The Day Rock 'n' Roll Took Over The Airwaves

[scappy]

The Press & Sun Bulletin ran an article this weekend on WENE's switch to Rock 'n' Roll back in 1962:

"It started at 10:15 a.m., Monday, Aug. 20, 1962, when disc jockey Bob Malesky spun the first 45 rpm record on a turntable in the studios of WENE at 909 E. Main St. in Endicott."

http://www.pressconnects.com/articl...emory-Lane-day-rock-n-roll-took-over-airwaves

 

[landtuna]

Was that the first RnR station in the COL? Seems they were about six or so years behind by '62.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Yes, that sounds like a "hold out" station finally gave in and started joining the well established trend.

The original post made it sound like that on that fateful day in 1962 was the FIRST TIME a 45 rpm was played on that station. I have my doubts about that. Even if a station was holding out with pop music by Sinatra and Crosby and some "Big Band" music of the era, 45s already owned the market!

I started in 1956 and there were no new 78s coming into stations. There were, of course, new LPs flowing in but in small quantities. Of course, it may have been different in the major markets but I didn't get the idea that LPs were anything in quantity compared to the singles.

It was a time when the hold-outs were still holding their breath over this pitiful, outrageous music that was swamping the industry. When you worked in a small market directly for the well established station owner, you could earn "Brownie Points" by knowing where some of the golden nuggets were buried in the library of 78 RPM records still hugging the walls in the studio.

Played their FIRST 45 in 1962..... I'll have to think long and hard about that one.

 

[Savage]

Since 45s were introduced by RCA in January 1949, with the first releases and players hitting stores in March of that year, it's almost beyond debate that 45 rpm records were played on WENE prior to 1962. I joined the station in June 1968 and up on Pierce Hill and in the production studio at 909 E. Main were multispeed transcription turntables with GE "turnabout" VR-II cartridges almost as old as I was (18 at the time.)

It's probably more likely that the Press/Sun writer is too young to recall 45s being practically the sole distribution medium for rock n' roll hit music in the 50s and 60s, but also the preferred format for any short-format music, from MOR to country to ethnic tunes. Maybe she or he assumed that Top 40/Hit music was the ONLY such material commercially available on 45.

By the way, it's interesting to note that hit music was released on 78 in select and overseas markets, including Canada, well into the 1960s. Even The Beatles have been found on 78s (not that I'm suggesting these were ever played on WENE.) www.cool78s.com

 

[landtuna]

I remember buying my first 45 in 1956 when I was in the 7th grade. It was "Carmen, Murdered" by Spike Jones. Still have it and still laugh like hell when I hear it.

 

[scappy]

While the original article that I linked isn't available anymore, but I believe the writer's intent was that WENE played their first Rock and Roll song from a 45 in 1964.

 

[Savage]

I agree. Probably the author's intent was to say the first ROCK N' ROLL 45 was played on that date in 1962, although even that more specific statement likely wouldn't be accurate either. In the days before strict format-based radio, songs (presumably on 45 rpm discs) which could be referred to as "pop" or "rock n' roll" appeared from time to time on all kinds of traditional music-and-news stations. In the late 50s I recall hearing hits from Pat Boone, Elvis, David Seville (Ross Bagdasarian), Ricky Nelson et al on MOR-anchored stations like WHAM, WBEN, WVET, etc. Occasionally these songs were accompanied by snide comments from DJs who didn't really approve of the material.

I vividly recall riding along with my dad in his 1957 Lincoln on a winter day in 1961; he was quite the DX'er and had caught a Canadian music station. Suddenly they played a funny medley from humorist Allan Sherman; we howled with laughter. After the cut completed, there was a pause; the DJ sighed audibly and his sole comment was: " In 30 seconds, the time tone will indicate: 4pm Eastern Standard Time." 30 seconds of dead air followed, then the tone, then a network newscast.

I'm sure WENE listeners heard some kind of pop music from 45s prior to 1962.

 

[JeffM]

PLEASE tell me that WENE didn't call themselves "weenie radio!"

 

[Alex Browne]

PLEASE tell me that WENE didn't call themselves "weenie radio!"

Those of us who worked in radio in Binghamton (in my case the late 1970s) used to call it "weenie," as in "Oh, you work at 'weene.'" I don't think they ever used that on the air... it was always "The Big E." Unless the Greaseman sneaked it onto the air -- I wouldn't have put it past him!