The Detroit News Orchestra was the world's first radio orchestra, debuting in 1922. It was composed of already-distinguished members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, broadcasting from radio station WWJ in Detroit, Michigan. The orchestra's broadcasts could be received halfway across North America and even as far away as Hawaii.
Background The 16 members of the Detroit News Orchestra were drawn from the city's Detroit Symphony Orchestra, all of whom had previously achieved distinction as accomplished soloists. The orchestra broadcast on WWJ radio station, debuting on May 28, 1922. The broadcasts were sponsored by The Detroit Bank and could be received across half of North America.
The Orchestra, sometimes referred to as the "little symphony" by WWJ Detroit News radio station, performed at their studio Monday through Friday at 7:00 P.M., as well as at 2:00 P.M. on Sundays.
Listeners in Hawaii On November 23, 1922, at thirty minutes past midnight, the Detroit News Orchestra played the waltz "Three O'Clock in the Morning" in studio in the Detroit News building. The transmission was received clearly at 6:30 P.M. local time in the Hawaiian Islands by A. F. Costa, the postmaster there. Several people listened to the program in its entirety at the Wailuku post office, that was more than 4,400 miles (7,100 km) from Detroit. The notes of the music transmitted from the Detroit News radio station in Michigan took about one fiftieth of a second to arrive in Hawaii.
Ensemble
List of personnel of the musical ensemble.
Otto E. Krueger – conductor Maurice Warner – violinist Herman Goldstein – violinist LeRoy Hancock – violinist Armand Hebert – violinist Valbert P. Coffey – pianist Frederick Broeder – cellist Eugene W Braunsdorf – bass violin soloist Thomas J Byrne – oboe soloist R. M. Arey – clarinetist Vincenzo Pezzi – bassoonist Albert Stagliamo – horn player Edward Clarke – trumpeter Floyd O'Hara – trumpeter Max Smith – trombonist Arthur Cooper – xylophone player
See also 1922 in radio
References
Citations
Sources
Further reading
External links