Radio Shaped American Life Long Before Streaming, And It Still Does
My grandpa was a producer on the Fibber McGee and Molly show back when radio was the primary source of night time entertainment for America. Can you believe it? No TV. No screens. No streaming services blaring in your face for attention (and taking money from your budget). No social media telling you that you don't measure up. Just people gathered around a box listening to stories. Seems kind of radical these days.
Anyway, grandpa told us the stories of his radio career, and in the telling of the stories, I was hooked.
The Stories Never Really Went Away
Now, by the time I got into the industry, radio's role had changed to being more a source of music along with news and information, and the night time story telling had shifted to television. But, there were still stories, albeit in shorter form, being told by the personalities of the day, and the opportunity to use the imagination to engage with these story tellers was, to me anyway, better than seeing scenes played out on a 19 inch TV screen.
I grew up listening to those “friends” on the radio, and when I started my time on the air, it was my goal (and still is) to be one of those friends. I think radio has and still has a special place in society, and that's why I'm glad it has a day of recognition.
National Radio Day, observed each year on August 20, is a celebration of one of the most influential forms of mass communication in American history. Radio has been part of American life for more than a century, bringing news, music, sports, entertainment and emergency information into homes, cars and workplaces.
The origins of radio broadcasting stretch back to the early 20th century, when advances in wireless communication made it possible to transmit voices and music over the air. Commercial radio began taking shape in the 1920s, and stations quickly became an important source of information and entertainment. Families once gathered around the radio in their living rooms to hear everything from serialized dramas and comedy programs to presidential speeches and live reports from major events.
Radio's influence expanded dramatically during the middle of the 20th century, particularly with the development of portable and automobile radios. Later, FM broadcasting brought improved sound quality and helped transform music radio.
Read More: A Radio Friend Still Missed
The exact origins of National Radio Day are somewhat difficult to pin down, but the annual observance provides an opportunity to recognize radio's enduring role in connecting people. In an era filled with increasingly personalized forms of media, radio retains something distinctive: the ability to create a shared experience while still feeling personal. For generations of listeners, radio has not simply been something they listened to. It has been a companion.
To my colleagues in the radio industry here in southern Utah I say today is our day. Let's enjoy it!
