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Legendary Rocker

O

Oldiesgal

AS I just moved here a few years ago, I was unfamiliar with the radio history. Most metro areas had one dominant rocker in the sixties that all the kids listened to. In Miami it was WQAM, WQXI in Atlanta, KILT in Houston, KHJ in LA,WAYS in Charlottte, WLEE in Richmond, WGH in Norfolk , etc. Who was it here? Could one AM station dominate an area so spread out. with the limitations of nightime signal problems. Of course most of those and other cities had more than one rocker at any given time, but usually one and only one became legendary. Chicago, NYC,and LA did support several.
Who was it here ?
When did they dominate?
WAs there one for Tampa and another for St.Pete?
Who were the "Good Guys" or "Boss Jocks" or whatever they were called?
Any of them still active in the market?

Thanks for any help as inquiring minds want to know.
 
> AS I just moved here a few years ago, I was unfamiliar with
> the radio history. Most metro areas had one dominant rocker
> in the sixties that all the kids listened to. In Miami it
> was WQAM, WQXI in Atlanta, KILT in Houston, KHJ in LA,WAYS
> in Charlottte, WLEE in Richmond, WGH in Norfolk , etc. Who
> was it here? Could one AM station dominate an area so spread
> out. with the limitations of nightime signal problems. Of
> course most of those and other cities had more than one
> rocker at any given time, but usually one and only one
> became legendary. Chicago, NYC,and LA did support several.
> Who was it here ?
> When did they dominate?
> WAs there one for Tampa and another for St.Pete?
> Who were the "Good Guys" or "Boss Jocks" or
> whatever they were called?
> Any of them still active in the market?
>
> Thanks for any help as inquiring minds want to know.
>

Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I, it was the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate bay area had their own local stations, too. One I remember, and ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my very first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess that made me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.
 
> Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I, it was
> the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate bay area
> had their own local stations, too. One I remember, and
> ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in
> Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my very
> first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess that made
> me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.

Not only WLCY, but also big in that time period was WALT 1110, a daytimer-only station just as it is today (as WTIS)

Very true about areas around the Bay area having their own rockers: WCWR 1470 (Dunedin), WBRD 1420 (Bradenton), WYND 1280 (Sarasota), and plenty more I'm sure. Radio was VERY localized back then.
 
> > Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I, it
> was
> > the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate bay
> area
> > had their own local stations, too. One I remember, and
> > ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in
> > Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my very
>
> > first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess that
> made
> > me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.
>
> Not only WLCY, but also big in that time period was WALT
> 1110, a daytimer-only station just as it is today (as WTIS)
>
> Very true about areas around the Bay area having their own
> rockers: WCWR 1470 (Dunedin), WBRD 1420 (Bradenton), WYND
> 1280 (Sarasota), and plenty more I'm sure. Radio was VERY
> localized back then.

Is anybody able to recall the formats of all the AM stations in 1965-1970 ? How many at that time were 24 hours? I am assuming that back in the day that 860, 1040,and 1150 were daytimers. Since Florida is so far from the Northeast and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it ever possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be the only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here consistantly.
 
> > > Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I, it
> > was
> > > the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate bay
> > area
> > > had their own local stations, too. One I remember, and
> > > ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in
> > > Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my
> very
> >
> > > first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess that
> > made
> > > me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.
> >
> > Not only WLCY, but also big in that time period was WALT
> > 1110, a daytimer-only station just as it is today (as
> WTIS)
> >
> > Very true about areas around the Bay area having their own
>
> > rockers: WCWR 1470 (Dunedin), WBRD 1420 (Bradenton), WYND
> > 1280 (Sarasota), and plenty more I'm sure. Radio was VERY
>
> > localized back then.
>
> Is anybody able to recall the formats of all the AM
> stations in 1965-1970 ? How many at that time were 24 hours?
> I am assuming that back in the day that 860, 1040,and 1150
> were daytimers. Since Florida is so far from the Northeast
> and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it ever
> possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at
> night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be the
> only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here
> consistantly.
>
Another bit of trivia. WDAE-FM was the first station to play top-40 on FM beginning in 1972. They may not be considered in the same light as WLCY or WALT, but they did bring in talent like Brother John (WFSO) and Tedd Webb to the FM side. What hurt FM101 was the cheap ownership of Robert Rounsaville.
He did not upgrade the station's facilities (They initially broadcast at 32,000 watts from downtown Tampa and did not convert to stereo until 1974) -- the year after Q-105 went live in December 1973. All that said, "FM-101" became the #1 station in Tampa during mid 1973, eclipsing WLCY.
<P ID="signature">______________
Tom S</P>
 
> Since Florida is so far from the Northeast
> and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it ever
> possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at
> night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be the
> only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here
> consistantly.

