ABSTRACT
In the last half of the 1930s, most full-time radio stations broadcast at least 12 hours a day, and many for 18 hours or more. Generally stations filled the expanded air time with variations of program types already developed. Three departures from this pattern were news and commentary, the daytime serial drama, and quiz and audience-participation programs. Music remained the staple of most radio schedules. Although the use of music increased locally, classical musical programs declined in importance on the networks after the early 1930s. A notable exception was the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Symphony Orchestra, one of the outstanding cultural creations of radio in America. The orchestra was founded when David Sarnoff helped persuade Arturo Toscanini, the just retired conductor of the New York Philharmonic, to return from Italy to conduct ten concerts, the first one on Christmas night 1937.
