Hello Everyboy

[0:00]" Yeah. We are tuning the radio download your friends and we're delving into my favorite subject because so it's what I do for a living -- I I think like a lot of baseball players it's good idea to know your past not enough people do but when you read the book hello everybody the -- of American radio. You'll have the kind of history that you need boys and girls to take you into the you know into the industry and beyond and I'll tell you it's a lot more than Marconi joining me is Anthony Riddell -- Tony has written several books he's also been in the business for a long time. Is an outstanding historian and he joins us here on WBZ Tony welcome. Well you're on a station that of course figures prominently WBZ in the in the growth of radio in the early days let's face."

[0:48]" You know important station. Important in the north Ian affectionate she -- and have several. That were very importantly -- university. Had an experimental radio station for almost any but he did."

[2:44]" I -- question by the way. -- this is gonna sound silly but I've become more and admire is of Herbert Hoover reading your book in a previous book on the Great Depression and ever I mean not that the -- nervous faults but. He was were thrust in the middle of a very expensive era and neat he actually did a lot of really innovative things."

[3:02]" Hoover was in organizational genius I can trade in no other way. Herbert Hoover and secretary of commerce organized the United States and his organizational skills. Led to a great degree to do the boom it was in 1920s I mean. Some of the things he organized and I love this one. Women dress sizes which you know women go buy a -- out and 1214 whatever might be they didn't exist before Herbert Hoover cable. They reduced UK would that looks about right. Brick size. Piece standardized -- so that the construction industry. Could be more consistent. Of this man organized the radio system and really his goal was to keep it as the -- for the people. He wanted it to be the American legacy. That it was owned by the people he hated the idea of commercial. Keep -- that -- it it. But he was very sensitive to the political and and propaganda power of media. And that you really organize this. Is -- came when he ran became president. And look at the economy surrounded by a bunch of rich businessmen. And in 1931 he formed it is fascinating little stories formed a blue ribbon panel. Of people who. I'm very quickly accepting him oh everything's fine nothing to worry about. Well that was great except you know. Point 6% unemployment a year later to -- they find it. But he was a genius to organizing -- he understood radio. And he let people with creative abilities. Do their thing."

[4:48]" Well as you explained you radio is used in its early days for variety of a purpose is not all of them. Shall we say Kosher and there are some great great stories of first Ariane rocket blew me away John Brinkley. And I'm thinking okay yeah where's this going -- it sounded like get. The opening scene when -- be seized the was abuzz with professor marvel assessing what it."

[6:16]" About it let's listen to a little clip of his voice and then will explain what it is that John Brinkley did needed a lot here it is. So that's the voice of John -- were talking about him and early pioneer if you will what he is done on the radio didn't."

[7:05]" Well he what's fascinating about Brinkley is he could not only did the early morning in mid day -- the you know basic right in show. You know -- from Peoria complaining of the following elements all she needs to do come to my hospital will be traffic that or send away for this special medication that I can put in -- shipped there. The Bradley did all that the Brinkley. Eventually the American Medical Association. And then many FERC the federal radio commission. Got annoyed at him. And came after him and shut down. But that didn't stop Brinkley he decides to run for governor -- 830. And if it hadn't been for the Democrats and Republican leaning up against him. And realizing that there -- no news to this crazy man. And having all the write in vote for him talk that he would become Gartner can't."

[7:58]" And any -- to see us at Kansas they were referred to the was at a laws and that far out of our viewers that. He -- with orchard. Talking with Anthony -- an amazing study of the early days radio it's so much under re it's called. -- everybody and before go any further hello everybody you can just pick out of thin air that's a very important moniker for whom. Iraq Iraq -- discuss before we talk about Roxy. We're gonna get to some of the religious fanatics and crazies. Also take a look at sports and certainly politics but when we go to Rockefeller and -- go to reducing musical don't we have mr. -- it is I think."

[8:36]" We certainly bill he was the guy he was the radio genius he was a producer extraordinaire host extraordinary. His shows are so popular. He built the Roxy theater in New York -- the great line in in guys and now. What's playing at Iraq and I'll tell you explain exactly that proxy that was entered it was -- rocket rocket fell. Was the genius and he took himself off the air in about 1931. And radio City Hall was being built. And the rockefellers basically ask him to step in and start off. And produce the opening night of radio city music and the -- what the all that could be studios had to be. And you know we do have him to think that although the opening night apparently that you Richland."

[9:26]" And by the critics should -- interesting guy and and of course he did. A remarkable. Amount of entertaining in bringing great stars together and a been used radio to do it and made made his name on radio in."

