Radio history — ‘Radio Widow’

This husband and wife did not share a love of early radio.

A Los Angeles woman filed for divorce on grounds that she had become a “radio widow,” The Post-Star of Glens Falls reported on its radio news page on April 17, 1923.

“Ever since hubby came home with a cardboard tube, a spool of wire and a piece of galena (crystalized mineral), there has been no money for new dresses in spite of the fact that hubby earned $500 a month (the equivalent of $8,648 in 2022 dollars). Hubby was told to choose between his wife and his radio, by said wife. Hubby chose radio.”

In other radio news collected from area historic newspapers:

• Giving up radio was not among the options for a happy marriage, in this instance.

Area clergy turned to radio in 1947 to get out a message of hope for marriages and families during National Family Week.

The Fort Edward Council of Churches and Adirondack Ministerial Fellowship sponsored a nightly broadcast of the 15-minute program series “So You Want to Stay Married” on WWSC radio Glens Falls at 7:15 each evening beginning March 4.

Carlton E. Morse, writer and producer of “One Man’s Family” produced the series.

“People must realize the importance of the family,” Morse said, according to an April 29, 1947 report in The Post-Star. “They must know the obligations of man and wife and the obligations of parenthood.”

• The Post-Star reported on June 23, 1972 that WBZA AM-FM hired Philip Savard of Glens Falls as public affairs director.

“He will produce 15 five-minute ‘Insight’ programs each week, will produce other special programs, and will be the host for the weekly ‘Mayor’s Report.”

Savard, a real estate broker and public affairs director of the Warren County Realtors Board, previously was a field correspondent for WPTR of Albany.

Click here to read my most recent previous radio history post.