When the transistor radio emerged, it revolutionised culture. Its arrival coincided with the rise of rock'n'roll, the emergence of the teenager and a new era of Top 40 radio in Australia. The portability and ubiquity of the transistor links it to the music streaming playlists of today.
This feature is part of the NFSA's Radio 100 celebrations.
A Cultural Phenomenon
'The transistor radio meant that radio went from being a family group listening experience to a personalised individual listening experience. You could take it into your bedroom, the bathroom, you could take it to parties, you could take it to the beach. You could take it anywhere – instantly music was accessible everywhere.'
In 1947 the transistor radio was invented, shrinking bulky valves and vacuum tubes into a pocket-sized plastic wonder powered by compact batteries. But the transistor was more than just clever tech – it was a cultural phenomenon.
The transistor was affordable and portable. And crucially, its commercial release in 1955 was perfectly synchronised with the rise of rock'n'roll.
For the generation newly dubbed teenagers, the transistor became an emblem of freedom, a conduit through which they discovered their voice – and their soundtrack.