famous radio personalities 1940s famous radio personalities 1940s

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. Women and Radio: Airing Differences, edited by Caroline Mitchell. Although he was wary of television, he made the transition with See It Now the first television newsmagazine. 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. In 1936, however, radio transmitters reached most of the population of Spain. HYLAND: An innocent boy is going to die in one minute. Networks competed to hire famous conductors, orchestras, and soloists. Photo of Santos Ortega as Inspector Queen (father of Ellery), Hugh Marlowe as Ellery Queen and Marian Shockley as Ellery's asistant, Nikki, from the radio program The Adventures of Ellery Queen. In addition newspapers owned many early radio stations including WGN (named after the "World's Greatest Newspaper," the Chicago Tribune). Former wireless operator Sarnoff rose to president of the Radio Corporation of America. Roosevelt believed he needed to keep close contact with the American people given the severe hardships many were suffering through the Great Depression and ensuring as much support as possible for his New Deal programs. One of the most popular radio personalities of the 1950s was The growth in radio provided a large audience for various voices in cultural and political criticism. The open discussions with the public had a major impact on Roosevelt's presidency, building a high level of trust. The disc jockey became important in Chicago radio during the 1930s, well before the term "disc jockey" was coined in the 1940s. Boston: Little, Brown, 1969. Orson Welles Actor | Citizen Kane His father, Richard Head Welles, was a well-to-do inventor, his mother, Beatrice (Ives) Welles, a beautiful concert pianist . Famous People with Dementia - Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation, Inc. More people owned radios, were listening to radio in increasing numbers, and were listening to radios for an increasing amount of time each day. Actor John Houseman said of Welles and "The War of the Worlds:" "The reason that show worked as well as it did was nerve the slowness of the show in the beginning." 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). As radio developed, daytime shows such as soap operas and childrens programs generally ran 15 minutes. Radio 1929-1941 | Encyclopedia.com The most famous radio personality in Cleveland history, and a pioneer of early rock 'n' roll. In 1932 NBC posted a profit of $1 million and CBS posted a profit of $1.6 million. New York: Routledge, 2001. The Spanish Civil War (19361939) is considered the first radio war. Radio personalities are very popular and the success of a radio channel is largely dependent upon the popularity of the radio personality who host its programs. Productions were often broadcast during "prime time" evening hours so families could enjoy the shows together. . All over the world the potential of radio was quickly realized. "Hold Back the Dawn," an episode of the motion-picture adaptation series Academy Award Theater, starring Olivia de Havilland; airdate July 31, 1946. Radio played an important role in politics during the Depression. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. Joseph Stalin (1879 - 1953) Leader of Soviet Union 1924 - 1953. His career started in vaudeville, and he debuted in 1931 on radio on the Ed Sullivan show, getting his own radio show in 1932. Raised on Radio. . Radio was used to communicate political positions, and to show support of, and against, politicians. The wide dissemination of incorrect or selectively chosen information could invite or reinforce opinions. The condemned man's sister is a telephone operator (from Leonard Maltin. Robin Ophelia Quivers (born August 8, 1952) is an American radio personality, author, and actress, best known for being the long-running news anchor and co-host of The Howard Stern Show. Outside of the United States, the world was in a state of flux. History of Famous Radio DJs - Playlist Research American Decades: 19301939. Radio's intimate communication style was a powerful force during the 1930s and 1940s. "Guiding Light" first aired on radio in 1937 and continued on television into the twenty-first century. Already famous for his radio career in the 1940s, Murrow led news into television as well. Following the stock market crash in 1929 life in America changed dramatically. In the age of the Depression with limited expense budgets, radio provided an economical way of reaching millions of people. Woburn, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001. The Adventures of Maisie (aka Maisie) was a radio comedy series starring Ann Sothern as underemployed entertainer Maisie Ravier, a spin-off of Sothern's successful 1939-1947 Maisie movie series. While much of his message regarded a type of economic populism, which emphasized the common person, he regularly attacked prominent Jewish people. Lord Baden Powell (1857 - 1941) British Founder of scout movement. Even during the Depression, major radio stations turned a profit. Amos: I don' wants to git mixed up in dis. Top 10 Radio Presenters of All Time | Radio.co The conventional, amplitude modulation (AM) form of radio signal proved limiting in broadcasting, producing much static at times. Since most radio soap operas were only fifteen minutes long, many could run in one day. "The Maxwell House Show Boat" was a variety show that evoked nostalgia for the old-time South, making listeners forget the griminess of Depression-wracked urban America. Many advertisers formed long-term bonds with these shows, especially as they tried to reach the young audience. Another firm that measured audience response was the A.C. Nielsen Co., which provided thousands of listeners with a mechanical device called an audiometer. In 1934 WXYZ joined with the powerful 50,000-watt stations WLW in Cincinnati, WOR in New York, and WGN in Chicago to form the Quality Group, an association that was soon rechristened the Mutual Broadcasting System. Previously, Simmons was a radio and television personality for Indianapolis' WHHH-FM. This was particularly true of the white unemployed who believed jobs, including those created by New Deal work relief programs, should first go to whites before black Americans. Radio then morphed into radio formats . Paley was responsible for bringing substantial entertainment to the Great Depression audience who could little afford to pursue other forms of entertainment. By the early 1930s Coughlin's broadcasts shifted to economic and political commentary. