Does anyone know the history of Radio Smiles and Norman Suttles. Started WFBS (Fayetteville-Spring Lake). Also bought, WRNC (WRAL-AM Raleigh), WGAI (Elizabeth City), WFOG-FM(Sulfolk-Norfolk VA), started WSML (Graham-Burlington) and many other stations. All were Top 40 and then he started doing some religion stations as well. I recall watching TV11 WTVD Dance Party and WFBS was a sponsor with a Radio Smiles jingle in early 60s. Probably was a trade for advertising. I worked at WGAI after Radio Smiles and found our entire old record library at the Raleigh flea market. Norman had someone called "Bob Raleigh" as "national pd" that must have cleaned out every property.
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Radio Smiles/Norman Suttles
- Thread starter JimA
- Start date
E
errandboy
Guest
Norman Suttles was the general manager of WFNC in Fayetteville in the late 50s. Later he and partner Durwood Godwin operated a chain of smaller market AM radio stations, including WFBS in Spring Lake, WSML in Graham, WSMY in Weldon, WISP in Kinston, and WPVA in Perersburg VA. In a larger market, they had WFOG in Norfolk. They also had WRNC in Raleigh, which is owned and operated today by Mr. Suttles' son, William Suttles. In 1970, WRNC was trying to compete against WKIX as a Top 40 station. The "Radio Smiles" group was headquartered in Fayetteville. September 18-19, 1970, the Radio Smiles Group sponsored a "Tri State Programming Clinic" in Raleigh. Some very big programming stars of the day were involved as panelists and advisors. They included Sebastion Stone, PD of WOR-FM, Jay Cook, PD of WFIL, Bill Sherrard, PD of WIXY, Skip Broussard, PD of WOKY, Carl Wiggleworth, PD of WKLO, Bob Canada, PD of WROV and Claude Hall of Billboard Magazine. Bob Hamilton and Buzz Bennett of "The Radio Report" were moderators. Bob Raleigh (J. Raleigh Gaines) helped put this event together. Norman Suttles was one of the best-hearted people you would ever want to meet or work for. Sadly, he passed away several years ago while living in retirement in South Carolina. If you worked at WGAI, perhaps you are familiar with the "J.J. Freeman Bridge" at the towers. Good story behind that.
I thought I knew Raleigh area radio history pretty well for someone who didn't live there but I'm not familiar with WRNC. What dial position was that? The only WRNC I know was in Reidsville, north of Greensboro. I would listen to that station when I was about 10 years old. It was called WFRC in those days.
RFGuy said:
incident...bridge..?????????????
huh....
back in HS I used to hang out at WGAI a lot (around 2000 - 2002) when it was still owned by Ray-D-O Biz, right before max media bought them out....I did a documentary on WGAI for my video production class...the engineer at the time was very friendly and gave me a very detailed tour of the whole building...give me some time and I can find the video....
and the story of how the ground sytem got plowed up....and how it couldn't be heard 10 miles outside elizabeth city because of that....
EncSpy said:
JimA...what are you doing these days?!?
EncSpy, I think I have the tape around here somewhere as well. Let me know if you can not find yours, I'll copy off the copy that you gave me and send it down.
I was at WGAI [Ray-D-O-Biz...became Max Media LLC owned in 2003] from April 1994 until August 31 2005. I left the area and moved to NY to assume engineering for EMF Broadcasting [K-Love/Air-1 Radio] and Smith Television. Anyhow, I think I know the bridge that RFGuy speaks of. Is it the bridge where one of the FCC regional field engineers fell through or off of and into the ditch that the bridge crosses? [think I heard it was JJ Freemon..the local/regional chief in charge at that time]
I heard of some plaque that was suppose to out there but I never found it during my tenure there. {I was known as Bob "Action" on the air and wore many hats along with the engineering hat from 1997 on}
BTW, for those of us that worked there or had some part of WGAI...[ Country 56, The Big 56, Stereo 56, News/Talk 560, NewsRadio 560 and the other many slogans it used over the years ], in early 2005, the studios of WGAI were relocated to Nags Head...co-located with sister stations WCXL Beach 104 and WaterCountry 94.5 "WCMS"...or was once WWOC. All that remains of 179 Lovers Lane, is a new, small white transmitter building located under the north tower and the two tower array. The old studio/office building that saw many add ons, has been leveled! Boy...only if those old walls in that building could talk!...history now gone.
Wasn't JJ Freeman an FCC inspector - remember the days of annual FCC inspections?
I remember a story about Freeman in Wilmington. Visited WGNI one day - at the old site across the river (off the bow of the USS North Carolina). Couldn't find anyone there. Finally made it to 211 North 2nd Street and cited the station for moving the main studio without permission. Seems he had overlooked paperwork concernign the move that was accomplished, with permission, about ten years earlier.
I think he retired shortly after that.
I remember a story about Freeman in Wilmington. Visited WGNI one day - at the old site across the river (off the bow of the USS North Carolina). Couldn't find anyone there. Finally made it to 211 North 2nd Street and cited the station for moving the main studio without permission. Seems he had overlooked paperwork concernign the move that was accomplished, with permission, about ten years earlier.
I think he retired shortly after that.
The story I heard many years ago was that JJ Freeman, At that time an inspector for the FCC went to visit the WGAI studios and was on the way with the engineer to the towers. Anyone that has worked there knew of the ditch between the towers. after visiting the first tower, Mr Freeman fell in the ditch and was soaked. If I remember corectly, this was in Feb. Do not know what year. There was a bridge at one time and it did have a small brass plaque, dedicating the bridge to JJ Freeman. Later he was promoted to the Head of the FCC and My licence had his signature on it. The bridge was still there when I worked at GAI.
WGAI is Elizabeth City was an FCC training ground for JJ Freeman's new inspectors. After fines and grief, Norman started a system to only keep the exact number of program and transmitter logs required by the FCC. Crazy JJ if he found older ones would go a witch hunt and create drama and fines. Being less than 30 miles from the FCC in Norfolk will make you nervous.
XTalker, No. I do not miss the FCC inspections! All kidding aside, those guys with the FCC took a lot of grief from some people. I have had several inspections through my carrier and found if you treat them with respect, you will get respect in return. Also, If you listen to what they say, You can learn alot.
E
errandboy
Guest
J.J. Freeman was the Inspector-in-Charge of the FCC's Regional Field Office in Norfolk, VA. If you had a Third Phone or First Phone license issued or renewed in North Carolina, during the 1970s his signature (or stamped signature) was probably on it. When my First Phone was renewed in '74 he signed it. Original was issued in Atlanta in '69. Any old timers remember those days at Elkins Institute (or others) ?
Hey folks,
Recently found the old thread about Radio Smiles WGAI/WFOG. I'm sort of behind times! Anyway, I worked for Radio Smiles at WGAI in Elizabeth City from 1971 to 1974 and at WLPM/WFOG in Suffolk in 1974 to 1975. I am very familiar with the JJ Freeman Memorial Bridge and other stuff that may be of some interest. Anyway, let me know if y'all want more. I also have some old air checks from back then that maybe someone would be interested in?
"Bill Wood"
Recently found the old thread about Radio Smiles WGAI/WFOG. I'm sort of behind times! Anyway, I worked for Radio Smiles at WGAI in Elizabeth City from 1971 to 1974 and at WLPM/WFOG in Suffolk in 1974 to 1975. I am very familiar with the JJ Freeman Memorial Bridge and other stuff that may be of some interest. Anyway, let me know if y'all want more. I also have some old air checks from back then that maybe someone would be interested in?
"Bill Wood"
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