The Birth of Mass Culture: The Rise of the Radio in the 1920’s

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Throughout the 1920’s, a new era of pop culture was ushered in as America recovered from its involvement in the First World War. Within this era, society was dominated by the desire to express oneself and live lavishly while free of structural constraint, and this new pursuit of freedom was displayed within the evolution of jazz, flapper fashions, and an increased obsession with entertainment. While each of these events undoubtedly played a role in shaping the pop culture of the twenties, one particular aspect of entertainment was the driving force behind the redefinition of the American culture and lifestyle for decades to come. This new element of pop culture was the radio. Becoming an American sensation seemingly overnight, the radio soon was a standard appliance in every home, and owning a radio automatically characterized a household as “modern.” Through this single appliance, the nation was drawn together in the first real shared experience that provided entertainment and contributed to the rapid spread of new ideas. For the first time in history, Americans were granted the opportunity to enjoy radio shows, sports broadcasts, news programs, music, and other forms of entertainment, all within the comfort of their own living rooms. With the sudden emergence of the radio in the 1920’s, a new era of mass culture was born, one whose impact still resounds today.
Although the radio gained popularity in the twenties, its initial presence on the forefront of technology was in the late 1800’s when an Italian inventor, Guglielmo Marconi, successfully sent and received the first radio signal in Italy. It was not until World War I that the United States began to utilize radios, and their main purpose was for communication betw...

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Koppes, Clayton R. “The Social Destiny of the Radio: Hope and Disillusionment in the 1920’s.” South Atlantic Quarterly 68.3 (1969): 363-376. America: History & Life. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
“New Popular Culture of the 1920’s.” Mt. Lebanon School District. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.
“Pulling Sounds from the Air: The Early Days of Radio.” Between the Wars. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.
Taylor, Timothy D. “Music and the Rise of Radio in 1920’s America: Technological Imperialism, Socialization, and the Transformation of Intimacy.” Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television 22.4 (2002): 425-443. America History & Life. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
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