Carl McIntire Would Be Happy Today!

[John1]

News story in the Inquirer today that the "Bicentennial Bell" presented in person as a gift by Queen Elizabeth to the US on July 6, 1976 is now, at least temporarily, removed from the tower on Independence Mall and in a large storage box somewhere as the site becomes part of an independent Revolutionary War Museum.

In one of the great moments in Philadelphia Bicentennial Radio history, Rev. Carl McIntire, the firery radio preacher based then at WTMR in Camden (last I heard, still on in reruns Saturdays at noon on WTMR) had his radio audience show up for the Queen's visit to dump a copy paper-mache bell into the Delaware to protest that her "counterfeit bell" didn't have the Bible verse inscribed on it that the Liberty Bell has (no one said it was supposed to be a replica but he was angered by it). They had planned to blare their car horns, rain pamphlets from small planes and have a circling airborne banner that read 'Britain Bans Bible Verse from Bell' - not sure all came off as planned. McIntire claimed to have a petition with over a million signatures that they sent to British officials asking them to keep the bell. I never heard if the Queen was aware of the protest. Philadelphia has had a lot of interesting, controvercial radio hosts over the years, but none stirred up more passion among his listeners than the Rev. Dr. Carl McIntire!

 

[athegymtday]

Ahh yes I rememeber him well. Pirot ships off of Cape May when he lost his station's license. And when he went to Vietnam in the 60's and stated "the only good Commie is a dead Commie". Did he ever present opposing views? No

 

[Seltzer]

A truly great man and patriot. Growing up, it was required listening to Rev. McIntire in our home.

News story in the Inquirer today that the "Bicentennial Bell" presented in person as a gift by Queen Elizabeth to the US on July 6, 1976 is now, at least temporarily, removed from the tower on Independence Mall and in a large storage box somewhere as the site becomes part of an independent Revolutionary War Museum.

In one of the great moments in Philadelphia Bicentennial Radio history, Rev. Carl McIntire, the firery radio preacher based then at WTMR in Camden (last I heard, still on in reruns Saturdays at noon on WTMR) had his radio audience show up for the Queen's visit to dump a copy paper-mache bell into the Delaware to protest that her "counterfeit bell" didn't have the Bible verse inscribed on it that the Liberty Bell has (no one said it was supposed to be a replica but he was angered by it). They had planned to blare their car horns, rain pamphlets from small planes and have a circling airborne banner that read 'Britain Bans Bible Verse from Bell' - not sure all came off as planned. McIntire claimed to have a petition with over a million signatures that they sent to British officials asking them to keep the bell. I never heard if the Queen was aware of the protest. Philadelphia has had a lot of interesting, controvercial radio hosts over the years, but none stirred up more passion among his listeners than the Rev. Dr. Carl McIntire!

 

[DG02816]

The transmitter he used at 690 went to WVCH as an aux. One of WPHT's engineers(a ham)is now using it on 80 meters. I do remember his playing chicken with the FCC over the equal time rules and losing both licenses. Sorry to say I have less than no regard for someone who would knowingly and willfully disobey rule of law as he did with his pirate operation.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

A truly great man and patriot. Growing up, it was required listening to Rev. McIntire in our home.

McIntire was one of those people who was warmly accepted and welcomed by some, and deeply despised by others.

There was a different understanding of broadcasting rules and regs in the days of McIntire. Many of today's broadcasters including Rush Limbaugh probably could not have survived much less thrived in that day.

If McIntire had arrived on the scene in our present regulatory climate, the FCC would likely not have torpedoed is "broadcasting fleet".


Presbyterians in America today are divided into camps that fondly adore and follow the concepts of McIntire, and camps that wish they could erase him from their memory and from their history.

The FCC may have mellowed out a bit and may exhibit some tolerance. The Presbyterians on the other hand...........

 

[richllewis]

I remember one of my classmates at Marple Vo-Tech in the late 70's, a guy by the last name of Bob Bartola went to work at WXUR as an engineer before Carl McIntyre was shut down by the FCC. I wonder if he is still doing Broadcast engineering?

McIntyre was a pioneer in Christian Radio way before Salem and what WFIL is today (and many other Christian Broadcasters around America is today including American Family Radio in my neck of the woods in Mississippi.) In my opinion his type of Christian Radio would be tolerated and welcomed in today's climate rather than the climate of the fairness doctrine of yesteryear. Too bad he was quite a few years ahead of his time.

 

[ka2xuk]

I do remember his playing chicken with the FCC over the equal time rules and losing both licenses.

To correct several popular misconceptions about WXUR-AM/FM which persist to this day:

1. Rev. McIntire did not own WXUR-AM/FM. WXUR was licensed to Brandywine-Main Line Radio, which was owned by Faith Theological Seminary in Elkins Park. McIntire was president of the seminary.

