This is from You Tube. It's just amazing. If you have any appreciation of Utica radio history it is priceless. Enjoy! Thank you to those resposible for it
http://www.youtube.com/user/uticaamradio
http://www.youtube.com/user/uticaamradio
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Film of WIBX in 1941
- Thread starter therealjm12
- Start date
Outstanding link, JM! Thanks for the history lesson. Fascinating footage of one of Utica's premier AM radio stations. BTW, Who's the narrator? Great pipes.
Interesting mention regarding the effort to have I-81 built east of Oneida lake. When I worked in Utica three light years ago, people still bemoaned the fate of the area because I-81 was constructed through Syracuse.
One other thing; it continues to amaze me that the owners of what was then WIBQ-FM 98.7, now WLZW, actually turned in its license and let it go silent for a few years in the 60's, then re-applied for the license several years later and put it back on the air. Stunning!
Interesting mention regarding the effort to have I-81 built east of Oneida lake. When I worked in Utica three light years ago, people still bemoaned the fate of the area because I-81 was constructed through Syracuse.
One other thing; it continues to amaze me that the owners of what was then WIBQ-FM 98.7, now WLZW, actually turned in its license and let it go silent for a few years in the 60's, then re-applied for the license several years later and put it back on the air. Stunning!
Who's the narrator? Great pipes.
I beleive it is Lou Barile. Jim when you were working in Utica he was probably working for the city. City treasurer under Hanna and other administrations.
I know he worked at WIBX and maybe WRUN in the 40's and 50's. The one thing that puzzled me, if you go to the website there are pictures of him with 50's rock n roll stars Everly Bros. etc. As far as I know he never worked at WTLB, the top 40 station of the era so I don't know how he got access to rock n rollers. Did you notice on the film a young Michael Fusco the former owner of WBVM, before you got there?
One other thing; it continues to amaze me that the owners of what was then WIBQ-FM 98.7, now WLZW, actually turned in its license and let it go silent for a few years in the 60's, then re-applied for the license several years later and put it back on the air.
Actually I think WIBX-FM was on the air for a short time in the early 50's. From what I was told the FCC allowed them to sign off because somehow the signal was interferring with something at nearby Griffths Air Force Base. It might have been a harmonic. They came back on in the early 70's as WIBQ-FM (not to be confused with the call leters moving to Remsen a few years later) on 98.7. I have seen conflicting accounts of WIBX-FM's original frequency. Some say it was WOUR's frequency 96.5 and others state it was 93.7
I beleive it is Lou Barile. Jim when you were working in Utica he was probably working for the city. City treasurer under Hanna and other administrations.
I know he worked at WIBX and maybe WRUN in the 40's and 50's. The one thing that puzzled me, if you go to the website there are pictures of him with 50's rock n roll stars Everly Bros. etc. As far as I know he never worked at WTLB, the top 40 station of the era so I don't know how he got access to rock n rollers. Did you notice on the film a young Michael Fusco the former owner of WBVM, before you got there?
One other thing; it continues to amaze me that the owners of what was then WIBQ-FM 98.7, now WLZW, actually turned in its license and let it go silent for a few years in the 60's, then re-applied for the license several years later and put it back on the air.
Actually I think WIBX-FM was on the air for a short time in the early 50's. From what I was told the FCC allowed them to sign off because somehow the signal was interferring with something at nearby Griffths Air Force Base. It might have been a harmonic. They came back on in the early 70's as WIBQ-FM (not to be confused with the call leters moving to Remsen a few years later) on 98.7. I have seen conflicting accounts of WIBX-FM's original frequency. Some say it was WOUR's frequency 96.5 and others state it was 93.7
therealjm12 said:I have seen conflicting accounts of WIBX-FM's original frequency. Some say it was WOUR's frequency 96.5 and others state it was 93.7
I did a quick search of "WIBX-FM" on Google.
http://members.aol.com/jeff560/142fm.html cites an old article listing it as 97.9 as of 1947. But the same AOL member, at
http://members.aol.com/jeff560/1950fm.html has WIBX-FM listed at 96.9.
Interestingly, I noticed both lists also had different frequencies listed for WRUN-FM... 98.3 and then 105.7.
