Page 35 - MFM Mar Apl 2021.indd

were improved. Musicians and singers such as the Another example of Crosley's sporting interest and
Mills Brothers, Rosemary Clooney, and Doris Day, support was the Powel Crosley, Jr Muzzle Loading
were hired for regularly scheduled programs. Writers Rifl e Championship, which is still held at the National
and actors were hired to create and perform radio Muzzle Loading Rifl e Association annual meet in
dramas and remote location broadcasts were held. Friendship, IN, the top award -the Crosley Cup.
Sales of radios continued to grow, so WLW targeted
stay-at-home housewives by creating the fi rst daytime During World War II, Crosley Corporation was
dramas that later became known as "soap operas," involved in defense contracting, but Powel still wanted
so named because the fi rst advertiser was Procter & to be an automobile manufacturer.
Gamble, a leading maker of
laundry soap. WLW's success On August 8, 1945 ,the
and popularity rose as its Crosley Corporation was
wattage increased. In 1923, sold and two days later
it became a 500-watt station Crosley Motors was created.
and in October 1928, it was (Th e fi rst Crosley was built
increased 50,000 watts. In in 1939 but World War II
May 1934, WLW was licensed caused production to be
to broadcast at 500,000 watts suspended.) Following the
on an experimental basis. war, manufacturing resumed
Th is license was the only in the Marion, IN, plant
"Super Station" license ever with the fi rst deliveries in
issued and was on the air for October 1946. Th e Crosley
fi ve years. automobile targeted the low-
priced market and by most
Some of Powel Crosley's everyone's standards, it was
success had to do with his physically tiny, measuring
open-door policy. Employees, 12 feet long, weighing 1155
suppliers, and people off pounds, and powered by a
the street could meet with 26½ hp engine. Following the
Crosley and discuss their ideas. One such suggestion war, gas was rationed and demand was strong for the
was a rolla-round infants walker called the "go-bibi." inexpensive fuel-effi cient car. Production exceeded
It was easy to produce and fi nancially successful for 27,000 cars in 1948. Once gas became readily available
a number of years and proceeds were shared with and the Crosley went through a period of engine
the innovator. Other commercial products included problems, production fell to 4831 in 1951. In July 1952,
household appliances, refrigerators, an electrical Crosley Motors was sold to General Tire.
device worn on the head to grow hair, and a mechanical
refrigerator that cooled without electricity (a success Powel Crosley was a man of varied interests. He
in that part of the country that had yet to have rural always wanted to be in the limelight, front and center,
electricity). Crosley would also build planes, start an the man on the big stage. He oft en referred to himself
airline, and produce car radios for the aft ermarket. as "the Henry Ford of Radios." He was daring in his
business ventures and was successful in envisioning
Th e Crosley brothers had always been Cincinnati consumer demand.
Reds fans and by the early 1930s, the Reds regularly
fi nished near the bottom of major league baseball He was also a Mason raised in College Hill 641 in
standings. In 1933, Crosley bought controlling interest 1917 and joining the Scottish Rite Valley of Cincinnati
in the Reds and he and Lewis set out to turn things and the Syrian Shrine in 1919. Powel's father and
around. Th e fi eld was renamed Crosley Field. Even brother were members of the same Lodge. Powel
with these changes, the Reds fi nished last for the Crosley died in 1961.
fourth year in a row. Th e next year, to help increase
attendance, lights were added to Crosley Field and
the Reds were the fi rst Major League Baseball team to
hold night games. In 1939 and 1940, the Reds were the
National League champs and in 1940 won the World
Series against Detroit. At the time the Reds were
purchased by the Crosley brothers, annual attendance Reprinted with permission from "Master Entrepreneur Powell
grew from 200,000 to a million. Crosley" Chuck Clampitt, 2020, Indiana Freemason magazine,
Fall 2020 issue. Grand Lodge of F&AM of Indiana.
Crosley was also a sportsman. He loved to hunt and
fi sh, taking multiple trips each year to various camps
he owned in Canada, South Carolina, and Indiana.
Montana Freemason Page 35 March/April 2021 Volume 97 No. 2