The Michigan Regional Network was an American regional radio network, in operation from 1933 to 1946. It is sometimes referred to as the "Michigan State Network" or the "Michigan Regional Network".
The "Michigan Radio Network" also refers to a modern radio network, unrelated to the original "Michigan Radio Network".
The network consisted of WXYZ: Detroit, WIBM: Jackson, WKZO: Kalamazoo, WJIM: Lansing, WBCM: Bay City, WFDF: Flint, WELL: Battle Creek and WASH-FM-WOOD: Grand Rapids.
The Michigan Regional Network was started by George W. Trendle on January 31, 1933. It was originally intended to become part of the Amalgamated Broadcasting System radio network which was established on September 25, 1933. However, the ABS network launch immediately proved to be a public relations disaster, and Amalgamated went out of business on October 28, 1933.
The Michigan Regional Network was the first to broadcast the Lone Ranger radio series produced by WXYZ, either beginning with, or shortly after its first episode on January 30, 1933. (Sources differ as to when the other stations in the Network began broadcasting WXYZ's Lone Ranger program, some indicate that it was with the first episode while many others indicate an unspecified later date).
The network used telephone lines to connect each station.
Beginning in November 1933, Silvercup Bread (Gordon Baking Company), which sponsored the Lone Ranger program, arranged for WGN, Chicago to broadcast the program. Early in 1934, WOR: New York and WLW: Cincinnati were added.
In September 1934, WOR, WGN, WLW, and WXYZ formalized their relationship with a contract, and the following month, the Mutual Broadcasting System was established.
In 1946, the newly formed American Broadcasting Company purchased the King-Trendle Broadcasting Company and its radio stations for $3.65 million. This sale was for the broadcast facilities (including WOOD, WXYZ and the Michigan Regional Network).
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, Mutual was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow. For many years, it was a national broadcaster for Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football. From the 1930s until the network's dissolution in 1999, Mutual ran a respected news service along with a variety of lauded news and commentary programs. In the 1970s, Mutual pioneered the nationwide late night call-in talk radio program, introducing the country to Larry King and later, Jim Bohannon.
WGN is a commercial AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a talk radio format. WGN's studios are in the Chicago Loop, while the transmitter is in Elk Grove Village. WGN also features broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball.
WLW is a commercial news/talk radio station licensed to Cincinnati, Ohio. Owned by iHeartMedia, WLW is a clear-channel station, often identifying itself as “The Big One”. Its studios are located in Sycamore Township.
Tonto is a fictional character; he is the Native American companion of the Lone Ranger, a popular American Western character created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. Tonto has appeared in radio and television series and other presentations of the characters' adventures righting wrongs in 19th-century western United States.
Challenge of the Yukon is an American radio adventure series that began on Detroit's WXYZ and is an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on January 3, 1939. The title changed from Challenge of the Yukon to Sergeant Preston of the Yukon in September 1950, and that title was retained through the end of the series and into a television adaptation.
The Amalgamated Broadcasting System (ABS), sometimes referred to as the Amalgamated Network was an ambitious, although unsuccessful, attempt to establish a national "third radio network" in the United States. Its primary promoters were the company's president, American comedian Ed Wynn, and its vice-president, Hungarian-born violinist Ota Gygi. The network's inaugural broadcast on September 25, 1933, was carried by a small group of stations located in the Northeast. Despite plans to eventually expand nationwide, the network never grew beyond its original group of affiliates, and ceased operations at midnight November 1, 1933, just five weeks after its debut. Its failure resulted in a major financial loss, plus significant emotional distress, for Wynn.
John Frederick "Fred" McCarthy, known professionally as John Todd, was an American actor.
Francis Hamilton "Fran" Striker was an American writer for radio and comics, best known for creating the characters the Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet, and Sgt. Preston of the Yukon.
WXYT is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Detroit, Michigan. It airs a betting-oriented sports radio format known as "The Bet Detroit". Most programming comes from the BetQL Network and Infinity Sports Network. During College football season, WXYT airs live play-by-play from the Central Michigan University Chippewas football team. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station serves Metro Detroit and much of Southeast Michigan. The studios and offices are on American Drive off 11 Mile Road in Southfield.
George Washington Trendle was an American lawyer and businessman, best known as the producer of the Lone Ranger radio and television programs along with The Green Hornet and Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.
Earle Graser was an American radio actor at radio station WXYZ, Detroit, Michigan. He was best known as the voice of the Lone Ranger from April 1933 to April 1941.
James Jewell was an American radio actor, producer and director at radio station WXYZ, Detroit, Michigan.
John H. Kunsky (1875–1952) was a Detroit area businessman who made his fortune by investing in movie theaters. He later became partners with George W. Trendle and invested in radio.
The year 1934 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.
WOOD is a commercial AM radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving West Michigan and owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It has a news/talk radio format and is simulcast on co-owned WOOD-FM in Muskegon at 106.9 MHz. The studios and offices are at 77 Monroe Center in Downtown Grand Rapids. Following a local weekday drive time show, "West Michigan's Morning News", the station carries nationally syndicated talk shows from Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey, Joe Pags, "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" and "Coast to Coast AM with George Noory". Most hours begin with an update from Fox News Radio.
The year 1933 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.
In broadcasting, a flagship is the broadcast station which originates a television network, or a particular radio or television program that plays a key role in the branding of and consumer loyalty to a network or station. This includes both direct network feeds and broadcast syndication, but generally not backhauls. Not all networks or shows have a flagship station, as some originate from a dedicated radio or television studio.
Several Major League Baseball teams have historically carried their games on superstations, which are broadcast television stations that are distributed on a regional or national basis on cable and satellite television.
The Green Hornet is an American radio adventure series that debuted in 1936 and introduced the character of the Green Hornet, a masked vigilante.
Famous Jury Trials is a radio court show/dramatic anthology series in the United States. It began on January 5, 1936, and ended June 25, 1949. It is considered one of the first programs that initiated the court show genre, which later was broadcast on television as Famous Jury Trials.
