famous radio personalities 1940s

In the early 1930s the phonographic record player was a standard appliance in many middle class American households, but as the Depression continued fewer people could afford the steep price of $.75 per record, resulting in the decline of record sales. We've got it! Updates? The Best Talk Show Hosts Of Daytime, Late Night, and All Time. The 1940s were a decade of tension and transition. (Tone: Phone drops to floor). Two types of music were banned when Adolph Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933: swing and jazz. The Spanish Civil War (19361939) is considered the first radio war. Sponsored by Eversharp, the first series ran on CBS Radio from July 5, 1945 to March 28, 1947. The formation of NBC was followed by the formation of CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System). Whut you goin' do wid it? Bergmeier, Horst J. Hitler's Airwaves: The Inside Story of Nazi Radio Broadcasting and Propaganda Swing. Sports commentary was popular on radio and play-by-play commentary on baseball and other games was popular, though not always what it seemed. For example Fred Allen sometimes told jokes about the "Full Moon Nudist Colony." Nationally distributed magazines had been the key medium before the rise of radio and national broadcasting networks. Walter Winchell was the most powerful and feared gossip columnist and radio commentator in America in the 1930s and 1940s: Mark Thompson: December 1, 1955: American: Mark Thompson is a well-known American radio personality: Daniel James . In 1937 a reporter captured his reaction to the crash of the Hindenburg. Warren, Donald. "Against the Storm," "Brighter Day," "City Hospital," "Tale of Today," and "We Love and Learn" were all popular soap operas. The effects of the Depressionpoverty, joblessness, homelessness, and hungertook a mental toll on Americans. Welles went on to a legendary career in film; in his film directing debut, the classic Citizen Kane, he used many of the techniquesand peoplehe knew from radio. the insurgency was under control, but was soon countered by broadcasts calling for a general strike. He bought CBS in 1929, building it from a failing network of 22 radio stations into a broadcast empire. In 1934 four powerful stationsWOR New York, WGN Chicago, WLW Cincinnati, and WXYZ Detroitbanded together to form "The Quality Group," which later became the Mutual Broadcasting System. Radio was an inexpensive way to keep up with news events of the Great Depression and farming news, and provided a ready means for escape from the economic hard times through sports broadcasts and entertainment programs. "The Chevrolet Chronicles" were one of many "transcription shows"shows produced for the distribution simply of scripts to stations around the country to be performed locallyand an example of how radio programming was inseparable from its advertisers. President Roosevelt in early 1934 As a result, NBC decided to sell its Blue network in 1943. Andy: On second thought, yere, we better not tell him nothin' 'bout losin' part o' de milk 'cause I don' want him jumpin' all over me. Radio was used to communicate political positions, and to show support of, and against, politicians. The change of one vote would have thrown all the affairs of this great Nation back into hopeless chaos. Americans expected to learn about events quickly, and as television gained momentum later in the century, this expectation was carried into television broadcasting: viewers expected to see events virtually as they happened. Radio writers often wrote their sound requirements into the script, as did Irving Reis in his radio play "Meridian 7-1212." In 1947 he becomes a player for the Dodgers. At Hoovers behest, most frequencies between 550 kHz and 1,350 kHz were turned over for broadcast use in May 1923. Radio became the primary media for entertainment and, increasingly, for information. President Roosevelt used the radio to communicate his views and interpretations of the events of the day. Children and adults followed the adventures of their favorite characters and waited for the next installment. Please be aware, presenters aren't ranked in order. Famous People. The stock market crash of 1929 and the Depression that followed, however, really spurred the growth of radio. Andy: Well, it's yore own faultdat's all I got say. By the mid-1930s two-thirds of American homes had radio sets, and by 1939 about 80 percent of Americansabout 25 million peopleowned radios. Like The Whistler, the program had an opening whistle theme with footsteps. The first, delivered on March 12, 1933, only eight days after Roosevelt took office, attracted more 17 million families. The most famous radio show was the Lux Radio Theater, which was performed live on stage in front of a studio audience. "One Man's Family" was a typical radio dramathe story of a multigenerational family, with ongoing stories that weren't too complicated for listeners just joining the show to understand. American Decades: 19301939. The tally resulted in an estimate of the number of people listening to a particular show; a rating of 14.2 meant that out of 100 people called, 14.2 were listening to a particular program at the time of the call. Radio was how America escaped the harsh world outsideas four national and 20 regional networks and hundreds of smaller stations piped programming directly to the listening public. Soap