New Jersey Telephone Herald

United States Telephone Herald Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Telecommunications, Media
Founded	1909
Founder	Cornelius Balassa
Defunct	January 1918
Fate	Delaware incorporation revoked due to unpaid taxes
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Key people	Manley M. Gillam (president), William H. Alexander (secretary/treasurer), Cornelius Balassa (founder)
Products	Telephone newspaper services (news and entertainment via telephone lines)

The United States Telephone Herald Company, established in 1909, served as the parent organization for multiple "telephone newspaper" enterprises throughout the United States. Its objective was to provide subscribers with news and entertainment transmitted via telephone lines, representing a significant initiative in the development of distributed audio content prior to the rise of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s.

Although over a dozen affiliated companies were incorporated, only two systems ever operated commercially: the New Jersey Telephone Herald based in Newark (1911–1912) and the Oregon Telephone Herald located in Portland (1912–1913). Both ventures terminated shortly after launch due to financial difficulties and technical limitations.

The company’s most active period occurred around 1913, but operations were halted as economic sustainability diminished. Ultimately, its Delaware incorporation was revoked in early 1918.

Company history

The United States Telephone Herald Company originated as a licensed U.S. branch of Budapest’s Telefon Hírmondó, an audio distribution service delivering news and entertainment through telephone lines since 1893. Cornelius Balassa secured American patent rights following a visit to Hungary; the company also reportedly controlled patents for Canada and Great Britain, while an Italian group operated under Araldo Telefonico since 1910 holding Italy’s rights.

Initially incorporated in New York in 1909 as the "Telephone Newspaper Company of America," it reorganized in 1910 into the Delaware-chartered "United States Telephone Herald Company," led by president Manley M. Gillam, secretary/treasurer William H. Alexander, and Balassa.

In September 1910, a demonstration at its New York City offices exhibited equipment resembling Budapest’s system. Without vacuum tube amplifiers, announcers called "stentors" projected their voices forcefully into dual microphones, while subscribers listened through headphones rather than loudspeakers. On February 14, 1911, patent US984235 was awarded for a telephone system designed to deliver news, music, sermons, and various programs to numerous subscribers; this patent was assigned to the company.

Local affiliates were authorized to develop regional telephone newspaper networks, with the parent company collecting royalties from each installed receiver. However, financial setbacks led to the company’s decline and eventual revocation of its Delaware charter in January 1918 due to unpaid taxes.

Telephone Herald associate companies

At least twelve associate companies under the Telephone Herald umbrella were established; however, only two—New Jersey Telephone Herald (1911–1912) and Oregon Telephone Herald (1912–1913)—successfully launched telephone newspaper operations. These services were occasionally referred to as "telectrophone."

Each affiliate operated independently under state business registrations. Subscription fees typically amounted to five cents per day, similar to the cost of a daily newspaper. Most affiliates remained in promotional or demonstration phases without full commercial deployment.

Early announcements also referenced planned systems in Chicago, Scranton, and Montreal that never came to fruition. A 1912 advertisement listed affiliates in New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle-Tacoma, Columbia (Canada), Los Angeles, and Oakland; however, no further records confirm their establishment or operation.

New Jersey Telephone Herald Co. (Newark)

The New Jersey Telephone Herald holds the distinction as the earliest and most prominently publicized affiliate to commence commercial telephone newspaper service. Established in October 1910 by Eugene Gorenflo, Duncan McIsaac, and Nicholas J. Surgess, the company initially aimed to begin operations in March 1911 but encountered opposition from the New York Telephone Company regarding line leasing. Intervention by the Public Utility Commission mandated access to the necessary infrastructure.

Recruitment of stentors—individuals responsible for reading news—was highly selective, focusing on "college men" possessing commanding voices and extensive vocabularies. A team of four stentors alternated 15-minute shifts throughout the day to maintain continuous programming.

