Those of you who are interested in radio history will probably continue reading. I would like to remind you of the now classic radio program's upcoming 100th anniversary.
The Children's Mailbox: A Milestone in the History of Swedish Radio
On 11 September 1925, the first episode of the radio program Barnens Brevlåda was broadcast, a milestone in the development of Swedish broadcasting that marked the start of one of the world's longest-running children's programs. The program was hosted by Sven Jerring, who quickly became known as "Uncle Sven" to an entire generation of listeners. This was the same year that AB Radiotjänst, the predecessor to today's Sveriges Radio, broadcast its very first program – a high mass on New Year's Day, 1 January 1925. In 2025, Sveriges Radio will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
AB Radiotjänst. When operations began in 1925, the company had only seven employees and broadcast on a single channel, with limited broadcast times of a few hours each evening. Sven Jerring, who had already made his radio debut in 1923 through Åhlén & Åkerlund's publishing house, became Radiotjänst's first announcer and program host. His voice quickly became synonymous with the new media technology, and his first assignment was to announce the historic high mass from St. Jacob's Church in Stockholm, a broadcast that reached approximately 40,000 recipients.
Against this background, Barnens Brevlåda was introduced as a unique concept. The program was initially broadcast on Thursdays at 6:00 PM and gave children a voice by reading their letters, having them perform with songs or stories in the studio, and paying special attention to sick or disabled children. Jerring created a warm and accessible tone, which made him a beloved figure. From the start, well-known names such as Sickan Carlsson and Birgit Tengroth were involved, making their radio debuts in the program. A recurring character, the fictional Efraim Alexander with Jerring's distorted voice, added humor and became one of the radio's early recurring features.
Radiotjänst's development went hand in hand with the program's success. Barnens Brevlåda became a central part of Radiotjänst's offering and reflected the company's ambition to reach the entire population, including the youngest listeners . The program continued to be broadcast until June 11, 1972, when Jerring ended it after 1,785 episodes – a world record for a radio program at the time, later surpassed by Smoke Rings in 1999.
Over the years, Radiotjänst went through significant changes, but Barnens Brevlåda remained a constant, driven by Jerring's commitment. His efforts also led to the Jerringfonden, founded in 1955 on his 60th birthday with funds raised, which supports children with disabilities – a legacy that lives on.