operas such as Ma Perkins and The Guiding Light kept housewives company through the afternoon. The program began as Sam n Henry on Chicagos WGN station in 1926 and quickly became a national phenomenon when it made its network debut under its new name in 1929. The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1937 Volume. The wide dissemination of incorrect or selectively chosen information could invite or reinforce opinions. Jazz was In 1940 President Roosevelt's radio skill helped him defeat Wendell Willkie and win an unprecedented third term as President. Regional differences further melted as national programs brought the same information and advice to everyone with a radio. Initially a supporter of President Roosevelt and his New Deal programs, Coughlin became disillusioned and turned into a fierce critic. Variety shows included a range of entertainment including music, singing, dancing, and comedy. (Sock. "Ruggles of Red Gap," an episode of the motion-picture adaptation series Academy Award Theater, starring Charles Laughton; airdate June 8, 1946. Soon after, with the authority of the Congress, we asked the Nation to turn over all of its privately held gold, dollar for dollar, to the Government of the United States. Coughlin was highly popular in the early 1930s with his radio program attracting an estimated 30 to 45 million listeners each week. As the reporter broke into the performance several times over the next few minutes, he described strange flying vehicles landing in various parts of the United States and strange creatures emerging from them. Old genres of entertainment, such as vaudeville, which was a form of live entertainment consisting of various short acts including songs and comedy routines, were adapted for radio, and new genres were developed for the emerging media. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994. The studio, however, was three hundred miles from the actual game. As the Great Depression deepened in the United States and around the world in the early 1930s, reliance on radio increased. The screenwriter, performer and composer was . These developments proved timely as the radio provided much entertainment and a source of information for the Depression public. If I'd been milin' dat cow, son, I wouldn't of wasted a drop o' milk. Previously, Simmons was a radio and television personality for Indianapolis' WHHH-FM. Radio offered Americans a shared common entertainment experience, right in their living rooms. The development of networks and production centres. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Radio's intimate communication style was a powerful force during the 1930s and 1940s. January 21, 2013, . Not everyone approved of the escapism of radio. His broadcasts helped lead a shift in public concern away from Great Depression economic problems to foreign policy issues. Prestige anthology shows brought together writers such as Archibald MacLeish and Norman Corwin with actors from the legitimate stage such as Helen Hayes and Orson Welles, and film-based anthology shows such as The Lux Radio Theatre and Academy Award Theater featured movie stars of the day reading live radio versions of their motion-picture roles. The FCC was created to regulate communication services and rates and license radio stations. Age: 70 . In 1936, however, radio transmitters reached most of the population of Spain. Congress soon passed legislation that required diversity of ownership. Amos: He's li'ble to find it out though. 2. Grote Reber Radio technology was still evolving as the country entered the Depression. Actually, Powell had made the pilot episode for the Marlowe show, but luckily for all concerned, he passed it up and did the Richard Diamond show instead. Early in 1927, a competing network called United Independent Broadcasters was formed. The Golden Age of American radio as a creative medium lasted, at best, from 1930 to 1955, with the true peak period being the 1940s. Composer Irving Berlin complained that Americans were becoming listeners rather than singers. In fact lower income families were most likely to listen to it on a daily basis. In 1932 NBC posted a profit of $1 million and CBS posted a profit of $1.6 million. Westport, CT and London: Praeger, 1998. 61 soap operas on the radio in 1939 alone, and some of the soap operas on television today got their start on radio. Kennedy's good looks and calm demeanor won over many supporters following a live televised debate. Historic Events for Students: The Great Depression. His Fireside Chats have been considered some of the first forms of managed news. Adolf Hitler in Germany used radio to further his goals. This is Jocko" was one of Doug "Jocko" Henderson's signature phrases on the radio when he worked for WDAS in Philadelphia back in the 1950s-70s. The success of this show established Hollywood as a major centre of radio production. I got a idea. New York still had a bustling radio community, but the Chicago shows began moving to one coast or the other. The New Deal's Communications Act of 1934 survives largely intact. Colbert provided an escape for the women of the nation toiling under difficult economic conditions. Ronald Reagan (served 19811989) became another president skilled at using mass media to charm the public and press while seeking to gain support for his programs. Actors would appear on the show to plug their movies, and sometimes would appear in brief versions of their movies on "Hollywood Hotel." In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. She also played an uncredited bit part as a sales assistant in The Women* pictured here w/ Joan C*, filmed after Gone with the Wind but released before it. The Great Depression especially brought new and troubling problems. 