The year 1946 saw a number of significant events in

radio broadcasting Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

history. __TOC__

Events

*20 January – British composer Sir

Granville Bantock Sir Granville Ransome Bantock (7 August 186816 October 1946) was a British composer of classical music. Biography Granville Ransome Bantock was born in London. His father was an eminent Scottish surgeon.Hadden, J. Cuthbert, 1913, ''Modern Music ...

writes to fellow composer

Rutland Boughton Rutland Boughton (23 January 187825 January 1960) was an English composer who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music. He was also an influential communist activist within the Communist Party of Gre ...

, criticising the BBC Music Department's attitude towards some newer composers. *15 July – The Elizalde brothers together with Bertrand Silen, establish

Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation Metromedia (also often MetroMedia) was an American media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and controlled Orion Pictures from 1988 to 1997. Metromedia was established in 1956 after the DuMon ...

, and at the same time KZRH returns to the air, broadcasting from the Insular Building, Binondo, Manila, Philippines. *1 September – The

Norwegian Radio Orchestra The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (Norwegian, ''Kringkastingsorkestret'', abbreviated as KORK) is a radio orchestra affiliated with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (''Norsk rikskringkasting AS'', or NRK). Its principal base is the ''Store Studi ...

(''Kringkastingsorkestret'') is founded. *5 September – In

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor RIAS (german: Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor; en, ''Radio in the American Sector'') was a radio and television station in the American Sector of Berlin during the Cold War. It was founded by the US occupational authorities after World War ...

'' (RIAS, "Broadcasting in the American Sector") begins mediumwave transmissions. The station, established by the US occupation authorities, had begun its activities on 7 February as the wire-broadcasting service DIAS (''Drahtfunk im amerikanischen Sektor''). *29 September – The

BBC Third Programme The BBC Third Programme was a national radio station produced and broadcast from 1946 until 1967, when it was replaced by Radio 3. It first went on the air on 29 September 1946 and quickly became one of the leading cultural and intellectual f ...

is launched in the UK as a cultural channel. *3 November – In Italy,

RAI RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...

reorganizes its stations into two new national networks, the Rete Rossa and the Rete Azzurra. *31 December –

BBC General Forces Programme The BBC General Forces Programme was a national radio station operating from 27 February 1944 until 31 December 1946. History Development Upon the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, the BBC closed both existing National and Regio ...

closed down. *

Bush Bush commonly refers to: * Shrub, a small or medium woody plant Bush, Bushes, or the bush may also refer to: People * Bush (surname), including any of several people with that name **Bush family, a prominent American family that includes: *** ...

DAC90

bakelite Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, better known as Bakelite ( ), is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The first plastic made from synthetic components, it was developed ...

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

introduced in the United Kingdom: it becomes the best-selling model for some years.

Debuts

*7 January – ''

The Second Mrs. Burton ''The Second Mrs. Burton'' is an American radio soap opera, broadcast daily five days a week on CBS Radio from January 7, 1946, to November 25, 1960. It was the final serial broadcast on a national radio network, after ''The Right to Happiness' ...

'' daytime serial debuts on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

.Cox, Jim (2008). ''This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . *21 January **''

The Fat Man (radio) ''The Fat Man'', a popular radio show during the 1940s and early 1950s, was a detective drama created by (or at least credited to) Dashiell Hammett, author of ''The Thin Man''. It starred J. Scott Smart in the title role, as a detective who s ...

'' debuts on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

. **''

I Deal in Crime ''I Deal in Crime'' was an American old-time radio detective drama. It was broadcast on ABC from January 21, 1946, until October 18, 1947, and on Mutual from October 25, 1947 until September 4, 1948. In 1947, the title was changed to ''Ross Dol ...

'' debuts on

. *2 February – '' Twenty Questions'' debuts on Mutual. *4 March – ''Bob Elson on Board the Century'' debuts on Mutual. *24 March –

BBC Home Service The BBC Home Service was a national and regional radio station that broadcast from 1939 until 1967, when it was replaced by BBC Radio 4. History 1922–1939: Interwar period Between the early 1920s and the outbreak of World War II, the BBC ...

radio in the United Kingdom broadcasts

Alistair Cooke Alistair Cooke (born Alfred Cooke; 20 November 1908 – 30 March 2004) was a British-American writer whose work as a journalist, television personality and radio broadcaster was done primarily in the United States.Letter from America'', this programme will continue until a few weeks before Cooke's death in 2004. *30 March – '' Academy Award Theater'' debuts on

.Dunning, John. (1998). ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio''. Oxford University Press. . *2 April – '' Ed Sullivan's Pipelines'' debuts on the

Blue Network The Blue Network (previously known as the NBC Blue Network) was the on-air name of a now defunct American Commercial broadcasting, radio network, which broadcast from 1927 through 1945. Beginning as one of the two radio networks owned by the N ...

