{"product_id":"out-of-the-dark-a-history-of-radio-and-rural-america-paperback","title":"Out of the Dark: A History of Radio and Rural America - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSteve Craig\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the Grand Ole Opry to the National Barn Dance, how radio changed life in rural America\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eOut of the Dark: A History of Radio and Rural America\u003c\/i\u003e shows how radio--especially clear channel network stations--brought news, markets, weather, religion, and entertainment into isolated farm homes between the 1920s and 1950s, narrowing rural-urban divides while also sustaining distinctly rural tastes (e.g., barn dance music). Craig argues that battery \"farm radios,\" high power stations, and national networking transformed daily life, work rhythms, consumer habits, and political participation, making radio the central domestic technology of the Depression era and beyond. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCraig blends regulatory and industry milestones, such as the Radio Act of 1927, with sociological studies, USDA extension records, FCC surveys, census tables, and rich case studies including WLS Chicago's \"National Barn Dance,\" WSM Nashville's \"Grand Ole Opry,\" and others. He mines audience research, diaries, program schedules, and tables that track the spread of radio. The book's distinctive contributions include detailed charts (ownership by region; clear channel assignments) and vivid narratives of stations, formats, and personalities that connected farm families to national culture while preserving local identity. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book is ideal for scholars and students of US social, rural, and media history; communication policy and political communication; country and bluegrass music history; agricultural extension; and American studies. It will also engage librarians, curators, and public historians seeking context for rural collections; journalists and podcasters tracing the roots of today's information ecosystems; and general readers interested in how radio re made community life long before the internet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSteve Craig\u003c\/b\u003e is the coauthor of \u003ci\u003eConsuming Environments: Television and Commercial Culture\u003c\/i\u003e and editor of \u003ci\u003eMen, Masculinity, and the Media\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 280\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 15, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48457049800953,"sku":"9780817362690","price":32.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0789\/2782\/3097\/files\/X_BNxPXWWd9780817362690.webp?v=1780077268","url":"https:\/\/bookscloud.io\/products\/out-of-the-dark-a-history-of-radio-and-rural-america-paperback","provider":"BooksCloud Book Dropshipping","version":"1.0","type":"link"}