RUSC Guide to Old-Time Radio

RUSC Guide to Old-Time Radio

Step back in time with The RUSC Guide to Old-Time Radio, a captivating 52-week journey through the Golden Age of Radio that transformed American culture and entertainment. From the crackling first broadcasts of the 1920s to the dramatic final days of radio's dominance in the television era, this meticulously researched podcast illuminates the technology, artistry, and cultural impact of a medium that captivated millions. Each carefully narrated episode guides listeners through the magic of audio storytelling—exploring the iconic shows, pioneering personalities, and behind-the-scenes innovations that created an entire universe through sound alone. The series delves into specific aspects of radio history: the birth of networks, the artistry of sound effects, the power of serialized storytelling, the impact of wartime broadcasting, and the voices that became trusted companions in living rooms across America. Whether you're a nostalgic fan who remembers gathering around the family radio, a media historian, or simply curious about this influential chapter in communications history, The RUSC Guide to Old-Time Radio offers a weekly masterclass in how a nation learned to listen together—and how those echoes continue to resonate in today's podcast renaissance. Join us for an unforgettable year of discovery as we tune the dial back to radio's most extraordinary era.

Episodes

August 11, 2025 40 mins

Step behind the curtain of radio’s golden age! In this week’s episode, we explore how radio transformed from a patchwork of local stations into a coast-to-coast media revolution engineered by powerhouse networks NBC and CBS. Host RUSC takes us back to the 1920s and ’30s, revealing juicy stories of backroom business deals, government-backed monopolies, and how advertisers quietly took over the airwaves.

You'll...

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Ready for a trip back in time to where it all began? In this lively episode, we tune into November 1920 and the crackling birth of American radio broadcasting. Discover how a group of curious Westinghouse engineers, a rainy Pittsburgh night, and a humble wooden shack gave rise to KDKA—and kicked off a media revolution!

You'll hear the suspenseful story of the first-ever scheduled radio broadcast, which brought the result...

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Show Notes: RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio – Episode 1: From Beeps & Dashes to Broadcasts

Welcome to the debut episode of the RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio! This week, we’re winding the clock way back—before sitcoms, superheroes, and shadowy detectives ruled the airwaves. We’re diving into the electrifying early days when radio was a futuristic dream, delivering only mysterious beeps of Morse code across w...

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