Historical Radio Events

By Retoro
  • Marconi

    Marconi
    Marconi was an Italian Inventor. He was the first (or believed to be) person to both send and receive the first ever radio signal in 1895. Many believe that he might've not been the actual first person, but it was just a case of good PR.
  • Audion Tube

    Audion Tube
    In 1906, Lee De Forest, created (or 'borrowed' the idea for) the audion tube, a vacuum tube that amplified signals. It is widely believed that a Canadian inventor, Reginald Fessenden, actually came up with the idea, but Fessenden didn’t seem to make it into the history books for that invention.
  • Titanic

    Titanic
    Radio heavily effected the events during the Titanic. There were no signals going across the ocean at the time so it allowed the Titanic's crew to send messages to land. This allowed the survivors to be saved.
  • Uncle Charlie

    Uncle Charlie
    Uncle Charlie was a personal radio station. Everyone wanted one of their very own.
  • Sports Radio

    Sports Radio
    Radio in the 1920's broadcasted a lot of shows on the air, but it had an impact on sports as well. Sports normally would be recorded on newspaper, books, and magazines, so putting sports on the radio made a big impact for today's radio industry.
  • Family Medium

    Family Medium
    Radios were the internet of that era. It really brought families together to listen. It could be sports to music, it really didn't matter.
  • Dawn of Avertising

    Dawn of Avertising
    Radio stations don't make money through sales, but through advertisements. In 1922, WEAF aired a 10 minute 'commercial.'
  • Call Letters

    Call Letters
    There needed to be call letters for radio stations. They were two: W and K. W means East of the Mississippi river, and K is west of the Mississippi river.
  • Radio's Demise

    Radio's Demise
    TV made an appearance in the late 30's. Advertisers moved to TV to sell their products easier. The only thing that saved radio from becoming obsolete, was music.
  • Why Music?

    Why Music?
    At the time, they had very few options. With their impending doom, it was that or nothing.
  • Period: to

    Golden Era

    Durring the 30's and 40's, it was the golden age for radios. It was the middle of the Great Depression, families were in troubled times, and people were hurting for $$$, so they took up radio broadcasting.
  • Radio's Progression

    Radio's Progression
    Major Edwin Armstrong invented the FM transmitter, which made for a stronger signal and higher quality sound. Listeners were forced to buy new radio sets.