Eighty-five years ago, the February 1939 issue of Radio Craft shows how to wire your house for radio. And like Mr. Green, you could be serene knowing that there was one in every room. Actually, there was only one radio, a top-of-the-line RCA Victor model U-130. Speakers were mounted in each room. But in addition, the set allowed the use of a wired remote control, so controls were mounted on the walls of most rooms. But if walking over to the wall proved too stressful, there was also an armchair remote, which could be plugged in to a nearby socket.

The installation also incorporated a set of Model 446 Aristocrat “TELECHIMES” by General Kontrolar company, Inc., which could be used to elegantly page family members throughout the house.