Roque Moran Hernandez
Much as been documented about the beginning of Radio Broadcasting. The discovery of wavelengths, short or long and how radio waves oscillate at various frequencies, i.e., kilohertz or terahertz; the early beginnings of Guglielmo Marconi, known as “The Father of Radio” and others who had already began experimenting on their own.
When radio broadcasting first began in the United States of America, credit went to those companies who, with healthy investments, created institutions now known around the world, but few people knew of the first experimental broadcast in early 1920, accomplished by Frank Conrad, an amateur radio engineer in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
While that was happening in North America, eager entrepreneurs in other countries were embarking on exploring the same possibilities. In Argentina, almost at the same time as Frank Conrad in Pennsylvania, radio broadcasting was under way. In August, 1920, a group known as “Los Chicos del Coliseo”, began broadcasting from Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires.
It would take many years for radio to arrive at faraway countries, like in the isthmus of Central America. In Honduras, for example, someone had began to experiment with local transmissions. Investment from the USA known as “bananeras”, were just a few of the companies providing employment before and after War World II. In 1928, the Tela Railroad Company, one of the major two, had secured a license to establish its radio station known as Tropical Radio. Its signal located on the dial was in the 51 meters, short-wave. This historic fact, therefore, establishes HRB, La Voz del Trópico, as the first radio station of Honduras.
What it’s not mentioned often enough, is that, HRB was NOT a commercial radio enterprise, rather, a medium for the Tela Railroad company to broadcast its own bulletins while playing recorded music as well as featuring live performances by local known talent like The Sisters Cordova act, pianist Guadalupe Ferrari Hartling, marimba bands, singers, poets and other artists. HRB however, did not last long but precipitated a chain of events in where several individuals wanting to follow on their footsteps, decided to keep the flame alive.
Mr. Rafael Ferrari Garcia, a young entrepreneur with high ambitions but short on resources, decided to mortgage everything he owned to embark on a risky plan, requesting and receiving permission to install the first commercial radio station in Tegucigalpa, its name: “La Voz del Comercio” and to maintain this newly created enterprise operating, he went out to secure sponsorship or commercial announcements from the local businesses, either retail, professionals or government agencies.
From this, HRN, La Primera Emisora del País, is born and it should also be noted that Mr. Ferrari would be credited as being the first radio personality of Honduras.
The station was officially founded November 01, 1933 and listed Kenneth See and Paul John as the principal technical engineers, attorney Manuel Bonilla Rodriguez, Nicholas Odeh, Rodolfo Brevé Martinez and of course, Mr. Ferrari, as the station’s staff announcers.
Attorney Bonilla Rodriguez enjoys the distinction of having been the first to describe a soccer game in 1935 between a team from the neighboring country of Costa Rica and one of the most revered teams of Honduras, Club Motagua. Assisting Mr. Bonilla as engineer was Nat Lopez Fuentes, the latter, a member of a family dynasty of radio individuals, known throughout the country.
There were only a handful of radio sets and in order to reach a wide audience, Mr. Ferrari decided to install loud-speakers at various locations in Tegucigalpa. This was a daily past-time and also a special occasion for the locals to meet and enjoy the programming, casual conversation or just getting together.
In the beginning, the programming was limited to news, government bulletins and recorded music. However, in the 1940’s, the station acquires more powerful equipment, reaching audiences in faraway countries on its short-wave signal. This makes HRN very important during War World II in that, the station began re-transmitting information from affiliates BBC from London and NBC from the Unites States.
Mr. Ferrari continues to support local talent by broadcasting programming, which included pianists, marimba bands, orchestras, singers, poets, composers, comedians and amateur artists.
After the War, Europe, Asia and North America began to rebuild their economies and Honduras enjoys some prosperity and tranquility under the administration of the Carias Andino regime. HRN positions itself as one of the many private enterprises enjoying a modest increase in business. During this time, the station had replaced “La Voz del Comercio” for what became it’s trademark: "LA VOZ DE HONDURAS".
Mr. Ferrari decides to expand, giving opportunities to a younger generation of promising individuals. From this list, some later became household names helping in solidifying HRN as one of the most powerful names in the Central American radio industry.
"TOP 20 "LIST OF RADIO PERSONALITIES"Rafael Ferrari García
NAHUM VALLADARES (*)
Manuel Bonilla Rodriguez
Rodolfo Brevé Martinez
Rigoberto Cuellar Cerrato
Gustavo Acosta Mejía
Raul Agüero Neda
Christina Rubio
Mario Hernan Ramirez
Francisco Rolando Ramos
Antonio Mazariegos y Velasco
Ruben “Chito” Fuentes Flores
Moisés Ulloa Duarte
Orfa Mejía Arauz
Jose Domingo "Mingo" Flores
Jorge Figueroa Rush
Roberto Diaz Lechuga
Carlos Eduardo Riedel Morales
Hector Maradiaga Mendoza
Sigfrido Munéz
(*) Nahum Valladares, is considered by his peers in and outside Honduras, one of the best announcers of all time.
