AM Frequency of the week: 1230

[cyberdad]

KFJB Marshalltown, IA. Years ago, it was a split between KFJB and WFXN Moline, IL (formerly WQUA). You could clearly hear both signals; both are about 65 miles away. Now, I think the WFXN signal has degraded and I think hearing it is a rarity.

WQUA used to be my competitor. And a very tough competitor at that. Everything about their operation during the mid-70s (and the years preceeding) was first-class. Beautiful building, state of the art studios/equipment, and great talent. Part of the deal was getting all they could out of their 1kw signal. Around Cedar Rapids and Iowa City WQUA more than held their own against KFJB, which also got out pretty well. In the opposite direction (southeast), WQUA also did well "versus", WJBC from Bloomington, IL....another class act (and very profitable).

BTW, WQUA is also the "alma mater" of Hall of Fame baseball announcer, Milo Hamilton.

 

[joebtsflk1]

Whether it's the time of day, the second to the last day of the year, or the dial position on a radio, I always think of this song when I see 1230.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1xa7NWRJjPQ

How's this for cross promotion of your frequency? "Twelve Thirty" debuts at #32 on the WCOL 1230 Music Survey!

http://www.las-solanas.com/surveys/WCOL/WCOL_1967-08-28_1.gif

12:30 aka Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon...the greatest Mamas and Papas song ever!

1230 WQUA Moline did do pretty well over to Iowa City back in the day...(of course back in the night would have been a different story

 

[icybluelake]

I remember WQUA pretty well, listening mostly on trips to the Quad Cities and maybe Iowa City. Seemed like a good operation to me. I don't remember what WOC sounded like in those days.

 

[cyberdad]

WOC had a format in those days that they called "Pure Gold Music". They launched in in the late '60s and it continued until the mid '70s. Despite what the name suggests, it wasn't an oldies station in the way most people today think of it. It was a hybrid of contemporary easy listening and standards along with contemporary instrumental versions of standards. It was a nice presentation. A little like the old WAIT in Chicago, but slightly more uptempo. I was at WHBF (doing morning drive news) 1972-76. We won morning drive (thanks to a great morning host... not me.) We also had the best signal in town. I don't know for sure, but my guess was that WQUA was the revenue leader in the market during that period. Although they may not have been #1 overall. They were were the uptempto 70's version of AC. Typcal playlist would include songs like "Shambala", "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Tie a Yellow Ribbon", etc. But not the Stones, Led Zepplen, ZZ Top, etc." Weekends were oldies.

As for us at WHBF, the TV station, WHBF-TV, was a license to print money. So even with management of questionable talent, just plugging into whatever CBS sent us was enough to make the entire operation a cash cow. (Although the radio operation more than paid its own way).

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

As for us at WHBF, the TV station, WHBF-TV, was a license to print money. So even with management of questionable talent, just plugging into whatever CBS sent us was enough to make the entire operation a cash cow. (Although the radio operation more than paid its own way).

I grew up within Grade A/B range of both the Quad Cities and Peoria stations--and going back to the subject of this thread I grew up in an area where the QC's 1230 and WJBC Bloomington continuously alternated signals during the day--but speaking of WHBF-TV, I thought I recall reading that there was a time where Channel 4's newscasts may have topped WOC-6 for #1 in the QC ratings (roughly mid-late '70s and perhaps early '80s). Was that true? Sadly about the past 25 years or so WHBF has been the perennial "third place station" at least in the news department in the QC market (with WQAD-8 and KWQC-6 interchangably in the top two slots).

 

[cyberdad]

I grew up within Grade A/B range of both the Quad Cities and Peoria stations--and going back to the subject of this thread I grew up in an area where the QC's 1230 and WJBC Bloomington continuously alternated signals during the day--but speaking of WHBF-TV, I thought I recall reading that there was a time where Channel 4's newscasts may have topped WOC-6 for #1 in the QC ratings (roughly mid-late '70s and perhaps early '80s). Was that true? Sadly about the past 25 years or so WHBF has been the perennial "third place station" at least in the news department in the QC market (with WQAD-8 and KWQC-6 interchangably in the top two slots).

