Early Radio in Rural Appalachia: An Oral History

Abstract

Through the use of oral histories, this study examines the social impact of early radio usage on rural Appalachia. In an area in which isolation fostered independence, strong family and community values have always been important. Contrary to the "lonely crowd" analogy, where electronic media were sometimes looked on as isolating forces in society, the inception of radio into rural Appalachia appeared to enhance rather than disrupt family and community unity. In addition, the coming of electricity into this distressed region of the United States had a dramatic impact on the ways in which people experienced radio. It could be argued that electricity's arrival, more than the evolution of the medium itself, changed people's listening habits in this rural area of the country.

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