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Can you even imagine life without television? Actually, television is a relatively new development. Before we were entertained by Bart Simpson on the television, radio was the medium of choice for popular entertainment. Little Orphan Annie and Fibber McGee delighted the imaginations of Americans throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about radio.
Places To Go 
People
To See Things To Do Teacher
Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about radio.
Grand Ol' Opry
Visit the Grand Ol Opry. Its roots go back to 1925 when it first broadcast on radio. The Grand Ol Opry claims to be the world's longest running live radio program.
Visit the Grand Ol Opry. Its roots go back to 1925 when it first broadcast on radio. The Grand Ol Opry claims to be the world's longest running live radio program.
Live Radio
Choose a country of your choice and listen to live radio stations from Armenia to Iran to Jamaica to Mali. These are real, streaming radio stations. A cautionary word is in order if you are listening to streaming radio from school networks---radio broadcasts can take up large amounts of bandwidth.
Choose a country of your choice and listen to live radio stations from Armenia to Iran to Jamaica to Mali. These are real, streaming radio stations. A cautionary word is in order if you are listening to streaming radio from school networks---radio broadcasts can take up large amounts of bandwidth.
National
Public Radio Online
Travel in cyberspace to National Public Radio. You can read and hear current broadcasts as well as seach their archives for past programs. NPR is a true treasure.
Travel in cyberspace to National Public Radio. You can read and hear current broadcasts as well as seach their archives for past programs. NPR is a true treasure.
Quirks
and Quarks
We may not associate radio as a source of valuble, reliable information. This site spotlights a radio program where we can find out the latest in science, technology, medicine and the environment.
We may not associate radio as a source of valuble, reliable information. This site spotlights a radio program where we can find out the latest in science, technology, medicine and the environment.
Radio Hall of Fame
Virtually visit the Radio Hall of Fame and read about its inductees such as Kate Smith, Eddie Cantor, Walter Winchell, and Gene Autry.
Virtually visit the Radio Hall of Fame and read about its inductees such as Kate Smith, Eddie Cantor, Walter Winchell, and Gene Autry.
Radio Locator
Travel all over the world via radio waves. From this site, you can find over 10,000 worldwide radio stations, many with audio streams.
Travel all over the world via radio waves. From this site, you can find over 10,000 worldwide radio stations, many with audio streams.
People To SeeAnnie
Spend some time with Little Orphan Annie. First, she was popular in her comic strip. Then she became famous on the radio. She's since had plays and movies written about her.
Spend some time with Little Orphan Annie. First, she was popular in her comic strip. Then she became famous on the radio. She's since had plays and movies written about her.
Fibber McGee and Molly Site
Listen to 442 episodes of Fibber McGee and Molly for free. Part of our over 12,000 show library of old time radio.
Listen to 442 episodes of Fibber McGee and Molly for free. Part of our over 12,000 show library of old time radio.
Jack
Armstrong
In perhaps the longest high school career on record, Jack Armstrong remained an All-American Boy for close to two decades. For the greater part of its radio life, Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy was a 15-minute-a-day children's serial.
In perhaps the longest high school career on record, Jack Armstrong remained an All-American Boy for close to two decades. For the greater part of its radio life, Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy was a 15-minute-a-day children's serial.
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was one of the most famous radio comedians of the Golden Age of Radio. He was famous for being tight with his money. Jack Benny has the longest recorded laugh ever in radio of over 2 ½ minutes for a gag on one of his shows.
Jack Benny was one of the most famous radio comedians of the Golden Age of Radio. He was famous for being tight with his money. Jack Benny has the longest recorded laugh ever in radio of over 2 ½ minutes for a gag on one of his shows.
Nobel
Prize
Meet Guglielmo Marconi. He invented a little transmitter in 1894 that sent wireless signals over a distance of about a mile and a half. By 1900, he had patented his wireless telegraphy, and radio was born.
Meet Guglielmo Marconi. He invented a little transmitter in 1894 that sent wireless signals over a distance of about a mile and a half. By 1900, he had patented his wireless telegraphy, and radio was born.
