{"id":24934,"date":"2017-04-03T11:09:37","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T15:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=24934"},"modified":"2017-04-03T11:09:37","modified_gmt":"2017-04-03T15:09:37","slug":"1920s-radio-times-magazines-now-available-to-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/1920s-radio-times-magazines-now-available-to-public\/","title":{"rendered":"1920s Radio Times magazines now available to public"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: BBC Media Centre<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\n

BBC makes 1920s Radio Times magazines available to public<\/h2>\n

The BBC is making the earliest issues of the complete Radio Times magazines publicly available online for the first time. This release is part of the BBC Genome Project – a digitised searchable database of programme listings – from 1923 to the end of 2009.<\/p>\n

BBC programme records have been available to the public via the BBC Genome Project since October 2014. Now, users can access digitised editions of the magazines from 1923-1929. Opening up this archive means researchers will be able to make direct links between the listings in the database and the original published listings.<\/p>\n

Early colour front covers, specially commissioned illustrations and letters from the BBC\u2019s first radio audience form part of the content in this fascinating record of early broadcasting.<\/p>\n

Radio Times began in 1923, a year after the British Broadcasting Company started regular broadcasts, and thus provides a valuable record of the programmes that have been broadcast over nine decades.<\/p>\n

More than five million programme records, scanned from Radio Times magazines, form the backbone of the BBC Genome website. Now, members of the public will be able to view the 1920s listings in facsimile, as well as all the extra material contained in articles and features in the magazine that have previously been unavailable on the site.<\/p>\n

Hilary Bishop, Archive Development Editor, says: \u201cWe are particularly pleased that it is easy for our users to flick between the listings in the database and the related text in the magazine, as well as to scroll through articles not seen previously on BBC Genome. It is part of our commitment to continually improving BBC Genome and helping to open up the BBC\u2019s archives as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Radio Times in the 1920s featured regular articles by the first Director General of the BBC, Lord Reith, and the BBC\u2019s chief engineer, Peter Eckersley, addressing topics that concerned the BBC audience of the time, such as how to choose the best ‘receiving set’ and how to prevent ‘oscillations’ over the airwaves.<\/p>\n

Articles, cartoons and programme listings all provide an insight into the history of broadcasting and the BBC\u2019s first listeners, while adding some context, for a modern audience, to the earliest BBC programme records. The first editions of Radio Times show a nation still enthralled by the technological wonder of the new ‘wireless’ sets.<\/p>\n

In each edition for the first few years of publication, cartoons explored the comic possibilities of a public who still didn\u2019t quite understand how radio worked. \u201cWould you kindly remove your hat madam?\u201d asks a man at a ‘wireless village concert’. Yet the performer on stage is a radio set.<\/p>\n

As the public wrestled with their new radio antennae, legendary cartoonist W. Heath Robinson illustrated two editions with eccentric designs of aerials.<\/p>\n

Other historical snippets include a ‘new experiment’, in 1924, to broadcast a programme from California, to London. The exercise was to be repeated in the opposite direction. \u201cIf suitable conditions exist in the atmosphere\u201d, concludes the article, \u201cthere is no reason why the experiment should not be successful\u201d.<\/p>\n

You can access the digitised 1920s magazines at: http:\/\/genome.ch.bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read this article at the BBC Media Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Click here to browse the Radio Times archive<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: BBC Media Centre) BBC makes 1920s Radio Times magazines available to public The BBC is making the earliest issues of the complete Radio Times magazines publicly available online for the first time. This release is part of the BBC Genome Project – a digitised searchable database of programme listings – from 1923 to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,305,288,43],"tags":[104,3320,6083,3322,681],"class_list":["post-24934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-radio-history","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bbc","tag-bbc-genome-project","tag-bbc-media-centre","tag-radio-times","tag-vintage-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6ua","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11108,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/the-bbc-genome-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":24934,"position":0},"title":"The BBC Genome Project","author":"Thomas","date":"October 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0Mike Barraclough who shares this news: \"BBC has today launched a website publishing every BBC programme ever broadcast by the Corporation from digitised editions of the Radio Times 1923-2009. Getting occasional internal errors at the moment presumably due to heavy use following publicity. Well designed and easy to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RadioTimes","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/RadioTimes.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/RadioTimes.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/RadioTimes.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29683,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/bbc-genome-project-releases-1930s-editions-of-radio-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":24934,"position":1},"title":"BBC Genome Project releases 1930s editions of Radio Times","author":"Thomas","date":"December 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source BBC Genome Blog) The BBC Genome Project is releasing the next batch of pages from Radio Times, this time covering the 1930s. Genome users will now be able to access the articles,\u00a0editorial material, letters pages, illustrations and photographs from the 1930s. We hope this will help users correct some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/BBC-Radio-Times-1930s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/BBC-Radio-Times-1930s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/BBC-Radio-Times-1930s.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16398,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/download-the-1923-first-wireless-christmas-edition-of-the-radio-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":24934,"position":2},"title":"Download the 1923 “first Wireless Christmas” edition of The Radio Times","author":"Thomas","date":"December 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: BBC Genome Blog via Mike Barraclough) The much-loved Christmas edition of the Radio Times made its first appearance in 1923.\u00a0 It was all very different to today's multi-channel, on-demand world. There was only radio, and London station 2LO had a meagre five-and-a-half hours of programmes on Christmas Day. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RadioTimes1923","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/RadioTimes1923.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/RadioTimes1923.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/RadioTimes1923.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65489,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/bbc-world-services-emergency-radio-programme-for-iran\/","url_meta":{"origin":24934,"position":3},"title":"BBC World Service’s Emergency Radio Programme for Iran","author":"Thomas","date":"March 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who writes: Also spotted this at the BBC Press information website -- it's been in effect, apparently, since early in February: BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran (BBC Media Centre) 4 February 2026 The programme will air daily for 30\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kenwood-R-1000-Encoder-Dial-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kenwood-R-1000-Encoder-Dial-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kenwood-R-1000-Encoder-Dial-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kenwood-R-1000-Encoder-Dial-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Kenwood-R-1000-Encoder-Dial-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10891,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/bbc-world-service-launches-ebola-radio-network\/","url_meta":{"origin":24934,"position":4},"title":"BBC World Service launches Ebola radio network","author":"Thomas","date":"September 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: BBC Media Centre) The BBC World Service is launching special Ebola broadcasts for West Africa, starting today (Monday 22 September). Each evening shortwave transmissions to the region will be increased. There will be a round-up of news, concentrating on efforts to combat the virus - particularly to the three\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ebola Cases Map (Source: World Health Organization) ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ebola_map2-1024x838.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39028,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/bbc-world-service-steps-up-shortwave-broadcasts-in-kashmir-during-media-shutdown\/","url_meta":{"origin":24934,"position":5},"title":"“BBC World Service steps up shortwave broadcasts in Kashmir during media shutdown”","author":"Thomas","date":"August 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: BBC Media Centre via @George53419980) The BBC World Service has extended output on shortwave radio in Indian-administered Kashmir to provide reliable news and information. The Director of the BBC World Service, Jamie Angus, says: \u201cThe provision of independent and trusted news in places of conflict and tension is one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"(Image source: BBC)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/BBC-Headquarters.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24934"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24934\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}