Happy Station
| Other names | La Estación de la Alegría |
|---|---|
| Genre | light entertainment |
| Running time | 55 minutes (current) |
| Country of origin |
Netherlands (1928-1995) Taiwan (2009-present) |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station |
PCJJ (1928-1947) Radio Netherlands (1947-1995) PCJ Radio (2009-present) |
| Hosted by |
Eddy Startz (1928-1969) Tom Meijer (1970-1992) Pete Myers (1992-1993) Jonathan Groubert (1993-1995) Keith Perron (2009-present) |
| Created by | Eddy Startz |
| Original release | November 19, 1928 – August 13, 1995 Revived series: March 12, 2009 – present |
| Website | http://www.pcjmedia.com/hs |
The Happy Station Show is the world's oldest international radio programme still being broadcast, having originated in 1928 on shortwave radio, and the second oldest radio show still on the air behind only the Grand Ole Opry which began three years earlier. Happy Station's run has been interrupted twice - from 1940 until 1946 due to World War II and again from 1995 when it was cancelled until its revival in 2009. The revived programme is not affiliated with Radio Netherlands Worldwide or RNW Media.
The program premiered on November 19, 1928 and was broadcast first by the private Philips Radio station PCJJ (later PCJ), and from 1947 by Radio Netherlands. Separate English and Spanish versions were broadcast, in addition to a multi-lingual version. It could be received all over the world. Popular music from Europe and various other countries was mixed with vintage recordings and multilingual chatter, switching back and forth between English, Spanish and Dutch by hosts each Sunday. It became popular since it gave listeners a chance to travel in their armchair during a period when international travel was difficult for most people. In particular, the Startz-era of the show featured special formats such as a voyage by sound where Startz narrated tours to distant locations assisted by sound effects. Later, the show pioneered international call-in shows, in both the English and Spanish versions, during the 1970s. The show followed a format of light entertainment, special guests, music, and information about Dutch life. Edward "Eddie" Startz presented the program from its inception until his retirement in December 1969. Tom Meijer took over the English and Spanish versions until his own retirement in 1993. He was followed by Pete Myers and Jonathan Groubert for the English version. Jaime Báguena was host of the Spanish version, La Estación de la Alegría, until the end of the 1990s when it was canceled by the management of Radio Netherlands.
...
Wikipedia