In article ,
-exray wrote:
Cabled radio was a different scenario. The UK had this as did much of
Europe and the USSR. Even Barbados in the West Indies had cable radio
up until the early 70s. I hear Red China still uses it. Basically a
speaker box with maybe an audio amp fed by telco/cable lines. Not a
'radio' at all but still a tool available to some Central Control for
tax revenue collection or dissemination of the official word.

It was common in the US during WW II, as radio station DJ's were not
allowed to accept requests in case it was a spy sending a message.
Wired "radio" systems were set up (in areas that had enough cheap
entertainment venues) with a live DJ and a telephone at each site to
contact the DJ to play requests.

Mark Zenier Washington State resident