Written by Jesse Kenas Collins
It's easy to forget just how powerful radio was before the internet, but in the first half of the twentieth century the medium had an immeasurable impact on communities across the country. To illustrate that impact, we look at two records which stand as artifacts of the way early radio brought the Armenian-American community together. For Armenian communities across America the presence of “Armenian Radio Hours” wasn't just a broadcast; the sound of Armenian-language presenters and music was a comfort and a link to their homeland, serving as a pillar of identity. These shows, which broadcast around the states from Detroit to Fresno, were largely influenced by The Armenian Radio Hour that was started in Providence, Rhode Island in 1947 by Russell Gasparian.
For decades Gasparian’s show was a hub for news and announcements, a platform for local artists, and a place to hear traditional music. Gasparian's success proved that there was a need for this kind of connection, and it wasn't long before the influence of his program spread across the country, inspiring others to launch their own "Armenian Radio Hours" in places like Detroit, Boston, and Fresno. Each show was unique to its city, but they all fundamentally served to keep Armenians in the diaspora connected to their culture and community.
In addition to his weekly broadcast Gasparian put out a series of 78rpm records in the late 1940s, which showcased some of the music and performers featured on his show. At the time these records gave listeners a chance to tune in and connect with the program on their own time. Today we are fortunate to have these discs as a document of the programming being broadcast to the Armenian community in the period. Along with this post you can hear two songs from this series, both sung by George Paloyan. The first song, Lretz Ambere, translates to "Clouds are silent" and is part of the traditional popular Armenian music repertoire. The second side of this disc is Hayr Mer, the central liturgical chant of Divine Liturgy, known as Badarak.
The representation of liturgical music alongside traditional secular repertoire illustrates the holistic perspective that Gasparian’s Radio Hour had for the community in Rhode Island. The presentation of liturgical music in particular is evidence of the way radio served as a surrogate space for congregation. This trend can be seen among the network of local radio programs across the country and is exemplified by another record from the collection with roots in radio history. Unlike the Armenian Radio Hour records which Gasparian published, the other two recordings which can be heard here were not made for commercial sale, but for internal broadcast use on the Philadelphia radio station WIP AM 76. The recordings feature the voice of Reverend Joseph Kalajian, and were made for the station at the Robison Radio Laboratory. Kaljian served as the first vicar (1946-1948) at St. Marks Armenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, before he became the pastor of the Armenian Catholic community in Detroit, Michigan. Here he can be heard singing two more foundational songs of the liturgical music, Amen Hair Sourp and Der Voghormia. Listening to a recording like this we can place ourselves in front of the radio set on a Sunday morning and hear how the sacred was made accessible in the homes of the Armenian communities.
The vision of Russell Gasparian to connect and preserve through radio and his associated recording ventures spread with these mediums across the country, helping bring the comfort of the church and songs of Armenia into the homes of Armenians everywhere. The very act of recording and broadcasting both traditional Armenian secular and liturgical music ensured that even in a new land Armenian culture would always find a way to be audible. In fact, now in its 79th year, the Armenian Radio Hour which Gasparian established is still on the air every Sunday at 9 AM on WARA 1320 on the AM dial.
A special thanks to the SJS Charitable Trust for their generous support of our work to digitize and share our collection of 78 rpm records.