1920
's
NBC made it possible for a national audience to share in a single experience, be it a presidential address or a baseball game. David Sarnoff, founder of NBC Radio Network, had envisioned such a service as early as 1915, when he proposed a broadcast radio network whereby "events of national importance can be simultaneously announced and received," and "baseball scores can be transmitted in the air." His vision became a reality in 1926, with the founding of NBC.
1926
David Sarnoff founds the nation's first permanent radio network, NBC
Heralding NBC's arrival, this advertisement appeared in newspapers across the nation.
1927
Radio captures the nation's imagination
Landmark radio broadcasts for NBC included the Rose Bowl, which was the first coast-to-coast radio network broadcast, the Tunney-Dempsey heavyweight fight, and Charles Lindbergh's return to the U.S. after the first trans-Atlantic flight.
1928
NBC Radio debuts its first serial drama
Real Folks premiered on August 6, 1928. The series told the story of Thompkins Corner, a typical small town in America, and marked the beginning of multi-episode dramas on broadcast media.
Universal releases its first “talking picture,” Melody of Love
Universal releases its first "all-talkie", a wartorn love story called Melody of Love. Laemmle produced the film on a tight schedule, filming mostly at night on a rented sound-on-film recording system – and it remains a historic milestone for Universal.
1929
NBC Sounds the Chimes
NBC had used chimes as a switching cue from its beginnings as a radio network. Many configurations of notes were used until 1929, when NBC settled on the familiar three tones that have become a…
