Today’s technology provides a variety of ways to deliver news and entertainment immediately to people around the world. In the past, and especially over long distances, there was only one way to do that—radio.
The History
The invention of the radio wasn’t a singular event. It happened after years of discoveries and experimentation by scientists and inventors from around the world. German Heinrich Hertz originally discovered radio waves in the 1880s, and by the mid-1890s, Italian Guglielmo Marconi developed a long-distance radio communication device.
In 1900, Canadian Reginald A. Fessenden successfully transmitted audio for about a mile. Then, on Christmas Eve in 1906, he made the first public wireless broadcast. Within eight years he created the equipment needed to consistently broadcast a radio wave strong enough to carry voices and music over thousands of miles.
With this, radio immediately became indispensable. By the 1920s, a radio was the one item every household wanted.
Did You Know…
- Prior to becoming known as radio in 1890, all forms of communication with radio technology were called wireless communications.
- The 1930s were known as the “Golden Age of Radio.”
- By 1939, nearly 80% of the U.S. population owned a radio.
The Doctor
With a mail-order university’s medical diploma, John Brinkley began practicing medicine. Eventually, he had the bright idea to implant goat testicles into men to cure their impotence, and soon men from all over the country traveled to Kansas for this (medically useless) procedure.
On a trip to California, Brinkley realized he could reach more people (and make more money) by advertising on the radio. His first station, KFKB, broadcasted music in between ads for his services. Then, the Kansas City Star began investigating his operating room deaths, which led to his medical and broadcasting licenses being revoked by Kansas authorities in 1930.
Not deterred, Brinkley moved to Del Rio, Texas, and got a broadcast license from Mexico. Without U.S. regulations, Brinkley peddled gland transplants and other dubious procedures on his new Mexican radio station, XER.
Meanwhile, the U.S. authorities continued to try and shut him down. They prohibited him from going to Mexico. In response, he installed a telephone line from his house to the studio and broadcast over the phone. They prohibited the broadcasting of phone calls. So, he recorded his shows, and a driver took them to the station. Finally, in 1933, Mexico caved to the U.S.’s pressure and took the station from Brinkley. A lesser man might have given up, but not Brinkley. He cut a deal with the station’s new owner and continued.
In the end, under a slew of lawsuits and IRS tax fraud investigations, Brinkley—possibly the cleverest snake-oil salesman of all time—died penniless in 1942.
Did You Know…
- Brinkley sponsored a community baseball team called the Brinkley Goats.
- XER wasn’t the first border radio station, but it was the most powerful. It blasted a million-watt signal into the U.S. and as far away as Russia! All thanks to goat testicles.
Border Radio
The first border radio station, XED, launched in 1930. Others soon followed. But while radio provided access to vital news and information, the entertainment it supplied ruled the airwaves.
Commercial sponsors wanted large audiences, and those audiences wanted to be entertained. Most border radio listeners lived in rural areas where hillbilly music drew the most listeners—and thus sold the most merchandise—so these stations became an unexpected outlet for early country music artists.
For over fifty years, border radio stations spread other genres of music not usually heard on U.S. stations. Then, in 1986, the U.S. and Mexico finally came to a broadcasting agreement, and border radio died. However, by then, the music genres once snubbed were too large to be ignored.
Did You Know…
- Most 1930s U.S. radio stations only averaged about a thousand watts.
- With no U.S. regulations, Mexican transmitter signals ranged from 50,000 to 500,000 watts. They simply overpowered U.S. stations and became known as “border blasters.”
- Ranchers claimed to hear border radio stations through their barbed-wire fences. Other listeners claimed to hear broadcasts through their dental work or bed springs.
Their Role
Although they couldn’t have known it then, Mexican “X” radio stations played a vital role in the development of country music.
Between those unconventional commercials, country music reigned. As a result of these far-reaching broadcasts, performers soon became nationally famous. Gradually, the radio landscape changed, and X stations took control of the airwaves from Northern corporate interests who believed “hillbilly” music wasn’t commercially viable. These stations’ broadcasts paved the way for the rise of country music and the spread of rock-and-roll and blues, which weren’t normally heard on U.S. stations.
Did You Know…
- “Hillbilly” music was a derogatory label pinned on early country music.
- Will Horwitz, XED’s station owner, happened to be friends with Jimmie Rodgers, the father of country music. Rodgers’ performances on XED introduced his music to new, young audiences.
- The now-famous Carter Family got their big break on XER. They gained nationwide fame performing a live weekly show sponsored by hair dye and cold medicine.
- Disk jockey Wolfman Jack’s off-the-wall delivery and on-air antics made him one of the biggest border radio stars as he shared rock-and-roll, rhythm-and-blues, and blues music with his listeners between 1963-1970.
- Border radio also influenced the rock group ZZ Top.