The Boston Radio archives, on this page: http://www.bostonradio.org/fm-1950.html ...also has WIBX-FM at 96.9 as of 1950.
Finally, if you read the "history" entry for WLZW at http://www.cnymedia.com/call-letters.cfm?Band=FM&Market=Utica ...this site also agrees WIBX-FM started on 96.9... from 1946 to 1954. Agrees with the previous 2 sites from 1950-1954... but conflicts with the 97.9 claim in the first link I posted from 1947. On this same page, neither of the histories for 96.9 or 97.9 mention WIBX-FM, but rather when they both signed on (again) "permanently" to their present-day formats.
When I went back to Google and restricted it to search only on fybush.com -- it brought back the Utica Tower of the Week article from 2001.
http://www.fybush.com/site-010530.html
Scott just mentions that the tower for 98.7 has had past "incarnations that have included WIBX-FM, WIBQ, WNYZ (hit radio "New York Z"), and soft-rock WLZW." But I've never heard of WIBX-FM being on 98.7... as posted earlier, when WIBX's owners (whoever they were at the time) got back into the FM business, I believe they went with "WIBQ." I'm not saying Scott's right or wrong, but he's the only site saying WIBX-FM was on 98.7.
I'll add the "disclaimer" that none of these are official lists, but just a quick roundup from online searches. If there's any chance anyone can find better, more concrete records, do tell. Until then, it appears the majority consensus is 96.9.
I wish I had taken notes when I was given the history of WIBQ from the owner (Woody?) of the station who lived in the transmitter building atop Smith Hill. Back in the day, I was more of a radio junkie and prone to walking into radio stations in all kinds of markets large and small, and asking for a tour.
1977, 78 (the Helenic era)... the WIBQ-FM transmitter was in pristine condition and as I remember, relatively new. It was set inside a "clean room" that was constructed of clear 50 mil plastic stretched and stapled to vertical wall studs, creating four walls that surrounded the transmitter and processing rack. Transmitter in a bubble. Cool.
This set up might sound sort of "shade tree," but it wasn't. Sure, code wall board would have been better, but in fact, clean cool air was blown in, warm air was vented out. Simple, basic, and effective. Working at WBVM at the time, an AM daytimer, I was amazed that a broadcaster would "turn in" a full power FM license and even more surprised that no other competitor would apply for it and pull it out under the original licensee's feet.
What's really surprised me on this board in the last week are the incredibly LOW prices for the CC Utica stations that have been spun off. It says a lot about the state of the economy in that area of NY state, and perhaps just as much as how the stations might have been operated and managed.
Good thread. Very informative.
Jim Pastrick
1977, 78 (the Helenic era)... the WIBQ-FM transmitter was in pristine condition and as I remember, relatively new. It was set inside a "clean room" that was constructed of clear 50 mil plastic stretched and stapled to vertical wall studs, creating four walls that surrounded the transmitter and processing rack. Transmitter in a bubble. Cool.
This set up might sound sort of "shade tree," but it wasn't. Sure, code wall board would have been better, but in fact, clean cool air was blown in, warm air was vented out. Simple, basic, and effective. Working at WBVM at the time, an AM daytimer, I was amazed that a broadcaster would "turn in" a full power FM license and even more surprised that no other competitor would apply for it and pull it out under the original licensee's feet.
What's really surprised me on this board in the last week are the incredibly LOW prices for the CC Utica stations that have been spun off. It says a lot about the state of the economy in that area of NY state, and perhaps just as much as how the stations might have been operated and managed.
Good thread. Very informative.
Jim Pastrick
JimPastrick said:What's really surprised me on this board in the last week are the incredibly LOW prices for the CC Utica stations that have been spun off. It says a lot about the state of the economy in that area of NY state, and perhaps just as much as how the stations might have been operated and managed.
Jim, if you've seen some of the other threads about Utica recently, I think it's the way CC operated the stations more than a reflection on the local economy. As former CC employee Roadrunner said, it's hard for a station to rake in big numbers when the sales staff isn't even that familiar with the format they're trying to sell. How can you get clients excited enough to spend big bucks when you don't even know what you're selling? It might work if your station has spectactular ratings, but not so well when your country or Hot AC format is getting 3.8s and 4.2s compared to the competition's 11s and 12s.
