America's first commercial radio station celebrates its 90th birthday today

[mhardy6647]

Today marks the 90th anniversary of Boston (originally, Springfield) MA AM radio station WBZ (1030 kHz). According to their own PR, they were the first licensed commercial radio station (I thought it was KDKA, but maybe they weren't - initially - commercial).

http://boston.cbslocal.com/show/the-history-of-wbz-radio/

 

[GordonW]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KDKA_(AM)#Historical_controversy

CFCF in Montreal Canada looks to be the "real" first station... that had operated continuously. Though, WWJ in Detroit looks to have now passed CFCF (which went off the air in 2010), as the longest-continuously-running station now...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Sandy G]

WNOX in Knoxville celebrates its 90th in November...

 

[mhardy6647]

I don't think any of us kids can really imagine how "high tech" radio was, and how heady the times were, in 1921.

 

[Naptown Rob]

Good for them!
I'm proud to have been a part of the station.
When I was working there the Asst. PD had come from the aforementioned KDKA...

 

[mhardy6647]

I listen to 'em in the car pretty much every morning en route to work.

When we're in Baltimore (particularly in the wintertime when DXing is best), we usually tune 'em in as we're hitting the road homeward (6am) to see what the weather is gonna be like upon our return to MA.

 

[ekimetsok]

WWJ signed on in August of 1920...KDKA in November.

 

[mhardy6647]

Good for them!
I'm proud to have been a part of the station.
When I was working there the Asst. PD had come from the aforementioned KDKA...

When were you in BOS (just out of curiosity)?

PS I am/have been a big fan of "your" radio station in MD (in case I hadn't mentioned that before).

 

[DougMac]

Radio and Records

I don't think any of us kids can really imagine how "high tech" radio was, and how heady the times were, in 1921.

Agreed. We also forget what an effect radio had on the recording industry, good and bad. The technology used for radio led to electrical recordings. However, when RCA bought Victor in 1929, their attitudes combined with the Great Depression nearly ruined the recording industry.