The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921-1996

From its inception in New York City, radio dramatically changed the city. The five boroughs became, in some ways, more united through the medium, as common concerns were aired and given wider attention. But as radio came to be more entertainment based, the city lost the last of its small town origins, as people left the front stoop for the living room.This heavily illustrated history traces the development of AM radio in the New York metropolitan area. While technical information and program schedules are fully covered, the work also provides unique insight into radio’s influence on the development of the city. The photographs reinforce the sense of change brought about by the medium.