National Negro Network
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates The National Negro Network was a black-oriented radio programming service in the United States founded on January 20, 1954 by Chicago advertiser W. Leonard Evans, Jr.<ref>Evans, born in 1914 in Louisville, raised in South Chicago, published a magazine aimed at black readers called Tuesday in the 60s and 70s. He died May 22, 2007. [1] A 1965 interview can be heard here Template:Webarchive.</ref><ref name=TIME12-53>Template:Cite journal</ref> It was the first black-owned radio network in the country, and its programming was broadcast on up to 45 affiliates.<ref name='Sterling'/> An article in the trade publication Broadcasting said that the network was expected "to reach approximately 12 million of the 15 million Negroes in America."<ref name=bc/>
Evans was the network's president. Reggie Schuebel was vice president-treasurer, and John M. Wyatt was executive vice president.<ref name="bc">Template:Cite news</ref>
The network featured a variety of different programming, including a popular soap opera The Story of Ruby Valentine, which was based on CBS's We Love and Learn and As the Twig is Bent, and starred Juanita Hall, Ruby Dee and Terry Carter.<ref name=McF2002>Template:Cite book</ref> The serial was sponsored by, among others, Philip Morris and Pet Milk. Other short-lived series included The Life of Anna Lewis with Hilda Simms, and It's A Mystery Man with Cab Calloway.<ref name=McF2002/><ref name=wbarlow>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Some shows were produced by Calloway and Ethel Waters. Other fare included broadcasts of symphony concerts from black colleges, and programs hosted by black DJs at affiliate stations.<ref name='Sterling'>Template:Cite book</ref>
The network drew up plans for several more series, but—with the TV era exploding—fell apart within a year due to inadequate capital.<ref name='Sterling'/><ref name=wbarlow/><ref name="BB 10-13-2001">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Jason Chambers wrote in his book, Madison Avenue and the Color Line: African Americans in the Advertising Industry, that Evans felt that advertising agencies were hesitant to recommend NNN to clients. "Agencies are aware of our existence and watch our growth closely," Evans said, "but ... are still reluctant to come right out and make a recommendation [for using] Negro radio, preferring to keep campaigns at a 'test' level while watching to see what others do."<ref name="macl">Template:Cite book</ref>
Notes, ReferencesEdit
<references/>