Radio Broadcast Magazine reported the history in 1922 of the new technology sweeping the world by storm. It lasted only 8 short years before becoming yet another victim of the Depression. By 1930, it was gone.
Beginnings
The magazine’s first issue, May of 1922, featured full-color pages, articles from experts, and ads from the early pioneers of radio. Its cover page states (in color) that Doubleday, Page & Co. of Garden City, New York was its publisher. Frank N. Doubleday and Walter H. Page founded the company a generation earlier . Publication entrepreneurs such as Hugo Gernsback, Harry Codel, and Louis G. Shaw may have played a role in the success of Radio Broadcast Magazine.
Content
Inside the pages of the magazine, they chronicled news of latest technology, radio personalities, programming, and the business of radio. Remember that the advent of commercial radio was a ground-breaking event. People could now learn real-time about news, sports, as well as just seek entertainment. Radio networks sprung up (no television yet) so that, with the help of telephone relay, programs were heard at the same time coast to coast. Popular programs had everything from music of the Clicquot Club Eskimos to comedy shows, such as Amos ‘n Andy.
Magazine contents were hot topics in their day. Troubleshooting atmospheric interference to your receiver, stories of new condensers, vacuum tubes, and antenna wires strung all about the house abounded. They discussed of battery-powered sets vs. the old reliable crystal sets, which need no electric current.
Advertisers
Advertisers included the likes of:
The Twentieth Century Wireless Telephone Corporation
Edison Storage Battery Company
General Radio Company
Midwest Radio Company
Jackson Battery Company
The World Moves On
Alas, even 25 cents per issue proved an extravagance for enough people come the Depression that the magazine folded in 1930. The fact that radio was no longer quite the novelty it once was may also have played a role.
- Year Started: 1922
- Year Ended: 1930
- Origin Of Name: Desciptive
- Location Sales: USA
- Brand Name Predecessor: N/A
- Brand Name Successor: N/A
- Owner Original: Doubleday, Page & Company
- Owner While In Use: Several
- Owner Successor: N/A
- Year Resurrected: N/A
- What’s Popular Today: Entertainment Weekly
- Naics Code: 513120
- Location Headquarters: Garden City, New York USA
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