radiothonn.
/ˈreɪdɪə(ʊ)θɒn/, U.S. /ˈreɪdiəˌθɑn/, /ˈreɪdioʊˌθɑn/ Originally and chiefly U.S.
An especially prolonged radio broadcast, usually as a fund-raising event for a charity or cause. Cf. telethon n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > broadcasting > radio broadcasting > [noun] > types of programme
radio show1921
children's hour1923
series1923
scrap-book1933
postscript1940
write-in1947
radiothon1953
1953 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 26 Apr. 1/5 The program will be conducted in the form of a ‘radiothon’.
1974 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) 15 Feb. 20- a/3 A 15-day try for a world record radiothon is being made by WCOS-AM disc jockeys to benefit the Heart Fund.
1984 B. Winston in Listener 15 Mar. 6/3 It has hosted extended local political debates and a ‘radiothon’, raising money for the local symphony orchestra.
1994 Minnesota Monthly Sept. 156/2 This wonderful opportunity came about by a generous contribution by my father during the SPCO ‘radio-thon’ fundraiser on MPR last fall.
2005 Observer 25 Sept. i. 25/2 Those toe-curlingly embarrassing telethons and radiothons to raise funds for public broadcasting.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1953