I can only answer for the 1980's, it was possible to hear WLS every night as I listened to it when it was oldies. Then later when it was talk, I made it a point to listen, as did a lot of other Bay area residents did, when Bob Lassiter started doing nights. These days I don't think WLS makes it down that far at all.

In the '80s WABC would come in slightly, but not good enough to sustain listenership. I've never heard CKLW in Florida.

There are other 50KWs with good nighttime signals in the Bay area. Some that come to mind are WWL, WBT, and one that use to have a REALLY GOOD signal before they decreased power was 1190 WOWO from Ft. Wayne.
 
> > Since Florida is so far from the Northeast
> > and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it
> ever
> > possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at
> > night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be
> the
> > only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here
> > consistantly.
>
> I can only answer for the 1980's, it was possible to hear
> WLS every night as I listened to it when it was oldies.
> Then later when it was talk, I made it a point to listen, as
> did a lot of other Bay area residents did, when Bob Lassiter
> started doing nights. These days I don't think WLS makes it
> down that far at all.
>
> In the '80s WABC would come in slightly, but not good enough
> to sustain listenership. I've never heard CKLW in Florida.
>
> There are other 50KWs with good nighttime signals in the Bay
> area. Some that come to mind are WWL, WBT, and one that use
> to have a REALLY GOOD signal before they decreased power was
> 1190 WOWO from Ft. Wayne.
>

Another one that boomed in here was 15-WLAC from Nashville.
 
> > > Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I, it
> > was
> > > the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate bay
> > area
> > > had their own local stations, too. One I remember, and
> > > ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in
> > > Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my
> very
> >
> > > first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess that
> > made
> > > me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.
> >
> > Not only WLCY, but also big in that time period was WALT
> > 1110, a daytimer-only station just as it is today (as
> WTIS)
> >
> > Very true about areas around the Bay area having their own
>
> > rockers: WCWR 1470 (Dunedin), WBRD 1420 (Bradenton), WYND
> > 1280 (Sarasota), and plenty more I'm sure. Radio was VERY
>
> > localized back then.
>
> Is anybody able to recall the formats of all the AM
> stations in 1965-1970 ? How many at that time were 24 hours?
> I am assuming that back in the day that 860, 1040,and 1150
> were daytimers. Since Florida is so far from the Northeast
> and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it ever
> possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at
> night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be the
> only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here
> consistantly.
>
 
> > > Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I, it
> > was
> > > the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate bay
> > area
> > > had their own local stations, too. One I remember, and
> > > ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in
> > > Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my
> very
> >
> > > first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess that
> > made
> > > me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.
> >
> > Not only WLCY, but also big in that time period was WALT
> > 1110, a daytimer-only station just as it is today (as
> WTIS)
> >
> > Very true about areas around the Bay area having their own
>
> > rockers: WCWR 1470 (Dunedin), WBRD 1420 (Bradenton), WYND
> > 1280 (Sarasota), and plenty more I'm sure. Radio was VERY
>
> > localized back then.
>
> Is anybody able to recall the formats of all the AM
> stations in 1965-1970 ? How many at that time were 24 hours?
> I am assuming that back in the day that 860, 1040,and 1150
> were daytimers. Since Florida is so far from the Northeast
> and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it ever
> possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at
> night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be the
> only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here
> consistantly.
>
I grew up in the area and used to love to listen to AM's..especically in the 70's..some that come to mind, were, WLX, WAPE (Jacksonville), WAYS (Charlotte, WAPE's sister station), KAAY in Little Rock, WWL, New Orleans, WHO, Des Moines, WABC, NYC and a few more.
Another big central Fla Top 40 station, was WGTO in Cypress Gardens. A 50,000 watt day timer..
 
