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How Things Have Changed-- Anyone Remember....?

D

David Sharp

Even though I'm from Tampa, I was out of state from 1972 - 1980. My rememberances of this market are therefore mainly from 1980+. Back then:

1. Q-Zoo was unstoppable and if memory serves correct there was a LONG waiting list of clients wanting to advertise on the show (as the station was sold-out). Scott Shannon was compelling.

2. 100.7 was STILL beautiful music as WJYW (Joy 101). Don't think it was too long after, they changed format.

3. 107.3 was also beautiful music as WWBA (Bay Radio). Leon Petterson did afternoons I think.

4. Anyone remember when 97.9 was Z-98, WZNE? "Four in a row, forever." (Until the format change.)

5. Marvelous Marvin Boone had "Old Gold Retold" on WPSO 105.5 (Pasco 105-1/2 FM)

6. 1050 WHBO was still a 250-watt daytimer playing really REDNECK country from studios on North Florida Avenue. Only later did they shift to 1040 and get numbers as an oldies station with Scott Robbins and crew.

7. 1300 was still WTYM, "The Time Machine."

8. 101.5 was still religious non-commercial WKES "Keswick Radio." (Which is now on 91.1...which used to be WCIE.)

9. WMNF didn't sign-on 'till Noon (or thereabouts) on Sunday because they needed the studio to train volunteers. At the time they broadcast from an old house on Nebraska Avenue.

10. 93.3 went through a period as WOJC, "Playing the cream of today's country"...then as "Good Time Oldiez" before eventually becoming the "Power Pig."
 
Thanks for the good memories, when radio was worth listening to; also during that time period:


  • 1. WWBA 107.3 used the slogan "Music too beautiful for words", they were strictly instrumental; there towers were shared with sister station at the time 680; towers behind Derby Lane.

    2. 540, WGTO broadcast the oldies in C-Quam stereo, as did WSGA-1280, Sarasota and WSPB-1450 Sarasota had a satellite classical music format also broadcast in C-Quam stereo.

    3. WDAE- 1250 was still live and local and did music instead of infomercials.

    4. WFLA still played some music and were live and local for the most part.

    5. 570 dropped the rock and switched call letters to WPLP (People Listening to People) and they became one of the first talk stations in the area and all was live and local.

    6. WKXY -930 was still live and local top 40.

    7. WTAN - 1340 was still live and local music during the day; no brokered time or infomercials.

    8. Sometime in the late 70's or early 80's 102.5 was Quad 102 1/2, WQSR

    9. 910-WPLA in Plant City still had studios and transmitter on South Collins and was live and local serving Plant City and Lakeland.

    10. 95.7 was still co-owned by
    WTAN and was WTAN fm and augmented their even weaker am signal, then they became soft rock, before being sold and upgraded with a power increase.

    and last, but not least, Oldies 106 (Sarasota) was at 106.3 before changing to 106.5 and now 107.9

    Radio in the Bay area was really worth listening to in those days.
 
And it was FUN to work in radio, even if only part time, back then...
 
You left out the great 95YNF....that was the first station that I ever heard old 1970's Kiss.....I used to listen to Q-105 alot between 1986-1988.....and get this....I lived in Winter Park!!!!!!! I used to have an 80's style boom-box with a hell of an antenna...and the mighty Q-105 used to come in bright and clear in the mornings till about noon....then it would come in clear again at about 8pm...Orlando radio was crappy for top 40 at the time so I loved Q-105. BTW.....I think that the Q started to go downhill when they got rid of AT40 on Sunday morning when Shadoe Stevens took over......
 
David Sharp said:
Even though I'm from Tampa, I was out of state from 1972 - 1980. My rememberances of this market are therefore mainly from 1980+. Back then:

I've lived here since 1980 as well and have had family visiting since 1950. Man, I miss the way radio used to be.

1. Q-Zoo was unstoppable and if memory serves correct there was a LONG waiting list of clients wanting to advertise on the show (as the station was sold-out). Scott Shannon was compelling.

Absolutely, better than McKeever, though I did like him too. Shannon also had the "World Famous Oldies Show" Thursdays from 10AM to noon that continued after he left. "Broadcasting on the 100,000 watt flamethrower and the 5,000 watt pea-shooter" back when Harte-Hanks flipped 1380 WNSI to 'RBQ-AM.