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. David Sarnoff (18911971). This also represented the golden age of sportscasters who eloquently described the sporting events and created colorful images of the sports stars. However, the record company soon sold its shares to a group of financiers that included Leon Levy, whose father-in-law was cigar magnate Sam Paley; before long, Paleys son William decided to invest his own million-dollar fortune in the new network. Remembering the Chicago radio deejays of the sixties Popular soap operas received thousands of letters from women asking for help with real-life problems. Between 1936 and 1941 Orson Welles participated in over one hundred radio drama productions as writer, actor, and director. Hillard, Robert L and Michael C. Keith. Arch Oboler produced "Lights Out" on NBC, and "Air Raid" by Archibald MacLeish and "War of the Worlds" by writer and performer Orson Welles, which depicted the growing fear of war. On November 15, 1926, NBC made its debut over 19 stations extending from the East Coast to Kansas City, Missouri. In 1937 a reporter captured his reaction to the crash of the Hindenburg. In this way radio was an excellent form of escapism during the particularly tough period when the public was greatly affected by the Great Depression. The character he created was complex and his characterization was well known and funny. History of American Journalism Licenses for Edwin Armstrong's "static-free" frequency modulation (FM) concept of radio transmission were first granted in 1940-41. I know whut I'se doin'. Walter Winchell (18971972). They believed that America should not get involved. Orson Welles would prove to be one of the more influential performers of theatrical works on the radio. The 1930s were a time of profound and lasting changes at home and abroad. Houston radio DJs and hosts: Where are they now? - Chron Individuals all over America laughed together at Jack Benny and worried together over alien invasion orchestrated in a studio by Orson Welles. the insurgency was under control, but was soon countered by broadcasts calling for a general strike. President Roosevelt used the radio to communicate his views and interpretations of the events of the day. John Lennon (1940 - 1980) British musician, member of the Beatles. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1997. She was born in Spalding, Idaho on February 15, 1899. How did radio change American's understanding of the people "over there?" View More. It was a time of rapid, exciting growth for radio, much like the 1990s were for the growth of the Internet. The FCC consisted of seven members appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate. Winchell had many critics of his approach of publicizing activities that many considered inappropriate for public comment. then cuts suddenly into a body fall. By 1944 it had been renamed the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Radio became the central communication vehicle of the Depression especially including Roosevelt's Fireside Chats. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Adolf Hitler in Germany used radio to further his goals. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 1998. Welles also took part in the New Deal's Federal Theater Project that provided work for many unemployed actors and stagehands. Radios provided an avenue for information that supplemented local newspaper. Johnny Otis Collection (SC 106) Over 800 radio programs of black popular music (live and prerecorded), hosted by Johnny Otis, and featuring live interviews with blues and rhythm & blues artists from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. By 1933, 25 percent of the workforce, or over 12 million people, were out of work. Arthur Bernard Leaner was a professional radio DJ and record label owner that broke significant ground for Black music in Chicago between 1940 . 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. The first, delivered on March 12, 1933, only eight days after Roosevelt took office, attracted more 17 million families. AM radio arrived in Milwaukee in the early 1920s, followed by FM radio in the early 1940s, and then HD radio and streaming audio in the early twenty-first century. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-and-education-magazines/radio-1929-1941. In 1983 a television movie, "Special Bulletin" used the broadcast format to tell the fictional story of a nuclear explosion in South Carolina, and, despite regular disclaimers, caused some concern and panic. All other chats were similarly big draws among the public. Bandleader Ozzie Nelson, who later married his vocalist Harriet Hilliard, became a radio phenomenon in the 1930s and went on to become a television phenomenon in "Ozzie and Harriet.". We then began a program of remedying those abuses and inequalitiesto give balance and stability to our economic systemto make it bomb-proof against the causes of 1929. Andy: Yere's de well right yere. Indeed, as radio became more and more of a business, station owners banded together to seek stronger government licensing regulation. Golden Age of American radio, period lasting roughly from 1930 through the 1940s, when the medium of commercial broadcast radio grew into the fabric of daily life in the United States, providing news and entertainment to a country struggling with economic depression and