Former Hazleton Stations

[MikeConway]

Anyone remember the frequency, studio location, power and tower sites for WTHT (later WHZN) and when they were on-air?

 

[MikeMoran]

> Anyone remember the frequency, studio location, power and
> tower sites for WTHT (later WHZN) and when they were on-air?
>

I researched WTHT when I was younger, so things may be a little hazy:

1300kc
5kw - DA-D (two towers)
Studios were at the transmitter site on Hilltop Road in the terrace
section of Hazleton (just off of Route 93 as you enter Hazleton from the east).

Signed off in 1963 and the transmitter building was torched in the early 70s.
Towers no longer stand.

For more information, contact WYOU-TV reporter David DeCosmo, who worked there
in the early 60s.

Mike

 

[DowntownHazleton]

> > Anyone remember the frequency, studio location, power and
> > tower sites for WTHT (later WHZN) and when they were
> on-air?
> >
>
> I researched WTHT when I was younger, so things may be a
> little hazy:
>
> 1300kc
> 5kw - DA-D (two towers)
> Studios were at the transmitter site on Hilltop Road in the
> terrace
> section of Hazleton (just off of Route 93 as you enter
> Hazleton from the east).
>
> Signed off in 1963 and the transmitter building was torched
> in the early 70s.
> Towers no longer stand.
>
> For more information, contact WYOU-TV reporter David
> DeCosmo, who worked there
> in the early 60s.
>
> Mike
>
WAZL's Leo Valovich also worked there. He would also be a good one to ask.

 

[LATarone]

WTHT was 1300 AM. It signed on in late 1961. As the others have noted, the line-up included Dave DeCosmo, Leo Valovich and a couple of others who later made names for themselves. Al Sword, who latekeftor three stations and at least two newspapers, did news there. And Fred Williams -- yes, the same one -- hosted a talk show there until he was fired. When he was, Al got the talk show. WTHT last until about 1964. It then changed call letters to WHZN but permanalty signed off in 1965. As Mike noted, the studios were on Hilltop Raod in the Terrace. There is part of a wall from the old studios still standing. The two tower bases are also still there, and one tower is laying on the ground nearby, all twisted. The station was owned by a guy named Lou Adelman. If the moderator will forgive a little shameless self promotion, I have a Hazleton Area history book coming out this fall, and one chapter is about local radio -- of which WTHT makes up a signifcant part.


nyone remember the frequency, studio location, power and
> > tower sites for WTHT (later WHZN) and when they were
> on-air?
> >
>
> I researched WTHT when I was younger, so things may be a
> little hazy:
>
> 1300kc
> 5kw - DA-D (two towers)
> Studios were at the transmitter site on Hilltop Road in the
> terrace
> section of Hazleton (just off of Route 93 as you enter
> Hazleton from the east).
>
> Signed off in 1963 and the transmitter building was torched
> in the early 70s.
> Towers no longer stand.
>
> For more information, contact WYOU-TV reporter David
> DeCosmo, who worked there
> in the early 60s.
>
> Mike
>

 

[TonyPacelli]

> WTHT was 1300 AM. It signed on in late 1961. As the others
> have noted, the line-up included Dave DeCosmo, Leo Valovich
> and a couple of others who later made names for themselves.
> Al Sword, who latekeftor three stations and at least two
> newspapers, did news there. And Fred Williams -- yes, the
> same one -- hosted a talk show there until he was fired.
> When he was, Al got the talk show. WTHT last until about
> 1964. It then changed call letters to WHZN but permanalty
> signed off in 1965. As Mike noted, the studios were on
> Hilltop Raod in the Terrace. There is part of a wall from
> the old studios still standing. The two tower bases are also
> still there, and one tower is laying on the ground nearby,
> all twisted. The station was owned by a guy named Lou
> Adelman. If the moderator will forgive a little shameless
> self promotion, I have a Hazleton Area history book coming
> out this fall, and one chapter is about local radio -- of
> which WTHT makes up a signifcant part.
>
>
> nyone remember the frequency, studio location, power and
> > > tower sites for WTHT (later WHZN) and when they were
> > on-air?
> > >
> >
> > I researched WTHT when I was younger, so things may be a
> > little hazy:
> >
> > 1300kc
> > 5kw - DA-D (two towers)
> > Studios were at the transmitter site on Hilltop Road in
> the
> > terrace
> > section of Hazleton (just off of Route 93 as you enter
> > Hazleton from the east).
> >
> > Signed off in 1963 and the transmitter building was
> torched
> > in the early 70s.
> > Towers no longer stand.
> >
> > For more information, contact WYOU-TV reporter David
> > DeCosmo, who worked there
> > in the early 60s.
> >
> > Mike
> >

I also remember WTHT. Since I am probably the oldest on replying to this, I already has radio in my blood and was excited when they signed on. The night before they went on the air, they had a a very nice firesorks display from their tower location. I had the perfect view from my home on Monges St. Some of the other names that came out of there were Guy Randell, Ralph Lockwood, Tommy Woods. As L A mentioned Fred Williams was there from the beginning, first playing a sort of MOR, then a talk show.. when Fred was fired, he moved to WAZL and Don Murray moved to WTHT. As Rocky Brown said in the other post Leo did work there also. He may even have some of their old jingles "The Big Sound In Radio". I toured the building after they were off the air for a few years and all I remember seeing were the Turntables other equipment. But the building was already broken into and everything was ruined. And of course we all know what is now on the 1300 freqency. Do we ?
>

 

[MikeMoran]

>And of course we all
> know what is now on the 1300 freqency. Do we ?
> >

That guy and his dog?

 

[TonyPacelli]

>
> That guy and his dog?
>
That guy and his dog sounded better!! And you should see what we found under the transitter. LOL