1942 in radio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The year 1942 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.
Events
- 1 January – All radio broadcasting in the Netherlands comes under full control of the country's Nazi occupiers. Publication of the only authorized programme guide, De Luistergids, begins.
- 9 January – Blue Network Company, Inc. is incorporated by RCA in the United States to hold the assets of the NBC Blue Network,[1] in case NBC loses their case against the FCC in court to maintain ownership of two networks.
- 29 January – The BBC Forces Programme transmits the first edition of Desert Island Discs, presented by Roy Plomley. Vic Oliver is the first castaway.[2] The series will still be running (on BBC Radio 4) more than 75 years later.
- 23 February – Fireside chat by the President of the United States: On Progress of the War.
- 24 February – The Voice of America begins short-wave radio broadcasting using CBS and NBC transmitters. Its first programmes are in German.
- 27 February – James Stanley Hey, a British Army research officer, helps develop radio astronomy, when he discovers that the sun emits radio waves.
- 6 March – U.S.-born Nazi propaganda broadcaster Jane Anderson ("The Georgia Peach") gives a talk from Berlin which reveals that elite Germans are still dining in luxury despite widespread food insecurity in the country, which is successfully used by U.S. counterpropaganda,[3][4] leading to her being dropped from the airwaves.
- 28 April – Fireside chat: On Our National Economic Policy.
- 6 May – The Radio Doctor (Charles Hill) makes his first BBC Radio broadcast giving avuncular health care advice to British civilians.
- 19 May – A subsequently famous BBC outside broadcast recording captures the song of the common nightingale with the sound of Royal Air Force Lancaster bombers flying overhead.[5]
- 26 July – Gene Autry takes his oath of office to join the United States Army during the broadcast of Gene Autry's Melody Ranch.[6]
- September – The Brains Trust first broadcast under this title on BBC Home Service radio in the United Kingdom.[7]
- 7 September – Fireside chat: On Inflation and Progress of the War.
- 12 October – Fireside chat: Report on the Home Front.
- 8 November – Aspidistra medium wave radio transmitter goes into service in the south of England for black propaganda and military deception purposes against Nazi Germany.
Debuts
- 2 January: Elsa Maxwell's Party Line debuts on the Blue Network.[8]: 231
- 24 January: Abie’s Irish Rose debuts on NBC.[8]
- 3 February: Red Ryder debuts on NBC Blue West Coast.[1]
- 1 March: KBON, Omaha, Nebraska, a Mutual affiliate, begins broadcasting on 1400 kHz with 250 W power (full-time).[9]
- 4 March: Junior Miss (1942–1954) debuts on CBS.
- 22 March: The Better Half debuts on Mutual.[8]
- 3 April: People Are Funny debuts on NBC.
- 5 April: The Army Hour debuts on NBC.
- 13 April: Are You a Genius? debuts on CBS.[8]
- 19 April: WJLD, Bessemer, Alabama, begins broadcasting on 1400 kHz with 250 W power.[10]
- 1 May: In Person, Dinah Shore debuts on the Blue Network.[8]
- 6 May: The Radio Doctor (Charles Hill) makes his first BBC radio broadcast giving health care advice.
- 9 June: Cheers from the Camps debuts on CBS.[8]
- 17 June: Suspense debuts on CBS following its 1940 pilot on Forecast.
- 18 July: Chips Davis, Commando debuts on CBS.[8]
- 30 July: Stage Door Canteen debuts on CBS.[8]
- 2 August: Hop Harrigan debuts on ABC.[8]
- 3 August: An American in England debuts on CBS.[8]
- 28 August: Canteen Girl debuts on NBC.[11]
- 6 September: Mayor of the Town debuts on NBC.[8]
- 13 September: Radio Reader's Digest debuts on CBS.[8]: 565
- 20 September: The Electric Hour debuts on CBS.[8]
- 2 October: The Cisco Kid debuts on Mutual.[8]
- 7 October: The Man Behind the Gun debuts on CBS.[8]: 430-431
- 10 October: Campana Serenade debuts on NBC.[8]
- 14 October: Cresta Blanca Carnival debuts on CBS.[8]: 183-184
- 20 October: Songs by Sinatra debuts on CBS.[12]
- 31 October: The Bob Hawk Show debuts on CBS.[8]
- 9 November: Ceiling Unlimited debuts on CBS.[8]
- Eva Duarte (later Eva Perón, First Lady of Argentina) makes her debut as a radio actress in Muy Bien on Radio El Mundo.[13]
Closings
- (undated) - Harold Teen ends its run on network radio (Mutual).[14]
- 3 January: The Bishop and the Gargoyle ends its run on network radio (Blue Network).[8]
- 3 April: Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt ends its run on network radio (NBC).[8]
- 26 April: Songs by Dinah Shore ends its run on network radio (NBC-Blue).[8]
- 26 June: Arnold Grimm's Daughter ends its run on network radio (NBC).[8]
- 23 August: Great Plays ends its run on network radio (Blue Network).[8]
- 11 September: The Bartons ends its run on network radio (NBC).[8]
- 22 September: Cheers from the Camps ends its run on network radio (CBS).[8]
- 25 September: The Story of Bess Johnson ends its run on network radio (NBC).[15]
- 27 September: Joe and Mabel ends its run on network radio (NBC).[8]
- 3 November: The Avenger (radio program) ends its run on WHN.[8]
- 22 December: An American in England ends its run on network radio (CBS).[8]
Births
- 7 August: Garrison Keillor, American public radio host of A Prairie Home Companion.
- 12 August: David Munrow, English early music performer and presenter (Pied Piper on BBC Radio 3) (suicide 1976).
- 29 August: Larry Monroe, 29-year veteran with KUT in Austin, Texas (d. 2014).[16]
- 20 September: Dan Davis, American radio personality on ESPN Radio.
- 24 October: Frank Delaney, Irish-born novelist and radio presenter (d. 2017).
- 11 December: Bud Ballou, American disc jockey and radio personality during the 1960s and 1970s (d. 1977).
- 24 December: Anthony Clare, Irish-born psychiatrist and BBC radio presenter (d. 2007).
- 26 December: Emperor Rosko (Mike Pasternak), American disc jockey on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Bill Brown, New York City television and radio personality (WCBS-FM, WPLJ, WNEW-FM).