Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was "Magic 93"?

[Gregg]

I didn't realize WMGX has been on the air for 30 years. When it first signed on, it was called Magic 93 (hence the call letters) with a very soft rock format that had been successful at other Magic stations around the U.S., such as WMGK Philadelphia, WMGC Detroit, WMGC New Brunswick NJ, WMJX Boston (all owned by Greater Media Corp) and WIOF 104.1 Hartford (now WPHH, a hip hop station that had been owned by TV host Merv Griffin in its Magic days).

The core artists were Simon & Garfunkle, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, America, Cat Stevens, Crosby Stills and Nash, Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder, Beatles, Carole King, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot, etc. At that time, Rock stations played as much Linda Ronstadt as they did Led Zeppelin. So WMGX and other Magic stations tried to eliminate the Zeppelin (except for "Going to California") and play only soft cuts from artists accepted on rock stations.

This was different from "Adult Contemporary" in that AC was simply taking the Top 40 lists and eliminating the youth-oriented or harder rock/harder R&B music and playing everything else. AC staitons had DJs talking over the songs, Magic played four songs in a row without talking and the DJs never talked over the intros. Most Magic stations used jingles but WMGX didn't. I'm not sure if that was to be more pure or to avoid the expense of buying a jingle package. I also don't recall if Magic 93 played the sound of wind chimes to reinforce the idea of "Magic" which the other Magic stations did. (Sort of like in TV show where a genie magically appears and we hear a flourish of wind chimes.)

They were all great stations but the format faded after about 10 years. Many of the Magic stations picked up the tempo, added more personality and are today simply Adult Contemporary stations. But WMGX, while also picking up the tempo, tried to straddle the line between AC and Rock. And was pretty successful at it till Frank stole a big chunk of Magic's listeners. Apparently you can't be sort-of-rock, sort-of-AC as WMGX tried to be. So they're going to be a Hot AC station now.

But I still miss Magic.

And I wonder how the owners found a full-power FM frequency in the 1970s that hadn't been claimed yet in a market the size of Portland? Most of the other FM stations in the market had signed on in the 50s.




Gregg
[email protected]

 

[argytunes]

> I didn't realize WMGX has been on the air for 30 years.
> When it first signed on, it was called Magic 93 (hence the
> call letters) with a very soft rock format that had been
> successful at other Magic stations around the U.S., such as
> WMGK Philadelphia, WMGC Detroit, WMGC New Brunswick NJ, WMJX
> Boston (all owned by Greater Media Corp) and WIOF 104.1
> Hartford (now WPHH, a hip hop station that had been owned by
> TV host Merv Griffin in its Magic days).
>
> The core artists were Simon & Garfunkle, James Taylor, Joni
> Mitchell, America, Cat Stevens, Crosby Stills and Nash,
> Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder, Beatles, Carole King, Elton
> John, Gordon Lightfoot, etc. At that time, Rock stations
> played as much Linda Ronstadt as they did Led Zeppelin. So
> WMGX and other Magic stations tried to eliminate the
> Zeppelin (except for "Going to California") and play only
> soft cuts from artists accepted on rock stations.
>
> This was different from "Adult Contemporary" in that AC was
> simply taking the Top 40 lists and eliminating the
> youth-oriented or harder rock/harder R&B music and playing
> everything else. AC staitons had DJs talking over the
> songs, Magic played four songs in a row without talking and
> the DJs never talked over the intros. Most Magic stations
> used jingles but WMGX didn't. I'm not sure if that was to
> be more pure or to avoid the expense of buying a jingle
> package. I also don't recall if Magic 93 played the sound
> of wind chimes to reinforce the idea of "Magic" which the
> other Magic stations did. (Sort of like in TV show where a
> genie magically appears and we hear a flourish of wind
> chimes.)
>
> They were all great stations but the format faded after
> about 10 years. Many of the Magic stations picked up the
> tempo, added more personality and are today simply Adult
> Contemporary stations. But WMGX, while also picking up the
> tempo, tried to straddle the line between AC and Rock. And
> was pretty successful at it till Frank stole a big chunk of
> Magic's listeners. Apparently you can't be sort-of-rock,
> sort-of-AC as WMGX tried to be. So they're going to be a
> Hot AC station now.
>
> But I still miss Magic.

Hi Gregg!

Do you suppose you could tell some of our 'thread readers' that you and I are completely different people? I've been accused (more than once) of "longing for the good old days of radio!"

I think the original MAGIC 93 worked so well was because it filled a need in the Greater Portland Radio market. The core artists that you mentioned related to baby boomers and a few generation X'ers. The on-air style during the 80s wasn't as contrived (with incredibly long and forgettable slug-liners). WGMX (in the 80s) put a greater emphasis on the music.

