Starter of this subject: Simon Vozick-Levinson
Last post in this subject: 4/22/2000
Messages in this subject: 4
| Simon Vozick-Levinson | 4/22/2000 4 replies |
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Hello all -- I'm in the tenth grade, and I'm writing a term paper about the role of radio in the 1920s. (My thesis, in case you're interested, is that radio unified the US politically and socially, by creating a single universal popular and political culture.) I'd love to hear anything any of you who remember the experience of listening to OTR that long ago -- especially any comments you might have about radio's role within the family (i.e., did the whole family crowd around the radio to listen to various programs).
Many thanks in advance, Simon Vozick-Levinson |
| Nate Williams | 5/1/2000 0 replies |
| Hi Simon: While I cannot relate to the 1920s as I was born in the 1930s I would like to share a memory of radio as it was in the 1940s. One afternoon in April of 1945 I was listening to one of my favorite radio programs, Hop Harrigan, on radio station KXOK in St. Louis, an announcer cut into the program and announced that President Roosevelt had died in Warm Springs, Georgia. President Roosevelt had been in office since the early 1930s and was much loved by many. I ran to the front door and saw my sister and her friend walking down the street. I called to her and shouted that President Roosevelt had died. Another lady was walking nearby and scolded me saying I shouldn't joke about such a thing like that. The radio stations nationwide later cancelled their regular scheduled programs and played slow music for it seemed like two weeks in memory of his passing. Yes we all listened to the radio together. The nice thing about radio is that you could imagine in your mind what Captain Midnight, Hop Harrigan, the Shadow, or Tom Mix looked like. I can remember doing a lot of homework while the radio was playing. Good luck with your homework assignment and call on me for any other comments about those grand old days before your present day teachers were born... |
| Randy Collins | 5/3/2000 1 replies |
| Hi Simon and congrats on your very interesting term paper project. I don't know if you'll get any first-hand replys to your query as anyone with any memories at all would have to be in their mid to late 80's now to have been able to comprehend anything from the mid to late '20's as I'm sure you realize. I was 10 in the late 60's and I still have vivid memories of TV in those days, so maybe you'll get lucky--but I'm not 85 yet! I do suggest, though, that you go to the program guide of this very site and look in the History of OTR section--I think you'll find some great info there on radio in the 20's for your paper--if you haven't checked there already. Especially review Elizabeth McLeod's Documenting Early Radio section and A Week in Radio from December, 1928--these should be very helpful in helping you establish the mood and type of 1920's radio programs available. Hey--why don't you e-mail Lou and ask him if he'll review and perhaps post your completed paper on this site--I would certainly like to see what you come up with and I'm sure more otr fans would also. Good luck. What about it, Lou? |
| Carl Larsen | 5/22/2000 0 replies |
| Radio brought families together in ways that TV just doesn't. Watching TV, people sit like a collection of zombies, their eyes and ears both occupied, and very often they ignore each other for hours on end (except for an occasional trip to the bathroom or fridge). Listening to the radio, I remember my family sitting around in the living room, involved in a variety of activities and interacting, but still being able to keep one ear cocked toward Allen's Alley or listening for Mel Blanc's marvelous Maxwell (auto) imitation on Jack Benny. And the programs spanned generations as well, they were a common ground for -- for instance -- my grandmother and I; a shared experience that brought us closer and gave an elderly woman and a little kid something to chat about. |
| Robert Flood | 6/27/2000 0 replies |
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Dear Simon: I think I like many OTR fans are glad to learn of someone your age interested in Old Time Radio.
I do hope that after your paper has been completed that you will continue to explore and enjoy the wonderful world of radio; afterall its |