> > > > Here in the bay area, at least for my friends and I,
> it
> > > was
> > > > the old WLCY-1380. Some areas around the immediate
> bay
> > > area
> > > > had their own local stations, too. One I remember,
> and
> > > > ended up working at (much later), was WQPD-1430, in
> > > > Lakeland. THAT was boss radio. And, the jocks at my
> > very
> > >
> > > > first station were called 'The Good Guys'--I guess
> that
> > > made
> > > > me one, too... at the ripe age of 17.
> > >
> > > Not only WLCY, but also big in that time period was WALT
>
> > > 1110, a daytimer-only station just as it is today (as
> > WTIS)
> > >
> > > Very true about areas around the Bay area having their
> own
> >
> > > rockers: WCWR 1470 (Dunedin), WBRD 1420 (Bradenton),
> WYND
> > > 1280 (Sarasota), and plenty more I'm sure. Radio was
> VERY
> >
> > > localized back then.
> >
> > Is anybody able to recall the formats of all the AM
> > stations in 1965-1970 ? How many at that time were 24
> hours?
> > I am assuming that back in the day that 860, 1040,and 1150
>
> > were daytimers. Since Florida is so far from the
> Northeast
> > and South America has such huge flame throwers , was it
> ever
> > possible to receive WABC, WLS, or CKLW in Tampa Bay at
> > night? I would assume not as WSB, WLW and WSM seem to be
> the
> > only USA based 50,000 watters that come in here
> > consistantly.
> >
> Another bit of trivia. WDAE-FM was the first station to
> play top-40 on FM beginning in 1972. They may not be
> considered in the same light as WLCY or WALT, but they did
> bring in talent like Brother John (WFSO) and Tedd Webb to
> the FM side. What hurt FM101 was the cheap ownership of
> Robert Rounsaville.
> He did not upgrade the station's facilities (They initially
> broadcast at 32,000 watts from downtown Tampa and did not
> convert to stereo until 1974) -- the year after Q-105 went
> live in December 1973. All that said, "FM-101" became the
> #1 station in Tampa during mid 1973, eclipsing WLCY.
>
WDAE AND FM 101 were located near the University Of Tampa downtown and had pretty nice facilities. Rounsaville also owned BJ 105 and WLOF in Orlando, and a couple more stations, including WAIV and WOKV in Jax.
 
Jeff Laurence - WDAE AM/FM

> WDAE AND FM 101 were located near the University Of Tampa
> downtown and had pretty nice facilities. Rounsaville also
> owned BJ 105 and WLOF in Orlando, and a couple more
> stations, including WAIV and WOKV in Jax.
>


Hey Jeff.... you worked in that old building downtown, right ???

I believe it was actually a little further south, not too far from the present day convention center.

History ??? Stories ????

Was there ever an RF problem sitting right underneath the tower ???

You do have a nice green glow these days !!!!!


MSerio
 
> Another big central Fla Top 40 station, was WGTO in Cypress
> Gardens. A 50,000 watt day timer..

When I worked at WHNR-AM 1360, our News Director was a small, pout fellow named Jim Greenfield. He has been in the Polk County radio biz for AGES, including stints at WGTO and WSIR in their days. He used to tell some great stories of those days.

He's still in the biz, although somewhat semi-retired. He works for Hall Communications (WPCV/WONN/WLKF/WWRZ) as a reporter, covering area government meetings and hosting a weekly public affairs programme on one of the stations. Keeps him busy while giving him plenty of time off; didn't want the responsibility of ND.
<P ID="signature">______________
Robert Charles Pickering
Lakeland, Florida</P>
 
Re: Jeff Laurence - WDAE AM/FM

> > WDAE AND FM 101 were located near the University Of Tampa
> > downtown and had pretty nice facilities. Rounsaville also
> > owned BJ 105 and WLOF in Orlando, and a couple more
> > stations, including WAIV and WOKV in Jax.
> >
>
>
> Hey Jeff.... you worked in that old building downtown, right
> ???
>
> I believe it was actually a little further south, not too
> far from the present day convention center.
>
> History ??? Stories ????
>
> Was there ever an RF problem sitting right underneath the
> tower ???
>
> You do have a nice green glow these days !!!!!
>
>
> MSerio
>
Hi Mike...How have you been? Yes, last time I saw Jeff he had a glow.(That was at Scott Robbins Clearwater Beach American flag promotion protesting the signal clash with Cuban radio and WHBO, the single greatest radio promotion I was ever involved in) Has to be great stories of that building with the tower perched on top!
 
Re: Jeff Laurence - WDAE AM/FM

Hey that "glow" wasn't from RF unless Jack Daniels made it....The WDAE building was at 101 N. Tampa Street, and it was fun working downtown..Directly across the street was Karl's deli (great soups and sandwiches..later re-born on South Dale Mabry) and of course the legendary "Turf" restaurant was diagonally positioned so that one (if so inclined) could put on a long version of a song, and dash over to see Dee the barmaid, enjoy a "short one" and blast back for the fade out..what sport it was! When I was there WDAE-FM was WJYW beautiful music.

