The second half of the 1930s is widely considered the golden age of American radio. In 1930, 12 million Americans owned a receiver. By 1939 that figure was more than double, and 80% of the American population relied on the radio as the primary source of news and entertainment. President Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats”, as well as serialized adventure shows like The Lone Ranger or The Mercury Theater on the Air would bring families and groups of friends together for an hour of enjoyment and absorption. The commercial and political opportunities presented by the new mass radio audiences soon became evident to consumer brands and political organizations alike.