We (WHBF-TV/4) were gaining on WOC-6 by the time I left in 1976, but I don't think we had passed them by that point. They moved my friend and colleague, Paul Meincke from the radio side to anchor the TV newscast, which may have been the move that put us past WOC. We had a great group in the Quad Cities in the'70s. We regularly hung out together after hours...including also with our competitors. Jan Coleman, of WQUA now wih WBBM, and Kathy MacFarland of WOC, then later with WFLD-TV are two names that may be easily recognized to those familiar with Chicago broadcasting. Both were regular members of our group. Jan Coleman was (and presumably still is) a very accomplished singer and acoustic guitar player. Her deep radio news delivery belies her "angelic" singing voice.

 

[joebtsflk1]

As for us at WHBF, the TV station, WHBF-TV, was a license to print money. So even with management of questionable talent, just plugging into whatever CBS sent us was enough to make the entire operation a cash cow. (Although the radio operation more than paid its own way).

I grew up within Grade A/B range of both the Quad Cities and Peoria stations--and going back to the subject of this thread I grew up in an area where the QC's 1230 and WJBC Bloomington continuously alternated signals during the day--but speaking of WHBF-TV, I thought I recall reading that there was a time where Channel 4's newscasts may have topped WOC-6 for #1 in the QC ratings (roughly mid-late '70s and perhaps early '80s). Was that true? Sadly about the past 25 years or so WHBF has been the perennial "third place station" at least in the news department in the QC market (with WQAD-8 and KWQC-6 interchangably in the top two slots).

WHBF-TV was an infrequent visitor some 100+ miles to the WSW where I grew up, but from what little I could gather, they seemed like a shady operation to me as a kid. They ran the old "Divorce Court" at noon instead of the typical newscast in the late 60s.

In the early 80s as a student at the UI in Iowa City, I could compare and contrast local news from Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities. Not very much as a busy college student, but what little I saw of WHBF at the time didn't impress me. There was some young bucko reporter not much older than me who I'll call "Captain Obvious" who asked of an obviously sufferring subject, "And how does that make you feel?" Made me feel like changing the channel, which I did.

Back to 1230...in southern Colorado, the old KDZA was top 40 in Pueblo for years. The glory days of top 40 long past, in 2001 the station as KKPC was sold for $275k to Colorado Public Radio, which continues with largely NPR talk to this day. Also, the battle for dominance along I-25 between the Springs and Pueblo continues with 1240 KRDO and Pueblo's 1230 KKPC, both 1 kW day and night. They're both only 40 some miles apart with considerable overlap of the 2.5 mV/m contours.

With both of them doing talk formats, they co-exist fairly well these days, but I could imagine the monkey chatter back in the days of music radio. Imagine both of them playing that old "Toot Toot" song from the early 80s at the same time, or perhaps "Theme From A Summer Place" simultaneously. Many a car radio could have blown up in the dash along I-25 from such a 1st adjacent juxtaposition. Especially at the El Paso County - Pueblo County line, where I-25 changes from the Ronald Reagan Memorial Freeway to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Freeway, where incidentally more pavement blowouts have been reported by CDOT than any other place in Colorado.

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

Middays or so, a weak WEEX from Easton, ~45 miles east of us, is the louder of the two PA stations on 1230. I have the Harrisburg one listed as 'WKDO'
WEEX is an oddity because it is a) directional days and b) omni at night. Maybe someone here knows if they did that loose 2-tower signal by choice, or if not by choice, then what station they're protecting.

Nighttimes have proffered WITH Baltimore, WFVA VA, and a grand one for me -- WNOR Norfolk.

* * * * * * *

@ GarFL : In Ye Olden Days, and for the longest while, WCMC Wilwood NJ used to broadcast with 100 watts -- even after every other GYer had gone to 1000 day.

