The Birth of Italian Radio

Celebrating the 100 Years of Italian Radio

It was the year 1995, and Italians celebrated 100 years - to that day of the invention of Italian Radio. Guglielmo Marconi was the first one to have the capability to reach mass crowds with his idea, besides transmitting musical compositions, and political propaganda.

Up on a small hill young Guglielmo began his long and beautiful story...

The first S.O.S. from the Titanic (before being swallowed by the waves), was by desperate voyagers who were lost between the ices of the North Pole. Meanwhile, they were able to listen to the serene voice of Maria Luisa Boncompagni. With Ms. Boncompagni a new era began. The very first company was "L'Araldo Telephonic." You paid for a subscription, and dialling a number put you in contact with Maria Luisa's voice. The person could even ask her about social promotions, unlike the modern cordless cellulars of today.

_{Italian designed radio circa 1965}

In the middle of the 1920's, radio began performing. This little wooden box that had a copper wire connected to a network that was placed by the bed. Another line followed outside the window, which was placed in a higher position.

The Fascists insisted that all radio programs be named E.I.A.R  -Ente Italian Audition Radiofoniche. One man had remembered vaguely, that the first radio company would have been opened on Via Maria Adelaide, and of course in Rome. Inside one would find a grand lounge room - with desks, but little furniture. When there was a radio transmission going on, they'd slide aside the heavy velour curtains to isolate the enormous microphone that sat in the middle.

The first drama company hired principle actors like; Giovanna Scotto (already the first actress of Bragaglia) and actor Ettore Piergiovanni. They employed Tito Angeletti and Minnie Lyses, whom acted nationally in a theatre on Via IV Novembre, (which was later demolished to construct the Insurance Building) to work with the company on musical plays. By superior orders Minnie had to change her name to Minia --which was a derivative of "Erminia." Every week there would be a musical or a comical performance -this was guided by a symphony orchestra (by Master Riccardo Santarelli)  - that barely entered into in that radio lounge room. The director of projects was the Master "Gasco."

The regime quickly realized the importance of radio. The EIAR Company had their headquarters located both in Turin (on Via Arsenale 21), and in Rome which was a new headquarters in the Bel Liberty Building - on Via Asiago 10. It later transferred to another location that was on Via Botteghe Oscure, number 54. With Doctor Cremascoli waves cried out - with newborn radio commentaries, and the voice of sports commentator Niccolò Carosio. But the most beloved voice was always that of Maria Luisa Boncompagni --as she divinely announced " Reproduced Music" then she connected them with Napoli; or repeated "Radio Roma-Napoli."

From Napoli came Golf Music programs, followed by the radio orchestra N.4 -and the voice of singer Rosa Moretti.

Voices were carefully chosen to speak on the radio. They chose them according to whose was the most adapted; one voice included was that of Massimo Felici Ridolfi. Sergio Pugliese took care of the dramas, plays and musical comedies.

Then new types of shows started immerging; radio comedies, fanciful radio literature, and radio magazines. Several singers were in fashion during this time, as; Vittorio Belleli, Luciana Dolliver -others were: Emilio Livi, Gino del Signore, and following them were; Nuccia Natale, Aldo Masseglia, and Gilberto Mazzi - and to these more may be added, that you may be even familiar with; Nilla Pizzi, Gino Latilla, and Clara Jajone. The orchestras were: Barzizza, Angelini, Savina, Kramer, Canfora and many others.

_{Swarm of antennas on Rome rooftops}

You wouldn't have believed the melancholy that auditors felt when they had to desert Via Asiago, and the pain they were afflicted by when they had to leave the prestigious piano's - that no one played anymore, leave them to become ruins.

At the end of 1939, a young boy sat on the knee of Guglielmo Marconi, and thought of the long list that had made it on the air during those times;

"The Countess of Montallegro" by Carlo Veneziani, "The Gramophone of Truth" by Luciano Folgore, "The Literary and Artistic Life" by his excellence Lucio D'Ambra, and finally the lounge of Mrs. Marga Sevilla Sartorio.

Through the realization of Sergio ugliese, and the assisting of daily controversies - he and others formed the "Musical & Comic Theatre Company." And with the collaboration of Nino Meloni and friends, they produced the "Three Musketeers." This rang a huge success on the radio...thus, in a short time, others migrated in; Federico Fellini, Brancacci, Marchesi, Metz....

The Germans arrived and starting closing down Via Asiago with their horses. The dark hours of Rome open city were coming. Even though radio had contributed so much to the Italian culture, the politic era was an obligatory rhyme. But the people continued to listen to Rome Radio, during, and after the war alike - with short entertaining musical compositions in between by London Radio.

By Jackelin J.Jarvis