Two of the more important technological advancements that came out of the 1800s
were photography and radio.
To capture light was truly a fantastic thing, and the ability to hear sounds from across the world seemed miraculous.
The first photograph was made in Houston in 1843. It would be almost 75 years
later that Calvin Wheat would open his commercial photography studio. One of
his accounts was the American Maid Flour Company. Part of their $250,000
advertising budget went to sponsor a radio band that broadcast from station
KTLC. In keeping with the corporate identity of American Maid, all of the band
members had to dress like Indians.
Houston had four radio stations in the early 1930s. The popular KTRH made its
first broadcast from the famous Rice Hotel in 1930. Exciting news from around
the world and beautiful music from around the corner entertained the locals and
brought the city of Houston one step closer to the way of the future.
It is unfortunate that these photographs cannot capture the sound being made,
but at least they preserve the moment. Perhaps our imagination can do the rest!
An early 1930's Houston Lighting and Power window display of new RCA radios • The young broadcast announcer Guy Savage For KTRH, 1931 • The American Maid Flour Band singer, 1932 • The American Maid Flour Band, 1932
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