The first ever guide to 3,800 primary and seconary sources that explore radio's contribution to America's cultural heritage.Index integrates separate listings in Special Collections, Bibliography and Internet chapters and can be searched by program title, person or subject.

The purpose of this work is to provide scholars and students of popular culture with an evaluative survey of research materials about radio. . . . An interesting introduction provides an overview of radio's history in the U.S. The bibliographic essays throughout the work will hold the attention of readers and cover topics such as networks and station histories, radio drama, news, music, comedy and variety, and sports. All users will discover important sources of information and will appreciate the well-written bibliographic essays. Booklist Following a brief historical overview on radio and its role in American life, chapters offer informative and, within the confines of the format, lively and enjoyable bibliographic essays on individual facets of radio as an entertainment and information medium. . . . Highly recommended. Choice Intended to be an evaluative survey of bibliographical material on the history and development of radio and radio programming in America, this guide identifies and discusses more than 500 written sources relating to radio music, drama, comedy and variety, news, sports and more. An introductory chapter thoroughly analyzes the historical development of the medium--from its inception during the pioneer era, to the network era (radio's Golden Age), to the decline of radio in the 1950s, and finally to the radio renaissance--based largely, on narrowcasting--that began in the 1960s and continues to the present. Greenfield also examines the formation of the FCC, focuses on radio's losing battle with television--the main reason for its decline beginning in 1949--and provides a cogent analysis of the creative thinking underlying not only the concept of today's narrowcasting, but of the current ascendency of the local station as well. Also addresses are the Press/Radio war of the 1930s, the rise of radio drama, and the enormous influence of rock and roll music on the evolution of radio programming after World War II. A chapter is devoted to networks and station histories and another to issues such as women in radio, advertising, religious broadcasting, and armed forces radio. A list of selected archival collections, radio organizations and associations, and an index complete the volume. Primarily designed for students, scholars, and researchers in the fields of broadcasting and popular culture, this reference deserves a place in university libraries but also has a wealth of information of interest to radio and television professionals. And, because its resources include popular and fan materials as well as standard academic and professional publications, Radio: A Reference Guide provides an insightful overview for any informed generalist with an interest in this important facet of American popular culture.

This is a comprehensive encyclopedia to the more than 100 radio programs portraying the American West, in fact and fiction, heard by generations of listeners from the Great Depression through the Cold War era. The book includes both the popular and lesser known series, as well as would-be offerings that never made it past the audition stage. Each entry describes the series, the extent to which it was based on actual facts, the audience it was written for, and its broadcast history. The descriptions also examine how the programs reflected society's changing social and cultural attitudes towards racial and ethnic minorities and the role of women. The availability of surviving audio copies and original scripts is noted. An extensive bibliography and several appendices provide additional sources of information about Western programming during the Golden Age of Radio.

The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio is an essential single-volume reference guide to this vital and evolving medium. Comprised of more than 300 entries spanning the invention of radio to the Internet, this refernce work addresses personalities, music genres, regulations, technology, programming and stations, the "golden age" of radio and other topics relating to radio broadcasting throughout its history. The entries are updated throughout and the volume includes nine new entries on topics ranging from podcasting to the decline of radio.

"NBC: America's Network makes a significant contribution to our understanding of American broadcasting. Hilmes makes a convincing case for the appropriateness of an examination of a single firm, NBC, to illuminate the major themes and events of American broadcast history. In addition, she adeptly synthesizes a strong set of individually-authored chapters on specific historical periods, controversies, and program genres into a coherent whole. The writing is concise and lively and the breadth and depth of the material makes this a exceptional work."—William Boddy, author of New Media and Popular Imagination "NBC: America's Network is an outstanding book about one network across US television history. Hilmes is an excellent editor who brings broad insights about the television industry to bear on this volume. The individual essays present different approaches and methods, and together provide an integrated history of NBC with analysis that respects the medium and the people that worked in it."—Mary Beth Haralovich, co-editor of Television, History, and American Culture: Feminist Critical Essays. "Filled with highly readable essays by the top scholars in the field, NBC: America's Network explores key, often watershed moments in the network's history to illuminate the central role broadcasting has played in constituting public discourse about what is-and what is not-in the public interest. A welcome addition to the history of broadcasting, and essential reading for anyone interested in the transformative role of radio and TV in modern life."—Susan J. Douglas, author of Listening In: Radio and the American Imagination

The Biographical Encyclopedia of American Radio presents the very best biographies of the internationally acclaimed three-volume Encyclopedia of Radio in a single volume. It includes more than 200 biographical entries on the most important and influential American radio personalities, writers, producers, directors, newscasters, and network executives. With 23 new biographies and updated entries throughout, this volume covers key figures from radio’s past and present including Glenn Beck, Jessie Blayton, Fred Friendly, Arthur Godfrey, Bob Hope, Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh, Ryan Seacrest, Laura Schlesinger, Red Skelton, Nina Totenberg, Walter Winchell, and many more. Scholarly but accessible, this encyclopedia provides an unrivaled guide to the voices behind radio for students and general readers alike.

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