Wonderful job as always Donna. Being an avid WEEI junkie that began with programs such as Arthur Godfrey and Dear Abby during the days of long form CBS network programming, Paul Bezaquin started my lifelong love affair with talk radio
through the supurb WEEI newsradio 59 format. Sadly the far superior, tight and polished CBS O&O news format is gone leaving us with what I always preceived as a weaker, disjointed and somewhat sloppy product.
Upon my return to Boston in the mid 70's landing across Revere Beach Parkway at
the future Kiss 108 I had the thrill and privilage to dismantle and remove a treasured piece of WEEI history.....the General Electric 5 kilowatt transmitter,
well designed, built and beautiful to look at. Larry Conti needed the GE removed to make way for a new Harris MW-5. Sadly two years later the MW-5
had a very bad internal fire and the remains were shoveled out the door.
The Wellington Circle site built in 1938 had the typical CBS O&O glass block feature
which also appeared on the old WEEI-FM site on the hill in Medford
Where the building front bows above the glass block were WEEI in big letters.
At the enterance to the circular driveway was a big dual side electric sign that
had the call letters WEEI in white on a solid blue background and just below
in big letter was CBS RADIO
On the left side of the building sits a large transformer platform which likely held
utility stepdown transformers and possibly the iron from an earlier Western Electric transmitter.
One unique feature of the GE was a gigantic blower fan which sat in a large opening through the cement floor that was mounted on the basement ceiling.
Inside where the building front bows sat a railed catwalk overlooking the master
control desk at a lower level where the engineer on duty faced the transmitter.
Larry told me that there were always several engineers in the building during
daytime hours and the catwalk was used for public viewing as the were tours
scheduled on a regular basis.
May of these features disappeared with further renovations during the 80's about the time I was able to watch the self supporting towers pulled over.
Larry gave me copy of the October 1939 proceedings of the IRE that featured
the site selection and construction of the WEEI Medford site when the decision was made to abandon the Weymouth.
Donna if you want a copy of this paper contact me.
through the supurb WEEI newsradio 59 format. Sadly the far superior, tight and polished CBS O&O news format is gone leaving us with what I always preceived as a weaker, disjointed and somewhat sloppy product.
Upon my return to Boston in the mid 70's landing across Revere Beach Parkway at
the future Kiss 108 I had the thrill and privilage to dismantle and remove a treasured piece of WEEI history.....the General Electric 5 kilowatt transmitter,
well designed, built and beautiful to look at. Larry Conti needed the GE removed to make way for a new Harris MW-5. Sadly two years later the MW-5
had a very bad internal fire and the remains were shoveled out the door.
The Wellington Circle site built in 1938 had the typical CBS O&O glass block feature
which also appeared on the old WEEI-FM site on the hill in Medford
Where the building front bows above the glass block were WEEI in big letters.
At the enterance to the circular driveway was a big dual side electric sign that
had the call letters WEEI in white on a solid blue background and just below
in big letter was CBS RADIO
On the left side of the building sits a large transformer platform which likely held
utility stepdown transformers and possibly the iron from an earlier Western Electric transmitter.
One unique feature of the GE was a gigantic blower fan which sat in a large opening through the cement floor that was mounted on the basement ceiling.
Inside where the building front bows sat a railed catwalk overlooking the master
control desk at a lower level where the engineer on duty faced the transmitter.
Larry told me that there were always several engineers in the building during
daytime hours and the catwalk was used for public viewing as the were tours
scheduled on a regular basis.
May of these features disappeared with further renovations during the 80's about the time I was able to watch the self supporting towers pulled over.
Larry gave me copy of the October 1939 proceedings of the IRE that featured
the site selection and construction of the WEEI Medford site when the decision was made to abandon the Weymouth.
Donna if you want a copy of this paper contact me.
