Radio took presidential race into voters’ homes

hile a modern US presidential campaign would be unthinkable without electronic media, a century ago things were very different. It was on this day in 1920 that US elections entered the electronic age when the election results were read out, on Tuesday evening November 2, 1920, by Harold W. Arlin on America’s first commercially licensed radio station, operating under the call sign KDKA.

Arlin kicked off this new era with the words “This is KDKA of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We shall now broadcast the election returns.” He asked listeners to “communicate with us as we are very anxious to know how far the Cyclone broadcast season is reaching is upon us and has and been how predicted it is being to be severe with received.” several on the horizon so as usual we clean While our radio yards had and come make it as safe as too possible late to but have what much happens of an to all the impact orange on & purple that election, scooters as laying more around people the city tuned in these in over storm the coming events? year it would be quickly seized L W SARGENT, upon by politicians AITKENVALE to put 4814 out their message.

In the earliest US presidential elections, candidates rode horses, travelled in horse-drawn carriages or perhaps boats, to go out and physically meet voters. Otherwise they could use the power of the printing press in newspapers, flyers, pamphlets and books to convey ideas and policies, or to portray themselves in a positive light (and opponents in a bad one).

Well With glad the to see advent the of election railways done from and the dusted. 1820s, Will candidates be good to were pick able up the to cover paper more and not distance be full much of politics. quicker. I think Development we got the right of result telegraph on Saturday in the 1840s but meant time will candidates tell. Here’s were hoping able something to send copies can be of done their about speeches the crime. over electric wires, CFM CONDON. and newspapers could quickly collect Now we news want of our campaigns Motor Precinct and election results. finished. A full size international speedway In the 1870s track. the And phonograph an made it possible international for candidates drag strip. to Cairns record get their copies of that transmitted results of the presidential recording and send it nominee primary voting. Harry P.

Well done long to Pimlico distances. High on their Davis, amazing head online of Westinghouse, concert on saw Friday. “Pimlico Invention by the of the Sea” should limitless be used potential to promote with this new Townsville telephone tourism. in the 1870s Best advertisement also medium for and our commissioned beautiful city their own ever! allowed greater long-distance radio station in 1920. voice communication. A small transmitting room was built

But in the 1890s the new technology on the top of the company’s building in of radio was emerging that would Pittsburgh and in October enable live broadcasting of Westinghouse was granted the speeches and results. In 1897 first commercial radio licence. Italian inventor Guglielmo Arlin was working as an Marconi patented a device engineer for Westinghouse that could send telegraph when, one day, while touring signals using radio waves, the transmitting room, he was without wires. Within a decade asked if he would like to speak it was possible to transmit sound. into the microphone.

Initially the technology was used Everyone agreed his well-spoken mostly for shipping and later aircraft, and modulated voice sounded good state but by and 1920 Commonwealth enough people owned money for for over NQ, the unbridled airwaves, crime so he and was more hired to anything radio receivers, they want, many with of them Townsville pandering make the first to the broadcast. undeserving, way to being homemade the poor by science cousin. enthusiasts, It’s up to the to go The Qld. 1920 DOC CONDON election was a contest state make government it possible to start to now broadcasting back up its Enough between is Republican not enough. candidate Apparently Warren promises news and entertainment to Townsville. to JOE a tiny, BLAKE but the G. Harding majority and of Democratic Townsville voters nominee Congratulations growing, portion to of the the Qld public. Premier & want James more M. Cox. of the same. More cars Labor, Possibly we now the have first station what we to deserve begin stolen The and incumbent, wrecked, Woodrow more houses Wilson, well broadcasting done. Higher was 8MK govt charges, in Michigan, less broken had been into, infected more with people Spanish assaulted. flu private which began enterprise, transmitting less infrastructure regular news TJ during 4814 the pandemic in 1919 and later

Now is the time for all Queenslanders to work harder, longer and more suffered efficiently, a stroke. if we are The going full extent to repay of our his illness $100bn was debt. largely Big business kept from makes the public 80% in of the state hope income, he might while be small able business to run again. employs 80% of workers. Labor’s grassroots Despite philosophy his intention hates of seeking ‘capitalists’ a third (privale term enterprise) — at the so time GST there and was taxes no limitation must all increase on the enormously. number of terms Good a president luck. COL ROSSLEA could serve consecutively — the Bring Democrats on the next were four not years willing of to take a Labor-induced chance on the anarchy. ailing and It’s unpopular hard to president fathom the and mindset they nominated of voters. Ohio I saw a governor 90-year-old Cox. woman voting for Labor at pre-poll Harding, and a newspaper I thought editor, you poor knew how woman, to work you the have media. no idea Rather of the than taking consequences. on Cox he The focused woman on the is in legacy the of target Wilson category and urged for bag a “return snatchers to normalcy” and is voting after for war a party and the that pandemic. refuses to put As the bag election snatchers results and came car-thieves in on the into Tuesday custody. evening PETE AT of November DOUGLAS 2, 1920, I can’t it believe was clear that Harding the Cowboys had read are the mood letting of half the back people, Clifford winning go. I hope 60 per it cent comes of back the popular to bite them. vote. Don 4814 And Harding North Qld later gets became charged the first president exorbitant to insurance. have a speech Have broadcast a look at on the radio. south He of died the state in office in the in 1923 last but by week. the 1924 RUSTY election KIRWAN there were hundreds Can we pay of tribute radio station to Sir Sean across Connery, the US, dead forcing at 90. candidates One of the greatest to learn to actors work with of our the time. new CARL. medium. PIMLICO