Near Idlewild Airport , in the early Sixties, overnights, it was a battle royale between two terrific Top 40 stations -- WITH Baltimore and WNOR Norfolk (my favorite station ever ; what a jingle logo and imaging!).
Every so often there's be another station joining the fray. One overnight, for example, WCOL and * its * Top 40 was simply roaring in. The old logbook has 21 different dots next to catches -- probably because I spent so much time listening for WNOR, hi.

And as one who spent a lot of time on 1230, I inevitably stumbled upon neighboring ZBM1 from Bermuda one overnight, on 1235.

The water-path treated me real well, with WJNO West Palm Beach, WERI Rhode Island and WSOK Savannah almost becoming pests after a while. Nighttime (and especially overnights) on 1230 seemed to rotate different odd stations that would be there for about a week on top.

 

[Icangelp]

Middays or so, a weak WEEX from Easton, ~45 miles east of us, is the louder of the two PA stations on 1230. I have the Harrisburg one listed as 'WKDO'
WEEX is an oddity because it is a) directional days and b) omni at night. Maybe someone here knows if they did that loose 2-tower signal by choice, or if not by choice, then what station they're protecting.

Nighttimes have proffered WITH Baltimore, WFVA VA, and a grand one for me -- WNOR Norfolk.

* * * * * * *

@ GarFL : In Ye Olden Days, and for the longest while, WCMC Wilwood NJ used to broadcast with 100 watts -- even after every other GYer had gone to 1000 day.

Near Idlewild Airport , in the early Sixties, overnights, it was a battle royale between two terrific Top 40 stations -- WITH Baltimore and WNOR Norfolk (my favorite station ever ; what a jingle logo and imaging!).
Every so often there's be another station joining the fray. One overnight, for example, WCOL and * its * Top 40 was simply roaring in. The old logbook has 21 different dots next to catches -- probably because I spent so much time listening for WNOR, hi.

And as one who spent a lot of time on 1230, I inevitably stumbled upon neighboring ZBM1 from Bermuda one overnight, on 1235.

The water-path treated me real well, with WJNO West Palm Beach, WERI Rhode Island and WSOK Savannah almost becoming pests after a while. Nighttime (and especially overnights) on 1230 seemed to rotate different odd stations that would be there for about a week on top.

Some great back in the day catches, Steve.

 

[icybluelake]

I was at WHBF (doing morning drive news) 1972-76. We won morning drive (thanks to a great morning host... not me.) We also had the best signal in town. I don't know for sure, but my guess was that WQUA was the revenue leader in the market during that period. Although they may not have been #1 overall. They were were the uptempto 70's version of AC. Typcal playlist would include songs like "Shambala", "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Tie a Yellow Ribbon", etc. But not the Stones, Led Zepplen, ZZ Top, etc." Weekends were oldies.

Maybe I heard you sometime on WHBF, who knows? I don't think it's ever been a strong enough signal in Cedar Rapids that I would have tuned in for long, but I was a very curious youngster -- particularly about radio. A DX-er in the making. Heck, I was already kind of a DX-er as a kid.

WOC has definitely never been strong enough in the daytime in our direction that I could have listened on more than a rare occasion when the signal might have been coming in relatively stronger. Was KWNT ever much of a factor in ratings? I think I recall it being a country music station for a long time, but a relatively weak daytime-only signal.

 

[cyberdad]

Was KWNT ever much of a factor in ratings? I think I recall it being a country music station for a long time, but a relatively weak daytime-only signal.

KWNT (1580) was a daytimer. 500 watts ND, IIRC.

The signal was adequate in the immediate metro, thanks to the good conductivity in the area. KWNT was pretty much a non-factor in the ratings, but still made a decent living for themselves by virtue of the fact that they were the only game in town for country and had a core following. That changed in or around 1975 when WHBF successfully flipped to country. Nobody would admit it, but the "Country Sunshine" format we adapted sounded a lot like what WMAQ was doing, and KWNT was no match for WHBF's 5kw fulltime signal and tighter presentation.

