"NURSES URGE MARCONI TO LISTEN TO RADIO PROGRAMS"

FATHER OF RADIO IS 'FED UP' WITH IT, ASKS FOR GRAPHOPHONE

London (JFK+50) On April 4, 1926, The Sunday Star reports that the inventor of the wireless, Guglielmo Marconi*, is 'fed up' with the radio.

Mr. Marconi has been recuperating at a hospital here in London where the nurses "urged" the famous inventor to listen to programs on the radio.

The hospital has introduced wireless headpieces and loud speakers.

Mr. Marconi, however, after listening for "a while," asked for a graphophone**.

JFK+50 NOTE

I grew up in the 1950s & 1960s listening to radio, transistor, table sets & automobile radio.  As I have grown older, like Marconi, I am 'fed up' with the radio.  The frequency of annoying commercials is the main reason.  Why have my ears punished listening to this crap when I can hear pure music without interruption from so many other sources?

*Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) was born in Balogna, Italy.  GM developed the 1st practical wireless telegraph system & is known as the father of radio.

**graphophone:  an improved version of Edison's phonograph, invented in 1886 in Washington, D.C. by Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Sumner Tainter & Chichester Bell.  

SOURCE

"Marconi Fed Up On Radio:  Calls For Phonograph," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., April 4, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Guglielmo Marconi

photo by Pach Brothers

1908

Library of Congress

"TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD"

CALIFORNIA RANCHER ORDERS COFFIN EQUIPPED WITH RADIO RECEIVER

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) On July 18, 1925, Associated Press reports that an elderly rancher who lives in the San Fernando Valley* "has ordered" a $1200 steel coffin specially equipped with a radio receiving set."

It seems Mr. Sam R. Kimball "is convinced" that the soul lingers close to the body until the day of judgment so as he lies in his coffin awaiting that day, he can keep up with "what is going on in the world."

*San Fernando Valley is a 260 square mile area north of the Los Angeles, California Basin.  Today it is described as an urbanized valley comprising a large portion of the city of Los Angeles.

JFK+50 NOTE

The Christian belief is that the soul separates from the body after death to await resurrection of the body.  During this "intermediate" state, the soul is conscious and in God's presence.

If Mr. Sam was around today instead of a century ago, however, he might well order a coffin with bluetooth capability & instructions for an I-phone to be put in his shirt pocket tuned to his news app of choice.

SOURCE

"Orders Radio Set On Coffin to Hear Events In World," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 18, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

www.rawpixel.com/

"MOST EXTRAORDINARY RADIO SALE EVER SEEN IN D.C."

WASHINGTONIANS OFFERED 'WORLD RENOWNED' NR-5 FREED-EISEMANN RADIO FOR UNDER $100

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 21, 1925, The Evening Star published a full-page advertisement for Lansburgh and Brothers Radio Store located at 7th to 8th to E here in the Nation's Capital.

The ad describes "the most extraordinary radio sale Washington has ever seen."  It highlights "the world renowned" NR-5 Freed-Eisemann* 5 tube neutrodyne** radio set.

The list price of a complete NR-5 set is given as $202 but the sale price is only $99.89.  While the radio itself lists at $150, the complete set adds a loudspeaker $12, batteries $23. vacuum tubes $15, and antenna $2.

*Joseph David Roth Freed founded The Radio Manufacturing Company in 1921 & merged with Alexander Eisemann to form The Freed-Eisemann Radio Corporation.  The last F-E model found by the Radio Museum was manufactured in 1955.

**neutrodyne radio receiver was invented by Louis Hazeltine in 1922.  The neutrodyne circuit was popular in radio receivers until the 1930s when it was replaced by superheteorodyne receivers.

SOURCES

"History of the manufacturer Freed-Eisemann Radio Corp., New York, New York, Radio Museum, www.radiomuseum.org/

"Simply Astounding," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 21, 1925, page 21, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

A Neutrodyne NR-5 Radio

USS Mayflower (1923)

by Naval Historical & Heritage Command

Washington, D.C.

"FIRST SUCCESSFUL FOREIGN RADIO REBROADCAST"

MUSIC FROM THE SAVOY IN LONDON HEARD OVER RADIO IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 15, 1925, The Sunday Star reports that "thousands of radio listeners" here in the Nation's Capital heard last evening "a program of dance music" originating from the Savoy Hotel* in London.

A British broadcasting station's feed was broadcast in the Washington area via local station WRC.

The Star says...

"This experiment...was the first in the history of radio broadcasting where a program in a foreign country has been successfully rebroadcast in the United States."

