"THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARMISTICE DAY"

MR. WILSON'S ARMISTICE DAY SPEECH WILL BE BROADCAST TO THOUSANDS OVER RADIO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Friday, November 2, 1923, The Evening Star reports that former President Woodrow Wilson's forthcoming Armistice Day* address "will pierce the ether** for the first time since he left the White House."

The remarks will be delivered from the front steps of Mr. Wilson's home at 2340 S Street NW here in the District of Columbia.  His words will be broadcast over three powerful radio stations: WCAP Washington, D.C., WEAF New York CIty, and WJAR Providence, R.I.

The subject of the speech, expected to last ten minutes, will be "The Significance of Armistice Day."

JFK+50 NOTE

Woodrow Wilson's 'Armistice Day' speech would actually be delivered on November 10, 1923.  Richard Striner describes it as "one of the most poignant & prophetic...speeches of his life."

Mr. Wilson said the U.S. has "forever marred" the peace by refusing to bear any part of the administration of the peace (i.e. not joining the League of Nations). The former POTUS, however, correctly predicted his country would eventually take on world leadership responsibilities.  

The speech can be accessed via You Tube, CSPAN.

*Armistice Day, a.k.a. Veterans Day, celebrated on Nov 11th marks the armistice signed by the allies of WWI & Germany in France on that date in 1918.  Veterans Day (U.S.) honors military veterans both living and deceased.

**ether waves or radio waves, electromagnetic radiation.  The term ether is a long time antiquated reference to radio signal transmission. 

SOURCES

"Armistice Day broadcast--Woodrow Wilson," November 10, 1923, Essay by Richard Striner, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Thousands to Hear Wilson By Radio on Armistice Day," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 2, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Armistice Day Poster

Mike Licht

www.flickr.com/

"GRANTLAND RICE'S VOICE RADIATED THROUGH THE ETHER"

THE WORLD SERIES TO BE BROADCAST BY RADIOPHONE

New York City (JFK+50) The New York Tribune reports "for the first time in history" the World Series will be broadcast over the radiophone* direct from the Polo Grounds here in the city.

The national championship match-up between the New York Giants and the New York Yankees will be broadcast on a play-by-play basis by Grantland Rice**, "nationally known sports expert."

Mr. Rice's voice will be "radiated through the ether***" via radio station WJZ at Newark, New Jersey.

It is expected that 1.5 million people will tune in to the broadcast.

JFK+50 NOTE

The New York Giants won the 1922 World Series in 5 games, winning 4 with 1 tie.  The Giants kept slugger Babe Ruth at bay by "pitching around" him.  The Bambino had only 1 rbi & a series batting avg of .118.

The Giants & Yankees both played their home games at the Polo Grounds, but the following year the Yanks would move to Yankee Stadium, "the house that Ruth built."

*radiophone or radio telephone is a radio communication system used for transmission of speech over radio as opposed to radiotelegraphy which transmits telegraphic or television signals.

**Henry Grantland Rice (1880-1954) was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee & graduated from Vanderbilt University, 1901 where he played football & baseball.  HGR worked at the Nashville Tennessean before beginning his sports column in the New York Tribune, 1914.  As a sports writer he was known for his eloquent prose. 

***ether, in physics a theoretical substance once believed to act as a medium for transmission of electromagnetic waves. 

SOURCES

"Ether," Britannica, www.britannica.com/

"The World Series by Radio," The New York Tribune, October 2, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Grantland Rice on Tel/Mic

Photo by Paul Thompson

circa 1920

World Telegraph & Sun

Library of Congress