Preserving the Story of Greater Boston's Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE And

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Preserving the Story of Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI

Station 1XE, later known as WGI and then WARC, was also known as “the AMRAD station.” But by any name, it was one of the first radio stations in the United States to broadcast voice and music, beginning in 1916. It had one of radio’s first women announcers; it offered some of the first regular newscasts; and in early 1922, it began providing college courses by radio. The AMRAD station was also home to many of greater Boston’s best-loved entertainers and announcers, some of whom went on to national fame. Yet today, this pioneering radio station is all but forgotten. Media historian Donna Halper takes a closer look at the AMRAD station’s history, discussing its important role in early broadcasting, and why it deserves to be remembered.

Station 1XE, later known as WGI in when most people think of Boston’s radio 1922 and WARC in 1925, was a pioneer- history, the name of WBZ-AM imme- ing radio station and one of the first in diately comes to mind. Certainly, WBZ the United States to broadcast voice and is a station with a storied history, and its music. The station was often called the longevity is impressive (it went on the air “AMRAD station” because it was owned in mid-September 1921, and still uses the by the American Radio and Research same call letters), but it was not the first Corporation, which manufactured radio station in the greater Boston area. Back receivers and other amateur radio equip- in 1921, WBZ was nowhere near Boston; ment, and had roots that could be traced it was located at the Westinghouse plant back to 1915.1 Some people who worked in East Springfield, Massachusetts,3 more there believed it was the first station, and than eighty miles away, and it did not during the early 1920s, the station often open a Boston studio until early 1924. used the slogan “Where Broadcasting A timeline of key dates in AMRAD’s Began.” 2 While historians continue to broadcasting history is shown in the debate which station was the first com- accompanying sidebar (see next page). mercial station ever to broadcast, it is a The AMRAD station opened its stu- fact that this station was one of the first dio facilities in late 1915, on the Tufts licensed stations in greater Boston, and College (today Tufts University) cam- it is believed to be the first station in pus at Medford Hillside, (see Fig. 1), Boston to broadcast voice and music. about six miles from downtown Boston. This often comes as a surprise, because According to Radio Service Bulletins, the

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AMRAD TIMELINE: KEY DATES IN BROADCASTING Fall 1910: Tufts freshmen Harold J. Power and Joseph Prentiss create the Tufts College Wireless Society. Fall 1911: Tufts Wireless Society opens its first station with equipment donated by the Signal Corps. June 1914: Harold Power and Joseph Prentiss graduate from Tufts College; they will become the founders of the American Radio and Research Corporation (AMRAD). June 1915: Incorporation of AMRAD. August 1915: Agreement signed between Harold Power and Tufts College for construction of AMRAD/Tufts shared facility. November 1915: AMRAD’s first research laboratory completed; first broadcast tower in operation. March 1916: First documented broadcasts of voice and music at the AMRAD station. February 1917: Call sign 1XE first appears in theRadio Service Bulletin. May 1918: Eunice Randall is hired by AMRAD as a “draftslady”; she will become 1XE’s first female announcer and one of the first in New England. August 1920: New and expanded AMRAD plant is completed. September 1920: 1XE is broadcasting sporadically; first documented mention of the AMRAD station’s call letters post-war, in the “calls heard” section of QST. February 1921: Call sign 1XE first appears after WWI in theRadio Service Bulletin. May 1921: Station 1XE begins regular schedule of daily broadcasts. November 1921: Eunice Randall gives her first radio bedtime story. December 1921: Boston Mayor James Michael Curley gives his first political talk by radio; economist Roger Babson gives his first radio business talk. February 1922: 1XE becomes WGI, per order of the Department of Commerce. April 1922: Tufts College professors begin a series of educational courses by radio; noted black actor Charles S. Gilpin gives his first radio dramatic reading; WGI broadcasts its first commercials, but Radio Inspector orders the station to stop. January 1924: “Big Brother” Bob Emery debuts popular children’s show, the Big Brother Club. March 1925: WGI changes its call letters to WARC. April 1925: News reports announce AMRAD is going through bankruptcy proceedings. May 1925: Without warning, the AMRAD station ceases to broadcast. December 1925: Powel Crosley Jr. announces he has purchased AMRAD and WARC, says manufacturing of radios will continue; promises WARC will return to the air (it never does). 1930: Crosley abandons plans to keep AMRAD factory going, shuts it down.

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Fig. 1. The first AMRAD research laboratory, complete with a 300-foot radio tower, was built in 1915 on Medford Hillside, just north of the Tufts college buildings. (Miller, Light on the Hill, p. 393)

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AMRAD station was first licensed as Emery, and Hum & Strum, went on to 1XE in December of 1916 or January of earn national recognition. Yet today, few 1917. 4 However, newspaper articles attest people know that the AMRAD station to the fact that, with or without a license, ever existed. the AMRAD station began broadcasting voice and music as early as March Challenges in Researching 1916, and sporadically thereafter.5 And Early Radio there is further evidence in newspaper There are several possible explanations archives that 1XE began a regular broad- for why other early commercial stations cast schedule by May of 1921.6 are much better known. One has to do The AMRAD station never had opu- with longevity; two of the earliest sta- lent studios or a big promotional budget, tions, KDKA in Pittsburgh and WWJ and it rarely operated with more than in Detroit, are still broadcasting, and 100 watts.7 Yet despite frequent financial thus still able to promote their claims to problems, it managed to broadcast for having been the first commercial station nearly a decade, and during that time, it in continuous operation up to the present had many unique accomplishments. For day. While 1XE/WGI was also broad- example, the station hired Eunice Ran- casting at that time and could join them dall, one of radio’s first female announc- in laying claim to being first,16 it went off ers,8 who also helped with engineering, the air in April 1925. And while many read bedtime stories to young listeners, people whose careers began in Medford and was a licensed ham radio operator. Hillside remembered the experience It broadcast a morning exercise-by-radio fondly even decades later,17 as the years program aimed at helping listeners to passed, few were left to tell the AMRAD lose weight.9 It pioneered some of the station’s story. As might be expected, earliest on-air adult education courses, most radio fans were more interested in featuring Tufts College professors.10 The current stations, rather than remember- station aired daily newscasts with reporting stations from the early 1920s that ers from a Boston newspaper,11 which were long defunct. included the latest police reports of sto- The partial loss of the station’s len automobiles.12 In addition, the well- archives (including correspondence files) known economist Roger Babson hosted after its bankruptcy, and the change of a weekly program in which he offered ownership in mid-1925 also made it dif- his perspectives on business.13 Station ficult to keep the 1XE/WGI story alive.18 1XE/WGI was home to the “Big Brother The building that once housed the station Club,” the most popular children’s show was destroyed by a fire in 1972,19 and all in town.14 The AMRAD station may that survives from the AMRAD station also have been the first to run paid com- today are some individual pieces of corre- mercials, much to the consternation of spondence between station management the Federal Radio Inspector.15 Some of and several Tufts’ deans and professors, its performers, including Joe Rines, Bob as well as some exchanges (many related

32 The AWA Review Halper to the state of the station’s finances) rare transcription that was made in 1937 between AMRAD’s owner Harold J. for an anniversary celebration at Bos- Power and the president of Tufts (all ton’s WEEI; it contains a re-creation of preserved in the university’s archives). a typical 1921 broadcast featuring Eunice Additionally, there are a few memos and Randall, one of 1XE/WGI’s original letters that were saved by people who announcers. While it is an interesting worked for 1XE/WGI. (I was fortunate artifact, it would have been amazing to to talk with several former “Amradians” hear radio as it was being performed back before they died; their recollections were in those early years. And although sta- invaluable to my research.) tion program listings (printed in many The loss of the original files, includ- newspapers during the 1920s) can be ing station logs, is especially unfortu- helpful, they do not reveal whether the nate since radio editors of that time were program that was scheduled actually was familiar with the information they con- aired, and if so, how it sounded. In later tained. Lewis Whitcomb (better known years, radio critics like Robert Landry as “Whit”) was the radio editor for the of Variety or Howard Fitzpatrick of the Boston Post until he joined WEEI radio Boston Post gave their assessment of the in late 1924. Writing for the Chamber programs; but few radio critics existed of Commerce’s journal Current Affairs in broadcasting’s formative years. Fur- in 1925, Whit claimed that these origi- ther, some station listings in the news- nal files documented that the Medford papers only said “music” or “phonograph station, then known as 1XE, began records,” which doesn’t reveal which broadcasting before station KDKA did selections the station was playing, or who on November 2, 1920: “. . . [It] appears announced the program. Thus, given the from records available at WGI that the lack of actual broadcasts from 1919–1928 Medford station was broadcasting regu- (some of the first transcriptions did not lar programs at least a month before . . . begin to appear, or get utilized by radio, KDKA . . .” 20 The “Calls Heard” feature until 1929),22 and the lack of in-depth in the October 1920 issue of QST pro- information about early programs, most vides definitive proof that station 1XE of what we know about those early days was transmitting as early as September mainly lives on in the writings of those 1920.21 Other reporters of the mid-1920s who were there, as quoted in books, also alluded to the station’s files; I only newspapers, and magazines, as well as wish they had been saved. whatever correspondence has survived. And then, there is the problem of Another challenge in researching the not knowing what kinds of programs earliest stations is that much of what was were on the air in those early days. Since covered in those formative years focused neither transcriptions nor audiotape had almost exclusively on the technology. been invented, historians are unable to This is understandable, since magazines form any opinions by listening to what such as QST (which debuted in 1915) early broadcasts sounded like. I do have a and Radio News (which debuted as Radio

