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Merv Griffin Dies at 82

B

bub

Guest
Sad day in the entertainment industry. While he's best remembered for his talk show and game shows like Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, Merv Griffin was also a radio station owner...including WWCO in Waterbury and WPOP in Hartford. He may have also owned WIOF but I don't recall.
 
Merv Griffin bought WWCO, his first station, in 1965 and put WWCO-FM 104.1 on the air in 1967 as a country station. 104.1 later became a soft Magic 104 under his ownership. In 1973, Merv Griffin bought WPOP, sold WWCO (AM) and move the country FM to a new transmitter site in Prospect (antenna had been on Channel 20's tower until then). Griffin's company move the transmitter to West Peak, Meriden in 1978 and changed the format to Magic 104.

According to a 2005 PRNewswire.com story, Merv Griffin had "purchased, managed and successfully sold 17 radio stations" during his radio ownership career.
 
Strange that we lost both he and Tom Snyder within two weeks of one another. Anyways, when Magic 104 became Star 104.1 in 1992, was that a result of Merv selling the station or not?
 
>Anyways, when Magic 104 became Star 104.1 in 1992, was that a result of Merv selling the station or not?

No. WPOP/WSYR and the other Merv Griffin stations were sold about a year or two later. Former WPOP & 104.1 production director Lee Gordon once wrote on a message board that Merv Griffin had been advised to either merge or be merged because of ownership deregulation.
 
Fondly remember the day in 1977 that Magic104 PD Lou Terri posted a notice on the bulletin board that Merv was visiting the station.

Lou did Middays, Jack Carney (former WPOP & WDRC) did PM Drive, & I did 7-Mid.

Ah, the days on "Magic Mountain"! (Rte. 69 in Prospect).

Tascam Reel - To - Reel machines.

The microwave dish was still there (after the move to Meriden Mtn. in 1978).

There were some reception issues before to move to Meriden Mtn., as there was a large tree in front of the microwave dish.

The "suits" didn't want to cut it down, because of money issues?

Still can't figure that one out.

Also, the back of the bldg. always used to flood.

There was an aux. xmtr. in the Engineering Rm. that was connected to the dish - had to use it a few times.

Was a privilege & a pleasure to meet Mr. Griffin.
 
I had the pleasure of working for The Great 98 WTRY Albany when Merve owned it...
He would actually visit the station from time to time amd once even called me to say Thanks for doing a great job on air while everyone else was at a company party (I was the new kid so, I got stuck on air)
He had the jock who came in after me bring a plate from the party...
Classy Guy
It IS a sad day.
 
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