Radio and Society

Society before radio

Mostly local for thousands of years Mostly local for thousands of years Print opened up the world, but not to a lot of people Print opened up the world, but not to a lot of people People made their own entertainment: People made their own entertainment: Reading Reading Conversation Conversation Parlor games Parlor games musicales musicales

Sheet music a big seller

If you left home Live theatre Live theatre Vaudeville Vaudeville Lectures Lectures Concerts in the park Concerts in the park Fairs and festivals Fairs and festivals The beach The beach

End of the quiet life

The world became a noisy place Radios in homes Radios in homes Radios in restaurants and bars Radios in restaurants and bars Radios in cars Radios in cars Radio played outside businesses Radio played outside businesses

Prior to radio, communication was point to point Prior to radio, communication was point to point It was one voice reaching one person at a time It was one voice reaching one person at a time Books Books Letters Letters Telegrams Telegrams Movies could reach tens or hundreds at a time, but it required affirmative action on the part of the audience Movies could reach tens or hundreds at a time, but it required affirmative action on the part of the audience

1932 Democratic Convention

One voice, many ears For the first time, one voice could be heard by millions of people at a time For the first time, one voice could be heard by millions of people at a time

Father Charles Coughlin

Demagoguery in Action One of the most popular radio speakers of the 1930s One of the most popular radio speakers of the 1930s Up to a third of the nation listened to him Up to a third of the nation listened to him Delivered a populist message Delivered a populist message Supported Hitler’s campaign against communism and Jews Supported Hitler’s campaign against communism and Jews Coughlin’s message resulted in -- Coughlin’s message resulted in --

Restrictions on radio U.S. government decided that the First Amendment didn’t apply to radio broadcasts U.S. government decided that the First Amendment didn’t apply to radio broadcasts The airwaves are a “limited natural resource” and should be regulated The airwaves are a “limited natural resource” and should be regulated Radio stations now needed to have operating permits (Coughlin was denied a permit) Radio stations now needed to have operating permits (Coughlin was denied a permit) National Association of Broadcasters ruled that there should be "rigid limitations on the sale of radio time to spokesmen of controversial public issues" National Association of Broadcasters ruled that there should be "rigid limitations on the sale of radio time to spokesmen of controversial public issues"

John R. Brinkley, MD (?)

Sold the cure for many medical problems, especially sexual problems – Goat Glands Quickly realized the value of radio as an advertising medium

Opened a 1000 watt station in Kansas to promote his “cures” Opened a 1000 watt station in Kansas to promote his “cures” Was denied a license in 1930 because he didn’t broadcast in the public interest but only for private gain Was denied a license in 1930 because he didn’t broadcast in the public interest but only for private gain Appealed on grounds of censorship Appealed on grounds of censorship Lost the appeal: past programming could be considered without it being considered censorship Lost the appeal: past programming could be considered without it being considered censorship

Brinkley opened new station Across the border in Mexico Programming sent across from the US on phone lines Pumped out 500,000 watts – could be heard in Russia

Led to new regulations – the Brinkley Act: Led to new regulations – the Brinkley Act: Any station broadcasting from Mexico but originating in the US had to be licensed by the US Any station broadcasting from Mexico but originating in the US had to be licensed by the US Put Brinkley out of business Put Brinkley out of business

Radio was mostly entertainment Radio was mostly entertainment New forms of music became popular New forms of music became popular Blues Blues Jazz Jazz Country Country

Bessie Smith

Fiddlin’ John Carson 1923 “little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” became first country hit

For 20 years the country was bound together by a common source of information and social norms – the radio

Advent of Television

Early TV show

The Lone Ranger

Roy Brown

Todd Storz

Alan Freed