11 Facts About Old-time radio

Golden Age of Radio, known as the old-time radio era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium.

The development of Old-time radio eliminated the wires and subscription charges from this concept.

Between 1900 and 1920 the first technology for transmitting sound by Old-time radio was developed, AM, and AM broadcasting sprang up around 1920.

On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden is said to have broadcast the first Old-time radio program, consisting of some violin playing and passages from the Bible.

Conversely, some Old-time radio shows gave rise to spinoff comic strips, such as My Friend Irma starring Marie Wilson.

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Badges, rings, decoding devices and other Old-time radio premiums offered on these adventure shows were often allied with a sponsor's product, requiring the young listeners to mail in a boxtop from a breakfast cereal or other proof of purchase.

None of the episodes in which Rathbone and Bruce starred on the Old-time radio program were filmed with the two actors as Holmes and Watson, so Old-time radio became the only medium in which audiences were able to experience Rathbone and Bruce appearing in some of the more famous Holmes stories, such as "The Speckled Band".

Some old-time radio shows continued on the air, although in ever-dwindling numbers, throughout the 1950s even after their television equivalents had conquered the general public.

Carl Amari's nationally syndicated radio show Hollywood 360 features 5 old-time radio episodes each week during his 5-hour broadcast.

One of the longest running Old-time radio programs celebrating this era is The Golden Days of Radio, which was hosted on the Armed Forces Radio Service for more than 20 years and overall for more than 50 years by Frank Bresee, who played "Little Beaver" on the Red Ryder program as a child actor.

Regular broadcasts of Old-time radio plays are heard in—among other countries—Australia, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.