> And I wonder how the owners found a full-power FM frequency
> in the 1970s that hadn't been claimed yet in a market the
> size of Portland? Most of the other FM stations in the
> market had signed on in the 50s.

GOOD QUESTION...but not being an audio engineer or having any broadcast connection with WMGX when they originally signed on...I can't provide you with an answer. Maybe someone reading this thread....CAN??

argytunes

Gregg
> [email protected]
>

 

[DidYouKnow]

> This was different from "Adult Contemporary" in that AC was
> simply taking the Top 40 lists and eliminating the
> youth-oriented or harder rock/harder R&B music and playing
> everything else. AC staitons had DJs talking over the
> songs, Magic played four songs in a row without talking and
> the DJs never talked over the intros. Most Magic stations
> used jingles but WMGX didn't. I'm not sure if that was to
> be more pure or to avoid the expense of buying a jingle
> package. I also don't recall if Magic 93 played the sound
> of wind chimes to reinforce the idea of "Magic" which the
> other Magic stations did. (Sort of like in TV show where a
> genie magically appears and we hear a flourish of wind
> chimes.)


WMGX did have jingles in th begining, and was jockless.I think Dave Dean was the only voice I ever heard in the begining.At the time WEEI-FM in Boston had a similar format "SOFTROCK 103", and the two stations sounded quite a bit alike.


>
> They were all great stations but the format faded after
> about 10 years. Many of the Magic stations picked up the
> tempo, added more personality and are today simply Adult
> Contemporary stations. But WMGX, while also picking up the
> tempo, tried to straddle the line between AC and Rock. And
> was pretty successful at it till Frank stole a big chunk of
> Magic's listeners. Apparently you can't be sort-of-rock,
> sort-of-AC as WMGX tried to be. So they're going to be a
> Hot AC station now.
>
> But I still miss Magic.
>
> And I wonder how the owners found a full-power FM frequency
> in the 1970s that hadn't been claimed yet in a market the
> size of Portland? Most of the other FM stations in the
> market had signed on in the 50s.

Wasn't the original owner Sunshine Broadcasting?Sunshine ended up with 95.3 in York Center and WZID & WFEA in Manchester.
>
>
>
>
> Gregg
> [email protected]
>

 

[Radiothis]

Magic 93 was the first radio station I remember in my young life. The logo I remember involved a top hat and possibly a wand.

Just to further date me, my mother used to listen to it on our way to aerobics. No, I didn't participate! (I was approx 3 or 4).

It was owned by Sunshine Broadcasting. At one time the studios were at the corner of High and Cumberland, I believe.

However, I yield the floor to ErieLackawanna, who in addition to apparently loving railroads, knows everything ever about Portland radio! The guy is an encyclopedia!

 

[DidYouKnow]

> It was owned by Sunshine Broadcasting. At one time the
> studios were at the corner of High and Cumberland, I
> believe.

And before that they were on the top floor of the Time & Temperature building.I'm not positive,but I think their transmitter was also on that building too.The name just came to me, they guy who owned Sunshine was George Silverman.O.K. Erie you're up next.

 

[channelsurf]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \"Magic 93\"?

In 1980, I remember that Portland essentially had three rock stations. They were 107.5-WBLM, 100.9-WLOB-FM and 93.1-WMGX which was soft rock, similar to the old WEEI-FM, in Boston. Magic 93 was weird though, depending upon which week or month you listened, it seemed to veer moore AOR or more A/C. Basically kind of inconsistant. It did seem to become a bit more consistant, after Randi, took over programming, though. Another weird station from that era was the Top 40/AOR hybrid approach of 105.9-WIGY....By the way, WMGX was around a few years, before WMJX. 106.7 in Boston, was WBZ-FM, well into 1981, doing an AOR format, at that point. The call letters switched to WMJX during the summer of 1981, but the A/C format, didn\'t happen until January, 1982.







I didn\'t realize WMGX has been on the air for 30 years.

> When it first signed on, it was called Magic 93 (hence the

> call letters) with a very soft rock format that had been

> successful at other Magic stations around the U.S., such as

> WMGK Philadelphia, WMGC Detroit, WMGC New Brunswick NJ, WMJX

> Boston (all owned by Greater Media Corp) and WIOF 104.1

> Hartford (now WPHH, a hip hop station that had been owned by

> TV host Merv Griffin in its Magic days).

