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The Impact Of Old-Time Radio Era On American Culture

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There have been many different aspects that have come out of the “old-time” radio era that have impacted our culture today. It was not just the news that people learned about it was also entertainment. Usually, in a time when there was nothing to be happy about. In order for us to understand the difference that these people made in the lives of others. It needs to be understood why they were created and where they came from. Also, it was not just about the actors, it was the story lines and the dramas that helped people escape and either enjoy a good thriller or comedy show. A radio drama is a dramatized performance, broadcasted on the radio or it was published on audio media for instance a tape or CD. These tapes became very popular during …show more content…

They started buying “air” time, along with sponsoring programs. This helped the networks develop more popularity which led to the creation of new forms of programs. Programs like dramatized new programs, vaudeville variety, advice/interview, amateur contest programs, and shows built around a comedian, day time “soap opera” ensuing drama. There were also after school adolescent successive adventure dramas, along with “hillbilly” variety programs. Although there were many programs geared towards the adult listener, there were still many programs created for the young adolescent listener. One of these programs was, “Let’s Pretend”, created and directed by Nila Mack in 1928. She was the director of children’s programs at CBS. The program aired every Saturday morning and featured stories of different classic fairy tales and adventures. Originally called, “Tottyville”, the show underwent various title changes until it finally stopped at, “Let’s pretend”. The program went on for at least two decades until its last episode in 1954. As more and more daytime shows became popular, the various networks started to develop their own daytime schedule making different programs permanent. This popularity led “radio dramas” into the golden years of radio known as the “Golden age of Radio”, today it is known as the “Old-Time radio …show more content…

While this is usually not necessarily a lousy concept, the fiasco on October 31st, 1938 between 8 and 9 PM said a different story. The WABC radio broadcast network decided to air an episode of, “The Mercury Theatre on the Air”. Directed by Orson Welles the group performed their adaption of, “The war of the Worlds”, written by Howard Koch’s. The actors in the group did such a marvelous job that people listening in actually believed that they were listening to a live news report of a sure enough alien invasion. This broadcast caused such a mass panic that now when you are watching or listening to mockumentary or fake broadcast there is always a disclaimer. According to an article run in the, “Daily News” titled, “Fake Radio ‘war’ Stirs Terror Through U.S.,” in 1938. It stated that, “Thousands flee. Without waiting for further details, thousands of listeners rushed from their homes in New York and New Jersey, many with towels across their faces to protect themselves from “gas” which the invader was supposed to be spewing forth. Simultaneously, thousands more in states that stretched west to California and south to the Gulf of Mexico rushed to their telephones to inquire of newspapers, the police, switchboard operators, and electric companies what they should do to protect themselves.” (George Dixon,

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