AMST 205
Homework Seven
The Radio in the 1930s
It performed the roles played by Television in modern day society. There were similar types of radio shows as there now are Television programs, and it was a source of entertainment which the whole family could enjoy. It can be argued to have been the center of family life, particularly in the evenings, when everyone could gather around to listen. It can also be commented that it was a source of ‘free’ entertainment. Although the radio itself was relatively expensive, it was affordable by the majority of the population. And as 05 comments it provided news and entertainment in the comfort of your own home and without the need for purchasing theater tickets and the such like. Dee Campo comments that the range of programs which it provides mean that it was a source of entertainment for the whole family, providing quiz, dance, comedy, and children’s shows. The range of shows that were present on the networks was as broad, although not as numerous as, modern television. The shows included soap operas,(3), children's programs,(4) and serious plays. The radio also performed the role of unifying the country in a wartime culture and as a source of propaganda for the American government.(5)
As is commented by Sam Goldgeier there were 5 Washington radio stations during this period, WMAL 630, WRC 980, WOC 1260, WWD 1450 and WTOP 1500. There were also 4 main broadcasting networks, CBS, MBS, NBC - Red, NBC - Blue. which provided the programs.(4)
The subject of this paper is the radio plays during the years of 1938-9. During this period there were a number of different broadcasting companies producing a great variety of plays. The category of plays which I am considering are called ‘prestige plays’. They were serious drama and were produced especially for family audiences. The majority of theater dramas started in a Sunday afternoon slot although some of them moved to a Monday evening slot, obviously as they became increasingly intended for more adult audiences. In January 1938 there were 6 prestige theater groups performing on the radio. Of these groups there were 4 performing on Sundays, 3 performing after 9pm, and 4 of the groups were in their first seasons on radio.(7)
Of these I have chosen three to consider in more detail. The Mercury Theater on the Air, The Lux Radio Theater, and the Cavalcade of America. All of these radio theater companies started during the 1930s and continued to at least the 1940s.
The Cavalcade of America dramatized various aspects of American life or historical incidents in the lives of great Americans (6). The Mercury Theater on Air was produced by Orson Wells and John Houseman in this period. It was a pioneer program of quality drama and experimental radio presentations. The program made its debut in 1938 on the CBS network. Wells wrote, produced, directed and starred in many of the broadcasts. There was a great variety of plays produced including Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and the now infamous War of the Worlds, in Oct 1938. The program went on, having been made famous by the War of the Worlds stunt, to be sponsored by Campbell Soups, becoming the Campbell Playhouse.
The Lux Radio Theater made its debut in 1934 on the NBC network. It provided hour long adaptations of Broadway plays, staring Broadway actors. In 1936 the show moved to Hollywood and started to produce adaptations of famous motion pictures staring the movie stars. This program was made famous by movie stars that it starred and the amazing budget that it spent on each show. This is probably one of radios all time great attractions. (8). The Lux Theater gained 27 points in terms of audience in comparison with the Orson gaining 14.4, in Jan 1939(7). Stephanie also comments upon the different statistics which are available about the listenership of the various radio shows of this period, she comments upon the different gender and age groups and which of the different types of programs they were most likely to listen to.
The Radio Mirror magazine provides detailed information on the different programs available in a particular month. This primary source provides reviews of the various programs available, and can be recognized to be predominately aimed at women.(9)
The various programs available on the radio during the 1930s and 1940s were of a considerable variety, and provided a reasonably priced source of entertainment for the whole family. The relatively low cost of this entertainment was particularly important in Greenbelt because of the generally low income families which inhabited the area.
