1450

[N1WVQ]

I'm actually working on another project and I like that! It reminds me of a ZIP code map we had at WQIK-FM. Thanks!!!

 

[Gary Osbrey]

In 1972, at age 10, I discovered 1450-WSVP. I listened every day and called for requests and contests. I bugged my mother to take me to their remotes to meet the jocks and get a free record. During the ice storm and Blizzard of '78, our family was glued to their broadcasts with battery powered radios while we huddled around the wood stove. In August of 1978, armed with my audition tape from WCVY (Coventry High School), I was hired by Joe Corcoran as weekend announcer. Roger Bouchard was the GM. I helped out (we all did) during the move from 1501 Main Street to the house next to “On The Roch's” lounge. The bones of my “Community Radio” model at WINY, Putnam, were heavily influenced by what I heard and experienced at WKRI in the late 70's and early 80's. Some of the people I worked with there include John Parente, Scott Fraser, Norm Deragon, Nancy Martin, Dyana Koelsh, Joe Mattias, Allen Bestwick, Rick Laurito, Ray Andrews, Alan Adalio (aka “Tony Knight”), Ernest Legault (aka “Ron Scott), Karen McGrath, Charlene Glover, Danny Cyriak, Roger Laliberte, Don Drourr, Jane Brown and my best friend, Robert D'Achiolli (Bobby Allen). Gene DeGraide did mornings and he couldn't have been nicer or more supportive to a young kid starting out in the business. A true gentleman. I was also there for the arrival of Steve Wight, which could be a thread all it's own! I found two studio shots – circa late 1978. Sorry for my mug being displayed so prominently , but I thought you might enjoy the photos. EQUIPMENT NOTE: The year was 1978, not 1958!!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3w2o89lf4p2jp66/cVYpayIRX2

 

[DG02816]

Hi Gary,
I grew up listening to what was then WWRI with Roger Laliberte doing mornings. I visited the station once and met John Parente. The WSVP days were also fun, with the station giving WPRO and WICE a run for the money in the daytime. I recall John saying good night to North Providence before he had to drop power at sunset to 250 watts. Gene DeGraide's morning show was always a good listen. My current station, WVCH, has a similar console upstairs in the attic; it's a Gatesway, which may be a step down from the Dualux line.

 

[NHRadio]

I once asked one of the Providence AE's how she sold the ESPN AM combo and she said "two words: added value." Buy Cat, get a bunch of bonus spots on the AM's.

This attitude confuses and angers me. When you give your product away and treat it as an afterthought what message does that send? That it has no value. It's worthless. No wonder they can't sell it! When you buy a Corvette does the dealer give you a 2006 Cobalt as a winter beater? No. Why? He can SELL it. Why would anyone spend money on a station that even its owners don't care about? Why are millions spent remodeling restaurants, stores, car dealerships etc? To make it more attractive (read: valuable) to buyers and jump start sales! But stations like this are unwilling to invest a tiny fraction of that to hire local airstaff.
You trade in a car. Very often the dealer will invest some money cleaning and/or repairing the car. Why? It's worth more when he's done! Why are there so many stations that can't figure that out?

 

[N1WVQ]

That was cool seeing the old 1450 setup! Glad to hear WINY is plugging along & with A.M. stereo too!

 

[rapski]

1450...Ah yes I remember it well. My very first radio gig. I remember Pat Fallon, Dag Sandstrom, Dave Ballfour, Buzz Barton and Tiger Laliberte and Skip Mays. In those days you did it all in a an 8 hour shift : engineer, drive time, sports, request time, "Here's to Veterans" , race results, remotes from "Gansett, and the Railroad Inn. I still have my copy of the Vazol commercial I read every hour at :15. The experiences there was enough to land me a summer job at WJAR AM and TV. And the rest is .....