Old Time Radio
Social Science/History | Available (Membership Required)
In 1920, the first five major radio stations in the U.S. were licensed. By the end of 1922, there were over 500 stations. That year, Americans spent 60 million dollars on radios. In 1929, they spent 850 million. We will look at various aspects of radio during its 30-year "Golden Age," including the shows, the actors, the sponsors, and the rise of radio networks. We listen to excerpts from radio shows and see how radio entertainment grew from vaudeville, intertwined with film, and finally passed the torch to television. This is a 2 part series.
Dr. Blaker is retired after a 45-year career as a research scientist and university professor. He has received teaching awards from Virginia Tech and Furman University. He has taught university courses in general science, biology, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, English composition, statistics, and philosophy. Now, he teaches anything he finds interesting.