Editing Mutual Broadcasting System (section)

===Late 1930s: National expansion===
In the fall of 1936, Mutual lost another of its founding members when WLW departed. The network, however, was in the midst of a major expansion: the first outside group of stations to sign on with Mutual was [[John Shepard III|John Shepard]]'s Colonial Network with its Boston [[Flagship (radio)|flagship station]], [[WFTQ|WAAB]], and thirteen affiliates around New England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/colonial-36.html|title=The Colonial Network|access-date=March 1, 2010|publisher=BostonRadio.org|archive-date=May 1, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010501184415/http://www.bostonradio.org/colonial-36.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There was good reason for this affiliation: Shepard had been involved with the founding of Mutual, and served on its board of directors.<ref>Christopher H. Sterling and Michael C. Keith. ''Sounds of Change: A History of FM Broadcasting in America''. University of North Carolina Press, 2009, p. 24.</ref> Cleveland's [[WHKW|WGAR]] also became an affiliate, albeit a dual one, as they also held a primary NBC Blue hookup.<ref name="WGARtoCBS">{{Cite news|date=September 15, 1937|title=Cleveland Switch to Occur Sept. 26|volume=13|page=15|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising]]|issue=6|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1937/1937-09-15-BC.pdf|access-date=December 9, 2021|via=World Radio History|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151225/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1937/1937-09-15-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> WGAR was joined by five other Midwestern stations: [[KXFN|KWK]] in St. Louis, Mo.; [[KXNO (AM)|KSO]] in Des Moines, Iowa; [[WMT (AM)|WMT]] in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; [[KOIL]] in Omaha, Neb.; and [[KFOR (AM)|KFOR]] in Lincoln, Neb.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web |title=Station Guide/WGAR-AM |url=http://www.cleve-radio.com/index2.htm#WGAR-AM  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509082729/http://www.cleve-radio.com/index2.htm |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=March 1, 2010 |publisher=Cleveland Broadcast Radio Archives }}|{{Cite magazine |date=November 2, 1970 |title=A play-by-play retrospective: 1936 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1970/1970-11-02-BC.pdf |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=79 |issue=18 |pages=80, 82 |access-date=February 10, 2023 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131025930/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1970/1970-11-02-BC.pdf |url-status=live }} This source also states "WLW(AM) Cincinnati turns in its Mutual stock but remains as outlet" which is in error as WLW never held any stock and left the network to join NBC (see, e.g., {{Harvp|Schramm|1969|p=51}}).}}</ref> The big prize came in December, when the [[Don Lee Network]], the leading regional web on the West Coast, left CBS to become a central participant in Mutual. Don Lee brought its four [[owned-and-operated station]]s—[[KHJ (AM)|KHJ]] in Los Angeles, [[KEAR (AM)|KFRC]] in San Francisco, [[KLSD|KGB]] in San Diego, and [[KOSJ|KDB]] in Santa Barbara—along with six California affiliates and, via [[shortwave]] hookup, two more in Hawaii.{{r|Time}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Schneider, John F.|url=http://www.bayarearadio.org/schneider/kfrc1.shtml|title=The History of KFRC, San Francisco and the Don Lee Networks|year=2009|access-date=March 1, 2010|publisher=Bay Area Radio Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917034941/http://bayarearadio.org/schneider/kfrc1.shtml|archive-date=September 17, 2010}}</ref> Mutual now had a nationwide presence. During 1936, as well, an offer by [[Warner Bros.]] to purchase the network was apparently made and rejected.<ref>Clarke (1996), ch. 11 (available [http://www.musicweb-international.com/RiseandFall/11.htm online]). {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516204501/http://www.musicweb-international.com/RiseandFall/11.htm |date=May 16, 2008 }}</ref>