>

> The core artists were Simon & Garfunkle, James Taylor, Joni

> Mitchell, America, Cat Stevens, Crosby Stills and Nash,

> Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder, Beatles, Carole King, Elton

> John, Gordon Lightfoot, etc. At that time, Rock stations

> played as much Linda Ronstadt as they did Led Zeppelin. So

> WMGX and other Magic stations tried to eliminate the

> Zeppelin (except for \"Going to California\") and play only

> soft cuts from artists accepted on rock stations.

>

> This was different from \"Adult Contemporary\" in that AC was

> simply taking the Top 40 lists and eliminating the

> youth-oriented or harder rock/harder R&B music and playing

> everything else. AC staitons had DJs talking over the

> songs, Magic played four songs in a row without talking and

> the DJs never talked over the intros. Most Magic stations

> used jingles but WMGX didn\'t. I\'m not sure if that was to

> be more pure or to avoid the expense of buying a jingle

> package. I also don\'t recall if Magic 93 played the sound

> of wind chimes to reinforce the idea of \"Magic\" which the

> other Magic stations did. (Sort of like in TV show where a

> genie magically appears and we hear a flourish of wind

> chimes.)

>

> They were all great stations but the format faded after

> about 10 years. Many of the Magic stations picked up the

> tempo, added more personality and are today simply Adult

> Contemporary stations. But WMGX, while also picking up the

> tempo, tried to straddle the line between AC and Rock. And

> was pretty successful at it till Frank stole a big chunk of

> Magic\'s listeners. Apparently you can\'t be sort-of-rock,

> sort-of-AC as WMGX tried to be. So they\'re going to be a

> Hot AC station now.

>

> But I still miss Magic.

>

> And I wonder how the owners found a full-power FM frequency

> in the 1970s that hadn\'t been claimed yet in a market the

> size of Portland? Most of the other FM stations in the

> market had signed on in the 50s.

>

>

>

>

> Gregg

> [email protected]

>

 

[RSKaz]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Indeed I remember. It was my first commercial radio gig. Worked there from 1979-1983.

The "Magic" format was always three song sets of soft rock, "jazz" (e.g. Grover Washington Jr.), and folk. All the music was on reel-to-reel. Dave Dean was responsible for going live with turntables and jocks who knew music.

When I came in, the original line up was Dean Steves & Terry Lombard (mornings), Dave Dean (midday) Nan Leavett (afternoon), Kenny Rupp (evening). Me (overnight).

Typical of radio, they worked me like a rented mule. In addition to overnight, features and copywriting, production, news & public affairs, I also did mornings with Dean Steves, Dave Dean, G.V. Rapp, Brian McGarry, and finally Jay Michaels. For years, I had the dubious honor of having the longest consecutive air-shift in Maine radio. Mon. 6am-10am, Mon-Fri. 10pm-10am. I was the last voice people heard when they went to bed and the first they heard when the woke up in the morning. Frightening!

 

[ret vet]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

I came to Magic93 as sales mgr, in 1981 when Richard and most of the people he talked about were there. I had no experience in local radio, just national (I had worked as a rep in NYC for 7 years). Portland was and is a terribly over-radioed market and I really found it tough and moved on after a couple of years to work in sales at WSSH (99.1) Boston where we made same real money in the 80s.

WMGX broadcast out of 377 Congress St. where Nassau Broadcasting (my last port of call before retiring) has their Maine operation. It was a good operation with great on-air talent, a great bunch of people. I'm still in touch with Dean Steeves who runs an improv comedy troupe out of Tucson.

They must've been doing something right. There aren't many stations that keep the same calls and a similar format for 30 years. I don't recall exactly how George and Sunny Silverman managed to find an open signal in such a crowded market but I do know they went into some major hock to finance it and they had some lean years during the recession of the early 80s but eventually made out very well.

My regards to you Richard and the other former Magicians out there.

-Andy Subbiondo

 

[RSKaz]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Andy,

Jonathan Farley is trying to get as many of the "old gang" together this month in Portland for lunch. He, and many of the MGX staff, can be found on LinkedIn. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to hear from you. Do stay in touch.

Cheers,
Richard Kazimer

 

[kidcharlemagne]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

WMGX Magic 93 was my first job out of UMaine in 1978. Nan Leavitt was my in, as I knew her from WMEB at Orono. Started overnights on weekends, then during the week, then did mornings with "Christina Blake". I'm Terry Lombard. Dave "Dean" Dulac gave me my start, which I'm eternally grateful for. The studio was on the 10th floor of the time & temp building with a tremendous view of Casco Bay and sunrises... "Here Comes The Sun"!!