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Amateur News in July 1919, as we see or sold electrical supplies and equipment. in Fig. 2) were founded by individual If you read newspapers and magazines entrepreneurs or by companies that from this era, you will also notice there were either involved in amateur radio were many names for the new wireless

Fig. 2. Cover of the first issue of Radio Amateur News. (Courtesy of the American Radio History website)

34 The AWA Review Halper apparatus—and even for radio broad- wireless club was doing. But if you did casting itself. Some newspapers, for not subscribe to a ham radio publica- example, tended to speak of the “wireless tion, or if you were not well versed in telephone.”23 As the name indicated, it engineering, you would not have found was envisioned as a new kind of tele- very much about radio in the typical phone service, one that could transmit newspapers and magazines of that time. voice messages across the ocean without the need for wires. But by late 1919, a Impact of the “Radio Craze” station that sent out the voice messages During 1920 and 1921, only a few com- or music was called a “radiophone sta- mercial stations were broadcasting; in tion,” and the apparatus that was asso- February 1922, there were still no more ciated with the ability to transmit voice than thirty-five.27 But by mid-1922, and music in a broadcast was called a the “radio craze” had begun. Suddenly, radiophone;24 clearly, it did not refer to a interest in “radiophone broadcasting” person-to-person telephone conversation. expanded dramatically, with hundreds of Gradually, as more commercial stations new stations going on the air—people of came on the air in 1921, “radiophone” all ages were eager to have a set of their and “wireless phone” became the most own.28 Mentions of radio could be heard commonly used terms when discussing in popular songs, seen on greeting cards a broadcasting station;25 this would not (see Fig. 3), and even President Warren G. change until the height of the “radio Harding had a radio set installed at the craze” in 1922–1923, when the word White House.29 While broadcasting was “radio” finally came into common use. now reaching the masses— as opposed But by whatever name, there was not to being perceived as just a hobby for much coverage of the development of amateurs—it did not necessarily result radio broadcasting in the period from in more coverage from the press. In fact, 1910–1920. Oral histories, often com- reactions were decidedly mixed. Some piled decades later, are certainly useful. publications added a radio page (like the But they can also be unreliable, given Boston Herald) or a radio column (like the people’s tendency to get certain dates Boston Traveler and the Boston Globe), but wrong or make themselves seem more many others decided to completely ignore important than they really might have the radio craze. These editors regarded been. The few newspapers that did report radio as competition, and they feared on wireless telephony experiments in that writing about it would encourage that era generally did so by profiling the people to stop buying their publications. inventor or experimenter.26 However, While most magazines were weeklies there was little ongoing coverage in the or monthlies, the daily newspapers felt mass-appeal newspapers and magazines. they were especially at a disadvantage. Sometimes a newspaper would have a Although they published numerous edi- piece about a local amateur radio opera- tions throughout the day, there was still a tor, or report on what the local college lag time between when an event occurred

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decided to report on radio. Some even hired a radio editor to talk about the announcers and entertainers (who were often one and the same). In that era of live radio, if a guest didn’t show up, the announcer would fill the time somehow, often by singing or playing the piano.30 One of the first newspapers to cover radio, the Detroit News, had an excellent reason for doing so. TheDetroit News put its own radio station on the air in August 1920 using the amateur license 8MK, which later transitioned to WBL and then WWJ after receiving a broadcasting license. The News was the first newspaper to own a radio station, and Fig. 3. This New Year’s card from 1924 showed the excitement anything that was on 8MK of “listening in” as the radio craze permeated American received thorough coverage, culture. (Author’s collection) including a page-one report of election returns.31 Even and when the reporting reached the pub- in cities where no newspapers owned a lic. Radio did not have this problem; it station, some newspaper editors saw an was the first mass medium that could opportunity to make their readers happy. bring people to an event in real time. These editors understood that readers And so, in cities where newspaper editors were fascinated by radio; and rather than believed radio was a threat to circulation, ignoring it, some decided to embrace it, we find little information about the local not only by writing about it, but also by stations that were on the air. Even the providing a daily news broadcast, as the Medford Mercury, the newspaper nearest Boston Traveler did as early as April 1922 to where 1XE/WGI broadcast, was slow (see Fig. 4).32 to report very much about what the sta- Modern researchers have been fur- tion was doing. ther aided by all the new magazines that Fortunately for researchers, there emerged beginning in 1922. The “radio were more and more newspapers that craze” resulted in numerous publications

36 The AWA Review Halper that were aimed at radio listeners as well as experimenters who wanted to build their own equipment. A good example of a mass-appeal magazine was Radio Digest, which featured station listings as well as stories about key stations, profiles of some of the performers, and descrip- tions of unique programs.33 Another interesting publication was Radio in the Home, which combined reporting on new and more stylish receiving sets with stories about the celebrities who enjoyed using them. While not every issue of these magazines has survived, many have been digitized (a great benefit for scholars of early broadcasting). One excellent repository for old radio magazines in digital form, including many technical publications and a wide variety of mass-appeal magazines, is the website AmericanRadioHistory.com. Stations 1XE and WGI received a few mentions in these publications (their call signs appeared in program listings, and certain announcers or guests were the subject of occasional articles); the AMRAD station was also written about in some of the Boston newspapers).34 But the station’s accomplishments were Fig. 4. Announcement of daily radio newscast. quickly superseded by the stories of sta- (Boston Herald, Mar. 31, 1922, p. 19) tions owned by bigger companies, especially stations that could afford to pay for radio commonly referred to it as a “mar- big-name talent. In 1921 and 1922, when vel,” “a wonder,” and a “miracle.”35 But broadcasting was still new, the dominant as radio ceased to be a novelty, listeners style of reporting focused on stations increasingly developed favorite stations that were the first to do something (such and favorite programs, and they wanted as broadcasting a World Series game or to know more about the performers and airing a talk by a famous celebrity). Also announcers they were hearing. They also popular were stories about how amazed began to expect consistent, high-quality the listeners were to hear such wonderful programming. This trend was acceler- programs. The reporters who covered ated when the National Broadcasting

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Company came along in 1926, followed people’s lives, and how certain previ- soon after by the Columbia Broadcast- ously unknown local performers became ing System. The existence of networks household names, or even national celeb- made it possible for famous perform- rities. Station 1XE/WGI was the launch- ers and popular programs to be heard ing point for so many entertainers and from coast to coast. Meanwhile, many announcers. Listeners were eager to learn small stations that had been popular in more about the voices they heard, and the early 1920s, 1XE and WGI among the station issued promotional materials, them, were unable to compete. These usually post cards or pamphlets, to show stations gradually faded from the public’s the audience what the performers and memory. announcers looked like. One example As a media historian, I believe study- from 1923 appears in Fig. 5. Identifying ing pioneering stations like 1XE and who owned these radio voices and what WGI can provide an important oppor- their role was at the station is an essential tunity to explore how smaller radio part of the history of broadcasting. stations, especially those not owned by deep-pocketed corporations, tried to find The Man Who Founded 1XE/WGI creative ways to stay on the air. After all, By all accounts, the idea for what became this was a time when “direct advertising” 1XE originated with Harold J. Power. (what we now call “commercials”) was Born in Everett, Massachusetts, in 1892, frowned upon. Herbert Hoover, then the he fell in love with wireless telegraphy secretary of the Department of Com- and amateur radio when he was a young merce, believed broadcasting should be boy, and by the time he was eleven, he a public service, and as such, stations had built a back yard shed where he could should not air any direct advertising at send and receive Morse code messages. all.36 This put smaller stations at a disad- He also built a rudimentary receiver, but vantage as they tried to generate the rev- it worked only sporadically; he would enue to pay the bills each month. What eagerly hurry home from school to try ultimately doomed AMRAD was its to improve its reliability.38 After graduat- inability to remain financially solvent. It ing from Everett High School in 1910, is worth noting that another researcher, Power entered Tufts College. By then, he the late Alan Douglas, has written elo- was already an experienced ham radio quently about the business and manu- operator, one of the many boys and facturing side of the American Radio young men fascinated by wireless tech- and Research Corporation. He discussed nology.39 Power had also made progress in great detail the financial dilemmas in building receiving equipment, and faced by AMRAD, and the reasons for he was considered enough of an expert them.37 But rather than researching the on wireless telegraphy that Everett High technology or the business aspects, my School hired him to teach an evening focus has always been on social history: school class on the subject. He later told how early radio affected (and changed) an interviewer that at first, he taught

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Fig. 5. A late 1923 promotional card, showing C. R. (Bob) Emery and H. D. (Herb) Miller of WGI, along with the station’s claim it was “where broadcasting began.” (Author’s collection) for free because the school was not sure Radio School).42 He remained there for there would be enough interest to sus- more than four decades and was well tain the course. But when it proved to known in the field of vocational edu- be very popular (thirty students signed cation, training students for jobs in all up immediately), he was officially hired aspects of broadcasting. In the early as an evening school instructor, and the 1920s, he occasionally went on the air money he earned helped pay for his col- at 1XE/WGI to give talks about the latest lege education.40 trends in technology. One of the students in that class Lest this biographical sketch seem was Guy R. Entwistle, who became like a digression, Guy Entwistle is an Power’s classroom assistant. Entwistle important part of the 1XE story. For one subsequently enrolled at Tufts, where thing, as the President of the Tufts Wire- he continued to work with Power while less Association, he was responsible for the studying engineering. In 1914, while still operation of its amateur wireless station a student, Entwistle joined the newly- (1JJ), which occupied the same building founded Amateur Radio Relay League, as the AMRAD station when AMRAD and he went on to serve as the organiza- made it first broadcasts in early 1916. And tion’s New England Division Manager.41 for another, he was able to tell that story After graduating from Tufts in 1918, he to a mass audience. In mid-February became the director of the Boston-based 1921, he was hired as the amateur radio Massachusetts Radio and Telegraph reporter for the Boston Traveler news- School (later renamed the Massachusetts paper, where he wrote a column three

Volume 31, 2018 39 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI days a week, and in addition to reporting interviews with Power—he was not what local amateurs were doing, he also lacking in self-confidence. He wanted covered 1XE’s programming. By 1922, he reporters, many of whom knew little became the Traveler’s radio editor, and he about wireless technology, to see him increasingly wrote about the area’s com- as an expert, so that they would quote mercial stations. But it was Entwistle’s him when they needed explanations for 1921 reporting that turned out to be so current trends. And when quoted, he invaluable. He was an eyewitness to the often used hyperbole, asserting that his growth of broadcasting in Boston as it latest technological innovation would transitioned from amateur experiment- be bigger than anything that had come ers to commercial broadcasting. And he before it. Reporters seemed happy to was also one of the few reporters who go along with this. In one article about personally knew the staff of 1XE/WGI. the Tufts wireless station, the writer says Interestingly, it was thanks to his radio that Power was “known as the pioneer column that I first encountered the name wireless operator of New England.”45 In of Eunice Randall in a column about another article, the reporter noted that the positive reception she was receiving Power had just invented a device that as an announcer for 1XE.43 Wanting to would make messages audible, even if know more about her led me to research there were electrical interference during broadcasting’s women announcers and storms. The reporter helpfully agreed performers, and later, that led to a book— with Power that this new device was “the Invisible Stars: A Social History of Women biggest invention in wireless telegraphy in American Broadcasting, the second edi- since Marconi’s discovery.”46 tion of which was published in 2014. While Power quickly mastered the art of self-promotion, it was also true that How AMRAD and 1XE Began he had some very real accomplishments. Encouraged by physics professor Henry For one, thanks in large part to his skill G. Chase, Harold Power and fellow Tufts with the wireless, he was able to work for student Joseph A. Prentiss, who was also several of the most important business a fan of ham radio, co-founded the Tufts leaders of his day. In the summer of 1911, Wireless Association in 1911. Power told while still a college student, he served a reporter for the Boston Post that the as the wireless operator on the Nora, association intended to conduct ongo- the private yacht of wealthy business ing experiments in wireless telegraphy executive John Jacob Astor.47 Tragically, and to develop “a sending station with Astor was one of the people who died the a radius of 100 to 200 miles that was following year when the Titanic sank. capable of receiving messages from any Power remembered him as “one of the distance.” The new Tufts wireless sta- finest men . . . that I ever met.”48 Then, tion would be one of the best and most in the summer of 1913, Power served up-to-date in the country.44 One thing as the wireless operator on the Corsair, I noticed when reading local newspaper the private yacht of financier J. Pierpont

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Morgan’s son Jack (J. Pierpont Morgan, Several well-respected historians Jr.). This relationship would later prove believe that AMRAD transmitted this helpful, as Jack Morgan, who was put broadcast under the special license 1XE. in charge of his father’s financial empire For example, Tufts’ historian Russell when the elder Morgan died, agreed to E. Miller writes in his book Light on provide financing for Power’s broadcast- the Hill: “Radio communication was ing and manufacturing venture. made on the Tufts campus on the eve- Undoubtedly, one factor that influ- ning of March 18, 1916, when AMRAD, enced Morgan’s decision was when Power working with the Wireless Society as gave him an impressive demonstration of Station 1XE, broadcast three hours of wireless telephony. In mid-March 1916, phonograph music picked up in an area Power transmitted his second experimen- of over 100 miles, and interspersed with tal broadcast from AMRAD’s studios the customary code of ship to shore mes- at Medford Hillside. Power’s first music sages.” 53 However, Miller does not cite broadcast had taken place at the begin- any authority supporting his assertion ning of March, and some local ama- that the AMRAD station used the 1XE teurs who were accustomed to Morse call sign in this broadcast. To the con- code, were surprised to hear music.49 trary, the Boston Globe reported a week For this particular broadcast, Power had later that the source of this broadcast one person he wanted in the audience, had been “Classified as a Mystery,” and and so he notified Morgan beforehand a great effort went into determining that to invite him to listen in. Morgan was it was the AMRAD station. If AMRAD heading home from England on a ship had been using call letters, the source and was about seventy-five miles south- of the transmission would have been east of Cape Cod Massachusetts, but as no mystery. Supporting the postulate requested, he went into the ship’s wire- that 1XE had not been assigned to the less room. To his surprise, he was able AMRAD station at that time is Radio to hear a three-hour broadcast of voice Stations of the United States, published and music—various phonograph record- by the Department of Commerce in July ings that included marches, opera, and 1916,54 which listed all the known radio popular vocals.50 Power’s stunt had the station call signs circa the publication desired effect. He had already discussed date. Conspicuous by its absence from his dream of performing important the list of radio stations of the United experiments with wireless technology, States in this document is 1XE. However, and now Morgan had heard for him- it does list the Tufts Wireless Society sta- self what wireless could do. Although tion under the call sign 1JJ, with Guy R. few people knew it at the time, it was Entwistle listed as the owner.55 Morgan’s money (by some accounts, Harold Power graduated from Tufts $350,000,51 and by others, as much as in 1914 with a Bachelor of Science in $850,000 before all was said and done52) Electrical Engineering.56 By the sum- that turned Power’s vision into reality. mer of 1915, he and fellow grad Joseph

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Prentiss had founded the American several favorable profiles in the Boston Radio and Research Corporation (soon newspapers (see Fig. 6). Most members to be known as AMRAD). Located on of his team were Tufts graduates, current the Tufts campus, the company’s build- students, or family members (including ing included a laboratory for scientific his older brother John). Unfortunately, work and an adjacent room that could not long after the tower was completed be used either for classes in wireless it came right back down again. In late technology or to hold meetings of the September, a severe storm with intense Tufts Wireless Association. And a huge gusts of wind caused it to fall, nearly steel tower was also under construction, resulting in a train accident. The tower with plans for it to reach 304 feet.57 came to rest across the Boston and Maine Harold Power became the president of Railroad tracks, and only quick action by AMRAD, and he was soon featured in the engineer stopped the train and pre- vented a catastrophe.58 The people who lived nearby had been concerned about the huge wireless tower, and when it fell, they undoubtedly hoped it would not be rebuilt. But it was—and this time, more precautions were taken to secure it.59 AMRAD was officially ready to embark upon manufacturing equipment and performing wireless experiments.

“Listening in” in 1921 Although its location was close to many of Tufts College buildings on the north side of College Hill, station 1XE was not a college station. Harold Power had obtained permission from the then-college president Hermon C. Bumpus to lease a plot of land and build the AMRAD laboratory and factory.60 He successfully made the case that AMRAD’s radio experiments would be of great practical benefit to Tufts students studying physics and engineering, as well as to the professors who were teaching these subjects. And during World War Fig. 6. This photo of Harold J. Power was I, as historian Alan Douglas has pointed included in his profile that appeared in the out, there was plenty of work. Manu- Boston Post. (Sept. 25, 1915, p. 4) facturing equipment for the military

42 The AWA Review Halper became very lucrative for the new com- records or sports scores, and there was pany, to the point where AMRAD had one time in late February 1919 when to hire more staff. By 1918, seventy-five AMRAD installed a “wireless telephone” people were working at the Medford so that greetings to President Woodrow Hillside factory.61 Wilson could be sent by Boston dignitar- Ultimately, a new and larger plant ies as the ship he was on was approaching was necessary, and it opened for business the harbor.63 Unfortunately, we do not in the summer of 1920 (see Fig. 7).62 The know if this experimental transmission war had required that manufacturing was successful. An AMRAD timeline for the military take precedence over of historical achievements claims it experiments with voice and music, and occurred, but I have found no verifica- amateur stations were not allowed to tion in newspapers or other documents. broadcast until the war was over. By 1919, In the period from 1919–1920, much the war had ended, and radio experi- of what 1XE seems to have transmitted ments resumed. However, there is little was in Morse code, with the objective contemporaneous information about of sending messages to more and more events from that time period. From cor- distant locations. According to employee respondence written by former AMRAD Eunice Randall (later Eunice Randall employees years later, they recall the Thompson), it wasn’t until early 1921 that occasional broadcast of phonograph some actual (and regular) programs were

Fig. 7. Construction of a new AMRAD factory and research laboratory was completed circa Sep- tember 1920; the 300-foot 1XE tower appears in the background. (Author’s collection)

Volume 31, 2018 43 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI being broadcast. Eunice was in her late went back on the air, she also turned out teens when she joined AMRAD in 1918. to be a capable announcer. In addition, It wasn’t something she had planned to she was an extremely versatile employee. do; she had come to Boston from her She studied amateur radio and obtained native Mattapoisett, about 70 miles from her first-class license (her call letters were Boston, to attend art school. When she 1CDP, and later W1MPP), and she knew ran out of money and needed a job, she how to do basic studio repairs. She could found one at a company that normally also demonstrate AMRAD equipment would not have hired her. Most of the at trade shows and conferences.64 For men were overseas during WW I, and example, we see her in Fig. 8 along with AMRAD was desperate for someone who her AMRAD colleagues, Ken Thompson knew how to make technical drawings and Howard Tyzzer, at the New York and blueprints—even if that someone Radio Show in March 1922. Eunice was female. Eunice turned out to be a became well-known in greater Boston capable draftsman (or a “draftslady,” as as the “Story Lady,” reading bedtime she wanted to be called), and when 1XE stories to children,65—and thanks to

Fig. 8. Eunice Randall was often called upon to demonstrate AMRAD equipment at trade shows. This photo shows (l-r) Eunice, Ken Thompson, and Howard Tyzzer at the New York Amateur Radio Show March 7, 1922. (Author’s collection)

44 The AWA Review Halper how far AM signals carried, Eunice was In an era when more women were soon receiving fan mail from listeners entering the workforce or attending throughout the eastern United States.66 college, it must have been inspiring Eunice became so popular that every- for female listeners to learn about all one wanted to listen to the “OW from of Eunice Randall’s accomplishments 1XE,” as she was called in newspapers. in broadcasting. Radio reporters were The phrase also appears in this very rare also fascinated by the idea of a “lady response postcard that AMRAD created announcer” (even in 1922, nearly all for the 1921 Radio Show in Chicago (see announcers were men). A number of Fig. 9). In ham radio, a male operator articles were written about Eunice, and was jokingly called an “OM”—old man, they often included photographs of her an affectionate term derived from Brit- in the studio. A photograph of her broad- ish slang. When a few women became casting in the AMRAD studio appears ham radio operators, at first the term in Fig. 10. There is some evidence that “OW”—old woman—was used; hence, this photograph was staged for the cam- Eunice was called the OW of 1XE. But eras, but her many fans were just happy in a culture where aging was perceived as to see what she looked like. Her radio something negative for women, who were work certainly kept her busy; in addition even encouraged to lie about their age, to the bedtime stories and fixing stu- it quickly became apparent that a better dio equipment, sometimes she reported term was needed. By the 1930s, OW had the news or read announcements of been changed to YL—young lady. local civic events. At other times, she

Fig. 9. A rare promotional card handed out at the Chicago Radio Show in September 1921. Note that Eunice is referred to as the “OW of 1XE.” (Author’s collection)

Volume 31, 2018 45 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI

Fig. 10. Eunice Randall in the less-than-opulent 1XE studio reading a bedtime story in 1921. (Author’s collection) announced the police reports of stolen primarily a volunteer activity. Eunice was cars.67 And when she had a day off, it was paid for her work at AMRAD during the Howard Tyzzer, one of AMRAD’s best day, and she pitched in at night for no engineers, who read them. But whoever additional pay, just to assist in keeping read these reports, this feature got results. 1XE on the air.70 The newspapers noted that because the If you had “listened in” to the license plate numbers of stolen cars were AMRAD station, or most of the other broadcast, some eagle-eyed listeners saw stations on the air in 1921, you would not the car in question and reported it to the have heard the types of formats we have police, who were then able to recover it.68 today, or in some cases, any format at all. In addition to fighting crime, Eunice Stations back then had no official rules could also perform. As mentioned earlier, about consistency, and with few excep- when guests didn’t show up, announc- tions, they did not restrict themselves to ers had to fill the time, and she and one just one genre of music. Station KYW, of her AMRAD colleagues sometimes then located in Chicago, created an all- sang duets.69 Radio back then was still opera station in November of 1921, but

46 The AWA Review Halper most stations preferred to broadcast a shop in exchange for some promotional wide range of entertainment. What was mentions), along with sports scores, inspi- on the air depended on which perform- rational messages from local clergy, an ers they were able to find. The programs educational talk, Morse code practice for were usually broadcast in fifteen-minute amateurs, and live performances by vocal- blocks of time, giving listeners plenty of ists or bands. To my knowledge, only a variety. On 1XE, one sometimes might couple of playlists from the AMRAD hear a concert consisting of phonograph station’s early days have survived, such as records (bartered from a Boston record the one from 1921 reproduced in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11. Rare playlist of Victor phonograph records played by 1XE, November 9, 1921. (Author’s collection)

Volume 31, 2018 47 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI

By this time, there were some famil- David.” His real name was David M. iar voices making the announcements. Cheney, and like his colleague Herb While Eunice’s was the most recog- Miller, he was an English professor at nizable, 1XE was increasingly able to Tufts when not on the air.72 count on a group of regular announcers Also heard more often was a young (a majority of whom, like Eunice, were vocalist named Claire Robins Emery AMRAD employees during the day), (or Claire Robert Emery), who was as well as a growing number of regular becoming a listener favorite. He had entertainers. Most of the performers back been employed by Gilchrist’s Depart- then were local; some came from area ment Store in Boston, but since he could music schools and a few played at area sing, he became part of a vocal quar- clubs. One popular entertainer was E. tet the store used. At that time, many Lewis Dunham, a Medford-based organ- companies were building camaraderie ist and choir director at Grace Episcopal through such activities as talent shows Church. On air, he sometimes accompa- and outings, and it was common to read nied the vocalists, and at other times he about employees who entertained at these gave solo organ recitals. Sometimes he events. The Gilchrist vocal group per- also announced the programs. Dunham formed for 1XE, and soon Emery was in used the pseudonym “Uncle Eddie” when demand. He went on to become a popu- helping with children’s programming; lar announcer and singer on the station. the remainder of the time, as was the A rare photo of him in those early days is custom back then, he used his initials, reproduced in Fig. 12. Emery also spent E.L.D. This custom came from amateur some time as the program director of the radio, and many announcers continued station, and in early 1924 he debuted a to use it well into 1925.71 For example, children’s show called the “Big Brother station announcer Herbert D. Miller, a Club.” Bob Emery became a beloved Tufts College professor of English, was figure in Boston. His career in children’s known on the air as H.D.M. It is also programming lasted nearly fifty years, worth noting that the use of pseudonyms first on radio, including network radio, was common for the hosts of children’s and then on Boston television.73 shows—Eunice Randall may have used Because there was no money to pay her own name because reading stories for talent, the people who began to to children was expected of a woman, broadcast over 1XE were happy just to but it was considered more unusual for get some exposure. Although radio was a man in those days. Whatever the rea- still new and not everyone had a receiver son, the male announcers who read the yet, participating in this cutting edge bedtime stories on Eunice’s day off or technology was a great way to get some hosted a children’s show of their own at publicity. Despite the fact that there were 1XE/WGI, rarely used their real name. no ratings services, that didn’t stop the In addition to “Uncle Eddie,” another newspapers from guessing the size of popular announcer was known as “Uncle the audience based on the number of

48 The AWA Review Halper

Fig. 12. Bob Emery and his ukulele at the WGI microphone in early 1924. (Author’s collection)

Volume 31, 2018 49 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI letters, telegrams, and phone calls the early November by concert pianist Dai station received, and the size of the cities Buell. She not only played famous clas- the contacts came from. By that metric, sical works but spoke to the listeners in some broadcasts were heard by audi- between songs, explaining each piece. ences estimated to be in the thousands. The photograph in Fig. 13 was taken A good example was a performance in in the special studio constructed for

Fig. 13. Concert pianist Dai Buell entertained the “invisible audience” in an AMRAD studio spe- cially constructed for musical performers. (Author’s collection)

50 The AWA Review Halper performances such as hers. Response listeners enjoyed dancing by radio.76 But was very positive; one reporter estimated 1XE/WGI took it one step further—by that about 25,000 people had heard the March 1922, the station was offering program. Station 1XE received post cards dancing lessons by radio, conducted by and long-distance telephone calls from as Prof. William H. O’Brien.77 far away as Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. There were also ships at The Arrival of WGI sea that listened in.74 And best of all for In 1921, 1XE had Boston radio all to 1XE, the station received much favor- itself. WBZ went on the air in mid- able attention from the newspapers and September from Springfield, but its magazines. signal did not reach Boston with any Another well-respected person who regularity. While a few distant stations debuted on 1XE in 1921 was econo- could be heard in Boston on some eve- mist and statistician Roger W. Babson, nings (most radio stations only broadcast founder of the Babson Institute (today during the evening hours at this time), Babson College) in 1919. He gave his people came to rely on their local sta- first live talk on the AMRAD station on tion, 1XE. Although station personnel December 19, 1921. As with Dai Buell, did their best to rise to the challenge, his reasoning was probably that it was ongoing technical difficulties plagued beneficial to have a potential audience the AMRAD station—equipment was of thousands of listeners (some of whom constantly breaking, as Guy Entwistle might never have had the opportunity to frequently noted in his Boston Traveler hear him), as opposed to renting out a columns. These problems meant broad- hall and reaching a much smaller audi- casts were often interrupted, much to ence. In reporting on his talk, the Bos- the annoyance of the listeners. Fortu- ton Herald said it was “the first business nately, at that time, amateur operators address ever given over the radiophone, were continuing their experiments with and probably the largest audience which voice and music, and on occasions when ever heard a business talk.”75 In addition 1XE couldn’t broadcast, local amateurs to becoming a source for hearing famous frequently stepped in. But this practice people, the station was also a source for was finally forbidden in early 1922 by “wireless music.” When people wanted the Department of Commerce (precur- to hold a dance but couldn’t afford to sor to the Federal Radio Commission), hire a band, they would set up a receiver ostensibly because the broadcast band and speakers and dance to the music they was becoming increasingly chaotic and heard on the AMRAD station. Some- there was too much interference from times a local orchestra would come to the the amateur stations, which made it dif- studio and play, giving listeners, wher- ficult for the commercial stations to be ever they might be, the opportunity to heard. Harold Power always disagreed dance. In fairness, other stations, includ- with this decision, not just because he ing KDKA in Pittsburgh, also found that had a good relationship with many of the

Volume 31, 2018 51 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI local amateurs or because his company a weekly lecture series on such topics sold ham radio equipment, but because as “The Story of Engineering” given by he failed to see any harm in letting ama- Tufts’ Department of Engineering Dean teurs broadcast. He also disagreed with Gardner Chace Anthony, a big supporter the 1921 requirement that broadcast of the AMRAD station; “The Story of stations had to obtain a “limited com- Money” given by Dr. Harvey A. Wooster, mercial license,” which he believed was head of the economics department; and unnecessary. “Changes in Europe” given by Profes- But despite how Power and some of sor Arthur Irving Andrews, head of the the local amateurs felt about it, as of the history department. Additional lectures first week in February 1922, amateur were given on conservation, architec- stations were no longer interchange- ture, modern drama, athletics, music, able with commercial stations, and and other topics.80 While this may not could not broadcast “weather reports, sound very exciting in our Internet era market reports, music, concerts [or] of “googling,” in the early 1920s, few speeches . . .”78 Each would have dif- people were able to attend a university, ferent and distinct functions, as well and the opportunity to listen to well- separate locations on the dial. As part known scholars was not widely available. of this government-mandated change, This was one of the many ways radio 1XE had to give up its experimental changed people’s lives. It brought news, calls, and join the growing number of sports, music, dramatic performances, commercial stations at 360 meters (833 comedy, religious services, and now edu- kHz). By February 8, 1922, 1XE became cational courses, directly into the home, WGI. Interestingly, listeners were very and anyone with a radio set, whether rich worried; they had heard rumors that 1XE or poor, was able to benefit. would be leaving the air, and they did Radio also impacted greater Boston’s not understand the station was simply minority community. While much of transitioning to new call letters and a the programming reflected a segregated new dial position. The AMRAD station society (the announcers and most of the had to run frequent announcements on talent were white, as were the people air, as well as in newspapers and maga- who owned the stations),81 some stations, zines, letting everyone know 1XE, now 1XE/WGI among them, broadcast songs WGI, was still broadcasting.79 by black vocalists (gospel choirs were Meanwhile, WGI was still greater always popular). These stations also pro- Boston’s only radio station, although vided occasional in-studio performances two smaller stations, WAAJ and WFAU, by black entertainers. There were also came and went. In early April 1922, dramatic performances; one of the ear- the AMRAD station earned national liest that we know about occurred at praise for creating a unique educational the AMRAD station and featured the program in which Tufts College profes- famous black actor Charles S. Gilpin, sors and other local educators offered then starring in the stage presentation

52 The AWA Review Halper of The Emperor Jones. He came to the per minute, and if this worked out well, studios at Medford Hillside in April and he planned to sell more sponsorships.85 performed some dramatic readings from Unfortunately for Power, he never got the the play.82 Black newspapers were espe- chance. Within several weeks of the first cially pleased, saying this was the first commercial, some anonymous person time a minority actor had ever broad- complained to the radio inspector. By cast.83 Four months later, a new and well- late April 1922, radio inspector Charles funded radio station, WNAC, owned Kolster had sent a cease-and-desist let- by department store magnate John ter to AMRAD.86 Many at AMRAD Shepard III, went on the air in Boston, suspected the complaint had come from and it also provided a performance by someone at AT&T, which was in the pro- some famous black entertainers—Eubie cess of getting permission to experiment Blake and Noble Sissle, along with Lottie with “toll broadcasting” at WEAF in Gee and other cast members of the hit New York. Several months later, AT&T play Shuffle Along.84 was able to conduct their experiment. Having an actual competitor, espe- But the fact that one company received cially one with money to spend on the permission to experiment with advertis- best equipment and salaries for top per- ing didn’t do AMRAD much good. Ideas formers, would soon become a problem about how to bring in money without for the AMRAD station. But most fans incurring the wrath of the radio inspec- of WGI were probably unaware that tor continued to be discussed, but WGI there were financial issues behind the continued to rely on AMRAD’s manu- scenes at the AMRAD plant. Trying to facturing arm, which would soon prove bring in some on-air revenue in a time to be problematic. when the Department of Commerce During 1922, WGI’s programming opposed the broadcasting of commercials became more consistent. Weekdays, meant that stations had to be creative. there were regular weather forecasts, According to Eunice Randall’s recollec- market reports, and programs for home- tions, her bedtime stories program was makers. Among the experts were Doris briefly sponsored by Little Folks maga- H. Goodwin of the Massachusetts Divi- zine, but this does not seem to have been sion of the Department of Agriculture, an especially lucrative arrangement, and who gave helpful tips on how to spend it did not attract the attention of Charles money wisely when shopping for food, C. Kolster, the District 1 radio inspector. and Harriet E. Ainsworth of Filene’s However, another attempt at sponsor- Department Store, an expert on clothing ship did. and trends in fashion. The station cre- In early April 1922, Harold Power ated the AMRAD Women’s Club, with sold some advertisements to a Bos- its blend of recipes, household tips, and ton auto dealer, Alvan T. Fuller of the guest speakers of interest to housewives. Packard Motor Company. According to Since women had only recently been Power’s recollections, he charged $1.00 granted the right to vote, some speakers

Volume 31, 2018 53 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI discussed current events or politics. In “Professor Quiz.” By then, he told every- the evenings, in addition to music con- one he had both a Ph.D. and a medical certs from choirs or glee clubs or local degree.88 I have found no evidence that bands, sometimes there was a unique he had either. guest, such as in early September, when Amy Lowell read some of her poems. The Beginning of the End for WGI Few listeners had an opportunity to While WGI had many loyal fans, attend a poetry reading, so these broad- AMRAD’s finances were worsening, casts were always well received. Occa- and Jack Morgan was having grave sionally one might hear someone from doubts about investing more money the vaudeville stage like the popular into the company. Harold Power was singer and humorist Jimmy Gallagher, known for having visionary ideas, but he or someone like journalist and raconteur was also a micro-manager, which often Joe Mitchell Chapple might stop by to resulted in delays getting products to give his observations on current issues. market while there was still demand for And then, there was the exercise pro- them. AMRAD engineers like How- gram, which began in September 1922. ard Tyzzer came up with some highly There was a fitness craze in the early creative designs for equipment, but the 1920s, and many radio stations decided company failed to reliably deliver the to offer health talks, along with exercises products on time, which caused end- that people could perform at home. At less problems; AMRAD also failed to WGI, health talks were a frequent fea- effectively publicize them. For example, ture, usually hosted by someone from the despite having receivers that could have Red Cross or a local health department been marketed to the general public, official. But this time, there was a before- it wasn’t until mid-April 1922 that breakfast program of setting-up exercises, promotional efforts aimed at the mass hosted by Arthur E. Baird,87 who at one audience began in earnest, as evidenced time had attended Tufts. Baird worked at by the brochure in Fig. 14. And even the Caines College of Physical Culture, though AMRAD’s products were good, and he claimed to be a fitness expert; he it became increasingly difficult to com- also claimed to be a Tufts graduate, but pete with larger and better-organized when I did some research in the college companies like Westinghouse and RCA. archives, I found this assertion was not By 1923, AMRAD was deeply in debt.89 true. However, the 1920s were a much To make matters worse, the equip- less skeptical time, and it is doubtful ment failures that had plagued the sta- that fans of his program saw him as tion in its 1XE days persisted; but this anything other than an expert. Eventu- became more of a problem in 1923 as ally, the exercise craze ended, and so did new stations were going on the air in exercise-by-radio shows. Years later, Baird Boston and other nearby cities, and lis- changed his name to Craig Earl and had teners now had other choices. As men- a successful career on network radio as tioned before, WNAC, the Shepard

54 The AWA Review Halper

Fig. 14. A promotional brochure for AMRAD receivers from April 1922 illustrating that listening to radio was an ideal family activity. (Author’s collection)

Stores station, went on the air in late performers that audiences loved. One July 1922. WGI and its team of volun- good example was Charles L. H. Wagner, teers were able to compete for a while, known as the “radio poet.” A sign painter even though John Shepard III paid for by profession, his other skill was an abil- famous stars to perform at his station. ity to create poetry on the spot—listeners Fortunately, many of the entertainers sent in suggestions from current events, who got their start at WGI remained and he came up with a poem. He also loyal. While they performed for other composed humorous observations about stations, they still came back to Med- life, and by popular demand, his radio ford Hillside. And WGI still had its poems ended up in a book. Wagner is own unique (some might say “quirky”) pictured in Fig. 15 standing in front of

Volume 31, 2018 55 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI

Brother Club was an immediate success, popular with parents and kids alike, and it brought WGI (and AMRAD) some much-needed positive attention.90 In late February 1924, Westinghouse station WBZ, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, opened a Boston studio at the Hotel Brunswick, not far from the Theater District in Boston, a great place to find talented performers who might be willing to go on the radio. Having a Bos- ton location, as well as an agreement with the Boston Herald and its sister newspaper Fig. 15. Charles L. H. Wagner reading poetry the Traveler to provide news, gave the to the audience at WGI circa 1924. (Author’s Westinghouse station a local presence. collection) In an era when radio was live, this really mattered. WBZ (and its Boston station, a microphone at WGI reading poetry then called WBZA) had greater access to to his radio audience from his book of Boston-based entertainers they could not poetry, Cradled Moons, which was pub- have gotten in Springfield. WGI was now lished in 1919. I had the opportunity to competing with two stations that had read it, and while he does not make one big budgets, beautiful studios, and the forget Shakespeare, his verses are a fasci- ability to compete for the biggest names. nating look at society in the early 1920s. WGI soldiered on, and it continued to In early January 1924, the popu- be known as a station that nurtured up- lar broadcaster by then known as “Big and-coming talent. That meant plenty of Brother” Bob Emery officially inaugu- entertainers were still willing to broad- rated the Big Brother Club. Aimed at cast from the AMRAD station, even if boys and girls from 9–12 years old, it was they didn’t get paid much for doing so. an actual club, with dues (but not mon- Among the local performers winning etary dues), an official membership card, many fans in 1924 were Bernie and his and the opportunity to attend special Bunch, a five-piece band led by piano events sponsored by WGI. To join, all player Bernard Eyges. The band’s official the prospective members had to pledge publicity shot is reproduced in Fig. 16. to do a good deed and write a letter to Bernie wanted to go to law school, and Big Brother each week. The program his success as a bandleader helped him featured a combination of music, edu- to pay for it. cational features, storytelling, comedy Also doing well at WGI were a vocal skits aimed at kids, and interviews with duo who met in high school in Boston interesting guests. It also gave young per- and began to perform—their real names formers a chance to be on the air. The Big were Max Zides and Tom Currier, but on

56 The AWA Review Halper

Fig. 16. “Bernie and his Bunch” in the WGI studios in early 1924. (Author’s collection) the air, they were better known as “Hum longer. She too noticed that AMRAD’s & Strum.” The career they launched at fortunes did not look bright.91 Eunice WGI would continue for the next four ultimately found a job in drafting at the decades on radio, and later on TV. Lis- New England Power Company, and she teners also enjoyed hearing Joe Rines, also remained active in amateur radio who was another popular bandleader for many years, as we see in the early and recording artist. After leaving WGI 1960s photo taken at her home in Maine and working for several other Boston (Fig. 17). stations, he was hired by NBC, and he In mid-1924, an announcement was later wrote advertising jingles. made by another large corporation, the No longer being the only station in Edison Electric Illuminating Company, town was taking its toll. Not only did that they planned to put a new station WGI still have periodic technical prob- on the air in late September. The station lems, but now it began losing some of its had the call letters WEEI, and fans of on-air personalities. It also lost several of the AMRAD station were undoubtedly its best engineers, and when they left the surprised when Big Brother Bob Emery station they were often hired by WNAC announced that he was leaving WGI to or WBZ for much more money. In late go to work there. Perhaps he sensed that 1923, Eunice Randall was no longer WGI’s finances were shaky, or perhaps on the air at WGI, although she con- he felt that being at a larger station like tinued to work at AMRAD for a while WEEI would take the Big Brother Club

Volume 31, 2018 57 Greater Boston’s Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI

Fig. 17. Eunice Randall (W1MPP), retired, married to Ken Thompson and living in Maine, still maintained an active involvement in amateur radio when this photo was taken in the early 1960s. (Author’s collection) to the next level. Whatever the reason the AMRAD station simply vanished for leaving, it was a huge loss for WGI, from the airwaves, and AMRAD itself and one from which they never fully went into bankruptcy. The station that recovered. Bob Emery was one of the was one of the radio pioneers, which few well-known air personalities who used the slogans “where broadcasting had remained for so long, and now he began,” and “AMRAD: the voice of the too was leaving. air” (implying that if you were listening In March 1925, for reasons that to radio, you were probably listening to have never been clear, WGI changed its the AMRAD station) was gone from the call letters to WARC (AMRAD Radio dial, leaving listeners to wonder what Corporation). By now, most of its best- had happened. known announcers and performers were Station correspondence from Eunice heard on other stations, and WARC was Randall and Ken Thompson (the two not even able to broadcast on a regu- had worked together at AMRAD, and lar schedule any more. One day in late many years later, they got married) indi- April, with no warning or explanation, cated that Harold Power hoped to find

58 The AWA Review Halper a buyer and put the station back on the radio was still a novelty, but which lacked air again, but it didn’t happen. Eunice the consistent professionalism (and big- had also heard that John Shepard III of name talent) the networks could offer. WNAC expressed an interest in buying For me, however, the story of 1XE/WGI the station, but Shepard wanted total is a fascinating look at radio’s forma- control, and he would only agree to buy tive years: how a new station emerged, it if Power resigned. Power refused, and thrived for a little while, and then dis- the deal fell through. Although Power appeared, still remembered by fans and continued to renew the license and hope former personnel years later, but ulti- for the best, at some point it seems that mately forgotten. Despite the challenges he resigned himself to the fact that the of preserving the AMRAD story, I have radio station would not return to the air. persevered with my research for more As for the company he had founded, than two decades, periodically finding AMRAD went into bankruptcy, credi- new information to add to my under- tors fought over the company’s assets, standing of who worked there and what and Tufts reacquired the land.92 In the station meant to the audience. Keep- late 1925, Power was able to sell what ing the story of 1XE/WGI alive is my way remained of those assets to Cincinnati- of saying thank you to the innovative based equipment manufacturer and exec- and talented people who helped to create utive Powel Crosley. There was talk that broadcasting in Boston. Crosley might revive the radio station and continue to manufacture equipment Endnotes under the AMRAD name.93 Unfortu- nately, Crosley decided not to put WGI 1. “Huge Wireless Plant Going Up,” Boston Globe, back on the air, and while the AMRAD Sept. 25, 1915, p. 9. Also, Israel Klein, “Two Claim Parentage of Scheme,” Sun (Lowell, MA), name was used on equipment for a few Aug. 4, 1924, p. 11. more years, the manufacturing operation 2. “E. Lewis Dunham Reviews Radio Career.” went out of business in 1930.94 And as for Boston Globe, Sept. 25, 1927, p. 23. Harold Power, he ultimately left Boston 3. “What’s on the Air?,” Boston Globe, Sept. 18, 1931, p. 41. and started an engineering firm in Wash- 4. Radio Service Bulletin, Department of Com- ington, D.C. In the summer of 1964, merce, No. 46, Feb. 1921. former members of AMRAD and 1XE/ 5. This was not only a claim made by station management; it was also believed by local musicians WGI held a reunion in Winchester, Mas- and a few reporters who had been aware of 1XE/ sachusetts, at the home of James Jenks, WGI since its inception. For example, William who had been an engineer at the station. Arms Fisher, “The Radio and Music,” Music Supervisors’ Journal (Vol. 12, No. 3), Feb. 1926, Harold Power was among the attendees, p. 10. along with Eunice Randall Thompson, 6. Willard DeLue, “Those Amazing Years,”Boston Bob Emery, and many others.95 Globe, Mar. 15, 1950, p. 19. It would be easy to dismiss the 7. “Amrad WGI,” Wireless Age, Dec. 1923, p. 37. 8. William G. H. Finch, “Girl Becomes Famous AMRAD station as one of the many as Radio Designer,” Newcastle (PA) News, June small stations that was beloved when 26, 1922, p. 7.

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9. “Calisthenics by Radio,” Jersey Journal (Jersey 26. For example, a conversation between two men City, NJ), Oct. 15, 1922, p. 6. actively involved in such experiments—Harold 10. “Delivering a Lecture at Tufts by Radio,” Radio J. Power and Theodore N. Vail, “T. N. Vail World, Apr. 29, 1922, p. 13. Discusses Wireless Telephone,” Boston Post, Oct. 11. Advertisement for WGI, published on the Radio 10, 1915, p. 37. Page, Boston Herald, Apr. 2, 1922, p. D8. 27. “35 Radio Broadcasting Stations Now Active,” 12. Guy Entwistle, “Citizen Wireless Dots and Charlotte Observer, Mar. 3, 1922, p. 2. Dashes,” Boston Traveler, May 28, 1921, p. 10. 28. “Plugging In is Latest Craze to Hit Both Old and 13. “By Radio Today,” Washington (DC) Evening Young,” Springfield (MA) Sunday Republican, Star, Sept. 18, 1922, p. 17. Mar. 5, 1922, p. 1A. 14. “Review of Last Night’s Radio,” Boston Herald, 29. “Radiophone for the White House.” Jersey Jour- May 3, 1924, p. 6. Also, Joe Rines, quoted in nal (Jersey City, NJ), Feb. 9, 1922, p. 10. endnote 10, reported that more than 40,000 30. Michele Hilmes, Only Connect: A Cultural “Big Brother Club” fans showed up for a station History of Broadcasting in the United States, 4th outing and a chance to meet Bob Emery. edition. (Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2014) 15. Harold J. Power, interviewed by George H. p. 48. Clark, Oct. 22, 1941. Documents from George 31. “The News Radiophone to Give Vote Results.” H. Clark, Radioana Collection, Archives Center, Detroit News, Aug. 31, 1920, pp. 1–2. National Museum of American History, Smith- 32. “Traveler to Broadcast News Daily from WGI,” sonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Boston Traveler,” Mar. 31, 1922, p. 1. 16. Israel Klein, “Two Claim Parentage of Scheme,” 33. For example, the AMRAD station’s first college Lowell (MA) Sun, August 4, 1924, p. 11. courses by radio received praise from Radio 17. For example, bandleader and songwriter Joe Digest: “New Music of the Spheres, Wisdom of Rines, recalling more than two decades later the Ages, Free to All by Air,” Radio Digest, Apr. the fan mail he and another WGI station per- 22, 1922, p. 4. sonality, “Big Brother” Bob Emery, received, 34. Boston at this time had nine dailies, but only a and the surprisingly large crowds that showed few of them covered radio in the early 1920s. up for station events. Quoted by Jack Hellman, 35. For example, “Radio Program Is Miraculous,” “Light and Airy,” Variety, July 11, 1946, p. 8. Los Angeles Times, Aug. 18, 1923, p. 7; or Bide 18. Alan Douglas, Radio Manufacturers of the 1920’s, Dudley, “Radiophone 8th Wonder of This Day,” Vol. 1. (Sonoran Press, 1988) p. 40. San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 19, 1922, p. F1. 19. Margo Miller. “Fire Levels Hallmark of Radio 36. “Radio Congress.” Time, Oct. 20, 1924, p. 20. Age,” Boston Globe, Feb. 21, 1972, p. 11. 37. Alan Douglas, pp. 39–52. 20. Lewis J. Whitcomb, “A Nine Year Old Marvel,” 38. “Has Solved Greatest Problem of the Wireless,” Current Affairs, Mar. 16, 1925, p. 14. Boston Globe, Jan. 16, 1916, p. 12. 21. “Calls Heard,” QST, Vol. 4, No. 1, Oct. 1920, 39. For more on the phenomenon of “boy engineers,” p. 49. a 1992 volume called Possible Dreams: Enthu- 22. Ross Laird, “Brunswick and National Radio siasm for Technology in America, published by Advertising Co.” From his book Brunswick the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michi- Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931, gan, contains two informative essays that not (Greenwood Press, 2001) pp. 33-37. only discuss the popularity of new media such 23. “Tumulty Here Tonight for Wilson Reception,” as wireless telegraphy and telephony, but also Boston Herald, Feb. 21, 1919, p. 6. examine how these new technologies became 24. “Local Amateur Hears Carols by Wireless,” gendered spaces from which women and girls Ann Arbor (MI) News, Dec. 24, 1919, p. 8. This were excluded: Carroll Pursell’s “The Long Sum- article referred to how Christmas music was mer of Boy Engineering,” and Susan J. Doug- “sent broadcast” by a “radiophone” at a local las’s “Audio Outlaws: Radio and Phonograph university. Enthusiasts.” 25. For example, “Wireless Phone Concert Heard 40. John B. Chapple, “Radio Broadcasting to from Kansas to the Cattle Ranges of Northwest Millions,” The National Magazine, Mar.–Apr. States,” Denver Post, Dec. 13, 1920, p. 11; and 1922, p. 494. Note that in this article, Power “Send Market News by Radiophone,” Riverside is referred to in extremely positive terms; one (CA) Daily Press, May 19, 1921, p. 10. photo of him is captioned “The Man Behind

