Radio in the 1930's

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Has anyone ever wondered how radio communications changed society during the 1930’s? According to the research done by the Education Foundation, many people believe that the most important development in the radio at that time was entertainment; this is entirely false. In fact, radio communications not only made an impact in the way people received their news, but also brought together a nation that got out of a brutal depression. Together, the nations as one made radio communications the commanding form of media in the 1930’s. As stations and businesses were beginning to establish themselves, companies from across the nation were taking notice in the department of advertisement. This new realm ignited a spark for the nation’s new economy which later boomed and gave rise to an economically and socially powerful country.

One way that radio communications changed American society was the way people obtained the news. In 1933, 16 million people became unemployed and were left to stay at home. Many could not provide for their families but that did not stop them from buying a radio. Sales burst in the United States and expanded all throughout other parts of the world such as Australia, Cuba, and Russia. About one in every three homes in the United States owned radios—the easiest and most entertaining way to listen to the news and advertisement. Newspaper publications were declining and some companies were obsolete due to the development of radio stations. Obvious hostility was evident between newspaper publishers and radio broadcasters. The owner of one of the most comprehensive press empires, William Randolph Hearst, was forced to sell stocks and contribute part of his own wealth to save his company. Although the advancement of ...

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"Spotlight on the Golden Age of Radio." The Home of Digital Deli's Golden Age Radio History, Vintage Radio Resources, and Nostalgia pages. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. .

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"The Great Depression Helps Radio." Think Quest. Jason, n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. .

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