2. 100.7 was STILL beautiful music as WJYW (Joy 101). Don't think it was too long after, they changed format.

Yeah, more beautiful music than anyone could stand in 1980.

93 WFLA-FM
94 WVFM Lakeland
Joy 101
103.3 WDUV Bradenton
107 WWBA - "Bay Radio" as mentioned below.

3. 107.3 was also beautiful music as WWBA (Bay Radio). Leon Petterson did afternoons I think.

4. Anyone remember when 97.9 was Z-98, WZNE? "Four in a row, forever." (Until the format change.)

Ah yes, the demise of WQXM - 98 Rock, The Album Station. I believe this occurred in 1984 in an attempt to de-throne Q-105. Magic 96 had also gone more Top-40 during this period which made for some great listening. All 3 stations had great talent and some terrific jingle packages.

5. Marvelous Marvin Boone had "Old Gold Retold" on WPSO 105.5 (Pasco 105-1/2 FM)

9PM to 1AM Saturdays following Soundtrack of the Sixties. What the heck happened, Marvin? All that musical knowledge and no show to present it like 105.5 and then later on Magic 96 / Lite Rock 95.7 (also on Saturday nights).

6. 1050 WHBO was still a 250-watt daytimer playing really REDNECK country from studios on North Florida Avenue. Only later did they shift to 1040 and get numbers as an oldies station with Scott Robbins and crew.

Back in ther days of Bucanneer Broadcasting. I got to visit those studios on Florida Ave when I was a kid. It was actually a house that was across the street from Roger Whitley Chevrolet (Tom Moore now) give or take a block or two. 'Party' Marty Berger was on as they were celebrating their one year anniversary playing oldies. They invited the public to come down to the station and enjoy some cake. So I went down and was lucky enough to take a tour. As luck would have it, they had a technical problem and went off the air right after seeing the transmitter.

7. 1300 was still WTYM, "The Time Machine."

I don't remember this one as well. I recall Bobby Rich on the air here when he was also on part-time / weekends on Q-105.

8. 101.5 was still religious non-commercial WKES "Keswick Radio." (Which is now on 91.1...which used to be WCIE.)

Don't forget the 15 minutes as Love 101.5 WILV before becoming JO. BTW, if anyone has any JO airchecks I would love to talk to you.

9. WMNF didn't sign-on 'till Noon (or thereabouts) on Sunday because they needed the studio to train volunteers. At the time they broadcast from an old house on Nebraska Avenue.

10. 93.3 went through a period as WOJC, "Playing the cream of today's country"...then as "Good Time Oldiez" before eventually becoming the "Power Pig."

Orange Juice Country. Then back as 93 FLA-FM which was a decent Hot AC if I remember correctly. They simulcated with 970 on Saturday and Sunday mornings playing oldies from 6-10AM. If anyone has tapes of this please let me know. If I had known then what I know now I would have run miles more tape... sheesh.

And of course the other great stations the other posters mentioned.
Click to expand...
 
620 WSUN - Don McNeil's Breakfast Club and the ABC affiliate in the mid-60's

620 WSUN - Their studios above "The Million Dollar Pier" in St. Petersburg

570 WFSO - AOR format on AM, how wonderful that was albeit brief, and my friend Brock Whaley there around 1973

98 Rock - when is wasn't Active Rock and we had (urgh) Sea Bass on morning drive
 
Ah, more good memories. Not only did WSUN - 620, but WSUN TV channel 38 (the first station to go on the air in the bay area) had their studios in the old "Million Dollar Pier" as well. WSUN, which had been the ABC affiliate until the summer of 1966, was an independent until they went dark in 1970.

WFSO (Five Seven O) first came on the air with easy listening music and their slogan was something to the effect "that you're never more than a minute away from music", that was short-lived and then they were rock up until the first week of December 1978. (their directional pattern at the time was bizarre, their reception was better in Spring Hill than in St Petersburg Beach, due to a strong null toward the south from their sudio/transmitter site in Seminole at that time. Also they were daytime only until around 1977.(another null toward Orlando to protect WDBO - 580- also meant than reception in parts of north Tampa was poor to non existent)

Before becoming 98 Rock, WQXM (Quality and eXcellence in Music) came on the air in the mid to late 60's programming classical music for the first year or so.

