The Amazing History of Radio on Long Island

Radio technology transformed the world in the early 20th century. Early morse code transmissions helped save ships at sea. People could communicate across the world. Entrepreneurs and inventors rushed to capitalize, forming competing corporations and creating sprawling transmission stations with towers up to 500 feet high.
And Long Island was a proving ground for much of this. Giants of the industry made their mark on the Island, from Marconi and Tesla to RCA and more. Now their presence is noted only by an occasional street name or historical marker.
This talk will present an overview of Long Island’s radio history, highlighting the major players, where they operated, and what drew them to the Island in the first place. Chris Kretz is the president of the Long Island Radio & Television Historical Society, a group dedicated to preserving this rich heritage through research projects and public outreach. You can find them at lirtvhs.org.
Lectures are free for members of Friends of Connetquot. Non – members pay $5/person.
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