Gadget Addict

There was a lot going on in the 1930's, and, in 1937, it was determined that over 80% of the population had at least one radio. It was said that there were millions of radios in automobiles.

During this year technology had improved, and stations were able to cover more news. They covered the coronation of King George VI of England, and Amelia Earhart's airplane disaster. These were great stories for radio, as well as for the newspapers.

Those of you who were around in 1937 can remember Lowell Thomas on NBC, giving his opinion of the latest news. You might have listened to Walter Winchell, also on NBC, with the latest gossip. Edward R. Murrow joined CBS in 1935, and became the director of the network's European bureau. You might also remember H.V. Kaltenborn, who also did news commentary, as well as Mary Margaret McBride who did a popular talk show on CBS. Also, this was the year that Gugielmo Marconi died. The radio stations all over the country had several minutes of silence in his honor.

There were some performers who became stars in 1937. They were in film or vaudeville, and soon were on the air. W.C. Fields made his radio debut in 1937 on the Chase and Sanborn Hour. Red Skelton made a guest appearance on the Rudy Vallee Show. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy made their debut during that year on NBC. However, the dummy, Charlie McCarthy, got first rating, the show was called the Charlie McCarthy Show.

At that time Arturo Toscanini became the conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Stars who were still on the air and doing well during 1937 were soprano Jessica Dragonette, who was in CBS, sponsored by the Palmolive Soap Co. Don Ameche, who had appeared in soap operas, but later became the MC for the Chase and Sanborn Hour. Mae West made an appearance on the show, but her risqué dialogue prompted hundreds of complaints. Then there was a young man by the name of Orson Welles, remember him? He took over as the voice of The Shadow. During this year, Franklin D. Roosevelt was doing radio talk shows.

The radio featured a variety of forms for American entertainment. These forms included adventure, comedy, drama, horror, mystery, musical, romance, and thrillers. Also included were farm reports, news, weather, commentary, and panel discussion shows.

In 1928, Joseph Boluva gave the world the first clock radio. The first vintage alarm clock radio was designed in 1940 by James Reynaldo. Because clocks with an integrated alarm were very loud, clock designers tried to come up with an idea of making an alarm clock radio that would have a gradual wake-up alarm.

Today, digital clocks feature a radio alarm function to be a beeping or a buzzing sound, allowing a person to wake up to any station that is set, rather than a loud or harsh alarm. These alarm clock radios have a sleep button or a snooze button. The snooze button stops the alarm, then sets it again to ring a short time later. There is also a sleep button, that allows you to turn the radio on for a set amount of time. This button comes in handy when you fall asleep with the radio on.

With an alarm clock radio you don't have to hear the harsh sounds of an alarm clock. It can be soothing to the ear when you can wake up to soft music. You can also wake up to the news, or your favorite station as well. Radios have come a long way.

clock radios are here to stay.

http://www.thewatchtheclock.com/alarm_clocks/

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert