First Commercial Broadcast “Voice of Firestone” aired on 3-22-1928
Today in radio history, the first commercial broadcast “The Voice of Firestone” was aired. Sponsored by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company on the NBC network. ABC aired the show on the same day and time starting 1954 after a dispute over the time slot when NBC wanted to change the time. The television and radio show were simulcast and when NBC wouldn’t back down Firestone took the show to ABC until it went off the air in 1955. Show had one of the longest runs in the history of radio being on the air for twenty-seven years.
This is one of the few remaining recordings of the musical series from 1953:
In this NBC network/NBC-TV net simulcast the program celebrating the completion of the program’s twenty-fifth year on the air. The first selection is, “Strike Up The Band” by George Gershwin. The first half hour was heard on radio and television, the second half hour was heard on television only.
Tags: Brian Sullivan, David Sarnoff, Eleanor Steber, Howard Barlow (conductor), Hugh James (announcer), Jerome Hines (bass), Rise Stevens, Robert Rounseville, The Firestone Symphony Orchestra, Thomas L. Thomas
May 15th, 2008 at 3:33 am
I am 81 years old and it was with much feeling that I listened to this program in the Voice of Firestone. It seems incredible that there was a time when good music on the radio or tv was a given, not much but there was something to counter the inane trash that even then was making such inroads iinto our musical lives. Now, garbage is passed off as art, celebrity has replaced artistry and uniformity has replaced individuality.
I won’t be purchasing this material I am sorry to say but I do not have acess to the equipment neccessary and I no longer collect anything.
I appreciate, more than I can say, the chance to hear this old piece of history, even the sound system on this computer is sub par I can use my imagination to fil in any gaps and it comes out very lovely. Thank you again for this chance to remember something good from long ago.