This paper reviews the history of horns used in loudspeaker systems for audience‐type sound reproduction. It reviews the early pioneering work started around 1910 which used telephone‐type transmitters before vacuum tube amplifiers were available. With the availability of amplifiers more powerful driver type loudspeakers were developed to operate with exponential straight and folded horns. Sound motion pictures created a demand for higher quality, and higher‐powered loudspeaker systems for both voice and music. The many stages of development of two‐way loudspeaker systems are reviewed. The limitations of each stage of development before proceeding to the next improvement is discussed. Photographs of many early horns are included as well as the more recent types.Subject Classification: [43]10.60; [43]85.60.