Table of Contents
What were the 2 most popular radio shows in the 1930s?
Children listened to the adventure series Little Orphan Annie and the science-fiction show Flash Gordon. Amos ‘n’ Andy, a situation comedy, was the most popular show ever broadcast, lasting more than 30 years. The Shadow, a crime drama, also had a loyal following.
How many radio stations were there in the 1930s?
Table 1 Number of Radio Stations in the US, 1921-1940
Year | Number |
---|---|
1928 | 677 |
1929 | 606 |
1930 | 618 |
1931 | 612 |
How did the radio affect the Great Depression?
Radios provided a much-needed distraction from the hardships of the Great Depression. They provided a social outlet as well. Radios provided reassurance. An estimated 60 million people listened to President Roosevelt’s first fireside chat about the bank crisis (March 12, 1933).
Why is it called the Golden Age of Radio?
The radio emerged at the turn of the twentieth century, the result of decades of scientific experimentation with the theory that information could be transmitted over long distances. Radio as a medium reached its peak—the so-called Radio Golden Age—during the Great Depression and World War II.
What was the first radio drama?
The Wolf
The first play written specifically for radio was A Comedy Of Danger, by Richard Hughes, which aired in January of 1924, commissioned by the BBC in Britain. In the U.S., it is believed that the first radio drama was a show called The Wolf, adapted from a play of Charles Sommerville by Eugene Walter, also in 1924.
What was on the radio in 1932?
29 March – Jack Benny is heard on the radio for the first time on Ed Sullivan’s show. 2 May – The Jack Benny Program debuts on the NBC Blue Network. 29 June – The comedy serial Vic and Sade debuts on NBC Blue Network. 12 September – Tarzan of the Apes debuts on WOR and in syndication.
What was the most popular radio show in the 1930s?
Lux Radio Theater, a long-run classic radio anthology series, was broadcast once a week on the NBC Blue Network (1934-35); CBS (1935-54) and NBC (1954-55). These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences.
What did they do on radio in the 1940’s?
During the Golden Age of Radio, radio programs featured 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, sports broadcasts, talent shows and weather forecasts.
What was the peak of radio drama in the 1940’s?
During this time, evening dramatic programs exploded in growth. During the middle to late 1940’s, radio drama reached its peak, then came the expansion of television, causing it to quickly fade into history.
What did they do on Old Time Radio?
Before television, radio provided entertainment by presenting radio plays and programs of mystery, intrigue, and comedy. There was also news and soap operas. If you are new to old time radio, have a look at how the sound men created the broadcasts with sound effects.