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Contact PHOTO EXHIBITION · TALLINN SPEAKING! A CENTURY ON AIR
A Century on Estonian Radio. The First Decades
The exhibition “A Century on Estonian Radio. The First Decades” on the 2nd floor of Tallinn TV Tower takes the visitor back to the earliest years of Estonian radio, when radio was a great innovation and a window on the world that widened the way people saw things, brought information and culture into their homes and quickly became an important part of daily life.
Watch the video
Curator Kertu Saks explains the background of the display and introduces the stories that await visitors.
01 — OVERVIEW
The exhibition in brief
The exhibition focuses on the first decades of Estonian radio and broadcasting before the Second World War. The era was marked by rapid technological progress, a wealth of new possibilities and strong personalities who laid the foundations of our broadcasting history.
In 1924 the first recognised test broadcast was made from Haapsalu, the Estonian Radio Club was founded, Tartu Telephone Factory began industrial production of radio receivers and the company Raadio-Ringhääling was established.
By the end of 1925 there were already almost 2000 radios in Estonian homes. Our programming was modern, and the distinctively designed receivers made in Estonia remain a valuable part of our industrial and cultural history.
02 — RADIO DESIGN
What will you see?
The exhibition shows the beauties of 1930s Estonian radio design, distinctive receivers whose names are still familiar today:
Also on display are antiques, period materials, radio magazines and extracts from radio sales catalogues.
Among the rarest exhibits are personal belongings of two important figures from the early years of Estonian radio, Fred Olbrei and Felix Moor.
From 1927 Fred Olbrei served on the board of the company Raadio-Ringhääling and was one of the founders and board members of the RET Radio Electrotechnical Factory. Felix Moor was a broadcasting announcer from 1927 to 1944, the first radio reporter in Estonia, an editor and presenter, and the originator of radio plays and programmes for children.
Watch the video
A short overview of the exhibition.
03 — EXHIBITION SERIES
Part of the series “Tallinn speaking! A Century on Air”
A Century on Estonian Radio. The First Decades is part of the exhibition series “Tallinn speaking! A Century on Air”, created at Tallinn TV Tower for the 100th anniversary of Estonian broadcasting. Several more exhibitions and education programmes will open within the series this year. In 2026 the TV Tower operates under the banner of Estonian Broadcasting 100.
The exhibition has been created in cooperation with the Estonian Broadcasting Museum, the Energy Discovery Centre, Juhan Sihver and Aare Baumer. The exhibition is curated by Kertu Saks.
Location: 2nd floor of Tallinn TV Tower
MINI MAGAZINE
A Century on Estonian Radio. The First Decades
GALLERY
Exhibition gallery
Photos: GoodNews, Risto Štukert
IN THE MEDIA
Coverage
AKTUAALNE KAAMERA
Tallinna teletorni uus näitus viib Eesti raadioajaloo algusaegadesse
kanal 2 “telehommik”
Buduaar
FOTOD! Ringhäälingu 100. juubeliaasta tähistamine! Kertu Saks: „See on meie lugu, meie inimesed ja meie meediaajalugu“
