NBC’s first century: a fun (but bumpy) ride
In a logical world, this Sunday would be a national holiday.
It’s the 100th birthday of NBC. More importantly, it’s the 100th anniversary of national (almost) broadcasting.
There were lots of local radio shows in 1926. But on Nov. 15, one show reached 21 cities, from New York to Kansas City. Over four-plus hours, people heard an orchestra, an opera singer, comedians and five bands.
It was hugely ambitious. Would NBC always be like this?
Not really. The next night, the new network included “Jolly Buckeye Bakers” and “Auction Bridge Lessons.” Twenty years later, when NBC’s TV network debuted, it had “Geographically Speaking,” “Esso Newsreel,” “Fight Film Filler” an “I Love to Eat.” In the years that followed, it would include a talking chimp, two talking cars and a guy who could transform into animals.
But that same network would give us “West Wing,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Hill Street Blues,” Johnny Carson and “Saturday Night Live” (shown here). All in all, it’s been a good century. Read more…