History Of Television: Empire Of The Air By Ken Burns

History Of Television Empire Of The Air Ken Burns Pbs Class

History of Television “Empire of the Air” Ken Burns/ PBS Class- I will be sending out your “homework assignment” within the hour. But please see the attached timeline study guide. Hopefully this will help you place events in the history of radio/TV in the context of history! Rev Empire Timeline Contemporary Events 1887: Radio waves discovered. Queen Victoria celebrates Golden Jubilee; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes story, “A Study in Scarlet.” 1895: Guglielmo Marconi performs simple experiments which convince him it is possible to send signals through the air using electromagnetic waves. Gillette invents safety razor; Tchaikovsky, “Swan Lake” ballet; H.G. Wells, The Time Machine. 1900: De Forest patents device to improve weak signals. Hurricane ravages Galveston, Texas; Commonwealth of Austria created; Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams. 1901: Marconi transmits the telegraphic signal of the letter "S" a distance across the Atlantic Ocean. First Nobel prizes awarded; President McKinley assassinated; Booker T. Washington, Up From Slavery. 1902: Reginald Fessenden invents the “electrolytic detector”; De Forest Wireless Telegraph Company is formed. Monet paints “Waterloo Bridge,” Aswan Dam completed; Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. 1904: John Fleming invents the Oscillation Valve; DeForest wins gold medal at St. Louis World’s Fair for “spade detector.” New York subway opens; Rolls Royce company is founded; Puccini composes “Madame Butterfly.” 1910: DeForest broadcasts Enrico Caruso from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Halley’s comet observed; Mexican Revolution; Boy Scouts of America incorporated. 1912: Edwin Armstrong invents regeneration; wireless distress call from the sinking Titanic helps save many lives. Bull Moose party formed; Picasso, “The Violin” ; Arizona and New Mexico become states. 1913: Armstrong applies for a patent to use a vacuum tube as an oscillator. Henry Ford introduces first moving assembly line; garment workers strike in NY and Boston; Armory Show introduces modern art to U.S. 1914: DeForest takes Armstrong to court — launches what will be the longest patent suit in history. World War I begins; Panama Canal opens; first traffic lights are put up in U.S. 1916: While working as an employee for the Marconi Company, David Sarnoff proposes radio “boxes” as a household utility and business opportunity. Frank Lloyd Wright designs Imperial Hotel in Tokyo; Jeannette Rankin becomes first woman elected to Congress; U.S. buys Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. 1917: America enters World War I; US government commandeers all wireless transmitters. Russian Revolution begins; Puerto Rico becomes U.S. territory. 1919: Armstrong announces the first “superheterodyne” — the set would be the new Radio Corporation of America’s biggest success. Peace conference at Versailles opens; 18th Amendment begins U.S. prohibition. 1920: KDKA in Pittsburgh transmits the first commercial radio broadcast. League of Nations established; U.S. women win right to vote; Rorschach devises “inkblot” test. 1921: Sarnoff is named general manager of RCA. British Broadcasting Corporation founded; Sacco and Vanzetti trial; John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga. 1922: Armstrong invents “super-regenerative” receiver. Insulin first given to diabetes patients; Lincoln Memorial dedicated; Mussolini marches on Rome, forms Fascist government. 1923: President Harding has a radio installed at the White House; Armstrong invents the first portable radio. George Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue”; Tokyo earthquake; William Butler Yeats wins Nobel Prize in Literature. 1926: NBC begins first network news on radio. Germany admitted to League of Nations; Hirohito made Emperor of Japan; Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. 1927: NBC links 50 stations to broadcast live Charles Lindbergh's return from Europe. Economic system collapses in Germany; Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs; first pop-up toaster designed in U.S. 1930: Sarnoff is made president of RCA. Pluto discovered; gas turbine engine invented; Grant Wood paints “American Gothic.” 1933: Armstrong introduces Frequency Modulation (FM); FDR makes the first four of his “fireside chats.” Hitler appointed German Chancellor; FDR introduces “New Deal”; 21st Amendment repeals prohibition. 1934: Federal Communications Commission created by Congress. Mao Tse-tung begins the Long March north with 100,000 soldiers; Dionne quintuplets born in Canada; U.S. first Class stamp is $.03. 1938: Orson Welles broadcasts his adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.” Hitler marches into Austria; Don Budge wins Wimbledon; U.S. minimum wage established. 1941: Japanese attack Pearl Harbor; FDR speaks to the nation via radio broadcast. US enters World War II; Orson Wells film “Citizen Kane”; Edward Hopper paints “Nighthawks.” 1942: With US in midst of World War II, Armstrong gives U.S. government all FM patents for free. Declaration of United Nations signed in Washington, DC; “Casablanca” premieres; women’s military services established. 1950: 90 million radio sets, 10 million TV sets in use in U.S. homes. McCarthy hearings begin; Brink's robbery in Boston; a computer is used to tally U.S. census.

