Two professors and a preacher invented Columbus radio. It began with
science experiments in classrooms and a minister's desire to expand
beyond his churchgoing audience. By 1922, government licenses had been
issued for WEAO at Ohio State University and WJD at Denison University.
At this same time, a Baptist minister went on the air for an hour each
Sunday morning using a 10-watt transmitter licensed as WMAN. In this
story of Columbus radio, the work of the professors and the preacher
will evolve into radio with advertiser-supported programs of information
and entertainment. Three important radio stations will serve a growing
Columbus radio audience in different ways: WEAO becomes WOSU, a national
pioneer in using radio for teaching; WMAN becomes WCOL and in the 1960s
is number one in audience size; and CBS affiliate WBNS becomes the class
act of Columbus radio, retaining the major share of local listeners for
many decades. Including many other stations of lesser influence, the
illustrated stories of Columbus radio are told in this book.