In January 1937, ownership of WAAB was consolidated with that of another Boston station controlled by Shepard: [[WBIX|WNAC]] was flagship of the [[Yankee Network]], a circuit of New England radio stations whose membership partially overlapped with that of Colonial.<ref name="BosTime">{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/timeline.html|title=The Boston Radio Timeline|access-date=March 1, 2010|publisher=BostonRadio.org|archive-date=June 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620204837/http://bostonradio.org/timeline.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Yankee flagship WNAC had been an affiliate of CBS Radio, changing affiliation to [[NBC Red]] later in 1937 when CBS purchased [[WEZE|WEEI]] in that city. The Texas Network soon added twenty-three more stations to the Mutual affiliate roster.<ref name="Cox-2002">{{Harvp|Cox|2002|p=178}}.</ref> WGAR dropped both their Mutual and NBC Blue affiliations on September 26, 1937, to take CBS exclusively; in turn, [[WHLO|WJAY]] (co-owned with [[WHK (AM)|WHK]] by the United Broadcasting Company, part of ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' business) joined Mutual and changed calls to WCLE.{{r|WGARtoCBS}} The Mutual affiliation in Cleveland moved again in the fall of 1942 from WCLE to WHK, temporarily displacing Blue programming from the market entirely.<ref name="AkronB19421104">{{Cite news|last=Doran|first=Dorothy|date=November 4, 1942|title=WJW Seeks Move Into Cleveland For Blue Chain|page=21|newspaper=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder|Knight Newspapers]]|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87878630/wjw-seeks-move-into-cleveland-for-blue-c/|access-date=October 28, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|archive-date=February 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210033718/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87878630/wjw-seeks-move-into-cleveland-for-blue/|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of 1938, Mutual had 74 exclusive affiliates; though the two leading radio network companies discouraged dual hookups, Mutual shared another 25 affiliates with NBC and 5 with CBS.<ref name="NBCvUS">{{cite web|url=http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/nbcvus.html|title=National Broadcasting Co., Inc., et al. v. United States et al. (U.S. Supreme Court decision)|date=May 10, 1943|access-date=March 1, 2010|work=Freedom of Speech in the United States—Free Speech Library|publisher=Boston College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305133838/http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/nbcvus.html|archive-date=March 5, 2010}}</ref> The total of 104 affiliates put Mutual not far behind the leaders. Because of the corporate strength behind NBC and CBS, however, and the fact that the lion's share of the most powerful stations in the country had already signed with them before Mutual's emergence (the exceptional, and soon departed, WLW aside), the cooperative network would be at a permanent disadvantage.

====Programming: ''The Shadow'' and diverse political voices====
[[File:WellesShadow.jpg|thumb|left|250px|alt=Man in black hat concealing the bottom of his face with a black cape and gazing fiercely. A microphone in front bears the word "Mutual" and the call letters "WOR".| [[Orson Welles]] as [[The Shadow]]. A predecessor in the role delivered the show's intro, with its famous catchphrase, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows&nbsp;...." According to historian Frank Brady, Welles's "voice as the 'invisible' Shadow was perfect." The intro, however, also called for a sinister chuckle; Welles's effort "seemed more an adolescent giggle than a terrifying threat."<ref>{{harvp|Brady|1990|p=78}}.</ref>]]
On the programming front, 1936 saw Mutual launch the first network advice show, ''[[Good Will Hour|The Good Will Hour]]'', hosted by John J. Anthony and sponsored by [[physical culture]] guru [[Bernarr Macfadden]]. The program was a new take on ''Ask Mister Anthony'', which had aired on a local New York station in 1932, "dedicated to helping the sufferers from an antiquated and outmoded domestic relations code." Anthony, whose real name was Lester Kroll, brought a wealth of relevant experience to his work—he had once been jailed for failing to make alimony payments.<ref>{{harvp|Hilmes|1997|pp=99–100}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Jaker|Sulek|Kanze|1998|p=129}}.</ref> In July 1937 came the premiere of a seven-part [[Les Misérables (radio series)|adaptation of ''Les Misérables'']], produced, written, and directed by [[Orson Welles]] and featuring many of his [[Mercury Theatre]] performers—Mercury's first appearance on the air. September 26, 1937, proved a particularly momentous date: that evening, ''[[The Shadow]]'' came to Mutual.{{efn|name=B|Start and end dates for original dramatic and quiz series given in the main text are based on the standard and most comprehensive reference work, ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio'', by John Dunning.<ref>{{harvp|Dunning|1998}}.</ref> Dunning's detailed information has been checked, where available, against the even more detailed reports of Jerry Haendiges<ref>{{cite web|last=Haendiges|first=Jerry|url=http://www.otrsite.com/radiolog/index.html|title=Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs|date=1996|publisher=Jerry Haendiges Productions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205214015/http://otrsite.com/radiolog/index.html|archive-date=December 5, 2006|access-date=February 10, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> and against the much less detailed but more recently published ''The Encyclopedia of American Radio: An A–Z Guide to Radio from Jack Benny to Howard Stern'', by Ron Lackmann.<ref>{{harvp|Lackmann|2000}}.</ref> Dunning and Haendiges agree in almost all cases where they both cover a show. In the few cases where they differ slightly, a specific citation is given to the one whose data appears better supported, internally and/or by reference to Lackmann.}} The show would become a mainstay of the network for more than a decade and a half and one of the most popular programs in radio history. For the first year of its Mutual run, Welles provided the voice of The Shadow and his newly created alter ego, Lamont Cranston. He played the part anonymously at first. But, as one chronicler put it, "nothing to do with Welles could remain a secret for very long."<ref>{{harvp|Callow|1995|p=321}}.</ref>

