I've been trying to remember how my future high school radio station, WKET, sounded then. They had a morning show called "Daybreak", and were quite fond of playing "Earache My Eye".
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Dayton Top 40 Radio in 1976
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kirkiefan
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...now THAT one takes me a bit by surprise. For many years WBLY was an AM/FM simulcast MOR. When I moved back to this area thirty years ago and met my wife I listened to it when it was playimg album rock (the future WAZU in 1981)so hearing Smilin' Bob on a rock n' roll FM would have been a freak out to the average Top 40 listener. WIZE was still Top 40 at that time and John Hall was the morning man competing with Smilin' Bob. Automated Top 40 was also heard on "G-15" (WGIC) in Xenia. Now I wished I would have tuned in at that time.
Now that post brings back a lot of memories...
John Hall did mornings at WIZE for years (I worked overnights in 72 and 73) then went to WLW to do production and weekends (?). I think he has passed away not that long ago. Gerry Allen did the news, and those two did NOT get along. Gerry went on to do traffic at WHIO and then ???
Smilin' Bob Yontz owned WBLY. It was the community station... I can't remember the guy who read news, but I used to read along with him off the front page of the newspaper on my route on Sunday mornings. The first time I was on the air was as a caller to the Smilin' Bob show. His son(s?) took over the station for a while until they sold. Hope they made out. 1600 AM was running a preacher on a phone line while I was there last week. Sad..
WGIC. I can barely remember the G15 days. In 1974 I was going to Wright State, working afternoons at WGIC (MOR music, daytimer) and then running the board for preachers at night on the FM WBZI. It still burns me that in April 1974, the newspaper printed 4 pages three days after the storm and won a Pulitzer Prize. We kept WGIC on the air with gas generators and remote broadcasts with emergency info and the station got fined for not properly notifying the FCC they were staying on the air after required signoff at sundown.
I'd sign off WGIC (1500AM) in the summer, turn off the transmitter, and WLAC 1510 would BOOM into the air monitor speakers. Who can forget SPIDERMAN "15 WLAC". First station I ever heard a commercial to buy baby chicks by mail...
John Hall did mornings at WIZE for years (I worked overnights in 72 and 73) then went to WLW to do production and weekends (?). I think he has passed away not that long ago. Gerry Allen did the news, and those two did NOT get along. Gerry went on to do traffic at WHIO and then ???
Smilin' Bob Yontz owned WBLY. It was the community station... I can't remember the guy who read news, but I used to read along with him off the front page of the newspaper on my route on Sunday mornings. The first time I was on the air was as a caller to the Smilin' Bob show. His son(s?) took over the station for a while until they sold. Hope they made out. 1600 AM was running a preacher on a phone line while I was there last week. Sad..
WGIC. I can barely remember the G15 days. In 1974 I was going to Wright State, working afternoons at WGIC (MOR music, daytimer) and then running the board for preachers at night on the FM WBZI. It still burns me that in April 1974, the newspaper printed 4 pages three days after the storm and won a Pulitzer Prize. We kept WGIC on the air with gas generators and remote broadcasts with emergency info and the station got fined for not properly notifying the FCC they were staying on the air after required signoff at sundown.
I'd sign off WGIC (1500AM) in the summer, turn off the transmitter, and WLAC 1510 would BOOM into the air monitor speakers. Who can forget SPIDERMAN "15 WLAC". First station I ever heard a commercial to buy baby chicks by mail...
What was your nickname on the Smilin' Bob Show? He used to give callers nicknames, like the one he used to call, "Bacon". 
Mark, weren't you at Y-95 in Tampa?
I can't believe G-15 got a fine for staying on late. The tornado happened at about 4:20, what were you supposed to do, send the FCC and email in 1974? Were operators standing by on M Street so you could tell them you were staying on late? The emergency rules must have been relaxed since 1974.
Was WBZI (FM) full time religious then? I'm not clear on the smaller Dayton stations before 1975. If so, there were a heck of a lot of religious FMs. What I can remember in '75 was WFCJ, WEEC,. WQMS Hamilton, WAKW Cincy and black Gospel from WPBF (WPFB-FM). Of course there was Jim Johnson's Gospel show on WDAO from 5 to 7, and Cash Amburgey somewhere.
I can't believe G-15 got a fine for staying on late. The tornado happened at about 4:20, what were you supposed to do, send the FCC and email in 1974? Were operators standing by on M Street so you could tell them you were staying on late? The emergency rules must have been relaxed since 1974.
Was WBZI (FM) full time religious then? I'm not clear on the smaller Dayton stations before 1975. If so, there were a heck of a lot of religious FMs. What I can remember in '75 was WFCJ, WEEC,. WQMS Hamilton, WAKW Cincy and black Gospel from WPBF (WPFB-FM). Of course there was Jim Johnson's Gospel show on WDAO from 5 to 7, and Cash Amburgey somewhere.
Call Letters - Nickname was "Hunky Dory" and I'll never forget it.
gr8 - The fine (which I think was recinded) was for running a commercial after what should have been sign off. You could stay on without any notice, but we ran a State Farm ad (telling people how to get emergency aid) two or three days after the storm. And the biggest bitch is someone had to have heard it and filed a complaint (read: competitor). I am old, so perhaps I don't remember the story that well, but it still stings.
gr8 - The fine (which I think was recinded) was for running a commercial after what should have been sign off. You could stay on without any notice, but we ran a State Farm ad (telling people how to get emergency aid) two or three days after the storm. And the biggest bitch is someone had to have heard it and filed a complaint (read: competitor). I am old, so perhaps I don't remember the story that well, but it still stings.
Ah...Cash Amberguy, the old country boy from South Lebanon Ohio...along with Al Schottelkotte, he lives on in my memories.
gr8 - yes, I did spend about a year at 'YNF in Tampa...
FOLLOW THE SIGNS...FOLLOW THE CARS TO KASH'S BIG BARGAIN BARN ....SOUTH LEB-BA-NON-O-HI-O...WHERE YOU ALWAYS SAVE CASH WITH KASH!
(God rest his soul along with John Hall) Radio isn't the same anymore.
Also remembered Spider Harrison on 15 'LAC followed by The Hossman's overnight soul gospel program in the 70s. He also aired those commercials for Red Top Chicks,Jimmie's One Stop and Randy R-A-N-D-Y..Gallatin G-A-L-L-A-T-I-N Gallatin Tennnessee!
(God rest his soul along with John Hall) Radio isn't the same anymore.
Also remembered Spider Harrison on 15 'LAC followed by The Hossman's overnight soul gospel program in the 70s. He also aired those commercials for Red Top Chicks,Jimmie's One Stop and Randy R-A-N-D-Y..Gallatin G-A-L-L-A-T-I-N Gallatin Tennnessee!
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