Good evening Mr. and Mrs. America, from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea. Let's go to press.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This is a traditional radio broadcast sign-off used to greet the entire nation before a show starts.
- In plain terms
- The host greets listeners everywhere before switching to the news.
- What can you take from it?
- Broadcasters used specific phrases to signal the start of a national program.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How has media greeting language changed over time?
- What role did radio play in unifying listeners?
Another view
This quote relies on context from 1980s radio culture which may not be known today.
More from Walter Winchell
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
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