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HISTORY OF RADIO DRAMAS

At the turn of the twentieth century, radios were on the cusp of becoming one ofthe greatest sources of popular entertainment as well as news broadcasting. The potential for radio entertainment came out of the economic possibility in advertising. While radio programming in the 20s and 30s was driven primarily by the needs of the advertisers; the BBC was unique in that it also viewed radio programming as an opportunity to educate the masses. Unlike other mediums, radio boomed in the depression because it was the cheapest form of entertainment and still beneficial for advertisers. Serial shows proved more effective in selling products. People were glued to their radio sets to see what would happen to their favorite characters, much in the way people are with popular television dramas today.  As a result, vaudeville and variety shows began to be replaced by soap operas and dramas. With the surge of television in the fifties and sixties, people began to move away from their radios and pay more attention to what was on TV. Today, however, there is a resurgence of popularity with audio dramas through podcasts. 

1881 Clement Ader patent on Théâtrophone “improvements of Telephone Equipment in Theatres” letting people listen to theatre or opera over the phone

1919 first clear transmission of human speech over radio

1922 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was founded in London

1924 Danger by Richard Hughes was is the first radio drama written for the BBC

1932 study on A&P Gypsies and daytime talk shows potential for advertising. Started in 1924- A&P Gypsies sponsored morning radio shows, kickstarting day-time radio shows in the early thirties

1945 BBC’s Woman’s Hour begins, the first radio magazine program dedicated to women. (10th Anniversary photo below)

1951 first broadcast of BBC’s The Archers the longest running radio soap in the world, still running today.  (see below) 

1954 Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood first broadcast. 

1955 first British TV soap opera launches on the BBC, The Grove Family

1964 The Killing of Sister George written