Radio Vox Populi

Ever heard of pirate radio? Most people have, but not everyone knows the full history of it, or even understands what pirate radio is all about. When we delve a little deeper into the topic you’ll be surprised by what comes out.

For starters to operate a radio station of any kind you need to have a license. Operating a radio station without a license will earn you the nickname of a pirate, as you’ll be running a pirate radio station. Some believe the name came largely from the fact that some stations were operated out of boats offshore.

Take Radio Caroline for example. This particular radio station started life way back in the mid-1960s. It operated out of a ship that was anchored in deep waters – international waters, helpfully enough – off the south eastern corner of England in the UK. Radio Caroline initially lasted until 1968 when the ships being used for the station were seized. That wasn’t the end of the station though, as it managed to carry on in one form or another right up until 1980. According to the official Radio Caroline website (yes there is one), the ship they were using then was sunk by bad weather.

The "MV Mi Amigo", c. 1974; used as the home of Radio Caroline South from 1964-1967

But this isn’t the only pirate radio station most people know of. The famous Radio Luxembourg channel has been around in one form or another (with the odd break here and there) since 1933. Many see it as one of the main channels that pre-empted pirate radio, existing many years before other pirate radio stations were around.

Many of the best known pirate radio stations in the past were situated around the United Kingdom. Radio Jackie used to be an illegal station but got a license at some point and still exists today. The same is true of Rinse FM, also broadcasting out of the UK and also a pirate turned good today.

One of the best known American pirate radio stations in the U.S. is Free Radio Santa Cruz. As the name suggests it operates out of Santa Cruz, California. It has been raided in the past but to this date it is still operating – against federal US law.

Pirate radio may not be as much in the public eye as it used to be in the heady days of Radio Luxembourg and Radio Caroline. But it still makes it into the headlines on occasion, most notably in recent times as a result of a fictitious British film called Pirate Radio. For many, listening to pirate radio gave them a sense of anarchy. These radio stations did their own thing in the face of the establishment. Many were started as a direct challenge to the censorship and controlled nature of legally established radio stations.

It’s easy to see how people would be attracted to listen to an illegal radio station. With no rules to follow, as long as they stay under the radar they’re able to present what they like. All that freedom must be a tempting prospect.

Radios first came to light back in the late 1800s, just before the turn of the century. The 1900s would of course turn out to be one of the biggest centuries in terms of advancements of all different kinds – and the radio is no exception. Check out the amazing history of radio design, to see how the small radios of today came from such hulks in the past.

The radio has enjoyed a history much like the computer in some senses. It started off big and has gradually become smaller as time has gone on. Nowadays you can have a radio as part of a smart phone, MP3 player or some other similar gadget. But back then you wouldn’t have been able to fit a radio in your pocket.

Indeed older radios were quite often huge hulking things. Most of them either had a wooden casing or were made of something that looked like wood. They weighed a ton and were as much a focal point in a room as today’s modern televisions are. Remember though that these radios were the best source of entertainment before television came along. People gathered around the radio to listen to the news or other programs that were on at the time. The size was mainly due to the necessities of the equipment at the time.

As time went on the radio got smaller and smaller. It also arguably got a whole lot more interesting, as different materials such as stainless steel and plastic were used to make the outer casing. You certainly needed a whole lot less space to put a radio in the 1970s compared with a few decades earlier.

In modern times the radio has become all about design. Sometimes the design can almost outshine the radio itself, with sleek lines and a totally modern feel that virtually acts as a work of art, with the radio becoming an afterthought – although a pretty good one of course.

Ironically we’re now seeing a return to some retro designs of radios for those people who yearn for the past. Modern radios are also commonly combined with many other things, rather than being standalone products. You’ll get one with your stereo, with your iPhone, with your alarm clock and with other things as well. The radio isn’t going anywhere, but it sure has changed its tune (pardon the pun) over the years. From the biggest bit of machinery to a small designer item you can pop in your pocket, it’s something you still can’t be without!

Because what is a radio show, without its host?

Howard Stern

A household name, who’s had numerous television shows and a successful feature film, in addition to his namesake program, The Howard Stern Show that’s currently broadcast on Sirius satellite radio. Because the FCC and terrestrial radio just couldn’t handle the shock jock’s indecency and foul mouth. However, millions of listeners still can…

Rush Limbaugh

This guy is on every weekday. Limbaugh specializes in monologues characterized by his conservative politics, and has few call-ins as compared to other radio shows around. But he certainly appeals to a select audience, as The Rush Limbaugh Show is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the U.S.

Dr. Laura Shlessinger

Dr. Laura  has had some kind of radio show even since 1975. She is controversial in many ways but she has a huge following – and a huge number of dissenters as well. Maybe this is partly why she is one of the most recognized radio personalities in the US.

Casey Kasem

Most people know Casey Kasem, even if they’ve never heard one of his shows. Surely this is the mark of a truly great and memorable radio personality? He has been active since the 1950s, and has fronted “Casey’s Top 40” among other things. He is probably best known for many Top 10 and Top 40-style shows across the US.