The service officially launched in October 1911, reaching fifty receivers located in a department store along with approximately 500 residences in Newark. The central office was situated in the Essex Building on Clinton Street, with Condit S. Atkinson overseeing news content.

Listener demand quickly surpassed availability, with audiences finding the service both innovative and captivating. Programming featured original children's narratives penned by local writer Howard R. Garis, which were subsequently compiled into the Three Little Trippertrots series.

Despite initial enthusiasm, the venture faced technical and financial challenges. Delayed salary payments led to staff walkouts and a suspension of service in February 1912. Operations resumed in May after securing new funding and management changes: Percy Pyne assumed the presidency, William E. Gunn became vice-president and general manager, C. E. Danforth took on secretary-treasurer duties, while Atkinson returned as editor. Rebranded as a "telectrophone" in November, the service ultimately discontinued by the end of that year.

Technical difficulties arose because Newark’s twisted pair telephone lines differed electrically from those used by the original Telefon Hírmondó system. The company’s charter was officially annulled on January 18, 1916.

Oregon Telephone Herald Co. (Portland)

The Oregon Telephone Herald Company, incorporated within Oregon and headquartered at 506 Royal Building in Portland, became the second entity to offer telephone newspaper services following New Jersey’s example. Demonstrations commenced in May 1912, aiming for a commercial launch in October of that year. By January 1913, the company was actively recruiting home subscribers for its "Talking Newspaper and Amusement Purveyor," which broadcasted daily from 8:00 AM until midnight. Later renamed "Te-Lec-Tro-Phone," the service began delivering local Portland Beavers baseball game updates in April 1913. However, officials from the Northwestern League later criticized this practice for negatively impacting game attendance figures. The company also provided complimentary election result broadcasts at commercial venues and collaborated with the Portland Hotel to supply news during dining hours.

A corporate restructuring took place early in 1913, involving parent company representatives including chief electrical engineer Árpád Németh who offered technical assistance. Nevertheless, financial instability continued to plague operations. During the summer of 1913, Oregon Corporation Commissioner R. A. Watson invoked the state’s "Blue Sky Law," prohibiting the company from conducting business activities due to impracticality and denying authorization for stock sales despite acknowledging the company's integrity.

The final advertisements appeared in June 1913; subsequently, the corporation’s charter was revoked on January 16, 1917, after failing to submit required reports or pay fees over a two-year period.

Other affiliated companies

None of the ten additional associate companies linked to Telephone Herald succeeded in launching their intended telephone newspaper services, despite varying degrees of preparation and activity.

Boston Telephone Herald Syndicate, Inc.

Established in Massachusetts on April 23, 1913, this syndicate was founded by Ladislaus de Doory (president), John M. Grosvenor, Jr. (treasurer), and Jesse W. Morton. De Doory also served as a promoter for the main company. The syndicate failed to produce any significant demonstrations or advancements and was officially dissolved on February 21, 1916.

California Telephone Herald Co. (San Francisco)

Based in San Francisco, this firm obtained its California business charter in February 1911, granted to G. S. Holbrook and associates. Demonstrations took place in September 1911 at the Head Building; however, no subsequent development occurred. The charter was revoked and cancelled due to unpaid taxes in February 1915.

Central California Telephone Herald Co. (Sacramento)

Incorporated in California during February 1912 by C. J. Ward, F. W. Bresse, and S. H. Whisner, this company initiated demonstrations on April 1, 1912, from the Elks' Building. There were plans in late 1913 to lease the Diepenbrock theater for programming purposes, but these were abandoned following a merger with Pacific Telephone Herald Company. The telephone newspaper service never commenced operations, and the charter was forfeited and annulled for tax non-payment in February 1915.

Massachusetts Telephone Herald Co.

Chartered in Delaware in August 1912 by R. R. Cooling, C. J. Jacobs, and H. W. Davis from Wilmington, Delaware, this company exhibited minimal documented activity. Its corporate charter was rescinded on January 24, 1916.

