Old time radio or the golden age of radio is generally referred to that period of radio programming lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television replaced radio as the dominant home entertainment medium in the late 1950s and 1960s.
During this period, when radio was dominant and the airwaves were filled with a variety radio formats and genres, people regularly tuned in to their favorite radio programs. In a 1947 survey, it was revealed that 82 out of 100 American people were avidly listening to the radio.
This period ended when music radio became the dominant radio form. More significantly of which was when the final broadcast by CBS of “Suspense” and “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar” was aired on September 30, 1962.
Radio shows had its origin in audio theatre. It started in 1880s and 1890s with audio recordings of musical acts and other vaudeville. These were sent to people by way of telephone and later on, through phonograph cylinders and discs.
On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden sent the first radio program broadcast, which was made up of some violin playing and bible passages.
During the golden age of radio, radio featured genres and formats popular in other forms of American entertainment—adventure, comedy, drama, horror, mystery, musical variety , romance thrillers—along with classical music concerts, big band remotes, farm reports, news, and commentary, panel discussions, quiz shows, sidewalk interviews, sports broadcasts, talent shows and weather forecasts.
In the 1920s, the sponsored musical feature was the most popular program format. Commercials were then and now regarded as intrusive.
These programs were usually displayed with the sponsor’s name in the title. Such programs as “The A & P Gypsies, Acousticon Hour, Champion Spark Plug Hour, The Clicquot Club Eskimos, The Flit Soldiers, and The Goodrich Zippers” were examples of these.
Country music also enjoyed popularity.“National Barn Dance” first commenced on Chicago’s WLS-AM in 1924. WSM Barn Dance promptly went on the air from Nashville.
It was renamed the “The Grand Ole Opry in 1927.” NBC carried portions from 1944 to 1956. NBC also aired the Red Foley Show from 1951 to 1961 and ABC radio carried Ozark Jubilee from 1953 to 1961.
Radio comedy ran the gamut from the small town humor of Lum and Abner, Herb Shriner and Minnie Pearl to the dialect characterization of Mel Blanc. Popular comedy talents dominated the airwaves for many years.
Frede Allen, Jack Benny, Victor Borge, Fanny Brice, Bob Burns, Bob Hope and Groucho Marx were some of the radio talents that time.
The first soap opera, “Clara, Lu and Em,” was introduced in 1930 on Chicago’s WGN-AM. When daytime serials began in the 1930’s, they became known as soap operas because most of them were sponsored by soap products and detergents.
How I love old time radio shows! Isn’t it clear?
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