1920's Research Paper

The 1920s-30s were a very influential time in the history of the United States, recognized for invention, industry, and cultural changes. All over the country, people were immersing themselves in new technologies that modernized and transformed the way they lived. From the expansion of the automobile to movie theaters, people were able to entertain themselves and have a higher quality of life. One of the most influential artifacts of this time period was the radio player. The radio grew at a tremendous rate during this era for its ability to entertain and inform people of the world around them. From news broadcasts to comedy shows, the radio quickly became a staple of the American home. With almost any new invention there were issues however

Over the coming decades, radio technology has started to become more and more advanced and used for important aspects of our lives. Endorsed by the United States Navy to communicate between ships, the radio became a very effective tool. In the late 19th century, inventors such as Guglielmo Marconi, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison made significant advancements in wireless telegraphy, which would allow for the future advancement of the technology. This charge would be the beginning of an era where the radio started appearing in the houses of Americans. Soon companies started to create content that was interesting to almost every American, which led to a boom in the amount of houses that had radios. This is furthermore explained in the book, Broadcast Hysteria by Brad Schwartz, stating, “But in the decade that followed, the number of “radio homes” in the United States jumped from sixty thousand in 1921 to 16.7 million in 1930.” (14) This was a tremendous growth in a product in the United States, only comparable to the growth of the automobile. In a period of ten years, the lives of many Americans changed as they would not have to rely on word of mouth or what they saw in public to be able to hear these topics in their own

The "War of the Worlds" broadcast demonstrated the power of radio as a medium for storytelling and entertainment. Orson Welles' adaptation of H.G. Wells's science fiction novel showcased the creative potential of radio drama and pushed the boundaries of traditional broadcasting. During this CBS broadcast, anchors told the story of a Martian invasion in a way that was so well portrayed that many people believed it to be true. The broadcast caused confusion and chaos in the United States, however, when it ended in a way it spread awareness of misinformation. It prompted discussions about the responsibility of broadcasters to verify information and present it in a responsible manner, highlighting the need for ethical standards in journalism and broadcasting. While the "War of the Worlds" broadcast may have caused temporary panic and confusion, it furthermore showed the power of broadcast radio and pushed the limits of what we believe is worth showing. The broadcast will go down in history and remains a testament to the creative mind of Orson