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I love to travel, don’t you? Each locale has a unique charm and fascinating history, different from any other. This makes every journey worthwhile.

But these days’ actual trips can be expensive. Air or train fare, hotels, rental car, meals, souvenirs, it all adds up. Even a weekend getaway could end up costing several thousand dollars.

There is another way. Thanks to the internet and travel videos, it’s possible to experience almost every wonder that a particular location has to offer from your living room. A perk even more valuable when most of us are forced to put our traveling shoes in the closet.

But virtual travel didn’t start with the internet. What if I told you that 80 years ago it was possible to visit nearly every city in North America without leaving your home? It’s true, as I discovered when I got ahold of RCA’s “Radio Tours” map.

“America’s Latest Game,” RCA touts in this fold out map of North America. “With radio you can tour the United States, Canada and Mexico more easily and more quickly than by auto, rail or airplane…” (See, even back then travel put a wallop in your wallet, but to continue) “Why not learn what is going on in other parts of this hemisphere. More than 650 radio stations are on the air (in the mid-1930s) each one offering programs of local color, but of wide interest. Don’t be satisfied with nearby stations – reach out for (with) your radio equipment. You have the whole nation to choose from.”

And people did choose, as long as they had the right radio receiver, and this map.

This pamphlet listed all the major radio stations broadcasting in North America at that time. Clearly displayed were their call letters, the kilocycle they were broadcasting on and the power of their signal. All this information all was easily accessible all in one place.

Broadcasting power was critical. The stronger the signal, the better chance you had of picking up a station’s programming, but you needed a sturdy receiver too. The map included a “Testing Yardstick” for your set. 

Following the instructions you could learn if your radio was capable of bringing in a signal from hundreds of miles away. The key on the receiving end, apparently, was the tubes. Before transistors, vacuum tubes powered most sets. I’m totally lost when it comes to the science behind the tubes, but if you want to read more about how they worked click here.

In any case, since RCA, Radio Corporation of America, put out this map, they also happened to be in the tube manufacturing business. So, when the flyer recommended “Powerful Cunningham” or “Radiotron” tubes, you can guess who made those.

But the whole pamphlet wasn’t so self serving. One whole page touts the joys of listening to programming from independent stations, rather than the homogenized shows offered by the networks, or chain broadcasting operations, as they were called back then. Networks like CBS and NBC.

“Local stations have not been standing still,” the brochure promised. “They have grown in power and prestige. They have good shows as well as good technical equipment.” It went onto say: “Many of today’s chain features were once local station programs.” “Those people who know how to travel by radio, are listening to tomorrow’s chain features today – for there are hundreds of stars on local station’s today who will be the shining lights of next months or next year’s chain broadcasting programs.”

The map copy went on to suggest that a sports fan was more likely to find an important college football game on a local station near the college’s location, rather than on the “chains.”

I’m surprised that this particular pamphlet was such a strong booster of independent broadcasting, since this map was published by RCA, who OWNED one of the aforementioned “chains” NBC. It pushed listeners AWAY from their own programming and told them they could find better fare elsewhere. Amazing.

And it didn’t stop there. The backside of the map had a listing for each of the 48 states. Alaska and Hawaii were missing since they wouldn’t join the union for a few more decades, but Canada and Mexico were included. Each paragraph would hi-light some of the famous features of each state, and often include the name of a popular local program, along with the day and time it was broadcast.

For example, in Arkansas you could listen to the “Voices of Hot Springs” on Little Rock’s KLRA on Wednesday nights from 7 to 7:30. 

At the other end of the alphabet you could find “The Scandinavian Hour” on Seattle Washington’s KVI station at 9PM on Fridays. Neat, huh?

In fact, I found the whole map-brochure fascinating, even the strange ad on the back. At least I think it was an ad. The headline read “RCA Cunningham Radiotron Studio Party” and below it was a fantastic drawing of a room full of famous people. You couldn’t tell they were famous at first glance. Instead of an accurate representation, it was a cartoon rendering, like a caricature done at a fair.

In any case, one didn’t have to struggle to guess who the celebrities were, RCA included a handy key for easy identification. Attending this fantastic party were some of the biggest names of the era including Bing Crosby, Eddie Cantor, Kate Smith, along with George Burns and Gracie Allen. Most of the people listed had radio shows of their own, so I’m guessing that’s why they were included in an ad for radio tubes, if it really is an ad.

It doesn’t actually tell you to go buy the tubes so you could turn on your set and listen to these people, that part is inferred. Very subtle for advertising.

Still, it’s a great drawing. A fitting addition to a unique tour of America. One I would have never thought to take, but one that is still possible today. Unfortunately not powered by a vacuum tube set, but rather through cyberspace. Many of these stations are still broadcasting and now everyone can hear them via the World Wide Web.

All you need is RCA’s “Radio Tour” Map to point you in the right direction. Another piece of Glorious Vintage Stuff!