Network Radio Ratings, 1932-1953: A History of Prime Time Programs Through the Ratings of Nielsen, Crossley and Hooper

by Jim Ramsburg

Overview

Network radio from 1932 to 1953 was a high-stakes competition embracing technology, industry, government and advertising, ruled by dollars and dictated by ratings. This comprehensive reference work provides a fascinating account of broadcasting's most colorful era, when four nationwide networks dominated American media as no concerted communications force ever had.

Introductory sections chronicle the development of the broadcasting, advertising and entertainment industries, with an explanation of the ratings systems and their evolution. Twenty-one substantial sections follow, each covering a specific year of radio's golden age, with industry statistics, daily program ratings and a chart of the year's 50 top programs. A summary lists the era's most successful programs within the five major formats. Three appendices and a full index conclude the work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786445585
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/21/2012
Pages:	378
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jim Ramsburg spent 50 years in radio and advertising, including top-level positions with prestigious radio stations KLAC in Los Angeles and KSTP in Minneapolis–St. Paul. In 2006 he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame at Minnesota’s Museum of Broadcasting. He lives in Estero, Florida.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface     

1. Facts Never Broadcast     
2. Spinning the Webs     
3. If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time     
4. Radio’s Rulers     
5. The 1932–33 Network Season     
6. The 1933–34 Network Season     
7. The 1934–35 Network Season     
8. The 1935–36 Network Season     
9. The 1936–37 Network Season     
10. The 1937–38 Network Season     
11. The 1938–39 Network Season     
12. The 1939–40 Network Season     
13. The 1940–41 Network Season     
14. The 1941–42 Network Season     
15. The 1942–43 Network Season     
16. The 1943–44 Network Season     
17. The 1944–45 Network Season     
18. The 1945–46 Network Season     
19. The 1946–47 Network Season     
20. The 1947–48 Network Season     
21. The 1948–49 Network Season     
22. The 1949–50 Network Season     
23. The 1950–51 Network Season     
24. The 1951–52 Network Season     
25. The 1952–53 Network Season     
26. Network Radio’s All Time Favorites     

Appendices
A: Year-by-Year Monthly and Annual Ratings of All Prime-Time Programs     
B: Rated (13+ Weeks per Season) Prime-Time Programs, 1932–1953     
C: Rated (Less Than 13 Weeks per Season) Prime-Time Programs, 1932–1953     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

valuable...recommended”—Choice; “the author knows his stuff”—Classic Images; “wonderful”—ARBA; “Mr. Ramsburg is a born writer who has done his homework and has a seemingly bottomless collection of fascinating anecdotes about the early and glory days of network radio. Mr. Ramsburg has a delightful sense of the amusing and the absurd...a well-told story chock full of delightful anecdotes...eminently readable”—Radio Recall; “Ramsburg tracks the nightly, monthly, and annual ratings of oldtime radio programs”—Reference & Research Book News; “one of the most intriguing books”—Radiogram; “Ramsburg, tracks the nightly, monthly, and annual ratings of oldtime radio programs”—SciTech Book News.

From the Publisher

wonderful

ARBA

the author knows his stuff

Classic Images

valuable...recommended

Choice