22 Feb. 2023 . Listening in: Radio and the American Imagination: From Amos 'n' Andy and Edward R. Murrow to Wolfman Jack and Howard Stern. The Most Famous Radio Personality; Name Birthday Nationality Bio; Art Bell: June 17, 1945: American: . famous radio personalities 1940s religious interview questions and answers sharleen spiteri ashley heath . The disc jockey became important in Chicago radio during the 1930s, well before the term "disc jockey" was coined in the 1940s. Kaltenborn was close enough to the conflict that listeners could hear gunfire in the background. By the beginning of 1927, NBC had two networks, the Red and the Blue, which totaled 25 stations; more would join. Grote Reber (born 1911) was a radio engineer who became interested in radio astronomy as a hobby. Side Projects and Homelife 2 Rush Limbaugh. As radio grew into a commercial force, it became necessary to determine the popularity of particular shows, as this would affect the price of the programs advertising time. For example candidates for public office must be treated equally and sponsors must be identified. Though an explanation had preceded the performance, many listeners didn't hear it, and thousands panicked. Watkins, T.H. Radio was born. Variety shows lampooned racial preconceptions, theater on the air challenged ideas of war and peace, and comedies provided a humorous critique of Middle American values. Body crumples) There; now he'll be quiet for a minute. Biggest stars of the 1940's. Menu. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was born Jan. 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA. Germany was invading its neighbors. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Lackmann, Ronald. Amos: You know, YOU wuz de one he tol' to milk de COW. AM (or amplitude modulation) radio could reach long distances, but with greatly diminished quality. The specialists had to be very creative to discover ways to communicate and support the actionthe sound of walking, breaking glass, a door closing, a train whistling. The Golden Age of American radio as a creative medium lasted, at best, from 1930 to 1955, with the true peak period being the 1940s. (Tone) (The sob is audible now) When you hear the signal the time will be (Pause) twelve o'clock. The program changed names over the years as it was sponsored by different products, but Benny remained a household name as the protagonist of the show. Children listened to the adventure series Little Orphan Annie and the science-fiction show Flash Gordon. 35. To celebrate 40 years of . (Singer, Voice actress and Radio host) 3. The series was based on the novel Mr. and Mrs. Cugat (1940), written by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the Paramount Pictures feature film Are Husbands Necessary? An episode of the variety series The Kraft Music Hall, starring Bing Crosby with special guest Phil Silvers; airdate December 16, 1943. Radio in the 1930s established the framework for broadcasting for the rest of the twentieth century. His successor Harry Truman suffered from his abrupt Midwest behavior before the microphone, which contrasted sharply with Roosevelt's warm wit and charm. 2. (Picks up phone. The condemned man's sister is a telephone operator (from Leonard Maltin. . The plugger would sell songs, to which the publisher held the recording rights, to popular musicians who would hopefully make the songs famous, which would increase a song's sales and the publisher's profit. One of Hollywood's greatest celebrities was columnist Louella Parsons. Colbert was one of radio's earliest and most prolific soap opera performers, appearing in "Stella Dallas," "Life Can be Beautiful," "Young Dr. Malone," "Portia Faces Life," and "Aunt Jenny," among others. In . Radio provided a huge and attentive audience, but it also provided unique demands. Rather than performing on stage in vaudeville or nightclubs requiring steady travel, they could reach the entire nation from a small studio, week after week. With the plays and movies represented on the radio many engaged with U.S. developments in the arts through the Great Depression. 1940s: TV and Radio. "Radio 1929-1941 The war years clearly raised the profile of radios role in society. There was so much competition for listeners that children's shows offered premiums such as decoder rings and badges to lure their young audience. Lord Baden Powell (1857 - 1941) British Founder of scout movement. It was a time when the airwaves were dominated by big personalities with loud voices. Other once-influential radio personalities, such as Mary Margaret McBride (1899-1976), are not as well known today. His company, RCAthe Radio Corporation of Americagrew from $11 million in sales the first year to $60 million three years later. The series was heard on CBS Radio, NBC Radio, the Mutual Radio Network, and on Mutual flagship radio station WHN in NYC. It was on the roof of the original Riechman-Crosby Building at Beale and Front Street. Pluggers were named for "plugging" or aggressively selling the idea of recording a publisher's music. In the November 1936 election President Roosevelt used the radio much more effectively than opponent Alf Landon, which partially contributed to Roosevelt's victory. Mark Levin. Fred W. Kaltenbach. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. October 1999. As the 1930s progressed, and as reporters such as Edward R. Murrow, H.V. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Radio became so popular during the Depression that some psychologists grew concerned over the increasing amount of time and attention spent listening to radio. Vaudeville performers had a challenge in translating their talent to radio. Tonight, sitting at my desk in the White House, I make my first radio report to the people in my second term of office. A coloratura soprano, she performed opera, concert, and supper club singing. View More. Inventing American Broadcasting 18991922. Encyclopedia.com. By 1933, 25 percent of the workforce, or over 12 million people, were out of work. Isolationist beliefs, opposition to the United States entering the war, made even the mention of the possibility of war controversial, but the airing of the program resulted in a thousand favorable letters being sent to CBS. 4. The orchestra of Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians were made famous by radio, as was jazz musician Count Basie. Some sources say the whistling theme for The Saint was created by Leslie Charteris while others credit RKO composer Roy Webb.Price left in May 1951. 32. His character was particularly appealing to the Great Depression audience that was coping with economic hard times. Hysterical people hid in basements, and listeners called the police to volunteer in the fight against evil invaders. The 1950s was a decade of change for radio. Programs during the Golden Age of Radio frequently took the name of their sponsors. HYLAND: An innocent boy is going to die in one minute. Nachmann, Gerald. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Golden-Age-of-American-radio, Long Wharf Theatre - The Golden Age of Radio, Public Broadcasting Service - Radio In The 1930s, Digital Public Library of America - Golden Age of Radio in the US, Audio Engineering Society - Golden Age of Radio. Episode 2 of the children's science-fiction series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; unknown airdate, 1932. The addition of two more frequencies, 619 kHz in December 1921 and 750 kHz in August 1922, helped somewhat, but most larger cities had far more than three stations and thus continued to use shared-time arrangements. Following the stock market crash in 1929 life in America changed dramatically. Radio programming shifted away from drama, comedy, and variety shows to other formats including music, talk shows, and news. The radio as a form of entertainment grew in popularity in the 1920s United States. This program provided a key opportunity during the Depression when many could not afford to go to movie theaters. Raised on Radio. Many Philadelphia DJs became celebrities, actively engaged and influential in . In 1933 Edwin Howard Armstrong produced the first FM transmitter and receiver, although it was six years before an FM station would air. Even in the 1990s and early twenty-first century presidents Bill Clinton (served 19932001) and George W. Bush (served 2001) used weekly radio broadcasts to I know whut I'se doin'. In 1933 alone 3.6 million radio sets were sold. Nearly 60 years ago, WJSV, a radio station located in Washington, DC, recorded their entire broadcast day. View More. Lillian Disney at Schiphol Airport in 1951 by Carel L. de Vogel from Wikimedia Commons. View More. form 1. denoting radio waves or broadcasting: radio-controlled radiogram. We were then in the midst of the great banking crisis. Radio news had reached its maturity. When German planes bombed the Basque town of Guernica in Spain in 1937, it solidified writer and director Norman Corwin's hatred of fascism. They feared that the exchange of ideas and clash of opinions essential to democracy would be compromised. A new era in radio dawned with this broadcast. 1. The Great Depression had established a fertile bed for radical politics as many were disillusioned with the capitalist economic system of the United States. Good memories." Millions of others saw their paychecks reduced or lived in constant fear that they, too, would finally be hit with economic hardship. Detroits WXYZ became a major force in 1933 with popular shows such as The Lone Ranger. The public found radio to be the most accessible form of entertainment and information available. Jack Benny was one of the foremost radio stars of The Golden Age of Radio. Age: 70. (February 22, 2023). Many of the 1930s programs would set the standard for programming in all media for the rest of the century. Today we are only part-way through that programand recovery is speeding up to a point where the dangers of 1929 are gain becoming possible, not this week or month perhaps, but within a year or two. Best, Gary Dean. By the time the infant son of national hero Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and murdered, the role of communication in radio had become so important that the 1935 verdict in the Lindbergh kidnapping trial was broadcast over radio. In the earliest years of network radios heyday, most of the evening programs were produced and broadcast from New York City. Alienation from American traditions was minimized and a foundation for a later boon in such interests following World War II was established. The Golden Web: A History of Broadcasting in the United States, Volume II, 1933 to 1953. News programs and commentary provided direct challenges to long-held views, likewise many "entertainment" programs provided cultural criticism. The Great American Broadcast: A Celebration of Radio's Golden Age. Kaltenborn (18781965). So you would never be famous. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Here are 100 popular actresses who were very famous at some point during the golden era of Hollywood, the 1930's through the 1940's. They are not listed in any particular order. LEXICARTER LEXI CARTER. Roosevelt would use radio to not only lobby for public support of his programs, but also to inform the public of important events and perhaps most importantly reassure the public through his unique personal character that faith in the future was warranted. Germany was mobilizing to occupy a large portion of Europe and much of the world was moving towards what would come to be known as World War II (19391945). . Jokes could not be reused as they could in live stage acts. A band remote broadcast of Benny Goodman and his orchestra, with vocalist Martha Tilton, from the Madhattan Room of the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City; airdate November 4, 1937. His last radio show was in 1955. The open discussions with the public had a major impact on Roosevelt's presidency, building a high level of trust. The Golden Age of Radio created a new media environment. At first his program was primarily inspirational and welcomed by the Depression-weary public but became increasingly political. A fundamental shift in American broadcasting came with the realization by the late 1920s that individual stations could easily share the cost of providing programs as a part of a broader network service with national appeal. The stock market crash and following Great Depression brought economic hard times to many Americans. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. remain connected to the public. Early efforts to regulate the radio industry were not very effective. The Roman Catholic priest from the Detroit, Michigan area was broadcast throughout much of the 1930s. 3. One study showed that more than 15 million Americans listened to Coughlin each month, and more than half of them approved of what he said. Jackie Robinson. "Sam Bass," an episode of the western series Death Valley Days; airdate August 27, 1936. Many advertisers made themselves known by eventually adopting the practice of combining their name with the name of the star or the title of the program, as with Camel Caravan, sponsored by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, or A&P Gypsies, sponsored by the largest American grocery-store chain at the time. Radio entertainment played on the imagination of the listeners by creating visions of the action and characters portrayed. All other chats were similarly big draws among the public. Walter Winchell specialized in publishing gossip and other information that some critics deemed inappropriate. Music publishing companies hired song pluggers to "place" their songs with singers and musicians. Radio, with its thrillers and mysteries, classical theater and musical performances, and slapstick and silliness, provided a means of escaping the dreariness of life. In those days, it was easier to tune into a radio station in Chicago than in northern Michigan for Rock and Roll music. The most famous radio personality in Cleveland history, and a pioneer of early rock 'n' roll. In addition newspapers owned many early radio stations including WGN (named after the "World's Greatest Newspaper," the Chicago Tribune). Radio proved its importance during World War II (1939-45) with almost immediate coverage of events. They were a good investmentafter the initial expense, the family was able to enjoy drama, comedy, quiz shows, the news, and more for free in the comfort of their homes. In 1943, Beulah moved over to That's Life and then became a supporting character on the popular Fibber McGee and Molly radio series in late 1944. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 1998. In 1939 he wrote "They Fly through the Air with the Greatest of Ease" for his "Words Without Music" radio series. Have von (H.V.) "Lost Horizon," an episode of the motion-picture adaptation series Academy Award Theater, starring Ronald Colman; airdate November 27, 1946. Considerable interference resulted as operators shifted station frequency (and sometimes the transmitter location, by mounting it in a truck) in an attempt to obtain a clear signal. Though they married in 1926, Burns and Allen did not tell their radio audience for many years. The network had 19 stations by the end of 1935; by the mid-1940s Mutual had more than 300 stations, more affiliates than either of its rivals. A selection of shows from American radios Golden Age is presented in the table. Almost one-fourth of the nation normally listened to his fireside chats. While not all radio programs reflected the values in tension during the Great Depression, radio was a forum for exploring the many aspects of America that were being challenged by poverty and decay. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.

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