In 1896...Guglielmo Marconi gave the first public demonstration of radio at Toynbee Hall, London.
In 1901...Marconi sends first Atlantic
wireless transmission
Italian physicist and radio pioneer
Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission
across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that
the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or
less. The message--simply the Morse-code signal for the letter
"s"--traveled more than 2,000 miles from Poldhu in
Cornwall, England, to Signal Hill in Newfoundland, Canada.
Born in Bologna, Italy, in 1874 to an
Italian father and an Irish mother, Marconi studied physics and
became interested in the transmission of radio waves after learning
of the experiments of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. He began
his own experiments in Bologna beginning in 1894 and soon succeeded
in sending a radio signal over a distance of 1.5 miles. Receiving
little encouragement for his experiments in Italy, he went to England
in 1896. He formed a wireless telegraph company and soon was sending
transmissions from distances farther than 10 miles. In 1899, he
succeeded in sending a transmission across the English Channel. That
year, he also equipped two U.S. ships to report to New York
newspapers on the progress of the America's Cup yacht race. That
successful endeavor aroused widespread interest in Marconi and his
wireless company.
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| Signal Hill, Newfoundland |
Marconi's greatest achievement came on
December 12, 1901, when he received a message sent from England at
St. John's, Newfoundland. The transatlantic transmission won him
worldwide fame. Ironically, detractors of the project were correct
when they declared that radio waves would not follow the curvature of
the earth, as Marconi believed. In fact, Marconi's transatlantic
radio signal had been headed into space when it was reflected off the
ionosphere and bounced back down toward Canada. Much remained to be
learned about the laws of the radio wave and the role of the
atmosphere in radio transmissions, and Marconi would continue to play
a leading role in radio discoveries and innovations during the next
three decades.
In 1909, he was jointly awarded the
Nobel Prize in physics with the German radio innovator Ferdinand
Braun. After successfully sending radio transmissions from points as
far away as England and Australia, Marconi turned his energy to
experimenting with shorter, more powerful radio waves. He died in
1937, and on the day of his funeral all British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) stations were silent for two minutes in tribute to
his contributions to the development of radio.
In 1913...longtime CBS correspondent Winston Burdett was born in Buffalo NY. He was one of the original “Murrow’s boys” who covered Eastern Europe, North Africa and Italy during WWII and afterwards, for 22 years based in Rome. He died May 19, 1993 at age 79.
In 1915...Legendary singer Frank Sinatra, dubbed "Ol' Blue Eyes" and the "Chairman of the Board," was born. He died May 14, 1998 at 82.
In 1937...the Federal Communications Commission was upset with NBC radio. The FCC scolded the radio network for a Sunday skit on the Charlie McCarthy Show that starred Mae West.
The satirical routine was based on the biblical tale of Adam and Eve and, well, it got a bit out of hand by the standards of the day. So, following the wrist-slap by the FCC, NBC banned Miss West from its airwaves for 15 years. Even the mere mention of her name on NBC was a no-no.
In 1913...longtime CBS correspondent Winston Burdett was born in Buffalo NY. He was one of the original “Murrow’s boys” who covered Eastern Europe, North Africa and Italy during WWII and afterwards, for 22 years based in Rome. He died May 19, 1993 at age 79.
Data curated by PrettyFamous
In 1915...Legendary singer Frank Sinatra, dubbed "Ol' Blue Eyes" and the "Chairman of the Board," was born. He died May 14, 1998 at 82.
In 1937...the Federal Communications Commission was upset with NBC radio. The FCC scolded the radio network for a Sunday skit on the Charlie McCarthy Show that starred Mae West.
The satirical routine was based on the biblical tale of Adam and Eve and, well, it got a bit out of hand by the standards of the day. So, following the wrist-slap by the FCC, NBC banned Miss West from its airwaves for 15 years. Even the mere mention of her name on NBC was a no-no.
In 1957...KEX, Portland, Oregon Disc Jockey Al Priddy, was fired for playing Elvis Presley's rendition of "White Christmas." He violated the radio station's ban against the song. The station had banned Presley’s interpretations of Christmas carols, believing that such a sexually-charged performer had no business recording religious music.
In 1961...Ham radio satellite Oscar 1
was launched with military Discoverer 36.
In 1968.. flamboyant actress Tallulah Bankhead died of pneumonia at 65. She was hostess of NBC Radio’s 90-minute Big Show 1950-52, and the following year, was one of the rotating hosts on NBC-TV’s All-Star Revue. Her last screen appearances were as the Black Widow on TV’s Batman in 1967.
In 1971...David Sarnoff, who founded the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and throughout most of his career led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), died at age 80.
Throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in various capacities from shortly after its founding in 1919 until his retirement in 1970.
He ruled over an ever-growing telecommunications and consumer electronics empire that included both RCA and NBC, and became one of the largest companies in the world. Named a Reserve Brigadier General of the Signal Corps in 1945, Sarnoff thereafter was widely known as "The General."