war. He was known for his rhyming wordplay . At first his program was primarily inspirational and welcomed by the Depression-weary public but became increasingly political. Part of its responsibilities was to assign specific radio frequencies and call letters to radio stations. Radio in the 1930s established the framework for broadcasting for the rest of the twentieth century. Disc Jockeys - Encyclopedia of Chicago As radio blossomed during the 1930s, network censorship did too. Andy: Wait a minute, yere, son. Murrow set the standard for American journalism providing descriptive reports of many of the 1930s and 1940s important events. famous radio personalities 1940s Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit By the beginning of 1927, NBC had two networks, the Red and the Blue, which totaled 25 stations; more would join. 1. "Cookie Vejar Killing," an episode of the police drama series Calling All Cars; airdate December 27, 1933. To celebrate 40 years of . It's since gone on to experiment with other formats, added sports in the 1940s and adopted a personality driven, live-host music format in the '60s and '70s. Fred Allen (born John Florence Sullivan, May 31, 1894 March 17, 1956) was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show (19321949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio. The effects of the Depressionpoverty, joblessness, homelessness, and hungertook a mental toll on Americans. "Lost Horizon," an episode of the motion-picture adaptation series Academy Award Theater, starring Ronald Colman; airdate November 27, 1946. The show is notable for being the first sitcom to star an African American actress.Originally portrayed by white actor Marlin Hurt*pictured*, Beulah Brown first appeared in 1939 when Hurt introduced and played the character on the Hometown Incorporated radio series and in 1940 on NBC radio's Show Boat series. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. 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. In radios earliest days, Hollywood did not provide network programming, with rare exceptions. Winchell made his radio debut in 1930 over WABC in New York. (Tone) (A high-pitched oscillator whine starts low behind the last call, then is brought up as the full resonance of the Hammond organ and low-frequency oscillator are added. (18901972). 1. Similarly Father Coughlin promoted anti-Semitic and pro-Hitler positions on the radio. Studies showed that Americans were listening to radio for an average of five hours a day. The fireside chats allowed Americans to feel an intimacy with their president that few had felt beforePresident Roosevelt was in their living room, expressing his concerns, empathizing with their situation. On March 9, 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt gave his ninth "fireside chat" over the airwaves to the public. Andy: Well, it's yore own faultdat's all I got say. Theater emerged as a popular genre on radio. Here Are The Top 50 Streamed Talk Show Hosts - Radio Ink Similarly crime dramas were also popular, with shows like "Sherlock Holmes" and "The Green Hornet.". Andy: Let him git mad wid you. President Roosevelt in early 1934 ZACKBENNETT ZACK BENNETT. Powerful gossip columnist Louella Parsonswhose show, Hollywood Hotel, debuted on CBS in October 1934surmounted this fee by inducing top film stars to appear on her program for free. 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 . "The Presidential Election," an episode of the comedy series Amos 'n' Andy, starring Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll; airdate July 17, 1928. Former radio personality Doug Allen is a jingle archivist and now maintains Jinglefreaks.com, where his growing collection of radio jingles is available online. 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. National laws are needed to complete that program. Orson Welles (19151985). The explosion of radio was both exhilarating and exhausting. In 1938 Welless radio adaptation of H.G. HYLAND: Good lord! Even these artists were under strict supervision of the agencies, which usually had representatives present during the rehearsals and broadcast. Famous Radio Personalities. A Tower of Babel: A History of Broadcasting in the United States, Volume I, to 1933. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Richard Diamond began in 1949, and took off as one of the most popular private eye shows on network radio, right up there with Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and Phillip Marlowe, Private Eye. Biggest stars of the 1940's. Menu. Frequency modulation (FM) was introduced in which static interference was much less. I got a idea. Advertisement, now nationwide with the networks, brought in much more money to support program development, improve production facilities, National Radio Day: Black Stations, DJs, Pioneers Who Shaped - NewsOne New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1997, pp. Lillian Disney. 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. Key Facts. On October 30, 1938 a radio musical performance was interrupted by a reporter. Golden Age of American radio, period lasting roughly from 1930 through the 1940s, when the medium of commercial broadcast radio grew into the fabric of daily life in the United States, providing news and entertainment to a country struggling with economic depression and war. The original radio show, co-starring Lucille Ball, was the initial basis for what evolved into the groundbreaking TV sitcom I Love Lucy. Some of the leading voices from radio's golden age, in the 1930s and '40s, may have gone on to even greater fame elsewhere, such as Bob Hope and Gene Autry. In 1936 the Republican Party's radio dramatization, "Liberty at the Crossroads," played an important role in the campaign. Radio entertainment played on the imagination of the listeners by creating visions of the action and characters portrayed. 