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Radio Broadcasting.” This favorable perspective Convention,” New Bedford (MA) Times, Sept.15, is not entirely surprising—the magazine was 1921, pp. 1–2. based in Boston and the editor, Joe Mitch- 65. “Eunice Randall is on Her Vacation,” Boston ell Chapple, was undoubtedly familiar with Herald, July 9, 1922, p. D11. Power’s work. 66. William G. H. Finch, “Girl Becomes Famous 41. “With the Affiliated Clubs,” QST, Sept. 1920, as Radio Designer,” Newcastle (PA) News, June p. 39. 26, 1922, p. 7. 42. “Massachusetts Radio and Telegraph School 67. “She Sends Hundreds of Kiddies to Bed with Trains You Quickly for Wireless Work,” Cam- Story,” New Bedford (MA) Sunday Standard, bridge (MA) Tribune, Aug. 26, 1922, p. 12. Apr. 30, 1922, p. 35. 43. Guy R. Entwistle, “The O.W. at 1XE,”Boston 68. “Newton Boy Recovered Stolen Auto by the Traveler, May 17, 1920, p. 10. Use of Wireless” Boston Herald, June 5, 1921, 44. “Tufts College Students Operate Powerful Wire- p. C12. less Station,” Boston Post, Jan. 28, 1912, p. 47. 69. Eunice Randall. “Hair Ribbon on a Radio 45. “Tufts New Wireless Station Will Be Opened Tower,” Yankee Magazine, Apr. 1964, p. 112. Tomorrow,” Boston Herald, Feb. 9, 1913, p. 15. 70. Ibid. 46. “Tufts Man Muffles Lightning’s Crash,” Boston 71. Erik Barnouw, A Tower in Babel: A History Post, Sept. 25, 1915, p. 4. of Broadcasting in the United States to 1933, 47. “Expect Big Things of Tufts’ New Wireless,” (Oxford University Press, 1968) p. 163. Boston Herald, Jan. 2, 1916, p. C7. 72. John E. Pember, “Behind the Scenes with the 48. “The Observant Citizen,” Boston Post, Apr. 18, Talent in a Radio Studio,” Boston Herald, Mar. 1912, p. 15. 11, 1923, p. C12. 49. “Music Sent by Wireless,” Boston Globe, Mar. 73. “Big Brother Emery Retires After 47 Years of 27, 1916, p. 8. B’casting,” Variety, 16 Jan. 1968, p. 12. 50. Ibid. 74. “Miss Buell Plays for New England,” QST, Dec. 51. “Radio Corporation’s Affairs Are Now in the 1921, pp. 31–32. Limelight,” Medford (MA) Mercury, Apr. 10, 75. “Gives Business Talk by Radio,” Boston Herald, 1925, pp. 1, 9. Dec. 20, 1921, p. 8. 52. “Morgan Financed Start of AMRAD,” Christian 76. “Dancing by Radio Music Contemplated.” Science Monitor, Apr. 9, 1925, p. 14. Springfield (MA) Republican, Mar. 11, 1921, 53. Russell E. Miller, Light on the Hill, (Beacon p. 4. Press, Boston, 1966) pp. 394–5. 77. “In the Air Tonight,” Springfield (MA) Daily 54. Radio Stations of the United States, Department News, Apr. 14, 1922, p. 14. of Commerce, (Government Printing Office, 78. “No Broadcasting for the Amateurs,” Jersey Washington, D.C., 1916). Journal (Jersey City, NJ), Jan. 20, 1922, p. 15. 55. Ibid., pp. 78,85. 79. For example, “Radiophone 1XE Now WGI,” 56. “Expect Big Things of Tufts’ New Wireless,” Radio News, Apr.–May 1922, pp. 967, 1010; Boston Herald, Jan. 2, 1916, p. C7. “AMRAD Not Likely to Be Shut Down, Jersey 57. “Huge Wireless Plant Going Up,” Boston Globe, Journal (Jersey City, NJ), Feb. 8, 1922, p. 6; and Sept. 25, 1915, p. 9. “Medford Hillside Station Expanding” Boston 58. “Gale Causes Heavy Damage Throughout State,” Herald, Feb. 19, 1922, p. D9. In each daily Boston Journal, Sept. 27, 1915, pp. 1,4. newspaper listing of station programs, the entry 59. “Expect Big Things of Tufts’ New Wireless,” p. for WGI began “Station WGI (formerly 1XE).” C7. 80. “Lecture Courses to be Given over Radiophone,” 60. William B. Barrow Jr. “The Radio Plant on Boston Post, Mar. 28, 1922, p. 5. the Hill,” The Tufts College Graduate (Vol. 18, 81. For more about this phenomenon, I recommend Mar.-May 1920), p. 111. an informative essay by Derek Vaillant, “Sounds 61. Alan Douglas, p. 39. of Whiteness: Local Radio, Racial Formation, 62. “Flag Raising at Opening of New Medford and Public Culture in Chicago, 1921–1935,” Factory,” Boston Globe, Aug. 1, 1920, p. 10. American Quarterly (Vol. 54, No. 1) 2002, 63. “Tumulty Here Tonight for Wilson Reception,” pp. 25–66. p. 6. 82. “Bits from the Emperor Jones Broadcasted,” 64. “American Radio Relay League Holds its Annual Boston Herald, Apr. 4, 1922, p. 11.

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83. “First Actor to Broadcast via Radio,” Baltimore About the Author Afro-American, Apr. 28, 1922, p. 11. Donna L. Halper, Ph.D., is the author 84. “Today’s Radio Broadcasts,” Boston Herald, Aug. 25, 1922, p. 11. of six books and many articles. She is a 85. Harold J. Power, interviewed by George H. former broadcaster and managed a radio Clark, Oct. 22, 1941. Documents from George consulting company for nearly thirty H. Clark Radioana Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smith- years. She is currently an Associate Pro- sonian Institution, Washington, D.C. fessor of Communication and Media 86. Information quoted from letters written by Studies at Lesley University, Cambridge, Charles C. Kolster to acting commissioner of Massachusetts. Her website can be found the Dept. of Commerce, A. J. Tyrer, Apr. 18, 1922 and May 5, 1922, Records of the Federal at www.donnahalper.com. Communications Commission, RG-173, BC-15, National Archives, Washington, D.C. 87. “Waking Exercise by Radio Latest Trick of WGI,” Atlanta Constitution, 24 Sept. 1922, p. 8. 88. “Prof. Quiz of Radio Fame Has Enjoyed Varied Career,” Times-Advertiser Trenton (NJ), Jan. 14, 1951, Section 2: 1. 89. Alan Douglas, p. 40. 90. “Big Brother Club is Radio Feature,” Christian Science Monitor, Jan. 8, 1924, p. 6. 91. Eunice Randall, “Hair Ribbon on a Radio Tower,” Yankee Magazine, Apr. 1964, p. 112. 92. “Tufts Acquires Radio Properties,” Boston Her- ald, Apr. 7, 1925, p. 7. 93. Munson T. Adams, “Crosley Buys AMRAD Assets,” Boston Herald, Dec. 3, 1925, p. 22. 94. Alan Douglas, p. 40. 95. William Buchanan, “Pioneers in Reunion,” Boston Globe, Aug. 31, 1964, p. 4. Donna L. Halper, PhD

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