Paper For Above instruction

The history of television and radio, as exemplified by the documentary "Empire of the Air" directed by Ken Burns for PBS, underscores the profound interrelationship between technological innovation, governmental regulation, and societal influence. Understanding these interrelationships is crucial for appreciating how broadcasting has evolved from a core technological breakthrough to a pivotal aspect of national security, communication, and culture. The progression from the discovery of radio waves in 1887 to the rise of television sets in American homes during the mid-20th century reveals a dynamic interplay among federal, state, and local governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

The federal government has historically played a regulatory and facilitator role. Agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), established in 1934, have regulated spectrum use, broadcast licensing, and content standards to ensure orderly and equitable access. The FCC's policies influenced private investment and technological development, shaping the growth of radio and television industries. For instance, the FCC's licensing policies favored the creation of NBC in 1926, setting a precedent for broadcasting networks that would dominate American airwaves. Federal initiatives also included presidential support, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt's utilization of radio for his fireside chats, which exemplifies government leveraging of media for direct communication with citizens.

State and local governments complement federal efforts through enforcement, local regulation, and community-specific policies. For example, local authorities managed licensing of broadcast stations, zoning regulations, and public safety considerations. During World War II, state and local agencies contributed to civil defense and blackout procedures, demonstrating their integral role alongside federal initiatives. Such collaboration ensured that broadcasting served both national security purposes and local community needs.

The private sector has been the primary driver of technological innovation and content creation within this interrelationship. Early companies like De Forest Wireless Telegraph Company and later RCA developed essential technology and infrastructure for wireless communication. Marconi’s experiments and subsequent commercialization laid the groundwork for commercial radio and later television broadcasting. Corporations invested heavily in research and development, leading to inventions such as De Forest's audion tube for amplification, Armstrong’s regenerative and superheterodyne receivers, and Sarnoff’s vision of television as a household utility. The private sector also managed programming, advertising, and distribution, establishing the commercial broadcast model that remains dominant today.

Non-governmental organizations and societal actors have also influenced the evolution of broadcasting. Advocacy groups, consumer organizations, and civil rights activists have worked to promote equal access, fair representation, and responsible content. The Civil Rights Movement, for example, utilized radio and television to advocate for social change, while NGOs have lobbied for policy adjustments to expand access to underserved communities. The influence of these organizations reflects the democratic potential of broadcasting platforms, emphasizing an interrelationship that extends beyond government and industry to include societal interests.

The interrelationships among these actors are most evident in the context of disaster preparedness and response, as outlined in the National Planning Frameworks. The government at all levels collaborates with private sector entities and NGOs to ensure resilient information systems and effective communication during crises. For example, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) emphasizes whole-community involvement, integrating government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations to achieve preparedness and response objectives. This collaboration is vital, particularly considering the role of broadcast media in disseminating timely information, as demonstrated historically during events such as Pearl Harbor or more recent emergencies.

In conclusion, the development of radio and television technology illustrates a complex web of interrelationships among federal, state, and local governments; private industry; and nongovernmental organizations. These relationships have evolved in response to technological innovations, regulatory policies, and societal needs, shaping broadcasting into a critical instrument of national security, cultural expression, and community resilience. Recognizing these interdependencies is essential for future policy development to sustain a robust, equitable, and adaptable media landscape that can serve the nation’s ever-changing informational and societal needs.

References

• Cass Sunstein, "Republic.com," Princeton University Press, 2001.
• David Sarnoff, "The Path of Radio Trading," Harvard University Press, 1959.
• Philip M. Napoli, "Advertising and Society: An Introduction," Routledge, 2018.
• Tim Coughlan, "Broadcasting Law & Policy," Routledge, 2020.
• Lee de Forest, "The Audion and Its Contributions," Journal of Wireless Technology, 1930.
• William H. Cox, "Radio: A History," McGraw-Hill, 2000.
• Albert G. Gross, "The Early History of Radio," Cambridge University Press, 1947.
• Herta B. H. and Mary Beth Weber, "Media and Society," Sage Publications, 2017.
• Brian Winston, "Misunderstanding Media," Harvard University Press, 2000.
• Jessica Mann, "The History of Radio and Television," Prentice Hall, 2015.