JFK+50 NOTE

The experiment was arranged and conducted by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA).  Twenty-five kilowatts of power was used in sending the radio signal from Chelmsford, England to Belfast, Maine.

*The Savoy Hotel opened in London in 1889 & became the first hotel in Great Britain to use electric lights.  It was known as 'London's Most Famous Hotel."

SOURCE

"London Radio Music Thrills Thousands of Listeners Here," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., March 15, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

Savoy Hotel

The Strand Londres

Photo by CVB

Cropped by Cart

2018

CC SA 4.o

"MARKS A NEW EPOCH IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS"

COOLIDGE & DAVIS TO ADDRESS NATION BY RADIO ON ELECTION EVE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 31, 1924, The Evening Star reports that President Calvin Coolidge and his Democratic opponent, John W. Davis, "will address the American people on the eve of the election Monday night through a chain of high powered radio stations stretching from coast to coast."

The Star says the broadcast will "reach the highest audience in history" and will "mark a new epoch in political campaigns."

"Radio," the Star states, "has never played such an important role."

The messages will be broadcast by WCAP* of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company and carried by twenty-two other radio stations.

*WCAP broadcast on 640 AM (1923-1926) a frequency shared by RCA's WRC.  The station was sold to RCA in 1926.  The C&P Telephone Co. was a subsidiary of AT&T.

SOURCE

"Davis Will Join Coolidge On Radio," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 31, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

President Calvin Coolidge

August 14 1924

GPA Photo Archive

www.flickr.com

Library of Congress

"NATIONAL SYSTEM OF RADIO PROGRAMS"

HOOVER PROPOSES A BROADCASTERS' ASSOCIATION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 7, 1924, The Evening Star reports the opening session today of the Third National Radio Conference held at the Commerce Department.

In his address to the session, Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover* proposed the organization of a "national system of radio programs through a broadcasters' association."

The organization would be similar to the press associations which now service newspapers.

*Herbert Hoover served as Secretary of Commerce under President Warren G. Harding, 1921-1929.  He set a high priority on economic diplomacy & promotion of growth of exports & protection against monopolistic practices of foreign governments.

SOURCE

"Urges Newspaper System For Radio," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 7, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

William McCracken, Secretary Hoover, Walter Drake

Commerce Department (1926)

www.hooverassociation.org/

 

"PRESIDENT IS A DEVOTEE OF THE RADIO"

COOLIDGE WILL LISTEN TO DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION ON HIS WIRELESS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 24, 1924, The Evening Star reports "the White House tuned in today on the Democratic (National) convention at New York."

After a cabinet meeting was finished, a radio receiver was set up for those present who wished to stay and listen.

The Star says that friends of the President expect him to listen in to the convention on his wireless.  The Star refers to Mr. Coolidge as "a devotee of the radio."

A Star reporter listened to the opening session on a "new Federal portable single-control four tube set."

SOURCE

"Coolidge by Radio Hears Democrats Start Convention," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 24, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Federal 102 Special Portable Broadcast Tube Receiver

www.ebay.com

"WIRELESS TELEPHONE RECEIVER INSTALLED IN HARDING'S STUDY"

FIRST RADIO FOR THE FIRST FAMILY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 8, 1922, President Warren G. Harding became the first POTUS to have a radio in the White House.  The New York Times reported in a headline story the next day, "Wireless telephone receiver installed in Harding's study."

The wireless receiver, soon to be called radio, was set up by White House staff in a bookcase.  It was said that the President enjoyed listening to it.  The radio played a major role in the Harding years.*

The first presidential election returns were broadcast by KDKA in Pittsburgh in 1920 and Harding, on June 14, 1922, became the first POTUS to be heard on the radio in a live broadcast of his speech dedicating a memorial to Francis Scott Key.  

Calvin Coolidge was the first POTUS (1924) to give a speech specifically written for broadcast on radio, but Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to use the medium to great political advantage.  His "Fireside Chats" were instrumental in his success in leading the nation out of the Great Depression and through WWII.  FDR once said...

"A government can be no better than the public opinion that sustains it."


*Development of amplifying vacuum tubes revolutionized radio receivers and transmitters.  There were 100,000 radio sets in American homes in 1922 and a year later there were 550,000. Sales went from $2 million in 1921 to $400 million by 1924.  The Sears & Roebuck catalog first offered radios in 1923.

SOURCES

"The Press in American Politics 1787-2012," by Patrick Novotny, Praeger, Santa Barbara, California, 2014.

"Warren G. Harding became the first president to be heard on the radio," This Day in History, June 14, 1922, www.history.com 

Warren Harding's "Readjustment Speech"

1920 Presidential Campaign