2. While Fairness Doctrine issues resulted in a succession of short-term license renewals for WXUR, these did not kill the station. The board of Faith Theological Seminary allegedly misrepresented to the FCC what they planned to do with WXUR when they filed the transfer application to purchase 100% of the shares in Brandywine-Main Line Radio. To wit: They did not tell the FCC about the controversial political and religious programs that they planned to air. The application stated that WXUR would simply continue its format of MOR music and news.

When Faith Theological Seminary took control of WXUR, the music format was immediately changed from MOR (Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and the like) to Mantovani-style music. Within days, political programs such as the Manion Forum and the Dan Smoot Report showed up on the air.

Perhaps the personality who stirred up most of the animosity against WXUR was the late Tom Livezey. He did an incendiary call-in show called "Freedom of Speech" which had a strong right wing bent. His habit of cutting off callers brought a lot of complaints, as did his tendency toward racial bias. Eventually, WXUR management removed him from the air. Ironically, Livezey would be quite at home on today's talk radio, especially on WNTP or WWIQ.

3. The licenses were not revoked. The FCC just refused to grant any more renewals and the licenses expired on July 1, 1973. WXUR-FM left the air with a playing of the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee". (The AM station was daytime-only and had already shut down for the night.)

 

[ka2xuk]

Presbyterians in America today are divided into camps that fondly adore and follow the concepts of McIntire, and camps that wish they could erase him from their memory and from their history.

The FCC may have mellowed out a bit and may exhibit some tolerance. The Presbyterians on the other hand...........

Rev. McIntire broke away from the mainstream Presbyterian Church in 1936. At issue was a document called the "Westminster Confession", which is a statement of the beliefs of that church. The mainstream church shelved that confession and McIntire wanted it to be preserved as an active part of church doctrine.

As far as I know, McIntire's church is still active. It is the Bible Presbyterian Church in Collingswood, NJ and it is very conservative, both theologically and politically.

 

[John1]

His name would mean nothing to most Presbyterians today...but in his day he kept the rivalry going (he led a small branch that had broken from the main large denomination as mentioned), I remember he & a small band of followers sat on the front lawn of Abington Presbyterian Church one Sunday in the 1970's during a worship service protesting some document the Presbyterian church had published. He loved to do 'stunts' in public to get attention - one time a Soviet Union ship was docked in the area & he & his followers gathered to just yell at their sailors through his bullhorn. His daily radio show was on a 'network' of stations he put together all over the country, such as WBUX in Doylestown right in the middle of their MOR morning show at 7:30 am. He was live on WTMR for the Saturday noon hour for about 30 years from the 1970's until he died. He'd take live phone calls with no delay - some would be from the people he called "my harassers" who would talk like followers then change their message - such as "I'd like to donate $5 to you Dr. McIntire...and F You!!" THEN he'd hang up on them, and the next caller would be one of his followers, donating $5 to make up for "that harasser". This went on week after week.

 

[rnigma1]

Never heard his show, but I recall reading some issues of his "Christian Beacon" newsletter (I think I got them through my uncle who was a preacher) . From what I gathered, he seemed to relish playing the victim.

 

[SteelRocker]

I remember as a kid my dad was an avid listener to Dr. McIntyre on a daily basis. His show must have been syndicated, and I believe it was on WGCB-FM in Red Lion, PA. I specifically remember the days when he was doing the broadcast from the boat. I hadn't heard that name in many many years and was interesting to read all this about him. I remember Dad saying he wasn't your typical Presbyterian preacher, and I do recall he enjoyed stirring things up.

 

[ka2xuk]

His show must have been syndicated, and I believe it was on WGCB-FM in Red Lion, PA.

Rev. McIntire had two programs which were syndicated. The most widely heard program was the "20th Century Reformation Hour", which was heard on a couple of hundred stations nationwide before the Fairness Doctrine frightened many of them away. His other program was the "Christian Admiral Hour", named after a hotel that he owned in Cape May, NJ.

What prompted McIntire to talk the board at Faith Theological Seminary into purchasing WXUR in 1965 was the dropping of the "20th Century Reformation Hour" by WVCH in Chester. As a small station, WVCH did not have the resources to monitor everything that McIntire was saying, then send tapes to anyone whom he attacked on the air. So McIntire looked at WXUR as a way of giving him an outlet in his home base, the Philadelphia metro. But, as I stated earlier, he did not actually own WXUR.

WGCB-AM/FM in Red Lion carried his programs. That station was owned by Rev. John M. and John H. Norris. Like WXUR, the AM station operated daytime only. Many programs were repeated on FM at night, although the music format on the FM station (and on AM, between programs) was lush, Mantovani-style music, like that aired on WXUR when no religious or political programs were scheduled. One of the Norrises also served as general manager of WXUR. I believe that these programs also aired on shortwave over WINB in Red Lion, co-owned with WGCB.

Rev. Dr. McIntire was definitely not a typical Presbyterian preacher. Politically, he was extremely conservative. Theologically, he tended toward fundamentalism and had a strong distaste for the increasingly liberal leanings of the mainstream Presbyterian Church USA. His break with that denomination occurred in 1936 over the matter of the Westminster Confession.