(*) The writer of this blog, Roque Morán Hernandez, had the distinct honor of having been a member of the staff of announcers in HRN during its glory days of the 1950’s.
RADIO AMERICA
1948 marks another milestone of major significance. The entry of RADIO AMERICA.
During these years, Tegucigalpa, the capital, boasting two cities divided by the Rio Choluteca, was nevertheless a very small metropolis, both geographically and in population. Considering today’s standards, three kilowatts it’s not a powerful signal, but, as mentioned above, this was sufficient, especially for exploratory purposes in early broadcasting. In very short time, Radio America increased it’s power and with ten kilowatts was able to reach audiences in the twin cities: Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela.
The station was first owned by Sergio Castellón, who, within a few years sold it to a Cuban entrepreneur by the name of Silvio Peña. The latter, bringing the Cuban concept and injecting a fresh approach, beginning with the creation of live performances, especially in the area of one of the most used formats in radio and later on Television, that of the “radio-novela”, or soap-opera. To this effort, Mr. Peña hires Emilio Díaz and the two bring programs that were popular in Cuba, like “La Tremenda Corte”, one of the most revered of the island, which featured an awesome and talented group of performers known throughout Latin America.
Subsequently, doctor Andonie Fernandez acquires ownership, keeping the tradition and bringing in a new era. Several well planned changes take place. The most important at that time was the addition of well known radio personalities as well as bringing the best rated program “Platicando con mi Barbero”, (after the cast’s parting with HRN). This program featured a formidable group headed by the renowned humorist Herman Allan Padgett, considered a genius for his great range and originality.
Padgett had formed an alliance with the best talent of the time, which included: Julio Lopez Fuentes, Abelardo Enrique Avendaño and one of the most beloved radio figures, Ricardo Antonio Redondo Licona, all of them, starts in their own right.
Just like HRN, Radio America continues to strive. Mr. Fernandez, having created his own conglomerate, has cemented a distinguish reputation in the communication industry of Central America.No doubt, when historians look back at the glory days of radio, these individuals will be remembered as the true “Pioneers of Radio in Honduras.
Much as been documented about the beginning of Radio Broadcasting. The discovery of wavelengths, short or long and how radio waves oscillate at various frequencies, i.e., kilohertz or terahertz; the early beginnings of Guglielmo Marconi, known as “The Father of Radio” and others who had already began experimenting on their own.
When radio broadcasting first began in the United States of America, credit went to those companies who, with healthy investments, created institutions now known around the world, but few people knew of the first experimental broadcast in early 1920, accomplished by Frank Conrad, an amateur radio engineer in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
While that was happening in North America, eager entrepreneurs in other countries were embarking on exploring the same possibilities. In Argentina, almost at the same time as Frank Conrad in Pennsylvania, radio broadcasting was under way. In August, 1920, a group known as “Los Chicos del Coliseo”, began broadcasting from Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires.
It would take many years for radio to arrive at faraway countries, like in the isthmus of Central America. In Honduras, for example, someone had began to experiment with local transmissions. Investment from the USA known as “bananeras”, were just a few of the companies providing employment before and after War World II. In 1928, the Tela Railroad Company, one of the major two, had secured a license to establish its radio station known as Tropical Radio. Its signal located on the dial was in the 51 meters, short-wave. This historic fact, therefore, establishes HRB, La Voz del Trópico, as the first radio station of Honduras.
What it’s not mentioned often enough, is that, HRB was NOT a commercial radio enterprise, rather, a medium for the Tela Railroad company to broadcast its own bulletins while playing recorded music as well as featuring live performances by local known talent like The Sisters Cordova act, pianist Guadalupe Ferrari Hartling, marimba bands, singers, poets and other artists. HRB however, did not last long but precipitated a chain of events in where several individuals wanting to follow on their footsteps, decided to keep the flame alive.
Mr. Rafael Ferrari Garcia, a young entrepreneur with high ambitions but short on resources, decided to mortgage everything he owned to embark on a risky plan, requesting and receiving permission to install the first commercial radio station in Tegucigalpa, its name: “La Voz del Comercio” and to maintain this newly created enterprise operating, he went out to secure sponsorship or commercial announcements from the local businesses, either retail, professionals or government agencies.
From this, HRN, La Primera Emisora del País, is born and it should also be noted that Mr. Ferrari would be credited as being the first radio personality of Honduras.
