlegrounds and Americans at home. CBS news brought wartime to America's living room. Listeners heard war declared and could get a clear picture of what was happening on the battlefield. President Roosevelt capitalized on this with his fireside chats that lasted from 1933 to 1944. Through his radio broadcasts, the President could communicate directly with listeners about the war's progress and U.S. economy. -
(https://d.lib.msu.edu/vvl/3144). This is a radio address from Harry Truman for the CBS Radio Network in 1950. It can be found in the Vincent Voice Library. In his address, President Truman relays his plans for the U.S. during the Korean War.
By 1939, the radio had become America's main source of information for news at home and abroad. People could engage with news in real time, and analyze politicians in a new way. Presidential campaigns began to focus on radio advertising, and people at home could hear election results in real time. Newspapers were seeing decreases in circulation, and journalists had new roles as commentators. -
Bibliography
--“Fireside Chat. 1940 May 26.” n.d. D.lib.msu.edu. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://d.lib.msu.edu/vvl/3045.
--“U.S. President Harry Truman’s Radio Address to the Nation Describing Dangers to U.S. In Korea.” n.d.
D.lib.msu.edu. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://d.lib.msu.edu/vvl/3144.
https://dp.la/item/202e0254cf5eb3e14f39eb8be0df6256?q=radio+in+the+1920s -
Bibliography
--“U.S. President Harry Truman’s Radio Address to the Nation Describing Dangers to U.S. In Korea.” n.d. D.lib.msu.edu. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://d.lib.msu.edu/vvl/3144.
--“Experiments and Breakthroughs: The Development of Radio.” n.d. Digital Public Library of America. https://dp.la/exhibitions/radio-golden-age/experiments-and-breakthroughs.