| The 20th century was an age of inventions. | | | | 1925 until the early 1950's, people had their |
| Some good for a few people and some good for | | | | favorite radio shows. These years in the United |
| all the people. So many things that we just accept | | | | States were called the Golden Age of |
| as having and using as normal were not here | | | | Broadcasting. |
| before the 20th century. Some of the things | | | | Not only did people have their favorite shows, |
| invented were for simple enjoyment. The Ice | | | | they also had special news reporters they |
| Cream Cone in 1904, the popsicle in 1905, Life | | | | preferred to listen to. Some of these reporters |
| Savers Candy in 1912, and Bubble Gum in 1928 | | | | became as important to their listeners as the well |
| sure brought many a smile on the faces of | | | | known entertainers. Two of the most famous of |
| children. There were also more important things | | | | these were Edward R. Murrow and Walter |
| invented, some that helped in the medical field, | | | | Winchell. Reporting the news was very important |
| such as the iron lung in 1927 and penicillin in 1928. | | | | especially during World War II. Between the years |
| Although all of these things are important, the | | | | of 1939 and 1945, people turned to the radio |
| greatest invention of the 20th century is the | | | | every day to get the latest news on what was |
| radio. | | | | happening in the war. Even the president of the |
| The radio opened a whole new way for the world | | | | United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, realized |
| to communicate. Before radio, people heard news | | | | the importance of radio and the communication |
| from one another or by reading newspapers. At | | | | this wonderful invention allowed. He used the radio |
| that time, there were a lot of rural areas, making | | | | to take his government policies to the people |
| it hard for people to communicate or receive | | | | through informal talks that he called “fireside |
| news. | | | | chats.” |
| Radio was not only the way to receive news | | | | Radio was just the beginning of a network of |
| about what was going on around the world, but in | | | | world-wide communication. When television |
| time, became the major source of entertainment | | | | became popular in the 1950's, many people |
| for families. Radio had something for everyone. | | | | thought that it would be the end of radio. People |
| Music for the ones who just wanted to relax and | | | | turned to television for soap operas and musical |
| listen to big bands with leaders such as Tommy | | | | shows. However, radio still survives in all types |
| Dorsey, Duke Ellington or Guy Lombardo. There | | | | and sizes. There are personal radios with |
| were soap operas for the ladies, “The Guiding | | | | earphones made for the listening enjoyment of |
| Light” and “One Man’s Family,” to | | | | only one person, shower radios to be listened to |
| name a couple. For those people who really liked | | | | while getting ready to go out and radios made to |
| to use their imagination, there were exciting | | | | look like cartoon characters. There are electric |
| shows like, “Buck Rogers in the 25th | | | | radios, car radios and battery radios for when the |
| Century,” “The Shadow,” and the | | | | power goes out. Not only was the radio the |
| “Lone Ranger.” As people have their | | | | greatest invention in the 20th century, it is still |
| favorite T.V. shows today, between the years of | | | | needed and used by millions of people today. |