Broadcasting's Forgotten Father, the Charles Herrold Story.m4v

This is the 1995 PBS Documentary, "Broadcasting's Forgotten Father, the Charles Herrold Story." It was written, produced, directed and narrated by Mike Adams. Mike's film students at San Jose State University participated in the production. The 1909 Herrold station became KQW and today it is KCBS in San Francisco, now over 100 years old.

[@DJRobbie54]

Thank you Charles Herrold for your contribution to Radio.

[@rweerakkody4565]

Thank you for hosting and uploading this documentary

[@MickLBrad]

Very well done! I hope Mr. Herrold gets the recognition he deserves some day.

[@PaulRusling]

So much history in radio, I'd only heard scant details of Herrold previously. Great piece. Im proud to have a piece of KDKA's antenna mast on my desk right here!

[@richarddowney1972]

I swallowed hard several times during the viewing. Such a nice man who deserved more during his personal and professional life. I hope some radio amateurs from his part of the world will hold an annual Special Event Station Day or weekend celebrating his life and accomplishments. He merits it.

[@AccipiterSmith]

KZbin really lets me enter into a foxhole of curiosity right here. And now i have learned what was the TRULY first radio (er, wireless) station that operated with voice and music. And i thought KDKA was the first but dang this docu made me learn the other untold history of early wireless radio broadcast in the US.

[@wildemouse]

In the video they say Doc wasn't doing much after he sold his station. I found his ancestry and numerous newspaper clippings of Doc Herrold's program on the radio from 1926 up until 1938. He was on various stations in the bay area and lived at 10 Abbott In Piedmont (Oakland) until he died.

[@LA6UOA]

Thanks for presenting this!

[@quantumleap359]

It's a real shame that his name is nearly forgotten by the public. Had he worked for RCA, I am quite sure that Sarnoff would have shoved him out of the way and hogged the significance of what Herrold did. Sarnoff was a glory seeker, and quite unscrupulous. Thanks for this video, very interesting.

[@mimoslavija]

Charles Herrold is my hero now

[@wrightmf]

Bob Underwood sent me this link, I remembered talking with people affiliated with Perham Foundation and also when KTEH first aired this. I haven't seen this in years (beginning to watch it now). Interesting mention is when ships were in the area, radio operators hear voices and music. Imagine the looks on their faces when only thing they heard before on the wireless was morse code. Thanks for posting!

[@larrycarmody8325]

My first car, a 1937 Chevy, had a radio in it & it worked.! I remember when FM had maybe one station, back in the late 40's, most radios didn't even have FM stations.

[@richarddowney1972]

Just another comment. Was reflecting on the fates. If the astronomy prof had appeared on campus, Charles would have enrolled in an already established science and, eventually, contributed who knows how much to that field of study. I get a wee bit emotional when I see how his life turned out. I would like to whisper in his ear that he is recognized and appreciated. Another reason to acknowledge the efforts of others before the grave calls Hope this docu remains here.

[@rightarmofwyoming]

This is excellent. Thank you!

[@cigguard3408]

What the HELL kind of play on words was that...?!? HE WAS THE FIRST...! PERIOD!!!! LONG LIVE CHARLES HERROLD...!!!

[@mr.grumpygrumpy2035]

Wow this guy is the John Logie Baird of radio.

[@Pauldjreadman]

This is sad and to be honest a complete disgrace. I broadcast on radio, the modern net, and without this man, radio would not exist

[@angelastubblefield3832]

That man is my grandfather and id better start seeing some respect

[@angelastubblefield3832]

+Angela Stubblefield. Im going to get a lawyer .one thats not scared. To make the government pay

[@ronaldgoff7499]

love history great story

[@RK-rj2sc]

Love to watch this... But mostly i convert to MP3 and hear like a radio playing.... Got lots of old movies... Thanks so much.... Hope your doing well...

[@maryrafuse2297]

It's important to get the order right. On Christmas Eve 1906 Canadian born, Reginald Fessenden, was the first to broadcast both voice and music. He played his violin on the occasion of the very first broadcast in history. Charles Herrold may have made a great contribution to broadcasting but technically Fessenden was first.

[@kb5elv]

Mary Rafuse This video correctly attributes the first voice transmissions to Fessenden. However, whether that could be termed a broadcast would be up for some debate and depend on definition. Fessenden's broadcasts were not scheduled, much less regularly scheduled. But yes, certainly no one should dispute Fessenden's technical achievment nor his place in history.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Michael adms your utube videos are awesome my friend

[@micromark5919]

Its a crying shame that he never really got any attention for his broadcasts,In my view he was the father of radio,only reason he never got any real attention was that radio was nt a commercial asset yet in society at that time,but when it finally got off and running it was too late to notice his value in the beginning. It might even sound like it got creedy within the radio world,money took over its aspect. Such a real shame that he never got any acclaim,thank you Mr. Herrold for your endeavors and inventing radio broadcasting in its true form "intertainment". R.I.P.

[@Pauldjreadman]

However,lol thanks for posting this. I never knew about this until I saw this documentry. It's freaky simular story with TV. Someone literally stole idea. Pirates are not the ones broadcasting, pirates are the ones stealing ideas

[@allanegleston13]

just got your book . thanks

[@willtveire]

Just started watching this... I hope they go into details of the transmitter(s) Herrold used!

[@joerogers4227]

It is a total shame that pioneers like Herold, McFarland (TV), Armstrong (AM and FM, superhetrodine radio ) were pushed aside by business Mogels like Saranof and RCA to the backwaters of history, not to speak of Hams of the time.

[@fredm579]

Is this documentary available on dvd?

[@professormikeadams]

I used to sell it but I don't have any more copies. If you have a FTP site or I can send a file to you using retransfer.com, let me know

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Wireless is the future :) QC

[@Greg-et2dp]

Michael adms my hobbies are painting pictures 🖼 and listening to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my Grms license and mybe my ham license some time

[@erin19030]

Sarnoff was a Russian gangster who stole a lot of ideas.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Michael adms I have my uncles vintage zenith Trans oceanic shortwave receiver it is battery operated I want to restore it let me no ware I can get Russian germanium transistors let me know?😮

[@JamesBlackmanIII]

YAY SAN JOSE!