Pacific Telephone Herald Co. (Oakland, California)

Registered in California, the Pacific Telephone Herald Co. held demonstrations at H. C. Capwell Company's Store from February through at least April of 1913. Initially headquartered at 303-305 Union Savings Bank Building in Oakland, it later incorporated under leadership including C. F. Homer (president), Charles Smith (treasurer), and B. F. Hews (editor) at 1751 Franklin Street during fall 1913.

The company experienced setbacks with the deaths of secretary-treasurer J. Whited in September 1913 and president William Angus in a mining accident in October 1914. Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company originally declined to lease telephone lines to them, resulting in a complaint filed with the California Railroad Commission; this dispute was resolved and dismissed by November 1913.

In November 1913, ambitious expansion plans were announced involving rights to operate across twenty-one western U.S. states as well as much of southwestern Canada; this was followed by a merger with Central California Telephone Herald Company of Sacramento the next month. Despite these plans, no consistent service appears to have been established, and the business charter was forfeited on March 4, 1916 due to failure to pay state license taxes.

Pennsylvania Telephone Herald Co. (Philadelphia)

Incorporated in Delaware on December 30, 1911, by Frank Vernon, Ivor B. Blaiberg, and Albert D. Miller (with some sources citing E. B. Waples, W. W. Day, and F. R. Janvier), this entity saw minimal corporate activity during 1912 and 1913, without any notable advancements. Due to two consecutive years of unpaid taxes, its charter was revoked on January 25, 1917.

San Diego Telephone Herald Co.

Established in California in August 1911 by H. A. Schmidt (president), M. N. Schmidt, and G. Stephens, this company drew inspiration from the San Francisco model and ran promotional campaigns late that year. Despite this, it never initiated operations and consequently forfeited its state charter on November 30, 1912.

San Francisco Telephone Herald Co.

This was the second Telephone Herald company based in San Francisco, incorporated in California on October 29, 1912, with directors including W. H. Dohrmann and J. F. Dohrmann. Early 1913 saw demonstrations at 687 Market Street; however, no further progress ensued. The charter was revoked on November 30, 1913, due to nonpayment of the state license tax.

Southern California Telephone Herald Co. (Los Angeles)

Among the earliest affiliated companies, this venture quickly collapsed amid fraudulent activities. Chartered in California in May 1911 under the leadership of Peter Archbold Gordon Grimes—who embezzled company funds and later posed as an aviator in Hawaii—the corporation's charter was rescinded on November 30, 1911, for failure to pay the state license tax.

Washington Telephone Herald Co. (Seattle)

With capitalization of $500,000 in common stock, this affiliate was incorporated in Washington in June 1911. Its officers included Sherwood Gillespy (president), B. J. Klarman (vice president), and N. R. Solner (secretary and treasurer). The company conducted demonstrations at its headquarters located in the Henry building but faced financial troubles leading to receivership in October 1911 following disputes over salaries. The charter was ultimately canceled between October 1912 and September 1914 due to nonpayment of the state license fee.

Legacy

Early American ventures into telephone-based news and entertainment delivery—such as Michigan's Tellevent (1906–1908) and Chicago’s Automatic Electric Company's Musolaphone (1913)—experienced failures comparable to those of the Telephone Herald enterprises.

Conversely, European counterparts like Hungary’s Telefon Hírmondó and Italy’s Araldo Telefonico endured into the 1920s by integrating with emerging radio broadcasting technologies. In the United States, Telephone Herald companies represented the final early attempts to provide nationwide audio content through telephone lines. Despite consumer interest, inherent technical challenges—including absence of signal amplification, dependence on telephone infrastructure, and headphone-only listening—prevented these models from achieving profitability.

Within ten years following these setbacks, radio broadcasting arose as a transformative medium that eliminated reliance on telephone lines while offering free access supported by advertising revenue—a business approach that proved more viable within the U.S. market.