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Novelty radios: in the beginning.
After the Titanic disaster of 1912, all ships were required to have
radio transmitters and 2 operators, and all transmitters had to be
licensed. RCA incorporated in 1919 to control patents of GE, AT&T,
Westinghouse, and United Fruit. Regular radio broadcasts started in the
early 1920s with the number of stations and their transmission power
steadily increasing. It was an era of firsts: the first radio
commercial, the first opening of Congress to be broadcast in 1923, and
the Democratic National Convention in 1924. RCA licensed other companies
to produce receivers including Philco, Zenith, Emerson, and Sylvania.
1922 saw the first live studio audience during a radio show. NBC was
formed in July 7, 1926, owned by RCA, GE, and Westinghouse. It wasn't
long before popular radio shows began to dominate home life in the
1930s, including the Lone Ranger and Major Bowes and His Original
Amateur Hour. Comedians exploded onto the scene making the big step up
from Vaudeville to radio, including Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Amos and
Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly. Promotional advertising dramatically
increased the sales of toothpaste, cigarettes, floor wax and anything
else the adverturous advertiser was willing to display to an audience
hungry to be entertained. Many star performers incorporated the product
into their shows so that the audience's attention could not be diverted
from the commercial message.
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