Have you ever wondered where our greatest technologies have come from? Who thought of them and what was the reaction of society when this new invention emerged? For this blog post, we are going to explore the creation of the radio!
The first idea of the radio was invented by Guglielmo Marconi in the 1890s. The first version was called the wireless telegraph. In 1895 Marconi was able to send messages through Morse Code. The purpose of the invention was to transmit signals and messages to the navy overseas without the need for a physical messenger. As time went on, the telegraph progressed. By 1914, alternators could sustain a consistent broadcast wave powerful enough to transmit voices and music over the radio. Then by 1919 Marconi’s resources were sold to the RCA, which spawned NBC Radio, leading to talk shows and other entertainment programs to be broadcasted. By 1920 (the year that the radio we know today was declared to be invented) the Golden Age of radio was developed and soon enough radios were a must-have in every home in America. On November 2, 1920, station KDKA made the nation's first commercial broadcast. This date was chosen because it was election day. The power of radio was proven when people could hear the results of the Harding-Cox presidential race before they read about it in the newspaper. Here is the link to tune in!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC_mgp6BJtU
Over time, the purpose of the radio changed from necessity to convenience to entertainment.
In the 20s and 30s radio was booming and everyone wanted one in their home. Crystal radios were among the first radios to be used and manufactured. These radios used a piece of lead galena crystal and a cat whisker to find the radio signal. Crystal radios allowed many people to join the radio craze in the 1920s because they were easy to make from home. Prices climbed, and the RCA’s stock price went from $85 in early 1928 to $500 by the summer of 1929. Still, that did not stop the desire for every man woman, and child to tune in daily for news, music, talk shows, sportscasting, and more.
The radio’s impact on the nation (and later the world) as a whole was immense. At first, radio gave Americans the ability to receive news of the war more quickly, rather than having to wait for the paper. Presidential elections, speeches by world leaders, and nationwide protests were transmitted from these radios into the comfort of American homes. This allowed for fewer crowds in the streets bending their ears for assembly or masses gathering to protest when people discovered they could get their message across without having to move. This solved the problem of having to wait hours and weeks to receive news. Motor vehicle companies hopped on the trend and soon enough Chevrolet was the first company to install radios in their cars!
When the war concluded, radio began to focus more on playing the music of the time. The "Top 40" in music became popular during this period, and as music and radio continued to rise in popularity, new forms of music such as rock and roll began to emerge. Not only did this help jumpstart the music industry, but it allowed for the rising of our first stars. Because of the mass audience radios attracted, advertisers saw this as an opportunity for paid programming and commercials to hit the stations. The radio helped shape future communication technologies, bridge the gap between the government and public opinion, assisted businesses with advertising and competition, helped shape the music industry, and more!
Not everyone, however, was a fan of this new radio system. Critics claim that radio killed patriotism and real participation in assemblies & protests where physical bodies are seen in the streets fighting. Another argument states that relying on the radio is just a passing fad that will kill the nation’s honesty through writing- fake news and unwanted opinions were now freely flowing through the networks. Writers expressed, “I have anticipated radio’s complete disappearance…confident that the unfortunate people, who must now subdue themselves to listening in, will soon find a better pastime for their leisure.”
Excerpt #1: Jack Woodford, “Radio: A Blessing or a Curse?” The Forum,
Live entertainment was also declining and slowly so were newspapers. Over time, science proved health issues connected to radio wave exposure.
Still, these opinions did not waver about the incredible impact radio had on our world.
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