[9:39]" Aptly named maiden name on radio and was so popular that they yet syndicated newspaper column to go with that which called hello everybody not coincidentally --"

[9:48]" You did tell you about the year of catch races so difficult. In his state news for anybody's. Catch phrase to catch on I mean them. So many of them come and go so quickly but in those days you have a good catch -- all say Amos and Andy are any of these guys urine urine goal."

[10:06]" Well Amos and Andy had not a cat treats but don't. And on and take a guy like dirty Alley who I think may be the most undervalued. Radio creator in our history I mean you think you're pretty value pick the guy Iraq would cope with the Mac outlets beyond that the image we all at 91. I was the reunion -- His his knowledge of how to make the audience connect. Was just great and he created the variety -- I mean you know the ready shows that a lot of us grew up with -- and even the Tonight Show the format came from hurting badly in 1932."

[10:45]" Tony let's listen to a little bit of -- belly all these -- coming from your web set by the way which is Anthony were -- dot com here's. Just a very short sample and radio already --"

[10:57]" Okay okay."

[11:40]" We're listening to some clips from Anthony rebelled -- come Anthony's the author of an amazing book -- had I just say that -- It's my industry and I love it but it's also American history called a low everybody the dawn of American radio and Rudy -- registered rep Dick he was indeed of the sex symbol when we kind of look at him now is a corny. Subject but. Women love dimmed and."

[12:01]" this guy the would do his show at the capitol theater. May literally had to have police to keep the crowd from from just repeat the place else."

[12:11]" And wasn't one of the first along with say Ed winter of two really. I've captured audience with a sponsor he had to eat the great loyalty from his sponsor and."

[12:19]" What that means you I mean you know again going back to that here it was different than it is they've -- he had the same sponsor for 520. Consecutive weeks. Which you know and then made we -- but back then he had you know. Placed in east which was -- division standard brands and you know and it's also part of the business story which I hope I captured a little bit up in the book."

[12:43]" Oh you did it very well mean the rise of radio and just for instance the cost as you point out but -- were jumping around your but the cost. Two radio networks to broadcast. Say the political conventions in those days big money to do it wasn't a cents a public service."

[13:01]" whose sense of public service broadcasting far greater than that about what are. Oh sure you know these the every time a presidential candidates spoke it was carried -- Already every time. In preempting everything else. There was much more sense and -- who were actually drove that would like it was great belief that this -- the value radio was to bring the issues in the date to the American people."

[13:25]" Indeed talking here again was Anthony -- dole RU DEL whose book hello everybody the dawn of American radio. Is just loaded with great stuff and -- it's almost the tall -- like a novel at times because you these characters she can't imagine their real for instance. Let's listen to a little clip. Of this lady any simple McPherson and again -- might think we made Europe and we didn't we'll talk about it just set."

[13:50]" It has been said that camera and as an approach that -- that it has never have weathered. And really didn't think it -- Completely. Separate buy at his side. Upgrade will be back. Three. We. And -- that -- thing about. And the thing that happened that -- About what I care. About and I yeah that the way. That if it. And I want your -- open. It without thinking -- pet but I. -- hit it in the back of I think that that man had basically you know keep that commitment. And then immediately great about. And the privately. And they'll. Ever need -- you know."

[15:03]" Now it's you're involved with the study of religion in the rise of evangelism and all this kind of stuff and you look at the great preachers and all the craziness that goes on both on and off camera and -- off microphone I don't think anybody can. All the candle to this lady includes a kidnapping or an alleged in an all kinds of weird stuff tell me about her."

[15:23]" Amy troublemakers and went pay. And eventually cool prodigy and evangelical prodigy yet to Holler and she ends up in Los Angeles from the twenty company new world. And starts preaching on the radio as we get actually gone on -- station KHK. And he's such a huge hit and that preacher that people flock to her. Temple which he's building -- become the wealthiest. Preacher in law and which -- all the other radio preachers crazy and they all went after her. And then suddenly she disappears once they went swimming off the coast look at a coast to California dispute -- the that it. And you know we can't buy it that people crying in the ground and all of a sudden she's found walking through the -- To become one of the biggest national stories of the nineteen. What happened a couple years once she kidnapped when she you know -- he'd just go away. I'm not going to ruin the story for people -- and it it it doesn't read a little bit like a novel. And every thing I used for that by the wayward newspaper accounts from the year. I tried to get defensive unraveling the mystery as people then were unravel."

[16:42]" The information is is what radioed the -- and it starts to really pick up in the late twenties early thirties of course she you outline. Probably the biggest news story of its day was lead the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby."