The station was officially founded November 01, 1933 and listed Kenneth See and Paul John as the principal technical engineers, attorney Manuel Bonilla Rodriguez, Nicholas Odeh, Rodolfo Brevé Martinez and of course, Mr. Ferrari, as the station’s staff announcers.
Attorney Bonilla Rodriguez enjoys the distinction of having been the first to describe a soccer game in 1935 between a team from the neighboring country of Costa Rica and one of the most revered teams of Honduras, Club Motagua. Assisting Mr. Bonilla as engineer was Nat Lopez Fuentes, the latter, a member of a family dynasty of radio individuals, known throughout the country.
There were only a handful of radio sets and in order to reach a wide audience, Mr. Ferrari decided to install loud-speakers at various locations in Tegucigalpa. This was a daily past-time and also a special occasion for the locals to meet and enjoy the programming, casual conversation or just getting together.
In the beginning, the programming was limited to news, government bulletins and recorded music. However, in the 1940’s, the station acquires more powerful equipment, reaching audiences in faraway countries on its short-wave signal. This makes HRN very important during War World II in that, the station began re-transmitting information from affiliates BBC from London and NBC from the Unites States.
Mr. Ferrari continues to support local talent by broadcasting programming, which included pianists, marimba bands, orchestras, singers, poets, composers, comedians and amateur artists.
After the War, Europe, Asia and North America began to rebuild their economies and Honduras enjoys some prosperity and tranquility under the administration of the Carias Andino regime. HRN positions itself as one of the many private enterprises enjoying a modest increase in business. During this time, the station had replaced “La Voz del Comercio” for what became it’s trademark: "LA VOZ DE HONDURAS".
Mr. Ferrari decides to expand, giving opportunities to a younger generation of promising individuals. From this list, some later became household names helping in solidifying HRN as one of the most powerful names in the Central American radio industry.
"TOP 20 "LIST OF RADIO PERSONALITIES"Rafael Ferrari García
NAHUM VALLADARES (*)
Manuel Bonilla Rodriguez
Rodolfo Brevé Martinez
Rigoberto Cuellar Cerrato
Gustavo Acosta Mejía
Raul Agüero Neda
Christina Rubio
Mario Hernan Ramirez
Francisco Rolando Ramos
Antonio Mazariegos y Velasco
Ruben “Chito” Fuentes Flores
Moisés Ulloa Duarte
Orfa Mejía Arauz
Jose Domingo "Mingo" Flores
Jorge Figueroa Rush
Roberto Diaz Lechuga
Carlos Eduardo Riedel Morales
Hector Maradiaga Mendoza
Sigfrido Munéz
(*) Nahum Valladares, is considered by his peers in and outside Honduras, one of the best announcers of all time.
(*) The writer of this blog, Roque Morán Hernandez, had the distinct honor of having been a member of the staff of announcers in HRN during its glory days of the 1950’s.
RADIO AMERICA
1948 marks another milestone of major significance. The entry of RADIO AMERICA.
During these years, Tegucigalpa, the capital, boasting two cities divided by the Rio Choluteca, was nevertheless a very small metropolis, both geographically and in population. Considering today’s standards, three kilowatts it’s not a powerful signal, but, as mentioned above, this was sufficient, especially for exploratory purposes in early broadcasting. In very short time, Radio America increased it’s power and with ten kilowatts was able to reach audiences in the twin cities: Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela.
The station was first owned by Sergio Castellón, who, within a few years sold it to a Cuban entrepreneur by the name of Silvio Peña. The latter, bringing the Cuban concept and injecting a fresh approach, beginning with the creation of live performances, especially in the area of one of the most used formats in radio and later on Television, that of the “radio-novela”, or soap-opera. To this effort, Mr. Peña hires Emilio Díaz and the two bring programs that were popular in Cuba, like “La Tremenda Corte”, one of the most revered of the island, which featured an awesome and talented group of performers known throughout Latin America.
Subsequently, doctor Andonie Fernandez acquires ownership, keeping the tradition and bringing in a new era. Several well planned changes take place. The most important at that time was the addition of well known radio personalities as well as bringing the best rated program “Platicando con mi Barbero”, (after the cast’s parting with HRN). This program featured a formidable group headed by the renowned humorist Herman Allan Padgett, considered a genius for his great range and originality.
Padgett had formed an alliance with the best talent of the time, which included: Julio Lopez Fuentes, Abelardo Enrique Avendaño and one of the most beloved radio figures, Ricardo Antonio Redondo Licona, all of them, starts in their own right.
Just like HRN, Radio America continues to strive. Mr. Fernandez, having created his own conglomerate, has cemented a distinguish reputation in the communication industry of Central America.No doubt, when historians look back at the glory days of radio, these individuals will be remembered as the true “Pioneers of Radio in Honduras.