Ryan Seacrest

Ryan is a well-known name and voice, whose presence extends far beyond America. On-Air with Ryan Seacrest came in at the end of the 20^th century though, getting started with the “American Top 40” among other things. He also has his own self titled show and it looks as though his fame will continue well into the 21^st century too. Oh yeah, he hosts a little something called American Idol?

Jack Benny

Jack Benny became known on the radio long before he had any success on the television. The Jack Benny Program alone ran for many years from 1932 until 1955.

Larry King

He may be known more as a television personality nowadays, but Larry King’s career began on the radio. He first got some success with his radio show in Miami, and eventually went on to national success with a nightly talk show.

Alistair Cooke

Born back in 1908, Alistair had a long life (dying at the age of 95 in 2004) and an incredibly long radio program as well. Letter from America ran for 15 minutes a week from 1946 until 2004. Spanning 58 years, it became the longest-running chat radio show.

While it’s great to see people tripping over and generally looking like fools on television, we don’t always get to hear the best radio bloopers that happen on-air. Unless you happen to be listening at the time, they tend to get passed over – which is a real shame because some of them are pure gold.

One of the most renowned bloopers stems from the days of early radio. Broadcaster Harry von Zell was reading a report back in the 1930s on a tribute program to then President Herbert Hoover in 1931. Unfortunately von Zell got a bit tongue tied, so the story goes, and ended up calling him “Hoobert Heever”.

President Hoobert Heever?!

Tongue twisters usually trip people up on-air if you’re astute enough to listen out for them. A great commercial for a bakery once had the line “the best bread and rolls you’ve ever tasted” as part of the ad. If you’re ahead of us already you’ll know that what actually came out was a proud boast that they had the “breast bed and rolls you’ve ever tasted.” Oh well they were close – and it gave everyone a good laugh.

Of course there are really two kinds of outtakes – those that happen live on air and those that occur during recording. The latter often surface later on, often as part of a programme dedicated to such bloopers. But the live ones are arguably the best of the lot because the radio announcer just has to carry on regardless.

One misstep occurred live on Australian radio in April 2011, and has already passed into the annals of classic outtake radio, making headlines around the world. Kate Wilson, a news reader on 3AW 693, was preparing her four minute broadcast when she was struck down with a severe case of the hiccups. But true to form, she went on air regardless and hiccupped her way hilariously through all four minutes of the news. Thankfully, it happened on air at 3am, not during rush hour – so there were no major car pileups on Australian highways from people laughing uncontrollably. Listen here: Aussie Newsradio with a Raging Case of the Hiccups

The host of the American Top 40, Casey Kasem, was the man behind probably the most memorable radio blooper ever. After playing the uptempo Pointer Sisters track “Dare”, Kasem was asked to read a listener’s long distance dedication – to his recently deceased little dog named Snuggles. But Kasem felt that it was a poor transition from an upbeat happy song into a somber, emotional one – and boy did he let his staff hear it! Listen here: Casey Kasem Loses It In The Studio

But bloopers are part of the fun of radio, right? Like the time when a presenter on a live broadcast told their listeners to send in their letters. Here was how they did it: “Hurry up folks and deposit your letters now. We’ll be waiting for your droppings in the box.”

Everyone knows about college radio. It’s as much a part of US culture as the regular countrywide radio stations.

Union College holds the title for the first college ever to broadcast its own radio station. We’re rapidly approaching the centenary of that particular day, way back on October 14^th1920. Known as WRUC it still broadcasts to this day, although the name has changed a few times since it first started out. Back then it was originally known as 2ADD. The “First Station in the Nation” operates out of Schenectady, New York.

Every radio station has its own frequency and college radio is no exception. The stations are now broadcast over the FM frequency. The University of Alabama Birmingham radio program WEGL, broadcast over 91.1FM. Most students will be familiar with their own radio program and they will know when and where it is broadcast.

Many college radio stations date back to the 1920s or around that time. Some colleges have seen a few different radio channels doing their bit for student life over the years as well. Haverford College has had a station in place on and off since 1923, which has  onwards garnered a lot of interest and headlines at the time. Remember that this was a big era for radio, and it’s perhaps not surprising that so many college radio channels started up back then.

But it’s not just the programming that is interesting here. You’ve got to appreciate the fact that many of the stations were built from the ground up – often literally – by the students themselves. Quite often student radio (as college radio is sometimes referred to as) is not given the attention or honors it deserves. Many students involved with the radio presentations or channels showcase talent that would have been celebrated in the major radio stations of today.

College radio hasn’t changed at all in the 90 or so years since it all kicked off in America for the first time. There have been so many amazing changes in the last 90 years – advancements, especially in the realm of TV and internet, have been many. But college radio carries on, driven by the need to enjoy what they’re doing and provide a service for other students at each college.

This is the secret of the success of college radio over the years. With no money to earn and no wages to worry about paying, college students have remained free to have fun with their radio stations.

So who is to say that the likes of California Humboldt State University’s KRFH, WGVU of Grand Valley State University in Michigan, the University of Akron’s WZIP, WBCR-FM of Beloit College won’t still be around in another 90 years? Provided no one has to start making money out of it, college radio might even outlast the regular radio channels that are run for profit.