Do you remember the first time you heard a voice come through the radio waves?
The invention of the radio revolutionized not only the way we communicate but also how we entertained each other. It has become a beloved part of our culture and changed the world forever.
I have very fond memories of listening too all my favourite music and recording it for future enjoyment. It brings a smile to my face when I think about it today.
Now today’s post is inspired by my friend Alex Pangman who recently posted that it was National Radio Day (August 20th). Alex posted because she is an amazing Jazz artist and the “Canadian Sweetheart of Swing” and was very thankful for the radio to have her songs heard (listen here).
It’s not August 20th anymore, but I thought that it would be fun to put together a post on ‘Vintage Radio ads from 1920s to 1950s‘ in honour of that special day.
Let’s begin!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Brief History of the Radio:
It is proven that the first wireless radio was invented in 1893 by Nikola Tesla. He assembled the first radio in St. Louis, Missouri. The credit of the first radio, however, went to Guglielmo Marconi. Marconi was issued the first patent for a wireless radio device in England in 1896. Tesla’s patents were not granted in the United States until 1900, four years after Marconi.
The question of when the radio was invented is also is a difficult one to answer. Historians have recorded that the first communication sent over radio waves was sent by Guglielmo Marconi on December 12, 1901. This date is considered the radio invention date (Source).
Canadian Invention:
Canadian, Reginald Fessenden was a pioneer in the field of radio communication. He made the first voice transmission over radio waves. He also laid the foundations of amplitude modulation (AM) and achieved the first two-way radiotelegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean. His 1906 transmission of a Christmas concert is considered the first radio broadcast in history (source).
Source: Wikipedia – A family listening to the first broadcasts around 1920 with a crystal radio. The crystal radio, a legacy from the pre-broadcast era, could not power a loudspeaker so the family must share earphones.
Vintage Radio Advertising 1920s-1950s
1923 Radiola RC radio advertisement.
“For Summer Sport”.” Down to the beach again, into the water, out on the boats. And every party a Radiola party, with concerts & dance music coming in on the air”.
Source: Saturdayeveningpost.com
“Can we get those blues from Memphis?” 1924 ad for WORKRITE Super Neutrodyne Radio Sets.
Source: library.duke.edu
1929 Graybar radio ad. “For selectivity sharp as a razor – tune in a Graybar Radio”.
Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop
1932 PHILCO radio ad: “It looks better…It sounds better…It IS better! Bring all the best dance music right into your home, “as if in person. PHILCO, the only radio scientifically designed as a musical instrument, gives you your choice of the world’s famous orchestras”.
Source: Etsy – KristensVintagePaper
1933 Emerson Mickey Mouse ad.
“Emerson MICKEY MOUSE Radios were the big “scoop” of the show at Madison Square Gardens! “Orders were placed right there”.
Source: Facebook-Pavek Museum
1930s General Electric radio ad. “Get your station at the touch of a finger! Touch Tuning – Does away with tedious dialing”.
Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop
1937 Victor Records and RCA Victor Phonograph radio ad.
“Entertain…Dance…To your favourite bands at any hour of night or day!”
Further Reading: Guy Lombardo-Canada’s Famous Big Band Leader
Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper
1947 RCA Victor radio advertisement. “With the “Golden Throat” you hear both kinds of radio in full tonal beauty”.
I love the bottom right radio. So pretty!
Source: Etsy – PlentifulPages
Two, 1940s General Electric advertisements for ‘The newest Golden Tone Radio’ & a “Carryabout” radio.
Source: Etsy – PlentifulPages
“General Electric Presents The Complete Musical Instrument..Radio Receiver, Record Player & Home Recorder”.
Source: Etsy – PlentifulPages
1940s RCA War Bonds ad.
“Your War Bonds will buy the secret weapons we need to lick the Enemy”. “Your saving will buy the greatest radios and phonographs in RCA history”.
Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop
1946 ‘OLYMPIC Radio’, Tru-Base Radios featuring Jack Benny’s Wife Mary Livingstone and daughter listening to his voice on the table radio.
Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper
“The pick of the Portables”. 1940s RCA Victor Portable radio ad. Fun!
What is your favourite?
Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop
1951 General Electric Clock Radio. “Turns itself off after you go to sleep!” “Wake you to music in the morning!”.
Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper
1952 Motorola Radio ad. “New Motorola radios outperfom others anywhere!”.
Source: Etsy – RelicElectric
“Tak along a Motorola Portable with exclusive Roto-Tenna”.
I Love this 1950s ad because I love the 1950s skirt our main lady is wearing.
Source: Pinterest
1950s portable radio ads are so much fun I just had to share another one!
Here is a GE 1950 Color Portable Radios. “Brighten your Summer with a color styled Portable”. You can take it to the beach, to the garden, by the fireplace and more!
Source: Etsy – RelicElectric
1950s radio vintage ad: The new ‘STC Tymatic 5 Value Clock Radio’. Turns off the bed lamp and wakes you to music.
Source: Pinterest
Thank you for dropping by an enjoying these fun vintage radio ads with me. It was a fun step back in time and I had a blast researching this post (at some point I will do a part 2, there were lots of ads out there).
Please share in the comments section below, what your favourite was. Or a memory you wish to share about the radio. I love hearing from my readers!
Further Reading:
- Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
- Meet the Host Behind Zoomer Radio’s ‘Vintage Favourites’- Gene Stevens
Liz