 

[SteelRocker]

His show must have been syndicated, and I believe it was on WGCB-FM in Red Lion, PA.

Rev. McIntire had two programs which were syndicated. The most widely heard program was the "20th Century Reformation Hour", which was heard on a couple of hundred stations nationwide before the Fairness Doctrine frightened many of them away. His other program was the "Christian Admiral Hour", named after a hotel that he owned in Cape May, NJ.

What prompted McIntire to talk the board at Faith Theological Seminary into purchasing WXUR in 1965 was the dropping of the "20th Century Reformation Hour" by WVCH in Chester. As a small station, WVCH did not have the resources to monitor everything that McIntire was saying, then send tapes to anyone whom he attacked on the air. So McIntire looked at WXUR as a way of giving him an outlet in his home base, the Philadelphia metro. But, as I stated earlier, he did not actually own WXUR.

WGCB-AM/FM in Red Lion carried his programs. That station was owned by Rev. John M. and John H. Norris. Like WXUR, the AM station operated daytime only. Many programs were repeated on FM at night, although the music format on the FM station (and on AM, between programs) was lush, Mantovani-style music, like that aired on WXUR when no religious or political programs were scheduled. One of the Norrises also served as general manager of WXUR. I believe that these programs also aired on shortwave over WINB in Red Lion, co-owned with WGCB.

Rev. Dr. McIntire was definitely not a typical Presbyterian preacher. Politically, he was extremely conservative. Theologically, he tended toward fundamentalism and had a strong distaste for the increasingly liberal leanings of the mainstream Presbyterian Church USA. His break with that denomination occurred in 1936 over the matter of the Westminster Confession.

Thanks for all the information. I believe you are a ham based on your name, I am also a ham op. I also knew the ham that operated the shortwave station over in Red Lion. I don't know if Greg is still alive or not. 73.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Rev. Dr. McIntire was definitely not a typical Presbyterian preacher. Politically, he was extremely conservative. Theologically, he tended toward fundamentalism and had a strong distaste for the increasingly liberal leanings of the mainstream Presbyterian Church USA. His break with that denomination occurred in 1936 over the matter of the Westminster Confession.

It was a rowdy era for Presbyterians in particular, and protestants in general. My view of the history is that McIntire was the brightest fire-brand of the bunch. He made more noise that some because of his broadcasting.

Probably the "king-pin" of the era was J. Gresham Machen. About 1905 a group at Princeton Seminary invented what we talk about world-wide today. They were the beginning of FUNDAMENTALISM in Christianity. Princeton Seminary booted them out. For three years in the late 1920s it looked like they might have a political hold on the Presbyterian mechanism but after three years they were routed out and were never close to regaining control. That is when Bible Presbyterian and Orthodox Presbyterian denominations started up

After the kerfufle at Princeton, some of them developed an effort to establish Fundamentalism in the basement of The First Presbyterian Church in Dallas but it wasn't long before the powers-that-be in that church suggested they take a hike. The result was they moved to another location and reportedly set up what we know today as Dallas Theological Seminary.... which is pretty much a Baptist Aligned school.

Presbyterians invented Christian Fundamentalism behind the scenes at Princeton, but the Baptists took possession of the concept just a few years later and ever since the early 1900s, when people speak of someone in America being a Fundamentalist Christian, many of us immediately assume that someone is probably a Baptist.

As of 2012 it looks like it might be more accuratre to immediately assume that someone is a Republican.

I suspect Matchen and McIntire would have had a great time supporting the Republican presidential campaign of 2012.... but would grumble because the Republicans did not put the Westminster Confession in the platform. ;D

Had McIntire come along later, it would be interesting to see if he would have developed his use of radio in such a way that it would have been ready and waiting when Rush Limbaugh came along... giving him a head start in establishing his footprint on Talk Radio.

 

[amfmsw]

The Red Lion Case (Red Lion Broadcasting vs. The FCC) was/is one of the most famous of all free speech/ First Ammendment cases. 1969. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, which held that because of the scarcity of frequencies, the obligation put upon the operators to notify and provide FREE airtime to respond to personal attacks was in the best convenience/public interest of the Community. It protected THEIR Free Speech. This was The Fainess Doctine in practice kids....and now you know the rest of the story. The station 96.1 is now WSOX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lion_Broadcasting_Co._v._Federal_Communications_Commission

This is why WXUR's license was revoked/not renewed. McIntire refused to give equal time. It went dark and became Philly's 1st move-in as Kiss 100 WKSZ from Media with a much improved signal.

 

[John1]

After years of listening to Carl McIntire, there is no way he would have supported a Mormon for President no matter who ran against him.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

After years of listening to Carl McIntire, there is no way he would have supported a Mormon for President no matter who ran against him.

I suspect there has been more than one Sunday School class, more than one Bible study group, more that once social event of church members where the discussion has come up: "What does a Christian who believes what WE believe (the particular group) do in an election like the recent Presidential election." What would a guy like McIntire have to say in such a discussion. I have a feeling he would not have been fond of either candidate.