In April 1938, the network picked up ''[[The Green Hornet (radio series)|The Green Hornet]]'' from former member WXYZ. Mutual gave the twice-a-week series its first national exposure until November 1939, when it switched to NBC Blue. (The series would return very briefly to Mutual in the fall of 1940).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otrsite.com/logs/logg1005.htm|title=''Green Hornet'' Episode Log|date=January 29, 2004|access-date=March 1, 2010|publisher=Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs|archive-date=February 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217203718/http://www.otrsite.com/logs/logg1005.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Mutual also provided the national launching pad for [[Kay Kyser]] and his ''[[Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge|Kollege of Musical Knowledge]]'' radio show. Kyser's enormous success at Mutual soon allowed his show to move to NBC and its much larger audience.<ref>{{harvp|McDougal|2001|p=68}}.</ref> By May 1939, Mutual was broadcasting the [[Indianapolis 500]].<ref>''Highway Traveler'' 11, no. 2 (April–May 1939), p. 27.</ref>{{efn|There are anecdotal suggestions that the network aired the Indianapolis 500 in previous years, but to date no concrete evidence has been found. For later Mutual coverage of the race, see:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speedwayaudio.com/~speedway/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/F5001949.html |title=1949 Indianapolis 500 |access-date=March 1, 2010 |publisher=Speedway Audio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321030547/http://www.speedwayaudio.com/~speedway/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/F5001949.html |archive-date=March 21, 2007}}</ref>}} That autumn, Mutual won exclusive broadcast rights to the World Series. As described in a 1943 Supreme Court ruling upholding the regulatory power of the [[Federal Communications Commission]], Mutual "offered this program of outstanding national interest to stations throughout the country, including NBC and CBS affiliates in communities having no other stations. CBS and NBC immediately invoked the 'exclusive affiliation' clauses of their agreements with these stations, and as a result, thousands of people in many sections of the country were unable to hear the broadcasts of the games." This was the first instance of "abuses" committed by the two major broadcast companies given in the ruling.{{r|NBCvUS}}

Mutual also began building a reputation as a strong news service, rivaling the industry leaders in quality, if not budget. The broadcasts of WOR reporter [[Gabriel Heatter]] from the [[Lindbergh kidnapping]] "trial of the century" in 1935, heard over Mutual, were highly regarded; Heatter soon had his own regularly scheduled newscast, which aired nationally five nights a week.<ref>{{harvp|Bliss|1991|pp=34, 36}}.</ref> In 1936, also via WOR, Mutual began broadcasting the reports of news commentator [[Raymond Gram Swing]], who became one of the country's leading voices on foreign affairs.<ref>{{harvp|Bliss|1991|pp=60–61}}.</ref> In November 1937, conservative commentator [[Fulton Lewis|Fulton Lewis Jr.]], heard five nights weekly from Mutual affiliate [[WQOF|WOL]], became the first national news personality to broadcast out of Washington, D.C.; he would remain with the network until his death almost three decades later.<ref>{{harvp|Nimmo|Newsome|1997|p=173}}.</ref> In 1938, Mutual started rebroadcasting news reports from the [[BBC]] and English-language newscasts from the European mainland. The network also began employing its own reporters in Europe as the continent headed toward crisis, including John Steele, [[Waverley Root]], Arthur Mann, and Victor Lusinchi. Among these was [[Sigrid Schultz]], the first accomplished female foreign correspondent to appear on American news radio.<ref>{{harvp|Brown|1998|p=180}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Bliss|1991|pp=97–98}}.</ref>