Radio History: May 5

➦In 1899...Freeman Fisher Gosden born in Richmond, VA (Died – December 10, 1982).  He was a radio comedian, actor and pioneer in the development of the situation comedy form. He is best known for his work for the radio series Amos 'n' Andy.

Gosden, Correll

During World War I he served in the United States Navy as a wireless operator, which prompted his great interest in the young medium of radio. While attending school in Richmond, Gozzie worked part-time in Tarrant's Drug Store at 1 West Broad Street.

In 1921, Gosden first teamed up with Charles Correll to do radio work, presenting comedy acts, sketches, and hosting variety shows. They met in Durham, North Carolina, both working for the Joe Bren Producing Company. Their first regular show came in 1925 with their WEBH Chicago show Correll and Gosden, the Life of the Party. On this show the two told jokes, sang, and played music (Correll played piano and Gosden banjo).

In 1926, Gosden and Correll had a hit with their radio show Sam & Henry on Chicago radio station WGN. Sam & Henry is considered by some historians to have been the first situation comedy.

From 1928 to 1960, Gosden and Correll broadcast their Amos 'n' Andy show, which was one of the most famous and popular shows on radio in the 1930s. Gosden voiced the characters "Amos", "George 'Kingfish' Stevens", "Lightning", "Brother Crawford", and some dozen other characters.

In 1969, Gosden was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in radio. He died from congestive heart failure in Los Angeles, California in 1982 at the age of 83

➦In 1900...The music and entertainment magazine The Billboard began weekly publication after six years as a monthly. The name was later shortened to Billboard.

➦In 1932...the iconic radio drama The Shadow premiered on CBS, becoming one of the most enduring programs of radio’s Golden Age. Initially a narrated mystery series, it evolved into a character-driven show featuring Lamont Cranston, a crime-fighting vigilante with the power to “cloud men’s minds.” The program, known for its chilling opening line, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?

The Shadow knows!” ran for over two decades and influenced pulp fiction and superhero genres. Its debut marked a significant moment in radio entertainment, showcasing the medium’s ability to captivate audiences with serialized storytelling.

➦In 1940..Edwin H. Armstrong, a pioneer of frequency modulation (FM) radio, demonstrated FM broadcasting to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This demonstration highlighted FM’s superior sound quality and resistance to static compared to AM radio, paving the way for its commercial adoption. Armstrong’s work revolutionized radio by enabling clearer broadcasts, though it faced resistance from AM-dominated industries. This event was a critical step toward modern FM radio, now a standard for high-fidelity music and talk formats.

Perry Como - Early '40s

➦In 1970...Entertainer Perry Como recorded the song “It’s Impossible.” When it peaked a few months later at #10 on the pop music chart, it meant Perry had notched hits in four consecutive decades – the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

➦In 2008...John R. Gambling rejoined WOR 710 AM NYC. When WOR ended Rambling with Gambling in 2000 after 75 years on the air, John R. Gambling moved up the dial to WABC, taking over the post-morning-drive 10 a.m. - noon slot. Gambling was fired by WABC on February 29, 2008 in a cost-cutting move.  On April 30, 2008, WOR announced the return of John R. Gambling to its air waves in his old morning-drive time slot.

On December 20, 2013 John R. Gambling did his last morning show on WOR after announcing his retirement from broadcasting (Gambling was effectively forced out as iHeartMedia purchased the station, and was replaced by the duo of Todd Schnitt and Len Berman). Gambling emerged as a host on AM 970 WNYM from 2014 to 2016. While at AM 970 WNYM, his show was produced by Frank Morano he decided to permanently retire from broadcasting, citing chronic knee problems resulting from an accident. With this, because he also had no sons named John to continue a show, the 91-year run of Rambling with Gambling came to an end.

Adele is 37

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Michael Murphy is 87. 
• Actor Lance Henriksen (“Millennium,” ″Aliens”) is 85. 
• Comedian-actor Michael Palin (Monty Python) is 82. 
• Actor John Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings,” ″Raiders of the Lost Ark”) is 81. 
• Former MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 80. 
• Drummer Bill Ward of Black Sabbath is 77. 
• Actor Melinda Culea (“The A Team,” ″Knots Landing”) is 70. 
• Actor Lisa Eilbacher (“An Officer and a Gentleman,” ″Beverly Hills Cop”) is 68. 
• Actor Richard E. Grant (“Gosford Park”) is 68. 
• Singer Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is 66. 
• Newsman Brian Williams is 66. 
• TV personality Kyan Douglas (“Rachael Ray,” “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”) is 55. 
• Actor Tina Yothers (“Family Ties”) is 52. 
• Singer Raheem DeVaughn is 50. 
• Actor Santiago Cabrera (“Heroes”) is 47. 
• Actor Vincent Kartheiser (“Mad Men”) is 46. 
• Singer Craig David is 44. 
• Actor Danielle Fishel (“Boy Meets World”) is 44. 
• Actor Henry Cavill (“Man of Steel,” ″The Tudors”) is 42. 
• Bassist Josh Smith of Halestorm is 42. 
• Singer Adele is 37. 
• Singer Chris Brown is 36.

🕇REMEMBRANCES

• In 2008..Jerry Wallace, American country and pop singer ("Primrose Lane"; "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry"), dies of heart failure at 79
• In 2008..Thomas Boggs, American rock drummer (Box Tops), dies at 63
• In 2020..Millie Small, Jamaican ska singer, and songwriter ("My Boy Lollipop"), dies of a stroke at 72