Unlike many who were involved with early radio communications, viewing radio as point-to-point, Sarnoff saw the potential of radio as point-to-mass. One person (the broadcaster) could speak to many (the listeners).
When Owen D. Young of the General Electric Company arranged the purchase of American Marconi and turned it into the Radio Corporation of America, a radio patent monopoly, Sarnoff realized his dream and revived his proposal in a lengthy memo on the company's business and prospects. His superiors again ignored him but he contributed to the rising postwar radio boom by helping arrange for the broadcast of a heavyweight boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in July 1921. Up to 300,000 people heard the fight, and demand for home radio equipment bloomed that winter. By the spring of 1922 Sarnoff's prediction of popular demand for broadcasting had come true, and over the next eighteen months, he gained in stature and influence.
In 1926, RCA purchased its first radio station (WEAF, New York) and launched the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the first radio network in America. Four years later, Sarnoff became president of RCA. NBC had by that time split into two networks, the Red and the Blue. The Blue Network later became ABC Radio. Sarnoff was sometimes inaccurately referred to later in his career as the founder of both RCA and NBC, but he was in fact neither.
Sarnoff was instrumental in building and established the AM broadcasting radio business which became the preeminent public radio standard for the majority of the 20th century. This was until FM broadcasting radio re-emerged in the 1960s despite Sarnoff's efforts to suppress it (following FM's initial appearance and disappearance during the 1930s and 1940s.
In 1968.. flamboyant actress Tallulah Bankhead died of pneumonia at 65. She was hostess of NBC Radio’s 90-minute Big Show 1950-52, and the following year, was one of the rotating hosts on NBC-TV’s All-Star Revue. Her last screen appearances were as the Black Widow on TV’s Batman in 1967.
In 1971...David Sarnoff, who founded the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and throughout most of his career led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), died at age 80.
Throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in various capacities from shortly after its founding in 1919 until his retirement in 1970.
He ruled over an ever-growing telecommunications and consumer electronics empire that included both RCA and NBC, and became one of the largest companies in the world. Named a Reserve Brigadier General of the Signal Corps in 1945, Sarnoff thereafter was widely known as "The General."
Unlike many who were involved with early radio communications, viewing radio as point-to-point, Sarnoff saw the potential of radio as point-to-mass. One person (the broadcaster) could speak to many (the listeners).
In 1926, RCA purchased its first radio station (WEAF, New York) and launched the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the first radio network in America. Four years later, Sarnoff became president of RCA. NBC had by that time split into two networks, the Red and the Blue. The Blue Network later became ABC Radio. Sarnoff was sometimes inaccurately referred to later in his career as the founder of both RCA and NBC, but he was in fact neither.
Sarnoff was instrumental in building and established the AM broadcasting radio business which became the preeminent public radio standard for the majority of the 20th century. This was until FM broadcasting radio re-emerged in the 1960s despite Sarnoff's efforts to suppress it (following FM's initial appearance and disappearance during the 1930s and 1940s.
In 1995...the CBC (Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation) announced the Radio Canada International
service would end on March 31.
In 2003...Unkle Roger McCall, a long-time DJ
on Classic Rock WCMF 96.5 FM, Rochester, New York, was fatally wounded by a gunshot in
a robbery attempt. His killer has never been brought to justice.
McCall was gunned down in December 2003 in his son’s driveway by “just a boy” who disappeared forever under the cover of a darkening night and a sudden snow squall — leaving behind holes in Roger’s stomach, in his family and in a wide circle of close friends, listeners and fellow musicians who knew him as Unk, Unki, Unkle Roger.
Unkle Roger was 52 and despite having a microphone in front of him for 30 years working as disc jockey for WCMF, he had a relatively well-kept secret.
Several years before he was killed, he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was terminally ill. He didn’t discuss his illness — though others on the radio did — said his wife, Denise McCall, because he didn’t want that to define what remained of his life.
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| Unkle Roger |
Unkle Roger was 52 and despite having a microphone in front of him for 30 years working as disc jockey for WCMF, he had a relatively well-kept secret.
Several years before he was killed, he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was terminally ill. He didn’t discuss his illness — though others on the radio did — said his wife, Denise McCall, because he didn’t want that to define what remained of his life.
In 2008...Spike O'Dell did his last
broadcast on WGN-AM. He spent 21 years with the station, 8 of them
doing mornings.
Odell’s first radio hosting position was at WEMO-AM in East Moline at the age of 25. While working at the factory, he disc jockeyed on weekends there as well as doing some fill-in slots. In 1977 Spike took another part-time job with WQUA radio in Moline Illinois. Following this, he obtained a full-time morning position at KSTT-AM, where he affectionately was referred to as “Spike at the Mic”. This proved to be a significant position, as it allowed O'Dell to move, in 1981, to a Major Market Morning Radio spot at WBT-AM in Charlotte, NC. After a brief stint as "morning guy," he returned to KIIK-FM. In 1987, Billboard Magazine awarded Spike “Top 40 Air Personality of the Year” in a Medium Market.