The format was soft rock/jazz/americana, and dj's picked out every song making sure that something current and recurrent was played to stay with the format. It was all albums, with ads and jingles on 8 track carts. We had about 8 jingles we'd play depending upon what song was cued up next. My big wake up call was being paired with the one and only Dean Steeves, who had some experience as a jock at WBLM. We were a team for a couple of years and have been close friends ever since. I was Public Affairs Director also, and produced two Sunday morning shows, one was political with the late Roger Snow of USM, and the other was a high school oriented show with select area teens called Young At Heart. We worked 6 days a week for 3 weeks and got the 4th weekend off........what a freakin grind. Anyhow, I got to meet lots of chicks...which was why I existed at the time.

A highlight was when I took a plane load of listeners on a trip to Aruba in 1980, when the island was still rather virgin. The 50,000 watt signal was monstrous, so much so that the audio overran the WCSH TV 6 audio, and Dean would have to go to pissed off TV viewers' houses to install a filter on their TV. You'd see Jane Pauley on the tube and hear my voice! What a laugh!

Rich Kazimer took my place mornings after I was called to owner George Silverman's office one afternoon and was fired due to so-so arbitron numbers. There was no real promotion of our station or shows, which had something to do with it. That day I put my stuff in a Shaw's bag and went home. 5 weeks later I landed a job with Blue Cross and am still in the employee benefits business 30 years later.

It was the best job I ever had, topping out at $125 per week. If I distributed bumper stickers to area businesses I could make another $20. I'm wondering where Nan Leavitt and Kenny Rupp, and Gary Bowden are these days?

 

[RSKaz]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Terry,

Great to hear you're doing well. This tread is amazing, having also just been in touch with Jay Michaels. Technology. What a concept!

I've tried for years to track down Kenny Rupp. Last I heard he was working at a gym in CT. But that could have been a cover story, knowing Kenny. Nan and I were married for nearly 7 years (I think) before that train went off the tracks. I heard she worked in country radio down south as "Nan Richards" for a while. Have not been in contact since the split. Nor with any off the other "Magic" jocks. I used to run into Dave Dean occasionally in Brunswick. I think he was selling for one of the Lewiston radio stations.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I appreciated you and Dean being such patient mentors. From the day I walked into your morning show unannounced to "break into radio" you transformed a clueless, inexperienced kid into what I am today --- a bitter, overqualified, unhireable, middle age has-been. Good times. Noodle salad.

Cheers,
Richard Kazimer

 

[True Grit]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

RSKaz wrote: you transformed a clueless, inexperienced kid into what I am today --- a bitter, overqualified, unhireable, middle age has-been.

I don't know any of you guys, but that one line got a chuckle out of me. (describes me pretty well, too )

Any of you work with Chris Conley? (Sam Whaley?)

 

[RSKaz]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

RSKaz wrote: you transformed a clueless, inexperienced kid into what I am today --- a bitter, overqualified, unhireable, middle age has-been.

I don't know any of you guys, but that one line got a chuckle out of me. (describes me pretty well, too )

Any of you work with Chris Conley? (Sam Whaley?)

Don't recall a Chris Conley. But then, it's getting harder to recall most everything these days.

Did he work at 'MGX? When?

 

[True Grit]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

RSKaz wrote: you transformed a clueless, inexperienced kid into what I am today --- a bitter, overqualified, unhireable, middle age has-been.

I don't know any of you guys, but that one line got a chuckle out of me. (describes me pretty well, too )

Any of you work with Chris Conley? (Sam Whaley?)

Don't recall a Chris Conley. But then, it's getting harder to recall most everything these days.

Did he work at 'MGX? When?

He left WWMJ Ellsworth in, I'm guessing, '87 or '88, went to 'MGX. Eventually ended up as a PD(MD?) at a Philadelphia AC and left to start his own voiceover biz a couple years ago. Very talented guy.

 

[amguy]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Never did hear the station and don't know any of the jocks there, but this is a GREAT thread! It's wonderful to see the old-timers reminiscing and make connections again. This is one of the great things about this business, the people and life-long friendships that are made.

 

[True Grit]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Never did hear the station and don't know any of the jocks there, but this is a GREAT thread! It's wonderful to see the old-timers reminiscing and make connections again. This is one of the great things about this business, the people and life-long friendships that are made.

Chris/Sam gave me a .22 rifle just before he moved to Portland. Said his g/f didn't want it in their domocile in 'the big city'! Still got it.

 

[Oldbones]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Great to hear you're doing well. This tread is amazing, having also just been in touch with Jay Michaels.

