Dame Nellie Melba was a world-famous opera singer, and the Marconi company offered her a substantial sum of money, plus world-wide advertising, if she agreed to sing in the first musical radio broadcast. She was hesitant, but agreed.
If the singer was dubious to begin with, her host, Arthur Burrows, did little to assuage her fears. Gesturing to the sky, he explained how, from the tops of the giant radio masts hundreds of feet above them, the Dame’s voice would carry for hundreds, maybe thousands, of miles to eager audiences
in the European cultural capitals of Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and who knew where else. The singer, evidently unfamiliar with the principles of the newfangled technology, looked warily at the antennae and then to her guide. “Young man,” she said, “if you think I’m climbing up there, you are greatly mistaken.” Later that afternoon, on June 15, 1920, Dame Nellie became the star of the world’s first concert to be broadcast over the airwaves.
—Ian Sample, Massive
Have you even been nervous about new technology?
April 23, 2021
YES, I’m always seem to nervous of it all…from everything normal like the microwave to the computer to my new sewing machine “now where did I put the manual” – forgetting how to do something with said gadget and wondering why it won’t work.
I think because it’s mostly electronic – whereas a simple paint brush/paint not so “nervous”
And like Dame Nellie – totally would baulk at climbing a tower to broadcast anything worldwide 🙂
In fact she sang inside the building, but she didn’t know what she was getting into.
I have barely tiptoed one toe into the 21st Century.
so I can’t answer that without incriminating myself! 😀
😀
I don’t think I’ve ever been nervous about new technology but I have been frustrated by it when trying to learn it.
I was nervous sometimes using the internet because of hacking, identity theft. I use an antivirus program and NordVPN for protection.
Never! You mean like the horseless carriage, don’t you?
😀
Oh, I just loved this!!! I read it to Phil and we both got a good laugh, what a good story. The only thing that makes me nervous about new technology is not being able to learn it.
There is that. 😀
I was nervous when were getting our first computer…having never did anything with one, other than the searches one did at the library.
Other than that, it has only been frustrations every now and then. But so much fun.
But I always think we went years and years leaving the house and going who knows where without a phone. Now it is almost a frightening feeling to get out and realize I have forgotten mine. It does not happen very often…
Andy takes both his cell phone and Garmin tracker when he goes up to the land. I can text him on his cell phone, but mostly the reception is too bad for him to reply so we also have internet up there. We spend a lot each month so we can stay in touch, but we’re glad the technology is there for us now. The Garmin lets me know where he is if he’s late, and it has an SOS feature he can activate if he gets hurt.
Nervous, no. I always see “new adventures”.
I was nervous years ago, now I’m more like you, it’s more a spirit of adventure.
what a great story, and funny too. i love technology, but do sometimes feel a little anxiity about how open our lives became and the dangers of it.
There is a danger there. Our pension information was hacked, so presumably even our bank account numbers are on the dark web. Yuck!
All the time!
It can be scary.
Me, too. Always. Love this story!
I can understand why she was confused. 🙂
New doesn’t bother as much as “new and improved”. That generally means they just messed up something I liked. 🙂
Oh, yeah! We cringe when we hear that phrase.