The Billboard magazine award lead to a call from then program director Dan Fabian to interview at WGN-AM in Chicago. In 1987, O'Dell was hired as the afternoon drive host for the station. Spike would go on to work 21 years at WGN. He remained at the top of the ratings in all the dayparts he hosted while at the station. O'Dell moved around a few times during his tenure at WGN, with notable stints in the afternoon, and ultimately, in the morning drive slot. The move to mornings occurred after the untimely death of then host Bob Collins. O'Dell now enjoys spending time with his 5 grandchildren, golfing, photography, watercolor and acrylic painting, and sleeping late.
During the course of his career, he worked at:
In 2012...Veteran broadcaster (KABC-Los Angeles, KLAC-Los Angeles, KIEV-Los Angeles, KGIL-Los Angeles, KING-Seattle) Ray Briem, who ruled the Los Angeles overnight airwaves with his radio talk show for 27 years (1967-1994), died of cancer at 82.
In 2013…TV quizmaster Mac McGarry, host of "It's Academic" on Washington DC's WRC for 50 years and concurrently on Baltimore's NBC affiliate for 27 of those years, died of pneumonia at 87.
With an easy-going baritone that sounded like a throwback to the days of fedoras and big bands, McGarry thrived well into the Internet age. As host of “It’s Academic,” which launched in 1961 and became the longest-running quiz program in TV history, he liked to describe himself as the area’s most inquisitive man.
A Washington radio and TV personality, he carved a multifaceted career spanning six decades. He was working for a radio station in western Massachusetts before a Fordham classmate, the celebrated baseball announcer Vin Scully, urged him to apply for a summer announcing job at WRC-TV in 1950.
During his first five years at the NBC affiliate, Mr. McGarry was a general staff announcer, providing voice-overs for all occasions.
He covered presidential inaugurations and the start of the Korean War. He also hosted a big-band radio show, was an early TV sparring partner of Willard Scott and appeared with a young Jim Henson and his Muppets.
Among the many teenage contestants who competed for scholarship money on the Saturday program were future First Lady Hillary Rodham, Washington Post Chairman Donald E. Graham, political commentator George Stephanopoulos, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon, and actress Sandra Bullock.
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| Spike O'Dell |
The Billboard magazine award lead to a call from then program director Dan Fabian to interview at WGN-AM in Chicago. In 1987, O'Dell was hired as the afternoon drive host for the station. Spike would go on to work 21 years at WGN. He remained at the top of the ratings in all the dayparts he hosted while at the station. O'Dell moved around a few times during his tenure at WGN, with notable stints in the afternoon, and ultimately, in the morning drive slot. The move to mornings occurred after the untimely death of then host Bob Collins. O'Dell now enjoys spending time with his 5 grandchildren, golfing, photography, watercolor and acrylic painting, and sleeping late.
During the course of his career, he worked at:
- 1976-1977 WEMO-AM East Moline
- 1977-1978 WQUA Moline, IL
- 1978-1980 KSTT-AM Davenport, IA
- 1980-1982 WBT-AM Charlotte, NC
- 1982-1987 KIIK-FM Davenport, IA
- 1987 WGN-AM Chicago, IL Spike was hired as afternoon host 3-7pm and moved to mornings on February 9, 2000 after Bob Collins was killed in a tragic plane crash.
- 2008 Final Broadcast of “The Spike O’Dell Show” at the Metropolis Theatre on December 12.
In 2012...Veteran broadcaster (KABC-Los Angeles, KLAC-Los Angeles, KIEV-Los Angeles, KGIL-Los Angeles, KING-Seattle) Ray Briem, who ruled the Los Angeles overnight airwaves with his radio talk show for 27 years (1967-1994), died of cancer at 82.
In 2013…TV quizmaster Mac McGarry, host of "It's Academic" on Washington DC's WRC for 50 years and concurrently on Baltimore's NBC affiliate for 27 of those years, died of pneumonia at 87.
A Washington radio and TV personality, he carved a multifaceted career spanning six decades. He was working for a radio station in western Massachusetts before a Fordham classmate, the celebrated baseball announcer Vin Scully, urged him to apply for a summer announcing job at WRC-TV in 1950.
During his first five years at the NBC affiliate, Mr. McGarry was a general staff announcer, providing voice-overs for all occasions.
He covered presidential inaugurations and the start of the Korean War. He also hosted a big-band radio show, was an early TV sparring partner of Willard Scott and appeared with a young Jim Henson and his Muppets.
Among the many teenage contestants who competed for scholarship money on the Saturday program were future First Lady Hillary Rodham, Washington Post Chairman Donald E. Graham, political commentator George Stephanopoulos, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon, and actress Sandra Bullock.
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