Radio
Astronomy History in a Nutshell
Radio astronomy began with Karl Jansky's discovery, in 1932, of a strong source of radio static which originated from the central region of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Radio astronomy began with Karl Jansky's discovery, in 1932, of a strong source of radio static which originated from the central region of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Toyko
Rose
Meet the alleged Toyko Rose. Her real name was Iva Toguri D'Aquino. Find out more about the role that radio propaganda played in World War II.
Meet the alleged Toyko Rose. Her real name was Iva Toguri D'Aquino. Find out more about the role that radio propaganda played in World War II.
Things To DoCall
Signs
Figure out what radio call signs mean and how they are assigned. Just like people can get vanity license plates for their cars, radio operators can also get vanity call signs for their ham radio setups.
Figure out what radio call signs mean and how they are assigned. Just like people can get vanity license plates for their cars, radio operators can also get vanity call signs for their ham radio setups.
Fred
Allen
Learn about Fred Allen. He was a popular commedian of radio days.View images of this classic radio show and read some of its best scripts.
Learn about Fred Allen. He was a popular commedian of radio days.View images of this classic radio show and read some of its best scripts.
The
Great Gildersleeve
His name was Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, and he was a pompous but loveable character of oldtime radio. Find out about his popular radio program.
His name was Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, and he was a pompous but loveable character of oldtime radio. Find out about his popular radio program.
Gunsmoke
Find out anything anyone every wanted to know about Gunsmoke and Matt Dillon and Chester and Miss Kitty. Some people may remember the television Gunsmoke but may not realize that it got its start as a radio program.
Find out anything anyone every wanted to know about Gunsmoke and Matt Dillon and Chester and Miss Kitty. Some people may remember the television Gunsmoke but may not realize that it got its start as a radio program.
How Stuff
Works: Ham Radio
Figure out the difference between regular radio and ham radio. Ham radio is just a shortened way of saying "amateur" radio which means that everyday people broadcast radio throughout the world.
Figure out the difference between regular radio and ham radio. Ham radio is just a shortened way of saying "amateur" radio which means that everyday people broadcast radio throughout the world.
The
Invention of Radio
Explore how the invention of radio owes its roots to the invention of the telegraph and the telephone.
Explore how the invention of radio owes its roots to the invention of the telegraph and the telephone.
Major
Bowes Original Amateur Hour
If you like American Idol, then check out the old radio show, Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour. This radio show was extremely popular in the 1930s, and people even enjoyed listening to contestants tap dance.
If you like American Idol, then check out the old radio show, Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour. This radio show was extremely popular in the 1930s, and people even enjoyed listening to contestants tap dance.
NOAA Weather Radio
You know how the Weather Channel offers hours of entertainment for discerning viewers? Well, you can also listen to 24 Hour Non-Stop Weather Radio by way of the National Weather Service.
You know how the Weather Channel offers hours of entertainment for discerning viewers? Well, you can also listen to 24 Hour Non-Stop Weather Radio by way of the National Weather Service.
Old
Time Radio
Find out about the radio programs of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. From this site, you can listen to the Shadow, Captain Midnight, and many other popular radio programs from the Golden Age of Radio. Listen as you surf!
Find out about the radio programs of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. From this site, you can listen to the Shadow, Captain Midnight, and many other popular radio programs from the Golden Age of Radio. Listen as you surf!
Radio Free Europe
Discover the origins of Radio Free Europe. In 1950, it began broadcasting its programs promoting democracy to countries behind the Iron Curtain.
Discover the origins of Radio Free Europe. In 1950, it began broadcasting its programs promoting democracy to countries behind the Iron Curtain.
United States
Early Radio History
Browse through articles and abstracts about the early history of radio.
Browse through articles and abstracts about the early history of radio.
War of the
Worlds
Learn about the effect that Orson Welle's October 30, 1938 radio broadcast had on listeners.
Learn about the effect that Orson Welle's October 30, 1938 radio broadcast had on listeners.
Teacher Resources
Bibliography- Coulter, George. Radio. Vero Beach, Fla.: Rourke Publications, c1996.
- Lafferty, Peter. Radio and Television. New York: F. Watts, c1997.
- Stwertka, Eve. Tuning In: The Sounds of Radio. New York, NY: J. Messner, c1992.