Radio in the 1930's Essay

Newspapers had once been the only mass communication & entertainment. The demand for new products that emerged in the 1920s created a new industry, advertising, which enticed buyers to purchase new products, and now that the radio had emerged, advertising was integrated into this media outlet . Radio shows like Amos n' Andy, became a nationwide hit. The advertising industry grew with the emerging industries of mass culture, especially radio and cinema. For the first time, from coast to coast, Americans experienced the same shows and used the same advertised products due to mass culture. The first commercial radio station aired in 1920 and broadcast music to a few thousand listeners. By the end of the decade, thirty-three

Mass media during the 1920s united the nation and created an economic boom in new areas of entertainment and leisure. As technology advanced, new forms of communication and entertainment began to rise. A variety of new entertainment like radio, magazines, and movies with sound became common and popular. Over 700 films were produced each year, over 100 million radios were in use, and LIFE magazine had over 250,000 readers in the year 1920 alone. The demand of new forms of media began to increase due to the thirst to live vicariously through the personas they see and hear all around them. Mass media in the 1920s united the country, controlled individual consumption, and propelled American consumerism.

Throughout history, advertising has played a significant role in consumerism, politics, and much more. By the 1920’s it had developed into a major aspect of daily life for Americans, determining everything from their hygiene habits to their meals. Despite this having been almost one-hundred years ago, there are many similarities, but also many differences in the advertising industry today.

After the First World War, many people were looking forward to good times. The 1920’s presented people with this time of fast-paced fun and adventure. Entertainment was the foremost part of everyday life during the 1920’s. Radio introduced a whole new practice of entertainment to people’s everyday lives. Likewise, through the utilization of the radio, people were able to experience a new medium to entertain themselves. Furthermore, the radio changed the face of society’s culture through its widespread use. In addition, radios provided people with a new, effective and efficient means of communication. Radio was a fundamental aspect in people’s lives during the 1920’s as it provided many people with news and entertainment in their

Similar to businesses standardizing in making and advertising consumers goods, the practice of mass-producing culture standardized and sped up in the 1920s. Radio became a national obsession. What started out as only a few

The Roaring Twenties was a time of change and innovation with the rise in new technology. Even though electricity was available to Americans before the 1920s only a small percentage of American household had electricity. By the height of the Roaring Twenties about two thirds of American households had electricity. With the rise of electricity came the popular household items such as the electric vacuum cleaner and the automatic washing machine. As the twenties proceeded the automobile because extremely popular. The young generation used the automobile to escape from the watchful eye of the older generations. Often, the automobile was used for scandalous meetings between lovers. Another innovation of the Roaring Twenties is film. Film became one of the main sources of entertainment for Americans during the 1920s. “By the mid-1920s movie theatres were selling 50 million tickets each week, a sum equal to roughly half the US population” (Zeitz). The movies theatre not only served as a source of entertainment, but the theaters also served as a classroom for the young generation. The young adults learned about love and sex is scandalous movies such as Flaming Youth. Movie theatres also served as a source of news and a place for propaganda and advertisements. Radio also experienced a vast expansion during the 1920s. Radio sparked a radical change the country’s awareness. News such as election results could be broadcasted live across the nation so that citizens could be more aware of what was going on in the country. Radio also provided a source of entertainment by broadcasting sporting events like the World Series. Radio contributed to liberalism by broadcasting “‘race music’, ‘hillbilly’ sounds, and ethnic recordings” into

After recently suffering through a recession, America began to prosper economically. During the 1920’s the nation’s manufacturing output rose by more than sixty percent (Brinkley, 634). There were many technology advances during this time period. The automobile became one of the most important industries in the nation (Carr-Wilcox, March 4, 2013). Auto manufactures had to purchase steel, rubber, gasoline, oil, and tools, which in turn gave rise to these industries. The radio became a popular technology. By the end of the 1920’s almost every family in America had a radio in their household. Even the bases of the earliest computers were being made during the 1920’s. Technology had a huge impact on the communication of people in the twenties.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s use of the radio in what has been termed his “Fireside Chats” had a calming effect on Americans. American society had already suffered though several years of agonizing economic depression and FDR realized that Americans were afraid, and uncertain about their day to lives, and they were especially afraid for their families. It was his intent to introduce policies to alleviate the economic problems America was faced. With his medium of choice the radio he would promote and educated the public about his new legislative acts and policy changes.

At the beginning of the decade the nation was still groggy from waking up to a new decade after fighting in World War I. In 1921 President Harding took office and set the course for economic prosperity and a self-propelling nation. The decade of 1920 presented many national shifts of aspects in economy and culture that would include outrageous activity in the stock markets, the use of the radio as a mass media tool, the artistic movement known as the Harlem Renaissance and the age of prohibition. With such changes occurring on a national level the decade became known as the Roaring 20’s.

Radio was the lifeline for Americans in the 1940’s, providing news, music and entertainment, much like television today. Programming included soap operas, quiz shows, children’s hours, mystery stories, drama and sports. Kate Smith and Arthur Godfrey were popular radio hosts. The government relied heavily on radio for propaganda. Like the movies, radio faded in popularity as television became prominent. Many of the most popular radio shows continued on in television, including Red Skelton, Abbott and Costello, Jack Benny, Bob Hope and Truth or Consequences.

Growing up, I never fit the mold of being the average kid. While most kids were playing outside and playing sports I was going to yard sales, antique shops, and auctions buying everything from coffee tins to 1940s tin toys. I always see kids who rebel against their parents for the most random and stupid reasons such as not taking them somewhere or because the parents did something the kid didn’t like. I however really never argued with my parents on any matter except when I wanted to buy something. I would nag them to let me buy something, they would tell me no, then I would continue on with the rest of my day without bringing it up again. However, that all changed when I decided to buy a 1940 floor radio. I was previously instructed not to

The development of 1920s and 1930s media and technology was extremely influential upon the period of time immediately after. Radio played a significant part in the 1920s and 1930s. It boomed during this period, collaborating with the newspapers to deliver news and current events around the world. During the mid-1920s non-profit organisations and universities operated radio stations in America. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was founded on 18th October 1922 and has thus expanded to television and film. The BBC was a success sending transmissions all over Europe. Not only did this lead to the company broadcasting updates about the Second World War but also encouraged individuals to set up their own systems and military communication devices were made. It was not until 1946 that women were on the radio, which was some

The 1930s and 1940s are considered the golden age of radio (Feature Radio in the 1930s). Nearly everyone in every household in America, Germany, and Great Britain owned one to help them stay up to date on the events happening around them. Though this time was considered the “golden age” of the radio, it was not so golden for people around the world. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Hitler were all leaders of powerful countries during one of the most difficult times in history. In 1929, the American stock market crashed. This caused industries to collapse, banks to shut down, and millions of citizens to lose their jobs across the US; conditions continued to worsen as more and more people became homeless. In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt was elected as President of the United States and things began to look up. Before he could get America completely out of the depression, however, disaster struck again.

"News is not reality, but a supply of sources' potrayals of reality, mediated by news organisations."

Radio is an ideal media for marketing fast moving consumer goods because it can reach wide targeted listener demographics in urban territory. A large number of people listen to radio while traveling in urban areas and respond to the broadcast of various commercial messages.