I think WHERE was the pic taken would give more clues. It's really weird.
I see a large concrete post with some oddball steel structure and wood panels, some with lights (wiring?) in them. Like a sign, he is behind.
There is a pic (left) opening that looks like a huge outdoor flats, like this is at a ball park or football field?
It's all on hardwood flooring. Oh, there's a BOMB on far right. Yeah, I leave those outside all the time. I think it's gotta be at a military facility.
Mains power cord on the left, and the right has a simple antenna wire strung low.
edit: all the knife switches are open, this thing is largely turned off. Added bomb pic.
By 1936, there were 22.5M radios in American households. It was an absolutely huge technology boom, radio. Every month- new tech in tubes, components etc. Wow.
One tube was $8 or $180 in today's dollars.