Ms. Rajkovich and Mr. Chae

1920's: The Radio and its Impact

• Guglielmo Marconi sent the first radio signal in Italy in 1885

• In 1899 the United States Army established wireless communications with a lightship off Fire Island, New York

o Two years later the Navy adopted a wireless system.

• During WW1, the U.S. government controlled all radio development

o these government restraints were released in 1919

o The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was in charge of the release of the radio control

The Radio: Its Beginning

• By 1923 there were about 3 million radio listeners in the country o that was about 37% of the country

• With more than 1/3 of the country listening to radios, information could travel faster to rural and isolated areas

• This caused the rise of pop culture and national experience

The Impact on Americans

• Created National Heroes

• Projected Sports Events

• Told Political Stories

• Played Music

Uses of the Radio

• Charles Lindbergh- flew solo from New York to Paris in 1927o When he flew over Ireland, the news radioed both New York and

Paris!

National Heroes

• 1920 - The Harding-Cox presidential results were aired over Westinhouses Corporation's KDKA radio station in Pittsburgh

• Many radio stations broadcasted murder cases and other scandalso entertainment pieces

The News

• The Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey boxing match sold more than $90,000 worth of radios in one store! (1927)

• The Yankees - o By 1924, 576 radio stations nationwide broadcasted their gameso Babe Ruth, hit 60 homeruns in 154 games in 1927 - over five

millions radios listened to this broadcast around the country (the sportscasters giving a play by play of the game)

• Before WW1, there were few golf and tennis courts around the countryo by 1926 millions of sports fans listened to Bobby Jones win the

U.S. and British Open

Sports

Bobby Jones at the British Open

"He wasn't a baseball player. He was a worldwide celebrity, an international star, the likes of which baseball has never seen

since."

Babe Ruth

• Harold Edward "Red" Grangeo 3-time All-American at University of Illinoiso scored a touchdown in every single college game except

for oneo named the greatest college football player of all-time by

ESPN

the "Galloping Ghost"

• In 1926, became the first woman to swim across the English Channel

• She swam it in 14 hours and 39 minutes

Gertrude Ederle

<--a parade held for her in NYC

• Get in a group of 3-4 people and come up with your own radio broadcast

• Your broadcast must address these questions:o Who will listen to your station?o What will you broadcast (sports, news, music)?

• Have fun and be creative!

Your Assignment