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The Record & Radio Industry
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33 1/3 RPM: the professional speed Standard records were ten inches wide, played at 78 RPM, and contained four minutes of music per side. When movies first began to "talk" in the mid 1920s, it became necessary to find a longer recording format that could be synchronized with an 11-minute reel of film. A slower recording speed of 33 1/3 RPM was adopted for this purpose, and it became known as the "professional speed." Until tape recorders became available in 1947, radio stations and record companies used this speed for their transcriptions and wax master recordings.  transcription discs Live radio shows were recorded for posterity on 16-inch transcription discs. These records were made of shellac, acetate or lacquer-coated aluminum, and were recorded at the "professional speed" of 33 1/3 RPM. They were also four inches wider than the modern LP and extremely fragile.  FM radioFrequency modulation (FM) broadcasting was invented by Edwin Armstrong and was first demonstrated in 1933. The first experimental stations were launched in 1939, and within a year there were 16 stations on the air and another six under construction. In 1941, the FCC approved commercial FM broadcasting and established 42-50 MC as the FM frequency band. Growth was slow during the war years. In 1945, there were just 52 commercial stations in operation, although many more were licensed and under construction. In 1945, the FCC needed to make room for television channels, so they decided to move the FM frequency band from 42-50 MC to 88-108 MC. All stations were ordered to move to the new frequencies by 1948. This decision slowed the growth of the new industry even more. In 1947, there were only 142 FM stations in existence. During the transition period, you could purchase a radio that had both FM bands on it, or you could buy a converter kit. The FM industry began to recover by 1950, when approximately 600 stations were in existence. | ----- |
 recording on tape Magnetic tape recorders were developed in Germany in the 1930s. They were improved and made available to the American public in 1947, where they transformed the radio and recording industry almost overnight. Record companies began using tape for their master recordings, since the sound quality was a big improvement over the 16-inch wax discs previously used.  radio & prerecorded shows Most radio shows were performed live, often with a studio audience. Except for wartime news reports, NBC and CBS banned prerecorded shows completely. Once in a great while, a station would air a prerecorded show from a transcription disc during non-network hours, but they didn't like to do it. They were afraid that audiences would reject "canned" radio programs. This policy was hard on the performers, who often had to do their shows at odd hours or do repeat broadcasts for listeners in different time zones. When magnetic tape recording became available in 1947, one of its first supporters was Bing Crosby, who switched from NBC to ABC when the latter promised to let him prerecord his shows. Gradually, the radio industry saw that tape-recording was a good thing, and by 1950 airing prerecorded shows was a standard practice. A disclaimer preceded all prerecorded shows, stating that the program was airing "from transcription." FM Broadcasting Chronology Postwar FM Broadcasting Developing Tape-Recording For Radio Use The FM Frequency Move | ||
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Radio Shows In the 1940s, the radio was our "window to the world." It brought us music and laughter, good news and bad. | ||
 holiday traditions *Lionel Barrymore treated us to his portrayal of Ebenzer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," a role he played on radio nearly every year from 1934 to 1953.  Listen to Lionel Barrymore in "A Christmas Carol" from 1939! (RealAudio) *Every Christmas, we looked forward to accompanying Jack Benny on his yearly shopping excursions. *First broadcast in 1937, the adventures of The Cinnamon Bear delighted listeners young and old. ======================================== ======================================== radio tidbits The Green Hornet Was Kato Japanese? Did the attack on Pearl Harbor prompt radio producers to change his nationality? Kato's Nationality Change Pearl Harbor In the 48 hours following the attack on Pearl Harbor, announcer Rod O'Connor at WCCO in Minneapolis broke into regular programming so often that he finally joked, "We interrupt the news flashes to bring you a regularly scheduled program." Grand Ole Opry In 1943, the popular Nashville country music show moved to the Ryman Auditorium, where it would remain until the 1970s.  almost like being thereBefore 1946, local ball games were broadcast live, but out-of-town games were not. It was too expensive and technically awkward to do remote broadcasts over long distances. Instead, sportscasters resorted to the radio recreation. A wire service telegrapher sent play-by-play reports to the station by Morse Code or teletype, which were read on the air and embellished with sound effects and fictional details. This made listeners feel as if they were actually listening to the game. The first long-distance remote broadcasts were done in 1946. | ----- |
 On The Air Christmas Day! Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge  tune in your favorite shows Radio Spirits Online Radio Shows Jack Benny Radio Archives Radio Lovers: Free Online Radio Shows Yesterday USA Free Old-Time Radio Shows My YouTube Playlist: 1940s Radio  Ryman Auditorium, home of The Grand Ole Opry stars on the radio Judy Garland Cary Grant The Marx Brothers Frank Sinatra Nat "King" Cole Bing Crosby links What Is A Private Eye, Anyway? Bill's Old-Time Radio Page Radio Baseball That Never Was | ||
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situation comedy Our Miss Brooks The Life Of Riley The Great Gildersleeve Amos 'n Andy Fibber McGee & Molly Life With Luigi Duffy's Tavern My Friend Irma My Favorite Husband Ozzie & Harriet Baby Snooks The Bickersons Lum & Abner The Goldbergs The Judy Canova Show Stoopnagle & Budd  The gang at Duffy's Tavern just for laughs Candid Microphone Abbott & Costello Red Skelton Fred Allen Bob Hope: -------The Pepsodent Show Jack Benny George Burns & Gracie Allen: -------Maxwell House Coffee Time The Spike Jones Show  Don McNeill's Breakfast Club music & variety Lucky Strike Hit Parade Eddie Cantor: -------It's Time To Smile -------The Eddie Cantor Show Raleigh Cigarette Program Chesterfield Supper Club Bing Crosby: ------- Philco Radio Time ------- Kraft Music Hall WLS National Barn Dance Phil Harris & Alice Faye Grand Ole Opry The Voice Of Firestone Make-Believe Ballroom Gene Autry's Melody Ranch Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy: -------The Chase & Sanborn Hour The Kate Smith Hour Hour Of Charm The Glenn Miller Show The Sammy Kaye Show Texaco Star Theater Kay Kyser's Kollege Of Musical Knowledge quiz shows You Bet Your Life Ladies Be Seated Information Please It Pays To Be Ignorant Noah Webster Says The Quiz Kids Truth Or Consequences Twenty Questions  news & other programs Don McNeill's Breakfast Club Hear It Now Cavalcade Of America The Walter Winchell Show The March Of Time Major Bowes Amateur Hour House Party Mystery Chef The Passing Parade Betty Crocker Cooking School Of The Air Tom Breneman's Breakfast In Hollywood Ted Mack Amateur Hour Hi Jinx | |||
other pages in this section:
Television
Music
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