[16:55]" Well that the two bookend the amber Lynn -- just like current from 1920 and the kidnapping. At thirty."

[17:01]" And really it makes the -- days and all the crazy 24 hour access cable stuff. It makes it seem them well it by comparison pretty much and an equal -- radio on TV it."

[17:13]" Oh absolutely need the in every radio network reporter what's kept outside the amber -- Just like the OJ Simpson's stuff. It was the story. You know news radio station until we get into the thirties really didn't cover new. Because they didn't have the resources. To send reporters everywhere. -- they were sort of dependent on the Associated Press for their news -- it with the Lindbergh baby kidnapping that change that. So it's not only an important story from an emotional and historic standpoint it's an important story because of the relationship between radio and newspaper."

[17:53]" I've got to a ton of questions we -- a time for all the but I do want to focus on two more personalities and getting back to the religion issue and that his father Coughlin. On -- very very controversial figure doesn't start out that way necessarily but builds an intensity of course is anti Semitic. A remarks is it is -- cozying up with the Nazis. Doctrine. Early on any becomes a sensation he even did decent speaking here in Boston public speaking and it was a it was a very difficult a time early on when radio weren't unchecked tell me about father Coughlin and how he was able to do what he did."

[18:27]" Coughlin. -- perhaps more than any one manipulated the media. Perfectly and he understood the power of his voice on the radio it's that simple. And -- in fact is they're great thing in in his. Lot of these people had memoir written for -- and that it was written for him which he is writer talks about how he used to go into his study afterwards. And watch himself in the -- as he delivered his radio talk. So that he could practice the way -- would come out -- very studied. But in voice -- incredibly resonant he had a wonderful baritone and people reacted to it. So initially he was you know for truer fighting in the U klux Klan and it was all good. And then he became more and more radical and in fact endorsed. FDR. And spoke at the nominating convention for a PR. But as soon as FDR became president. He distanced himself tremendously. From Coughlin and that's when Coughlin turned against him and that I hope that the MacBook --"

[19:31]" All the while what are here and and you know sending that there's a guy. Other Coughlin tell -- a movie treatment if you can do it what an actor and actors dream to play this -- so complicated. India and has the following loses the following -- becomes really outrageous and and it's part of this whole radio story there's there's one other name I want to talk about. And it it's an unsung hero and I've always thought that this is they still do that what I do is is is part of an art form. And it requires skill I hope to do what it is. And this one guy that keeps popping up in nearly it is a radio as a go to guy is a do everything guy Graham Mac and make Graham Mac. Of the --"

[21:31]" Yet he he was if you talk about players you gotta put him right up there and you're the first guy I know who's -- brought into its."

[21:38]" Yeah the main yeah wrote he wrote a memoir himself which is not very good but it had enough in -- about this experience. And you calling college football for example. You know he tried to do an account which he couldn't do it so that's when they created -- this sidekick because he's that I need somebody that you the spotting for."

[21:56]" A collar guy based and Nash and yet he he is is the coolest and I tell you. What this book does is it provides us a beautiful texture to the times there's the west versus the tries the prohibition argument. They're courses the depression and and the economic followed -- the mastery that FDR had -- radio it's just amazing and by the way we haven't mentioned boxing matches which became a sensation. -- Let me just let me just focus on one more thing with the Tony and that is I sit at the outset of our interview that. On its -- the open dream that people in the business read this because it's important for us I think going forward in you know hundred years almost a hundred years later. That we appreciate and understand the history and I know little Lotta times. People in various businesses don't have the time -- don't take the time to do that -- is so important for me and you and and everybody listening to know about the."

[22:51]" Why you know I I look at it from two perspectives talent for people in the business from but for anyone as a consumer of media and entertainment. Because as wonderful as television and wonderful and the Internet is. Without those twelve years -- radio and nothing that we did they could exist. He just --"

[23:09]" This wouldn't be here because. They built the format being built they came up yet -- covering new covering politics. Looking at least. Those those twelve years really for me and these are beginning our conversation I was in radio. Those twelve years for me. Said here's what American culture is here's how the electronic media is going to be part. And that's the main power."

[23:39]" Well the mere fact that there are scores of notes in the book you did your research a lot of stuff. Here that we can I just thank you Anthony and and good luck with this and future works in this is the kind of thing net it will pass along to our grandkids. By the way Antony -- argued -- yelled out come the book is akin to entitled. Very aptly entitled hello everybody the dawn of American radio hey take care my friend we'll see on the radio."