In 1899, an unknown twenty-five-year-old Irish-Italian inventor named Guglielmo Marconi sailed to the United States to publicly demonstrate his new method of communication: wireless telegraphy. He proposed that he would set up his invention on a steamship and, without any connecting wires at all, relay the progress of the current America’s Cup yacht race to a receiver in the New York Herald’s newspaper offices. On the first day of the race, the front page of the Herald proclaimed, “Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Triumphs!” An inventor-hero was created, and a new technology that would revolutionize communications, culture, politics, and the economy was launched.  By 1922, it was known as radio. Today, as we are surrounded by so many communications devices–especially a wireless one right in our pockets–it can be hard to imagine the sheer wonder and enthusiasm with which wireless telegraphy, and then radio, were greeted.  It was most often described as “a miracle.”  In this talk, Susan Douglas relates the hopes, dreams, and fantasies that the invention evoked between 1899 and 1922.  She will lay out how wireless telegraphy became radio, the battles between inventors over developing the device, the crucial role of the Titanic disaster in demonstrating that the use of radio had to be regulated, and how an often rebellious and creative subculture, the “ham” operators, played a crucial role in the invention of what became radio broadcasting.  Between 1922 and 1926, the “radio craze” swept the nation, with enormous consequences for the future of the country. Provided by Curiosity U. Provided by the CAST Senior Center, our Documentary Programs provide an endless variety of interesting subjects in a prerecorded, professional film format. They take us across the country and around the world, experiencing and learning about places and people which we wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Our documentaries are entertaining, informative, and inspiring. They offer a unique and powerful form of storytelling that captures your attention and provoke thought and discussion. Scheduled every Tuesday afternoon, unless noted, at 1pm at the CAST Senior Center, our Documentary Programs are free and open to the public. There are no membership dues and everyone is welcome to attend. Programming is provided by Curiosity U and other online providers. Check out our documentary program schedule every month and join us. We look forward to seeing you!