Fiorello H. LaGuardia was a popular mayor of New York City in the late Thirties and early Forties. He enjoyed serving the people, and he made regular broadcasts over a local radio station to keep them informed of relevant developments.
In July 1945 the deliverers of New York newspapers went on strike. The publishers continued to print the papers, but there was no home delivery. LaGuardia was particularly concerned that the kids who read the comic strips were being deprived of that pleasure, so he went on-air to read the comics to them.
Among the strips that he read were Little Orphan Annie and Dick Tracy.
Recordings of LaGuardia’s broadcasts have been archived and can be accessed online.
Note that Tracy’s wristwatch radio was a forerunner of things to come.
LaGuardia’s appeal and accomplishments were depicted in the popular Broadway musical, Fiorello.