Neha Patil (Editor)

1939 in radio

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The year 1939 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.

Contents

Events

  • 17 June: A trans-Atlantic radio broadcast features coloratura soprano Ewa Bandrowska-Turska singing four songs by Karol Szymanowski from Wawel Castle in Krakow, Poland, for a United States audience on WENR.
  • 15 July: Inauguration of DZRH, one of the oldest radio stations in the Philippines.
  • 7 August: Official test transmissions begin from Radio Andorra. The station is ceremonially inaugurated two days later by the French Minister of Public Works, Anatole de Monzie.
  • 3 September: Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announces on the BBC at 11.15 local time (10.15 GMT) that "this country is at war with Germany".
  • 3 September: Fireside chat: On the European War.
  • 11 December: Havana, Cuba's CMQ (since 1959, state-owned Radio Rebelde) becomes the first affiliate for the NBC Red Network based outside of the United States and Canada.
  • 12 December: James M. Cox gains control of WSB and a 40 percent interest in WAGA, both in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • 22 December: KORN begins broadcasting in Fremont, Nebraska, on 1370 kHz.
  • 25 December: Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is read for the first time on American radio (CBS).

    • Programs

  • 14 January: Honolulu Bound debuts on CBS.
  • 16 January: I Love a Mystery debuts on west coast NBC stations.
  • 21 January: Brenthouse debuts on the Blue Network.
  • 13 February: The Carters of Elm Street debuts on NBC.
  • 19 February: Norman Corwin's radio series Words Without Music is premiered on the CBS Radio Network.
  • 25 March: Arch Oboler's Plays debuts on NBC.
  • 3 April: Mr. District Attorney (1939–1952) debuts on NBC.
  • 7 April: Author, Author debuts on Mutual.
  • 29 May: When a Girl Marries debuts on CBS.
  • 29 May: The Affairs of Anthony debuts on the Blue Network.
  • 5 June: Caroline's Golden Store debuts on NBC.
  • 18 June: The Adventures of Ellery Queen (1939-1948) debuts on CBS.
  • 2 July: The Aldrich Family debuts on NBC.
  • 3 July: Blondie debuts on CBS.
  • 4 July: Alec Templeton Time debuts on NBC.
  • 1 September: At 20.15 local time the BBC's Home Service begins transmission: this will be the Corporation's only domestic radio channel for the first four months of World War II.
  • 11 September: Brenda Curtis debuts on CBS.
  • 7 October: Art for Your Sake debuts on NBC.
  • 9 October: By Kathleen Norris debuts on CBS.
  • 16 October: Against the Storm debuts on NBC.
  • 17 October: Captain Midnight debuts on WGN.
  • 25 December: The Bartons debuts on the Blue Network.

    • Stations

  • (December, undated): WCAR, Pontiac, Michigan, begins broadcasting on 1100 kHz with 1 KW power (daytime only).
  • 28 July: KVAK, Atchison, Kansas, begins broadcasting on 1420 kHz with 100 W power (daytime only).

    • Closings

  • 27 February - Alias Jimmy Valentine ends its run on network radio (Blue Network).
  • 7 May - Americans All, Immigrants All ends its run on network radio (CBS).
  • 30 June - Central City ends its run on network radio (NBC Red).
  • 28 July - Her Honor, Nancy James ends its run on network radio (CBS).
  • 1 September – At 18.55 local time BBC engineers receive the order to begin closing down all transmitters in preparation for wartime broadcasting: this marks the end of the National and Regional Programmes of the BBC.
  • 8 September - Calling All Cars ends its run on network radio (CBS West Coast network).

    • Births

  • 3 March – Larry Burkett (died 2003), American evangelical Christian author and radio personality.
  • 18 December – Alex Bennett, talk show host

    • References

    1939 in radio Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA