| Year |
Quick Summary |
| 1909 |
In 1906, Lee De Forest invented his “Audion” tube – what we now call a “triode”. He used it as a detector/amplifier to help make possible the radio transmission of the human voice. In 1909, Mr. DeForest used his equipment to broadcast the voice of Enrico Caruso from the Metropolitan Opera. This soundbyte is supposedly a recording of that 1909 broadcast – “O Sole Mio”. |
| 1918 |
Twelve years after Reginald Fessenden first broadcast voices via radio, two years after Alexanderson invented a selective tuner for radio receivers, and a year before the founding of the Radio Corporation of America, Edward Armstrong developed superhetrodyne circuit technology. This invention helped move radio from the world of the experimental physicist to the home.
President Woodrow Wilson used the radio during the latter part of his tenure (1913 – 1921). Here is an excerpt of a Wilson speech on the plight of farmers, recorded on disk in 1912. President Wilson’s broadcasts preceeded by more than a decade the more famous “Fireside Chats” that President Franklin D. Roosevelt broadcast between 1933 and 1945.
WW I ended in 1918. Here is a song that might have been on the radio: Over There (written by George M. Cohan, performed by Billy Murray [courtesy of the Library of Congress web page]). |
| 1920 |
The first commercial radio stations with regularly scheduled broadcasts were heard in 1920. WWJ (Detroit) (then known as “8MK”) went on-air in August. KDKA (Pittsburgh) went on-air in November with the results of the 1920 Harding – Cox Presidential election.
[Some sources claim KQW in San Jose, California deserves the title of “First Commercial Station” because of its broadcasting in 1912. Donna Halper reminds us that Montreal’s XWA was on the air in late 1919, and there were at least four stations regularly on the air in 1920]
Also See Elizabeth McLeod’s Documenting Early Radio for information about 1920 – 1935 radio. |
| 1921 |
The first sports broadcast was the Dempsey-Carpenter fight on July 2, 1921.
The Happiness Boys started a show, which continued (on various stations) until 1940.
First religious broadcast? KDKA
aired the Sunday service of Pittsburgh’s Calvary Episcopal Church on Jan 2nd. |
| 1922 |
Donna Halper’s research revealed that, in November of 1922, songs from the successful Broadway musical “Shuffle Along” were performed live by the original cast over station WNAC in Boston, one of the earliest examples of an African-American musical on radio (it featured Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, and Lottie Gee, among others). |
| 1924 |
National political conventions were heard on a nationwide network during the 1924 nomination season. (Calvin Coolidge won the Presidency. Here is an excerpt from one of Calvin Coolidge’s speeches, preserved on a 78 RPM campaign handout.)
The A & P Gypsies appeared on WEAF (New York), and moved to NBC Red in 1926. For the next 10 years, this musical show (Harry Horlick and his orchestra) was heard nationally, on NBC Red or NBC Blue.
The National Barn Dance first heard on WLS (Chicago). The show was broadcast between 4/19/24 and 4/30/60 (and only 14 recorded shows remain) |
| 1925 |
A year later, The Grand Ol’ Opry appeared, and was heard on various stations until 1941, when it was picked up by NBC. Grand Ol’ Opry was heard on NBC on Saturday nights (at about 9:30 or 10:30 PM) through 1956, when it became syndicated, and was heard on various other stations. |
| 1926 |
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was established by RCA in 1926. “Red” and “Blue” Networks.
Among the shows broadcast that year were several orchestras, Ben Bernie, Will Rogers, Sam and Henry and Father Coughlin. The Betty Crocker Show started on NBC Red. |
| 1927 |
The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) was founded.
NBC’s Orange (West Coast) network founded.
Many musical shows on the air, including Chicago Civic Opera, National Symphony Orchestra, and the Goodrich Zippers (Banjo Ensamble),
Talk shows included: Auction Bridge, and Cook’s Travelogue.
H. V. Kaltenborn, broadcasting news, was first heard on CBS [1955] |
| 1928 |
Sam and Henry became Amos and Andy in 1928 when the show moved to NBC. The Amos and Andy show was on the radio through 1960 – making it the longest-running series in radio history. Here is an excerpt, discussing the 1928 election.
The Guy Lombardo Show [1967] started this year, as did the The Voice of Firestone and Uncle Don [1949] |
History and OTR