RF really was not as much of a problem as was our afternoon electrical storms. If that tower got hit..the entire building would rumble like it was about to expolode..usually the FM would go off the air and the WJYW beautful music announcers would stand in the hallway and wring thier hands and smoke until the CE could be called (Jim Lucas?)

The building had originally been earmarked to be channel 13 (WDAE-TV) and that big self supported tower was meant to hold the TV and the FM as well..the 1250 towers were off Dale Mabry at Lake Egypt before anything was out there at all. I think it was a DA-1 (same pattern and power day/night)

Because it was downtown we had our share of interesting visitors. One weekend I was on the midday shift when the buzzer for the front door rang. I could see there was someone there on the closed circuit camera..we had a buzzer, but no intercom..so I ran down the three flights of stairs to the ground level to see a very much bloodied up middle aged man. He wanted to come into the "hospital" as he called the buliding. After all it was white, and had a big red and white stick on top of it..so it must be a hospital. He was a "hobo" and I could not grant him access to the building because he would have gotten blood all over the lobby, and Frank Celebre the GM frowned on bleeding people being led through the building. He evidently had been sleeping in one of the "new" buildings being built next to the old Paleveda Printing building..Yes Paleveda..the same family..anyway he was tired so the poor shmoe made a nice thick bed and a pillow out of some fluffy pink "cotton" that had been lining the walls, and snuggled in for a night of muscatel-induced dreams...When he awoke he found that his face was all cut up and he had been sleeping in Fiberglas insulation..I called the cops and they took him off to a real hospital.

Several other people climbed the tower and threatened to jump. The news department always wished they would.

Speaking of the news department..while in that building one morning I was on the air when Bob Shuman and Ronald J. Ebben had gotten word of a traffic tie up on 275 in South St. Pete. It was very foggy that morning and Al Ford the traffic reporter had to ask for special permisson to fly down there near the Skyway bridge. When he arrived he saw out the window of his plane the last quarter section of a Greyhound bus sink into the bay...and NO BRIDGE! Cars were evrywhere stopped on the pre-span, and in the water..Ronald J, and Bob took over WDAE and we went all news that morning..everyone on the building became some kind of reporter. The most graphic audio was when Bob Shuman called a pay phone at the the Bradenton Bus Depot and talked to people who were waiting for a bus to arrive that was late..very late in getting into Bradenton..we had some teriffic audio.

One other morning a guy with a "wrestling bear" was supposed to show up for an on-air interview. We ran the wires for the mic outside the mensroom to the street, and I did a good portion of the morning show from out in front in the dark. This big-ass purple Cadillac towing a rusted out U-Haul-like trailer pulled up. There was "Wild" Bill Hodges, and "Victor" the wrestling bear. We talked on the air for awhile, and Bill offered to "introduce me" to Victor. Victor as sleeping..so Bill poked him awake with a fire poker.

Victor was pissed.

We all ran inside the building, and Victor barreled out of his traler following us into WDAE..where he began tearing paintings off the wall and climbing the stairs to the studio. Staff members ran for cover while "Wild" Bill explained that he didn't know what to do..that Victor had never done this before. Not much time passed before Victor began beating on the window that housed our beautful music counterparts at WJYW "Joy 101". Silky voiced Norm Swenson..finished his "announcement" turned slowly in his chair, and spied the raging bear slamming his paws against the double-paned glass..Norm opened the door, and casally but forcefully said in his HUGE old-line announcer timbre:

"SOMEBODY GET THIS GOD-DAMMED BEAR OUT OF HERE"

Victor became quiet..Wild Bill lassoed the bruin, and led him back down the stairwell..but not before he could turn and swat at the portrait of Robert Roundsavlle causing the frame to crumble, and the picture to rip to shreds.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by jefflaurence on 07/07/05 01:01 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Jeff Laurence - WDAE AM/FM

