There was a time when the epitome of long-distance communication was the Pony Express. You could send a letter coast-to-coast in about two and a half weeks. Then along came the telegraph. If some villain hadn’t cut the wires, communication was nearly instantaneous. But with these methods, a physical connection was necessary from one end to the other. That limitation disappeared with the advent of an amazing new technology called the wireless.

Messages were sent through the ether and you could sit in the comfort of your own living room and listen to a fireside chat with the President of the United States. It was a time of marvels and mystery and aptly illustrates the topic of this episode…