Back in the 70s or early 80s I worked with a guy named Jay Michaels. A bit of a puker who relied heavily on prep service artist tidbits for most of his breaks. I think I heard him in Providence in the mid-late 80s. Same guy?

 

[Mediaace]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Yep, where it all began in 1977 - at 477 Congress Street on the 10th floor. WMGX had a tower roughly 80 feet perched on that roof with a 5-bay antenna blazing 50,000 watts into television sets all over within 5 miles. Channel 6 could only be viewed by cable TV service. The complaints were endless. Must have been challenging for engineering at WCSH to keep the WMGX audio out of their monitoring equipment only steps up the street. In 1986 they relocated the TX site to the current Presumscot Street location with a 500' tower to only survive 17 years after an unfortunate collapse in December 2003 due to an unusual ice build-up and corrosion on a guy wire. Thankfully there were no injuries! The Studios moved to 200 High Street in 1985 (also when WGAN moved in from Washington Avenue) and remained there until 1992 when they ended up in their current location at 420 Western Avenue, South Portland.

I worked at WMGX (Magic 93) in 1987/1988. Bob Anderson was doing morning drive, Randi Kirschbaum was covering middays, Chris Connelly was holding down afternoon drive and Tom Wallis (formally of WBLM) was the evening host. I did fill-ins on almost every shift there. Dave Dean had left WMGX shortly after I began there. Random question: Does anyone remember Greg Joseph or Jeremy Prescott? Jeremy is the husband of former half of WPOR morning show Loretta Crawford.

As for jingles, there were none at the time ... however we had 'The Magic Wand sounder'. Just waive the magic wand and be caller number 9 for whatever the prize was at 774-9300. How many phone numbers have they had since then?

Peace all and happy New Year!

> It was owned by Sunshine Broadcasting. At one time the
> studios were at the corner of High and Cumberland, I
> believe.

And before that they were on the top floor of the Time & Temperature building.I'm not positive,but I think their transmitter was also on that building too.The name just came to me, they guy who owned Sunshine was George Silverman.O.K. Erie you're up next.

 

[RSKaz]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Yep, where it all began in 1977 - at 477 Congress Street on the 10th floor. WMGX had a tower roughly 80 feet perched on that roof with a 5-bay antenna blazing 50,000 watts into television sets all over within 5 miles. Channel 6 could only be viewed by cable TV service. The complaints were endless. Must have been challenging for engineering at WCSH to keep the WMGX audio out of their monitoring equipment only steps up the street. In 1986 they relocated the TX site to the current Presumscot Street location with a 500' tower to only survive 17 years after an unfortunate collapse in December 2003 due to an unusual ice build-up and corrosion on a guy wire. Thankfully there were no injuries! The Studios moved to 200 High Street in 1985 (also when WGAN moved in from Washington Avenue) and remained there until 1992 when they ended up in their current location at 420 Western Avenue, South Portland.

I worked at WMGX (Magic 93) in 1987/1988. Bob Anderson was doing morning drive, Randi Kirschbaum was covering middays, Chris Connelly was holding down afternoon drive and Tom Wallis (formally of WBLM) was the evening host. I did fill-ins on almost every shift there. Dave Dean had left WMGX shortly after I began there. Random question: Does anyone remember Greg Joseph or Jeremy Prescott? Jeremy is the husband of former half of WPOR morning show Loretta Crawford.

As for jingles, there were none at the time ... however we had 'The Magic Wand sounder'. Just waive the magic wand and be caller number 9 for whatever the prize was at 774-9300. How many phone numbers have they had since then?

Peace all and happy New Year!

> It was owned by Sunshine Broadcasting. At one time the
> studios were at the corner of High and Cumberland, I
> believe.

And before that they were on the top floor of the Time & Temperature building.I'm not positive,but I think their transmitter was also on that building too.The name just came to me, they guy who owned Sunshine was George Silverman.O.K. Erie you're up next.

I recently reconnected with Jeremy. After leaving 'MGX he had a very successful radio and sales career as a manager for various big market stations, and as a national consultant. He and the lovely Loretta run Kettle Boys Popcorn Company in York ME (www.kettleboys.com).

 

[RSKaz]

Re: Does Anyone Remember When WMGX was \

Great to hear you're doing well. This tread is amazing, having also just been in touch with Jay Michaels.

Back in the 70s or early 80s I worked with a guy named Jay Michaels. A bit of a puker who relied heavily on prep service artist tidbits for most of his breaks. I think I heard him in Providence in the mid-late 80s. Same guy?

As fate would have it, have also recently reconnected with Jay via this thread. He is doing quite well in MA in and out of radio, but not using "Jay Michaels." I'm sure he will be reading these posts.