In Search of the Sarnoff "Radio Music Box" Memo: Nally's Reply

In 1993, I published an article in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media entitled "In Search of the Sarnoff 'Radio Music Box' Memo: Separating Myth from Reality." That article focused on my quest to find the original memo David Sarnoff, the legendary broadcast leader,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of radio studies 2002-05, Vol.9 (1), p.97-106
Main Author: Benjamin, Louise
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
1910s
Broadcasting
Correspondence
Forecasts
Founders
Music
Nally, E J
Radio history
Sarnoff, David
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Summary:In 1993, I published an article in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media entitled "In Search of the Sarnoff 'Radio Music Box' Memo: Separating Myth from Reality." That article focused on my quest to find the original memo David Sarnoff, the legendary broadcast leader, claimed to have written in 1915 in which he predicted the advent of broadcasting. This article presents evidence I sought then that proves the existence of a "Radio Music Box Memo" written in 1916 and includes confirmation of a reply E.J. Nally wrote to that Memo in 1916. It also describes the context in which both of the documents-Sarnoff's 1916 memo to Nally and Nally's 1916 reply- were written. These materials indicate Sarnoff and Nally were actively involved in developing some type of music service for wireless consumption. They also show that Sarnoff had conceived the idea of a "music box" that would use wireless apparatus as early as November 1916. He should be recognized for that early concept.
ISSN:1095-5046
1937-6529
1937-6537
DOI:10.1207/s15506843jrs0901_9