4. Brown, Robert J. Manipulating the Ether: The Power of Broadcast Radio in Thirties America. Comic strips had long provided a shared form of entertainment in America. New York: Free Press, 1996. The show, which began slowly and calmly at first, steadily built to a frantic pace, giving the impression of hours passing in minutes. What time is it? Eighty-five percent of network daytime programming was soap operasserial dramas portraying the lives of a varied cast of characters. Hardships of the Great Depression increased hatred toward racial minorities by society in general. Golden Age of American radio | Definition, Shows, & Facts Whut you goin' do wid it? June 25, 2020. The public found these programs a welcomed escape from worries of the Depression and the demand grew for more. ERICMARCUM ERIC MARCUM. She also appeared in prime-time programs including the "Lux Radio Theater.". "Death Crosses the River," an episode of the western series Hopalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd; airdate April 14, 1951. At Hoovers behest, most frequencies between 550 kHz and 1,350 kHz were turned over for broadcast use in May 1923. In response the Communications Act of 1934, one of the regulatory foundations of Roosevelt's New Deal, which was a group of policies focused on relief and reform, provided for the establishment of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Douglas, Susan Jeanne. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. News programs and commentary provided direct challenges to long-held views, likewise many "entertainment" programs provided cultural criticism. From Needletime to the Peel Sessions In March 2012 the faculty at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University, together with an Honorary Committee of alumni, selected "the 100 Outstanding Journalists in the United States in the Last 100 Years.". 6 World War II Propaganda Broadcasters - HISTORY The decade started off in 1921 with just 5 radio stations in the country but ended with 606 stations. In 1940 President Roosevelt's radio skill helped him defeat Wendell Willkie and win an unprecedented third term as President. Eventually, the Radio Guild protested the actors appearing on "Hollywood Hotel" without pay and in 1938 the show was cancelled. A host of stars turned out for the funeral of one of King Charles's favourite entertainers, Kit Hesketh-Harvey, who died 'unexpectedly' last month.. Over flagship station WEAF in New York City, announcer Graham McNamee presided over the inaugural broadcast; guest stars included humourist Will Rogers, speaking from Independence, Kansas, and opera star Mary Garden, singing from Chicago. Nothing seemed too far away, and other cultures that once seemed exotic and strange were more familiar. After Hurt died of a heart attack in 1946, he was replaced by another white actor, Bob Corley, and the series was retitled The Beulah Show. Early Work Later in the 1930s as Spain descended into civil war, radio became pivotal in rallying the forces opposing the military government. 2. WCCO Radio began broadcasting in Minneapolis in 1922 a from a hotel near Loring Park. Radio DJs - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia This lack of self-regulation and mutual cooperation between station operators resulted in increased pressure on Congress to update radio legislation, which was accomplished with the landmark Radio Act of 1927. The less expensive radio model made radios a household item. The sound of the rocket ship in "Buck Rogers in the Twenty-Fifth Century" was created by placing paper over the air-conditioning vents and placing a microphone in a small spot in the middle. Certainly one factor was the loss of jobs and search for new employment opportunities that led to a great deal of population shifts and movement. Indeed, many objected to the commercialization of radio, among them Herbert Hoover, who said in 1924, I believe the quickest way to kill broadcasting would be to use it for direct advertising. Strong arguments were made opposing the invasion of peoples homes with commerce (although newspapers and magazines had done so for more than a century) on the grounds that it would lead to entertainment programs pitched to the mass audience, thereby limiting radios potential educational and social benefits. Some of the key provisions established by the Communications Act of 1934 are still familiar at the first of the twenty-first century. The shift to television in the 1950s, however, had a major impact on radio. The exceptional use of radio news broadcasting in the 1930s created the future expectation of immediacy of information. British husband-and-wife actors Ronald Colman (1891-1958) and Benita Hume (1906-1967) starred in both versions of the show. The price was a steep, but often worthwhile, investment for families that were foregoing most other forms of paid entertainment. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was born Jan. 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA. Millions of American soldiers left for World War II, and with them went men and women journalists - most notably the "Murrow boys." Edward R. Murrow, made famous by World War II, began a transition from radio to television. Born Benjamin Kubelsky, comedian and musician Jack Benny became an American phenomenon. New stars were also created, as performers discovered the medium and created unique shows. Radio provided a shared national experience of entertainment and information. The Great Depression especially brought new and troubling problems. Rush Limbaugh. "The Keys of the Kingdom," an episode of the motion-picture adaptation series Academy Award Theater, starring Gregory Peck; airdate August 21, 1946. Though they married in 1926, Burns and Allen did not tell their radio audience for many years. The Nickel and Dime Decade: American Popular Culture During the 1930s. The complex drama was both criticized for its racial insensitivity and lauded for showing a humanistic portrait of a particular subset of society (from Charles J. Correll and Freeman F. Gosden.