. *21 April – ''The Amazing Mrs. Danberry'' debuts on

. *29 April – ''

Forever Ernest ''Forever Ernest'' is an American old-time radio situation comedy. It was broadcast on CBS from April 29, 1946, to July 22, 1946, replacing ''Vox Pop'' on the CBS schedule. It was also carried on CFRB in Canada. Ernest, the title character, is a ...

'' debuts on CBS. *3 June – '' Winner Take All'' debuts on

. *12 June – ''Author Meets the Critics'' debuts on Mutual. *27 June – ''By Popular Demand'' debuts on Mutual. *5 July – ''

Hawk Durango ''Hawk Larabee'' is an American old-time radio western. It was broadcast on CBS from July 5, 1946, until February 7, 1948. Format In his book, ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio'', radio historian John Dunning described ''Hawk Lar ...

'' debuts on CBS. *12 July – '' The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective'' debuts on

. *18 August – '' Danger, Dr. Danfield'' debuts on

*3 September – ''

The Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players ''The Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players'' (often referred to as just ''Hollywood Players'') was a dramatic anthologyReinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). ''The A to Z of Old-Time Radio''. Scarecrow Press, Inc. . p. 126. series on radio in t ...

'' debuts on

. *8 September – ''

The Bickersons ''The Bickersons'' was a radio comedy sketch series that began September 8, 1946, on NBC, moving the following year to CBS where it continued until August 28, 1951. The show's married protagonists, portrayed by Don Ameche (later by Lew Parker) a ...

'' debuts on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

. *18 September – ''

The Ford Show ''The Ford Show'' (also known as ''The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford'' and ''The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show'') is an American variety program, starring singer and folk humorist Tennessee Ernie Ford, which aired on NBC on Thursday eveni ...

'' debuts on

. *29 September – ''Are These Our Children?'' debuts on

. *3 October – ''

Hawk Larabee ''Hawk Larabee'' is an American old-time radio western. It was broadcast on CBS from July 5, 1946, until February 7, 1948. Format In his book, ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio'', radio historian John Dunning described ''Hawk Lar ...

'' (a revamping of ''Hawk Durango'') debuts on CBS. *4 October – '' Sparkle Time'' debuts on

. *5 October – KERA, Dallas, Texas, begins broadcasting. *7 October – The

BBC Light Programme The BBC Light Programme was a national radio station which broadcast chiefly mainstream light entertainment and light music from 1945 until 1967, when it was replaced by BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 1. It opened on 29 July 1945, taking over the ...

in the U.K. transmits the first episode of the daily magazine programme ''

Woman's Hour ''Woman's Hour'' is a radio magazine programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on the BBC Light Programme, BBC Radio 2, and later BBC Radio 4. It has been on the air since 1946. History Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by ...

'' (initially presented by Alan Ivimey), which will still be running 75 years later, and of the daily adventure serial '' Dick Barton – Special Agent''. *16 October – ''

Philco Radio Time ''Philco Radio Time'' was an old-time radio radio series starring entertainer Bing Crosby. The series ran over ABC Radio with episodes airing from October 16, 1946–June 1, 1949. The series also was syndicated for a period of time over th ...

'' starring

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

makes its debut on the ABC network, with

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 5 ...

appearing as Bing's first guest; the show is recorded using large wax transcription disks.Lewis, Steven
"Bing Crosby's Network Radio Days".
Bing Crosby Internet Museum. Web. 9 January 2015. In 1947, the Crosby show will introduce taped broadcasting to primetime network radio. *18 October – '' Let George Do It'' debuts on Mutual- Don Lee Network on the West Coast. *30 October – '' The Affairs of Ann Scotland'' debuts on

. *3 November – '' The Clock'' debuts on

. *27 November – WBET Brockton, Massachusetts signs on the air with a high school football game on 990 kHz. WBET would later take over fellow Brockton station WBKA's license and frequency of 1450 kHz. *2 December – ''Crime Club'' debuts on Mutual.

Closings

*6 January – '' The Charlotte Greenwood Show'' ends its run on network radio (

). *15 January – ''Johnny Presents'' ends its run on network radio (

). *18 January – ''Blind Date'' ends its run on network radio (

). *13 March – ''Auction Gallery'' ends its run on network radio ( Mutual). *15 March – '' Constance Bennett Calls on You'' ends its run on network radio (

). *18 April – '' The Avenger'' ends its run in syndication. *26 April – ''

Amanda of Honeymoon Hill ''Amanda of Honeymoon Hill'' is a 15-minute daily radio soap opera produced by Frank and Anne Hummert. Broadway actress Joy Hathaway had the title role, sometimes described as "the beauty of flaming red hair." The series was broadcast from Februar ...

