Description: Portrait of radio journalist Lowell Thomas (1892-1981) when he worked for CBS, ca. 1930-1950. Thomas was born in Woodington, Ohio, in 1892. He was also known as a prolific writer and world traveler, and is recognized as the man who helped familiarize the world with Lawrence of Arabia's exploits. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02673
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Radio broadcasting; Journalists
 

Description: This is a picture taken at night of the WLW radio antenna. The antenna is located in Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati. In 1933, Powel Crosley obtained a construction permit from the Federal Radio Commission for a 500 kilowatt superstation, and he spent some $500, 000 building the transmitter and antenna. In January 1934 WLW began broadcasting at the 500 kilowatt level late at night under the experimental call sign W8XO. In April 1934 the station was authorized to operate at 500 kilowatts during regular hours under the WLW call letters. On May 2, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a ceremonial button that officially launched WLW's 500-kilowatt signal.[8] As the first station in the world to broadcast at this strength, WLW received repeated complaints from around the United States and Canada that it was overpowering other stations as far away as Toronto. In December 1934 WLW cut back to 50 kilowatts at night to mitigate the interference, and began construction of three 50ft. tower antennas to be used to reduce signal strength towards Canada. With these three antennas in place, full-time broadcasting at 500 kilowatts resumed in early 1935. However, WLW was continuing to operate under special temporary authority that had to be renewed every six months, and each renewal brought complaints about interference and undue domination of the market by such a high-power station. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B14F05_001_001
Subjects: Mason (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio); Antenna arrays; WLW (Radio Station: Cincinnati, Ohio); Radio stations; Radio broadcasting
Places: Mason (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Lowell Thomas was born in Woodington, Ohio in 1892. He is most famous for making Lawrence of Arabia a household name. As a war correspondent in World War I, Thomas filmed a dramatic documentary of T.E. Lawrence as he tried to rally the Palestinians to revolt against the Turks. Thomas made over a million dollars off of the story and resulting royalties. Later in his career, Thomas became a broadcaster then hosted the very first television news broadcast in 1930. He stayed in radio until 1976 and died in 1981 in New York. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F07_036_1
Subjects: Authors; Radio broadcasting; Motion pictures; Motion picture industry; Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio)
 

Description: A person standing backstage watches a group of musicians perform on stage for the WMNI Company Cavalcade, a country music radio station based in Columbus, Ohio. The image was submitted by photographer Jeffrey A. Rycus of Columbus, Ohio, in the Professional category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B03F10_04_1
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Musical performances; Radio broadcasting;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the Blaw-Knox Antenna in Mason, Ohio. In 1922, during the infancy of broadcast radio, the call letters WLW were assigned to the station begun by Cincinnatian Powell Crosley Jr. The station moved its transmitting operations to Mason in 1928, and by April 17, 1934, WLW had permission to operate experimentally at 500,000 watts. Becoming the first and only commercial radio station to broadcast at this "superpower," WLW was formally opened at 500,000 watts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 2, 1934. Using its 831-foot Blaw-Knox antenna to broadcast at ten times the power of any station, it earned the title "The Nation's Station." Locals reported hearing broadcasts on barbed wire fences, milking machines, rainspouts, water faucets, and radiators. The custom built transmitter, a joint venture between RCA, GE, and Westinghouse, remained in operation until March 1, 1939 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered the station to return to broadcasting at 50,000 watts. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06457
Subjects: Radio broadcasting; Warren County (Ohio); Photography--Ohio
Places: Mason (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the Blaw-Knox Antenna in Mason, Ohio. In 1922, during the infancy of broadcast radio, the call letters WLW were assigned to the station begun by Cincinnatian Powell Crosley Jr. The station moved its transmitting operations to Mason in 1928, and by April 17, 1934, WLW had permission to operate experimentally at 500,000 watts. Becoming the first and only commercial radio station to broadcast at this "superpower," WLW was formally opened at 500,000 watts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 2, 1934. Using its 831-foot Blaw-Knox antenna to broadcast at ten times the power of any station, it earned the title "The Nation's Station." Locals reported hearing broadcasts on barbed wire fences, milking machines, rainspouts, water faucets, and radiators. The custom built transmitter, a joint venture between RCA, GE, and Westinghouse, remained in operation until March 1, 1939 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered the station to return to broadcasting at 50,000 watts. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06458
Subjects: Radio broadcasting; Warren County (Ohio);
Places: Mason (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Unidentified man speaking before an NBC microphone. A handwritten note on the reverse side of the photograph reads: "Davey: Corruption investigation 1935." This note likely refers to Martin L. Davey, governor of Ohio from 1935 to 1939. As governor, Davey had to help Ohioans cope with the Great Depression. Although President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a fellow Democrat, Davey opposed many of Roosevelt's New Deal programs because they assumed control over many programs previously operated by the states. As a result of Davey's opposition to Roosevelt's policies, the governor was charged with corruption by federal officials. Davey was cleared of all charges, but federal government aid ceased flowing into Ohio during a time when many Ohioans were in need. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05636
Subjects: Governors--Ohio; Political corruption; Great Depression and the New Deal; Radio broadcasting