(Apologies for the veer)

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

2 Cyberdad ....

Overnights in those back-in-the-days overnights of 1230, WITH featured a jock whose real name was Robert Wayne Satterfield. He was a chunky, heavy-drinking, redheaded roughneck out of West Virginia who shortened his name to Bobby Wayne. Man, I wish I could remember the GY station in Ohio where he worked ; it wasn't WCOL..
I worked with him as a fellow jock around ten years later. What a talent! By that time he had corralled enough of that enthusiasm and mischief to've become Bobby 'The Wizard' Wayne in NYC radio, at WCBS-FM and (iIrc) WPIX-FM.

Gene Creasy was the overnight WITH guy I heard after Wayne left. Creasy later left there to go to WGH Norfolk 1310 (Newp'rt News).

The overnight WNOR jock for a long while was Johnny Hart.

 

[cyberdad]

Actually, Steve, when WQUA came up, I was thinking of their overnight guy. I never met him. He was something of a recluse. But he may have been the most talented jock at the station....or in the market. His name (at least on the air) was Adam Jones. Originally from the Erie, PA area, IIRC. He regularly turned down better offers. Internal or external. He liked things....including the loyal following he had developed....right where he was. Fortunately for Adam, owner LaVerne Flambo was a guy who was known for doing everything "first class", including taking care of his people.

Here's an article from several years ago that includes a thumbnail of Flambo and WQUA's history: http://qctimes.com/lifestyles/new-b...cle_6f03498d-99da-5dd3-b40b-d02c109cb9e9.html

 

[joebtsflk1]

Is there a connection between this Flambo and the Flambo that owned the old KFMH on 99.7 in Muscatine?

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

Here's Bobby Wayne's history from 440.com Satisfaction. Keep in mind that 440.com often truncates the history of smaller market stations, and that years listed at certain stations may not be accurate. You might go through the ARSA Surveys from specific radio stations to get more accurate information. When I looked on 440.com I was surprised that there was only one Bobby Wayne listed, as the first and middle as last names are common given names that DJs use.

http://440int.com/namesw.html#_bwayne

 

[cyberdad]

Is there a connection between this Flambo and the Flambo that owned the old KFMH on 99.7 in Muscatine?

I'm guessing it's the same guy. LaVerne Flambo was a group owner. KFMH in the early 70s was an afterthought for a management that was too busy making money on sister station KWPC (AM 860). I know, because I worked there for a few months. Flambo would have certainly recognized the potential of the KFMH signal.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

Regarding DAs on Local Frequencies, usually it was because there was an adjacent Class II or Class III station that needed to be protected when they went from 250 to 1000 watts. Some used SLRs if the reduction required was slight. Some DAs worked to the stations' advantage if it concentrated the signal over a large populated area. It seems like the 100 watt Class IVs got a "blanket" increase to 500 watts in the 1980s. There were only one or two. It was cleverly worded to apply to the station near Los Angeles.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

KWNT (1580) was a daytimer. 500 watts ND, IIRC.

The signal was adequate in the immediate metro, thanks to the good conductivity in the area. KWNT was pretty much a non-factor in the ratings, but still made a decent living for themselves by virtue of the fact that they were the only game in town for country and had a core following. That changed in or around 1975 when WHBF successfully flipped to country. Nobody would admit it, but the "Country Sunshine" format we adapted sounded a lot like what WMAQ was doing, and KWNT was no match for WHBF's 5kw fulltime signal and tighter presentation.

(Apologies for the veer)

Wouldn't KWNT have had to protect 1590-WAIK Galesburg, IL (about 50 miles south)--as likewise the latter station was directional toward the south to protect KWNT (and co-channel WPVL Platteville, WI)?

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WAIK&service=AM&status=L&hours=D