> Hey that "glow" wasn't from RF unless Jack Daniels made
> it....The WDAE building was at 101 N. Tampa Street, and it
> was fun working downtown..Directly across the street was
> Karl's deli (great soups and sandwiches..later re-born on
> South Dale Mabry) and of course the legendary "Turf"
> restaurant was diagonally positioned so that one (if so
> inclined) could put on a long version of a song, and dash
> over to see Dee the barmaid, enjoy a "short one" and blast
> back for the fade out..what sport it was! When I was there
> WDAE-FM was WJYW beautiful music.
>
> RF really was not as much of a problem as was our afternoon
> electrical storms. If that tower got hit..the entire
> building would rumble like it was about to expolode..usually
> the FM would go off the air and the WJYW beautful music
> announcers would stand in the hallway and wring thier hands
> and smoke until the CE could be called (Jim Lucas?)
>
> The building had originally been earmarked to be channel 13
> (WDAE-TV) and that big self supported tower was meant to
> hold the TV and the FM as well..the 1250 towers were off
> Dale Mabry at Lake Egypt before anything was out there at
> all. I think it was a DA-1 (same pattern and power
> day/night)
>
> Because it was downtown we had our share of interesting
> visitors. One weekend I was on the midday shift when the
> buzzer for the front door rang. I could see there was
> someone there on the closed circuit camera..we had a buzzer,
> but no intercom..so I ran down the three flights of stairs
> to the ground level to see a very much bloodied up middle
> aged man. He wanted to come into the "hospital" as he
> called the buliding. After all it was white, and had a big
> red and white stick on top of it..so it must be a hospital.
> He was a "hobo" and I could not grant him access to the
> building because he would have gotten blood all over the
> lobby, and Frank Celebre the GM frowned on bleeding people
> being led through the building. He evidently had been
> sleeping in one of the "new" buildings being built next to
> the old Paleveda Printing building..Yes Paleveda..the same
> family..anyway he was tired so the poor shmoe made a nice
> thick bed and a pillow out of some fluffy pink "cotton" that
> had been lining the walls, and snuggled in for a night of
> muscatel-induced dreams...When he awoke he found that his
> face was all cut up and he had been sleeping in Fiberglas
> insulation..I called the cops and they took him off to a
> real hospital.
>
> Several other people climbed the tower and threatened to
> jump. The news department always wished they would.
>
> Speaking of the news department..while in that building one
> morning I was on the air when Bob Shuman and Ronald J. Ebben
> had gotten word of a traffic tie up on 275 in South St.
> Pete. It was very foggy that morning and Al Ford the
> traffic reporter had to ask for special permisson to fly
> down there near the Skyway bridge. When he arrived he saw
> out the window of his plane the last quarter section of a
> Greyhound bus sink into the bay...and NO BRIDGE! Cars were
> evrywhere stopped on the pre-span, and in the water..Ronald
> J, and Bob took over WDAE and we went all news that
> morning..everyone on the building became some kind of
> reporter. The most graphic audio was when Bob Shuman called
> a pay phone at the the Bradenton Bus Depot and talked to
> people who were waiting for a bus to arrive that was
> late..very late in getting into Bradenton..we had some
> teriffic audio.
>
> One other morning a guy with a "wrestling bear" was supposed
> to show up for an on-air interview. We ran the wires for
> the mic outside the mensroom to the street, and I did a good
> portion of the morning show from out in front in the dark.
> This big-ass purple Cadillac towing a rusted out U-Haul-like
> trailer pulled up. There was "Wild" Bill Hodges, and
> "Victor" the wrestling bear. We talked on the air for
> awhile, and Bill offered to "introduce me" to Victor.
> Victor as sleeping..so Bill poked him awake with a fire
> poker.
>
> Victor was pissed.
>
> We all ran inside the building, and Victor barreled out of
> his traler following us into WDAE..where he began tearing
> paintings off the wall and climbing the stairs to the
> studio. Staff members ran for cover while "Wild" Bill
> explained that he didn't know what to do..that Victor had
> never done this before. Not much time passed before Victor
> began beating on the window that housed our beautful music
> counterparts at WJYW "Joy 101". Silky voiced Norm
> Swenson..finished his "announcement" turned slowly in his
> chair, and spied the raging bear slamming his paws against
> the double-paned glass..Norm opened the door, and casally
> but forcefully said in his HUGE old-line announcer timbre:
>
> "SOMEBODY GET THIS GOD-DAMMED BEAR OUT OF HERE"
>
> Victor became quiet..Wild Bill lassoed the bruin, and led
> him back down the stairwell..but not before he could turn
> and swat at the portrait of Robert Roundsavlle causing the
> frame to crumble, and the picture to rip to shreds.
>

The CE's name was Dick Lucas (man that's been a long time ago, I have no idea how I remembered that). He was with the stations (by then WDAE and WIQI) after the operation moved to 504 Reo St. and remained there with Taft and then Gannett, until about '85. I believe he went to South Florida to take on a station down there (remember, this was before there were "radio groups" or "clusters"). I think my date is good because my son was born that year. Lloyd Berg took over as chief after that, and I heard he stuck around for several years, and may still be in the area, but I've been out of the market for a long time and have lost touch with all of the old crew.
 
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