Several days ago, in a post on a topic dealing with suburban radio stations in Cincinnati, I wrote about Radio Station WAEF-FM in connection with it being one of Cincinnati's suburban stations during its day. I am putting the basic write-up from that into this topic.
WAEF-FM signed on the air on Ocotber 1, 1959 at 104.3 m.c. and a power of 4,800 watts. The station's offices, studios, transmitter and 100-foot tower were located at 6004 Wiehe Road in the Golf Manor section of the Cincinnati area. That location made it unique as a suburban station while the other radio outlets of the Queen City were basically located in the downtown area. The call-letters came from brothers Al & Ed Fishman. Al served as the President & General Manager while Ed was the Chief Engineer. Al's wife, Shirley, also assisted in the operation of the station. The "FM" tag was always used in station I.D.'s and other references.
Al and Shirley resided on close-by Elbrook Avenue. In addition, Al had an FM radio in his Buick so he was easily able to get to the station when he wished. Ed lived not far away in Reading.
In the early days, there was a large window on the front of the building and passers-by could look in and see the announcer on duty. Unfortunately, there was no outdoor speaker so what was going out over the air could not be heard. The teletype news machine was located just inside the front door where it could be seen from the sidewalk. The most visability came when people were coming and going from events at the near-by Cincinnati Gardens. The suggestion was made that the station might advertise itself as being in "The Garden Spot of Cincinnati" although Al reportedly did not wish to use it. After some years, the large window was broken when a firecracker was placed against it and that area was bricked in.
Music played over the air was basically easy-listening and came from individual cuts of 33 1/3 LP records cued and played by the announcers. News was given every three hours from material taken from the news machine. When the current temperature was given during weather forecasts, it was the one at the station's suburban location. WAEF-FM did feature some specialty programs such as: "Stricky Dixie" on Sunday evenings and "Jazzville U.S.A." on Friday evenings. Some of the announcers during these years were: Bill Lohrman, Chuck Moore, Jim Holt, Mike Sherman, Irv Diehl, Lee Williams, Dana Euwell, Gary Lee, Jon Braun and Jim Dale. Al, himself, also got on the air from time to time using the name of "Tony Ambus". At times, Shirley also did some announcing. Some of the sponsors were: Schott Buick, I.G.A. Stores, NuTone, and Hyams/Lowrey Organs.
With regards to specialty programs, there was one that involved listening-auidence involvement in the summer of 1962 called, "Musical Bingo". Al (as "Tony Ambus") hosted the show. Tunes from instrumental records were played and listeners were asked to punch out the announced squares in previously-obtained cards if they knew the name of the song. One of the tunes played on that show was "Cuban Love Song". In an attempt to assist those playing at home with this song, Al hinted, "There is not much love for this country right now". Ironically, this was shortly before the Cuban Missle Crisis.
In the summer of 1964, the station moved its frequency to 98.5 m.c. and increased its power to 50,000 watts.
By the early 1970's, the station was sold to another company which began operations from another location. The building at 6004 Wiehe Road was later sold although the tower stood on the property for some time afterward. A tax preperation business was housed in the building until approximately 1985 when a gas explosion leveled it. The debris was eventually removed and the location remains vacant to this day and serves only as a small parking location.
Shirley Fishman passed away not many years after the station sold. Al died in Florida in 1991. Ed continued to reside in Reading until he passed away in 1999.
WAEF-FM signed on the air on Ocotber 1, 1959 at 104.3 m.c. and a power of 4,800 watts. The station's offices, studios, transmitter and 100-foot tower were located at 6004 Wiehe Road in the Golf Manor section of the Cincinnati area. That location made it unique as a suburban station while the other radio outlets of the Queen City were basically located in the downtown area. The call-letters came from brothers Al & Ed Fishman. Al served as the President & General Manager while Ed was the Chief Engineer. Al's wife, Shirley, also assisted in the operation of the station. The "FM" tag was always used in station I.D.'s and other references.
Al and Shirley resided on close-by Elbrook Avenue. In addition, Al had an FM radio in his Buick so he was easily able to get to the station when he wished. Ed lived not far away in Reading.
In the early days, there was a large window on the front of the building and passers-by could look in and see the announcer on duty. Unfortunately, there was no outdoor speaker so what was going out over the air could not be heard. The teletype news machine was located just inside the front door where it could be seen from the sidewalk. The most visability came when people were coming and going from events at the near-by Cincinnati Gardens. The suggestion was made that the station might advertise itself as being in "The Garden Spot of Cincinnati" although Al reportedly did not wish to use it. After some years, the large window was broken when a firecracker was placed against it and that area was bricked in.
Music played over the air was basically easy-listening and came from individual cuts of 33 1/3 LP records cued and played by the announcers. News was given every three hours from material taken from the news machine. When the current temperature was given during weather forecasts, it was the one at the station's suburban location. WAEF-FM did feature some specialty programs such as: "Stricky Dixie" on Sunday evenings and "Jazzville U.S.A." on Friday evenings. Some of the announcers during these years were: Bill Lohrman, Chuck Moore, Jim Holt, Mike Sherman, Irv Diehl, Lee Williams, Dana Euwell, Gary Lee, Jon Braun and Jim Dale. Al, himself, also got on the air from time to time using the name of "Tony Ambus". At times, Shirley also did some announcing. Some of the sponsors were: Schott Buick, I.G.A. Stores, NuTone, and Hyams/Lowrey Organs.
With regards to specialty programs, there was one that involved listening-auidence involvement in the summer of 1962 called, "Musical Bingo". Al (as "Tony Ambus") hosted the show. Tunes from instrumental records were played and listeners were asked to punch out the announced squares in previously-obtained cards if they knew the name of the song. One of the tunes played on that show was "Cuban Love Song". In an attempt to assist those playing at home with this song, Al hinted, "There is not much love for this country right now". Ironically, this was shortly before the Cuban Missle Crisis.
In the summer of 1964, the station moved its frequency to 98.5 m.c. and increased its power to 50,000 watts.
By the early 1970's, the station was sold to another company which began operations from another location. The building at 6004 Wiehe Road was later sold although the tower stood on the property for some time afterward. A tax preperation business was housed in the building until approximately 1985 when a gas explosion leveled it. The debris was eventually removed and the location remains vacant to this day and serves only as a small parking location.
Shirley Fishman passed away not many years after the station sold. Al died in Florida in 1991. Ed continued to reside in Reading until he passed away in 1999.