Martin Block

Martin Block was a famous American disc jockey. People say a writer named Walter Winchell invented this term to describe Block's radio work.

Block was born in Los Angeles in 1903. Before he worked in radio, he sold small items for the home. He even worked as an office boy at General Electric when he was only 13. Later, he moved his family to New York to find new jobs. He found work as an announcer only one week after arriving. He became a star by changing how people heard music on the air.

In 1935, Block started a show called The Make Believe Ballroom on WNEW.

He used the name and idea from another host named Al Jarvis. The show made listeners feel like they were in a real ballroom. It sounded like top dance bands were playing live right there. Block actually had to buy his own records from a local shop. The station did not own any music for him to play. He even chose a song called "Sugar Blues" by Clyde McCoy as his first theme. This clever way of playing music helped him build a huge audience.

Block's way of talking was very different from other hosts. Most people spoke loudly so they could be heard in big theaters. Block spoke in a normal, quiet voice instead. It felt like he was having a private talk with each listener. This style made people feel very close to him. He was so good at finding sponsors that companies had to wait for a spot on his show. By 1941, there was a long waiting list for sponsors. He even helped a singer named Fannie Rose Shore. When she sang "Dinah," he called her Dinah Shore, and that became her famous name.

His career had many exciting moments and big numbers. In 1940, he hosted a special called the "$20,000 Jam Session." This featured famous musicians like Count Basie and the Dorsey brothers. During a music strike from 1942 to 1944, Block found a smart way to keep playing. He had friends in England send him records from the UK. This worked because the strike only happened in the United States. By the end of World War II, Block was making $22,000 every single week. He was one of the most successful people in radio.

Block's work changed how radio felt for many people. He even wrote lyrics for the famous Glenn Miller song "Make Believe Ballroom Time."

He worked on many shows, including the Chesterfield Supper Club. He even made short musical films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1947. After he stopped his regular shows, he still hosted a small program called Guard Session. Block died in New Jersey in 1967. In 1988, he was honored by being put into the Radio Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on through the many people he helped become stars.