As the newspapers reported itThe 1926 wireless message to Mars

As printed: Message Sent to Mars for 72 Cents; British Station Is Not Sure It Got There

ContextWireless telegraphy was about a quarter-century old, and signalling Mars had been a recurring subject in the press; during the planet's close approach in August 1924 American stations kept periods of silence so listeners could hear any signal. Messages were handed in at a telegraph counter and charged by the word.

As printed: LONDONER CLAIMS HE GETS MESSAGE FROM MARTIANS

ContextDr. Mansfield Robinson handed a wireless message addressed to Mars in at a London radio office; signalling the planet had been a recurring subject in the press since the close approach of 1924. A telepathist claims to send and receive thoughts without instruments, and Guglielmo Marconi developed practical wireless telegraphy at the turn of the century.