As to the reception of Q-105, I could routinely receive them at night at Mayport Naval Station, just north of Jacksonville Beach, this was in the mid 70's and the fm band wasn't nearly as crowded then and of course the radios then also seemed to have better selectivity and sensitivity than now.
-------------------------
 
I don't remember the chronological order, but I think WFLA-FM was just that with Scott Farrell doing easy listening before becoming WOJC (Orange Juice Country) with local country talent Bill Campbell. Later to become 93FM and the era with London and Engleman (The YUCKMIESTERS) They were awesome as was newsman J. Paul Emerson..all California broadcasters, I understand Ron Engleman has passed away recently..For a short time (when I joined Jacor on Jackson Street) it was Paradise 93 I think (soft AC..WHEN was that Frank F?)..just before going to WFLZ-Z93 Oldies under Mark Larson (Zintel) GREAT old QXI Jam jingle package..and a solid staff. I found a few of my old airchecks from Taft's old WDAE 1250 (when Gary Burbank did mornings), and from Z93..and from Magic 96 (95.7) WMGG's shot at Q105 using Cleveland's John Lannigan as a morning show..I did afternoons there and sequed to Al Casey's WNLT W-Lite 95.7 before leaving to work at Z93..then was present an on the air for the beginning of the Power Pig (couldn't hack it) ..then off to WYUU formerly WXCR at 92.1 before moving the tower from Safety Harbour to Seminole and freq change to 92.5 it had been classical, but then Scott Robbins showed up, went oldies after Z93 went off and called me..all fun to work at, and all fun to listen to.. (as much as my formerly liquor damaged brain can remember at least) I have that aircheck posted somewhere..a little embarrassing, but it was the 70's ad 80's ya know..Tampa Bay had some really really great radio. Great thread..thanks
 
Wow Great memories! How about 96Fever WOKF, 94.9 WLCY-FM ( Rock 95) ,100.7 WDAE-FM,103.3 WBRD-FM and at an early date 102.5 was WQSA/WQSR (simulcast of 1220). 92.1 was WAMR-FM. I used to sit on Siesta Beach and listen to 86WAZE out of Clearwater. Ahh the days......
 
Okay, even more...yes, WORKING in radio back then was fun...and, wasn't it good to know, if the station was on all-night, they had (usually) a local announcer in those "wee hours"-- I know, having pulled a few overnighters at 102.5 The Point...

1. Speaking of which, do you remember when 102.5 billed itself as "Gourmet Radio"?

2. I remember when 94.1 was WVFM, "Very Fine Music." I was working for Paxson and remember the night they switched to the new tower and kicked off WSJT.

3. I actually worked at WPLA in Plant City, when the studios were on South Collins Street. Live and local from 6am 'till Midnight (with the Mutual Radio Network and Larry King on overnights). I remember too, when we had cold weather, WPLA went local overnights, there were several times Ercelle Smith and I did the "Freeze Watch" for the strawberry growers. (WHO would do that now?)

4. I remember when they pulled the plug on 1380 WNSI and began the Q105 simulcast. For what it was, they did an "okay job" with "News, Sports and Information" on 1380.

5. Do you remember when the Cubans fired up 500,000 watt transmitters in the 80's and blew several of our stations (including 1040 WHBO) off the air?

6. Do you remember when RADIO MOSCOW broadcast from an AM transmitter in Havana and could be heard in the Bay Area?

7. 95YNF was a great station. Having met Russ Albums while working at 102.5 was a highlight of my career.

8 Finally...when I was a kid in the late 60's...I remember the teenagers all listened to 570 WFSO or 1380 WLCY. Also, in those "early days", 620 WSUN broadcast livestock and farm commodities reports every morning (complete with rooster crowing sfx).
 
I worked for WVFM in the 70's when their studios were in downtown Lakeland.
I was their Chief Engineer and worked the overnight shift.
I remember the night that it snowed. I believe that was 1978.
Ahhh ... the memories. "WVFM ... with 13 minutes of uninterrupted music."
 
OMG! I had forgotten about WSUN being in the Million Dollar Pier. I remember my grandfather taking me there in the early to mid 60's a couple of times for a tour! :)
 
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