The first extended radio broadcast of the human voice was transmitted through the air Christmas Eve 1906 from Brant Rock, Massachusetts. Reginald Fessenden was convinced that the “wireless telegraph”, which at the time carried only the beeps of Morse code, could carry the human voice.

An account by Fessenden’s wife reports her husband’s historic transmission, as sailors on ships across the Atlantic heard for the first time what they had only dreamed about - and never thought possible.

“…a human voice coming from their instruments - someone speaking. Then a women’s voice rose in song. It was uncanny! Many of the radio operators called their officers to come and listen; soon the wireless rooms were crowded. Next someone was heard reading a poem. Then there was a violin solo; then a man made a speech.”

Fessenden himself played his violin, read from the Christmas story from the Book of Luke, and played a recording of Handel’s “Largo.”

Can you imagine?

People gathered around a radio listening intently?

Now there’s a vision of the past that must apply to the future, to the future of radio.

From our families to yours, and from all our staff, we wish you a joyous and safe Christmas.

Ham It Up

Here’s a promotion that can be used prior to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Find a local grocery store or meat market that will donate turkeys (for Thanksgiving) or ham (for Christmas). Each day, give away one turkey or ham to a listener who gives the correct answer to a trivia question related to either Thanksgiving or Christmas. For each turkey or ham you give to a listener, donate one to a local food bank in the listener’s name.

Thanksgiving Feast

Just prior to Thanksgiving, send your jocks out to local schools during lunch to eat with the kids and sample their Thanksgiving meals. Then, select the school with the tastiest Thanksgiving feast and award them with lunch from a local pizza or hamburger restaurant.

Food Bank Contributions

Team up with a local grocery store during the holiday season to arrange a live broadcast from their location. Encourage listeners to come down and shop, and pick up some extra items to donate to the local food bank. Have containers for the food at your remote…give away station paraphernalia and put shoppers on the air to make the event fun for everyone.

Dinner On The Mayflower

Sponsor a “Thanksgiving on the Mayflower” dinner during the holiday season. Have listeners register for this contest at a local grocery store (you can even place the sign-ups with a food collection container encouraging donations, and give the contents to a local food bank). Announce the winner during morning drive the week before Thanksgiving…the grand prize is an elegant Thanksgiving dinner for their family or friends, served by candlelight, on a Mayflower moving van.

Holiday Visibility

The year-end holidays creates good cheer and positive feelings. Connect your station with that holiday spirit by being a visible part of your community’s holiday events. Co-sponsor tree lightings, arrivals of Santa and holiday fund raisers. It’s a great time to contact event organizers and offer to help out by publicizing and being part of their holiday fun! Warning: beware of clutter from November through the middle of December; limit on-air commitments and strive to get visibility at the events.

Home For The Holidays

As the year-end holidays near, get together with a travel agency or airline and put together a “Home For the Holidays” package. Fly a college student home or send a family to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Have them write or fax your station, in 50 words or less, why they or a loved one should win the trip.