File:Radio play at WGY 1923.jpg

English: A radio play, "The Great Divide", being broadcast at the studio of early AM radio station WGY in Schenectady, New York in 1923, by their in-house acting troupe, the WGY Players. Radio broadcasting had just begun around 1920, and new forms of entertainment such as the radio melodrama were being invented for the new medium. Sound recording equipment at this time was expensive and crude, so plays were broadcast live.

Caption: The WGY Players in action. A busy moment during the broadcasting of "The Great Divide" - Steven Ghent and two ruffians have battered their way into the Jordan cabin and attack Ruth Jordan. The stifled cries of Ruth were produced by holding a hand over her mouth while she emits gurgling shrieks. The smashing effects were produced by wrecking an ordinary packing case, accompanied by the sound of the conventional wood crash machine and sand board. Mr. St. Louis stands with the manuscript at the extreme left, awaiting the cue to fire the pistol shots, depicting the duel between the two ruffians to decide who is to possess the girl. The players reading from left to right are: Edward E. St. Louis, "Shorty"; Frank Oliver, "Dutch"; Edward H. Smith, "Steven Ghent"; and Ruth Shilling, "Ruth Jordan". Each player is his own stage manager and awaits signals from, Edward H. Smith, director, to produce the desired effects.