'' ends its run on network radio (

). *30 May – '' The Bird's Eye Open House'' ends its run on network radio (

). *9 June – '' The Electric Hour'' ends its run on network radio (CBS). *16 June – ''The Amazing Mrs. Danberry'' ends its run on network radio (

). *20 June – '' Island Venture'' ends its run on network radio (

). *22 July – ''Forever Ernest'' ends its run on network radio (CBS). *21 September – ''

The Adele Clark Show ''The Adele Clark Show'' was a musical variety radio series which aired on ABC from 1945 to 1946. It was sometimes known as ''Songs by Adele Clark''. Ex- WAC Adele Clark was the host and vocalist on the 30-minute show which featured Jack Kelly a ...

'' ends its run on network radio (

). *21 September – ''

The Billie Burke Show The Billie Burke Show was an old-time radio Sitcom, situation comedy in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS April 3, 1943 - September 21, 1946. Format Actress Billie Burke played herself as "a well-meaning young woman with her head in the c ...

'' ends its run on network radio (

). *27 September – ''Cimarron Tavern'' ends its run on network radio (

). *30 September – ''Ed Sullivan's Pipelines'' ends its run on network radio (

). *11 October – ''Barry Cameron'' ends its run on network radio (

). *14 November – ''By Popular Demand'' ends its run on network radio ( Mutual). *18 December – ''

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

'' ends its run on network radio (

).Terrace, Vincent. (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. .

Births

*25 January –

Pete Price Peter Lawrence Price (the Lizard) (born 04 February 1946) is a British radio presenter best known for his work in Liverpool. He hosted the Sunday night talk radio show ''Pete Price: Unzipped'', which was broadcast across Liverpool sister stat ...

, British media personality and radio presenter *17 April – Henry Kelly, Irish-born broadcast presenter *7 May –

Michael Rosen Michael Wayne Rosen (born 7 May 1946) is a British children's author, poet, presenter, political columnist, broadcaster and activist who has written 140 books. He served as Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009. Early life Michael Wayne Ro ...

, British children's poet and radio presenter *10 June – Ed Blaylock, American voice actor and radio announcer *18 September –

Ray Didinger Ray Didinger (born September 18, 1946 in Philadelphia) is an American retired sportswriter, radio personality, sports commentator author and screenwriter. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Writer's Honor Roll. Early l ...

, American

sportswriter Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on matters pertaining to sporting topics and competitions. Sports journalism started in the early 1800s when it was targeted to the social elite and transitioned into an integral part of the n ...

, author,

film writer A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. T ...

, radio co-host and television

sports commentator In sports broadcasting, a sports commentator (also known as sports announcer or sportscaster) provides a real-time commentary of a game or event, usually during a live broadcast, traditionally delivered in the historical present tense. Radio was ...

, member of the

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coach ...

(Writer's Honor Roll) *7 October –

Jenny Abramsky Dame Jennifer Gita Abramsky, (born 7 October 1946) is a British media producer and philanthropist. She was chairman of the UK's National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF). The NHMF makes grants to preserve heritage of outstanding national importanc ...

, BBC Director of Audio and Music *15 December –

Rodney Bingenheimer Rodney Bingenheimer (born December 15, 1946) is an American radio disc jockey who is best known as the host of ''Rodney on the ROQ'', a radio program that ran on the Los Angeles rock station KROQ from 1976 to 2017. In the early 1970s, he also m ...

, entertainment personality and radio disc jockey on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles *21 December –

Tom Keith Thomas Alan Keith (December 21, 1946 – October 30, 2011) was a radio personality who worked for Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the engineer for Garrison Keillor when the latter began his early morning radio show from t ...

, American public radio sound effects man for ''

A Prairie Home Companion ''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed ''Live from He ...

'' (died 2011) *

Sue Limb Sue Limb (born 1946, Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is a British writer and broadcaster. Biography Limb was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. She studied Elizabethan lyric poetry at Newnham College, Cambridge and then trained in education. While he ...

, English scriptwriter

Deaths

*3 January –

William Joyce William Brooke Joyce (24 April 1906 – 3 January 1946), nicknamed Lord Haw-Haw, was an American-born fascist and Nazi propaganda broadcaster during the Second World War. After moving from New York to Ireland and subsequently to England, J ...

, 39, American-born Nazi propagandist (executed) *13 June –

Major Bowes Edward Bowes (June 14, 1874 – June 13, 1946), professionally known as Major Edward Bowes, was an American radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s whose ''Major Bowes Amateur Hour'' was the best-known amateur talent show on radio during its 18 ...

, 71, American radio personality *16 October –

, 78, British composer

References

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Radio by year