Of course, it comes full-circle. CC never spent enough on promotions to really get these stations "out there." Because Kiss is the only CHR in town, they figure people will just listen. True in Utica and points east... but you barely have to go further west than Marcy to pick up 93Q and Hot from Syracuse. I think they also were lazy with promoting WOUR, since, after all, it's been around for 30+ years and "everyone" knows the station. Granted, WRCK and WKLL never managed to defeat WOUR, but they could have done "that much better" with promotions. Out of the recent formats on 93.5, I think Warm and The River were the ones with the best chances of causing some damage. CC had a good thing going with Delilah on Warm... but the signal was (and still is) horrible at penetrating Utica, and the midday automation was also horrible. Nothing worse than hearing a voicetracked jock being faded-out mid-sentence because it was time to hit the live noon Paul Harvey feed. Kool had some TV promotion when it launched, and then it kinda faded away. The River's playlist was right on track to rattle chains at Oldies 96 and even Rock 107, but again, horrible signal, and a lack of good air talent. If you're not going to do a local morning show, at least go with a good national personality... not some out-of-town voicetracker. As for Bob and Mix, they were strong with promotions out of the gate, but never kept it up. Both formats had potential, but you can't expect to win everyone over in just one or two books. Gotta keep the effort at 110% for much longer before you turn the tables.
But in the "big picture" of all of its markets and stations, CC probably saw Utica as just a tiny blip on the screen. I don't know how big Dame Media's reach was before CC bought them out, but I'm sure CC bought out Dame to get its hands on bigger markets like Albany... and Utica "just happened" to be included in the deal. The kind of market where they'll try to make some money, but they won't try too hard... because they need to focus on the more important markets. Sucks for Utica, but hey... a tenth of a ratings point will make or cost you a lot more money in NYC or LA than it will in Utica.
Thanks for the "on the ground" analysis, Bob. Many radio friends have asked about the sale price of the CC stations and I have pointed them to this board. Your comments have helped define the situation.
I wish I had taken notes when I was given the history of WIBQ from the owner (Woody?) of the station who lived in the transmitter building atop Smith Hill. Back in the day, I was more of a radio junkie and prone to walking into radio stations in all kinds of markets large and small, and asking for a tour.
My guess the gentleman you spoke to at the WIBQ site was Fred Bowen - the owner of WIBX/WIBQ at the time and the son of the original owners. If you look at the film he is the teenage boy standing at the old AM transmitter site with his mother and another unidentified young man. I have never heard him refered to as "Woody" but I suppose it may have been his nickname. Last I knew he was still living there. You may be thinking of Woody Mauer the owner of WKAL or George"Woody" Woods - the original chief engineer at WRUN-AM/FM.
By the way, The original WIBX transmitter as the film noted was off Barnes Ave in Utica. That area was referred to as "the city dump" with a lot of auto graveyards and the dumping of garbage back in the 50's, 60's & 70's. The area has been cleaned up since. Barnes Ave became a dead end street when they built the Thruway
and I don't know for sure but I think the WIBX transmitter building was torn down to make way for the road.
The area is just a short distance to the northeast of the WBVM (WUTQ) transmitter site.
My guess the gentleman you spoke to at the WIBQ site was Fred Bowen - the owner of WIBX/WIBQ at the time and the son of the original owners. If you look at the film he is the teenage boy standing at the old AM transmitter site with his mother and another unidentified young man. I have never heard him refered to as "Woody" but I suppose it may have been his nickname. Last I knew he was still living there. You may be thinking of Woody Mauer the owner of WKAL or George"Woody" Woods - the original chief engineer at WRUN-AM/FM.
By the way, The original WIBX transmitter as the film noted was off Barnes Ave in Utica. That area was referred to as "the city dump" with a lot of auto graveyards and the dumping of garbage back in the 50's, 60's & 70's. The area has been cleaned up since. Barnes Ave became a dead end street when they built the Thruway
and I don't know for sure but I think the WIBX transmitter building was torn down to make way for the road.
The area is just a short distance to the northeast of the WBVM (WUTQ) transmitter site.
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