TRIAD Pioneer FMs

[Huff]

The WKSI thread got me thinking... there sure were a lot of early FM stations in the Triad. I'm guessing Gordon Gray's pioneering FM helped spur development and interest. W41MM signed on in 1942 and eventually became WMIT-FM. The station was licensed to Winston-Salem but broadcast from Mt. Mitchell with 50,000 at 3800 feet and covered all of western NC, and huge chunks of SC, GA and TN. This was well before current power limits were put on FM.

Here's what my research shows as the earliest FMs in the Triad area:

June 1, 1942 - W41MM Winston-Salem 44.1 (became WMIT-FM, moved to 97.3, then 106.9; OFF AIR Spring 1950; eventually re-licensed to Charlotte)
1946 - WMFR-FM High Point 97.7 (now WMAG, 99.5)
Dec. 1946 - WBBB-FM Burlington 101.3 (now WZTK, 101.1)
Apr. 1947 - WAIR-FM Winston-Salem 93.1 (now WPAW)
Nov. 1947 - WHPE-FM High Point (still WHPE-FM)
Dec. 1, 1947 - WSJS-FM Winston-Salem 104.1 (now WTQR)
1948 - WCTP Greensboro 98.7 (OFF AIR by 1950)
1948 - WFMY-FM Greensboro 97.3 (OFF AIR Mid 50s)
1948 - WGBG-FM Greensboro 100.3 (OFF AIR 1951)
Sep. 6, 1948 - WREV-FM Reidsville 102.1 (now WJMH)
Nov. 1948 - WGWR-FM Asheboro 92.3 (now WKRR)
Mar. 20, 1949 - WLOE-FM Leaksville 92.7 (eventually became what is now WGBT, 94.5)
Apr. 1949 - WTNC-FM Thomasville 98.3 (now WIST-FM)
Aug. 24, 1949 - WBUY-FM Lexington 94.3 (now WTHZ, 94.1)
1951 - WFMB-FM Mayodan 93.5 (OFF AIR early 1950s)
June 1953 - WNOS-FM High Point 100.3 (now WVBZ)


The list may not be exhaustive, but it's a start - anyone have any corrections or additions?

 

[SuperCFL]

Great list, Domingo and very interesting. Of course, WHPE is (and, I assume was, on 95.5). I wouldn't be able to verify or add anything, but enjoyed seeing it.

Are the dates listed the dates on which license was granted?

 

[Huff]

Great list, Domingo and very interesting. Of course, WHPE is (and, I assume was, on 95.5). I wouldn't be able to verify or add anything, but enjoyed seeing it.

Are the dates listed the dates on which license was granted?

Yes, WHPE-FM has always been on 95.5 - it signed on 4 months after WHPE AM (1070) hit the air (The stations' early slogan was "Watching High Point Expand").

The dates I have are original on-air dates, not CP issues or license issues.

 

[MaskMan]

WMFR slogan was "We Make Frank Rich". Frank Lambeth was the owner of WMFR. Poor WBRF...."We Barf???"

 

[IFB64]

WMFR slogan was "We Make Frank Rich". Frank Lambeth was the owner of WMFR. Poor WBRF...."We Barf???"

No thats we build Furniture right...oh never mind thats what WMFR supposedly really stands for, We MAKE Furniture Right....

OK, how were all of these Lambeth's related? When I had some dealings with WMFR, One of the Lambeth's owned the building at the time. I had the impression there "was some sour grapes".

 

[allnews]

A few WMIT facts:
In 1942 it was listed as having the largest coverage area in the country, some 69k square miles.
Programming was sent to the transmitter atop Clingman’s peak on Mount Mitchel, via an STL hop of over 110 miles.
German U-boats used the station’s signal as a piloting beacon during the Second World War.
In 1945 WMIT was licensed for 200k watts, it was up to 325k in the early 50s.
Power was provided by generators, it was cheaper to truck diesel fuel there than to run power lines to such a remote location. From what I understand, Gray sold the station because it was so expensive to operate.

It was a fascinating experiment for its time.

 

[MaskMan]

No thats we build Furniture right...oh never mind thats what WMFR supposedly really stands for, We MAKE Furniture Right....

OK, how were all of these Lambeth's related? When I had some dealings with WMFR, One of the Lambeth's owned the building at the time. I had the impression there "was some sour grapes".
[/quote]

Yes, it actually was "We make furniture right". Frank Lambeth DID own the building, even after he sold the radio stations to Voyager. Voyager negotiated some kind of 100 year lease on the studio space in the building for some ridiculously low price. That's why WMFR continues to occupy that space. Frank Lambeth was a really colorful, cocky, character who used to do scathing monologues about politics and other community issues on WMFR-AM. He would infuriate people sometimes because he was so opinionated. He was considered a great broadcaster and those who worked for him seemed to like and respect him a lot. He died a number of years ago. He probably had heirs that still own the building. I'm not sure about that.

 

[wesradio]

The WHPE slogan "Watching High Point Expand" was used after the High Point Broadcasting Company purchased the station from the local High Point Enterprise. Originally it was “With High Point Enterprise”. I think my pay check envelope had “Watch High Point Expand” not watching.

 

[XTalker]

That lease (on the Radio Building) is so wierd. Not only is it long term, but it requires the 9th floor to be restored to it's original condition - removal of walls, windows, sound proofing, raised floors, etc.

I understand that some of the space has been released.

And of course, there is the tower on the roof! It would cost millions to relocate the tower - and it just isn't worth it!

 

[Huff]

A few WMIT facts:
In 1942 it was listed as having the largest coverage area in the country, some 69k square miles.
Programming was sent to the transmitter atop Clingman’s peak on Mount Mitchel, via an STL hop of over 110 miles.
German U-boats used the station’s signal as a piloting beacon during the Second World War.
In 1945 WMIT was licensed for 200k watts, it was up to 325k in the early 50s.
Power was provided by generators, it was cheaper to truck diesel fuel there than to run power lines to such a remote location. From what I understand, Gray sold the station because it was so expensive to operate.

It was a fascinating experiment for its time.

There are several fascinating, in-depth articles about W41MM/WMIT-FM on this page:

http://www.ggninfo.com/article.htm

 

[IFB64]

A few WMIT facts:
In 1942 it was listed as having the largest coverage area in the country, some 69k square miles.
Programming was sent to the transmitter atop Clingman’s peak on Mount Mitchel, via an STL hop of over 110 miles.
German U-boats used the station’s signal as a piloting beacon during the Second World War.
In 1945 WMIT was licensed for 200k watts, it was up to 325k in the early 50s.
Power was provided by generators, it was cheaper to truck diesel fuel there than to run power lines to such a remote location. From what I understand, Gray sold the station because it was so expensive to operate.

It was a fascinating experiment for its time.



Gordon Gray is an interesting character, both in broadcasting and outside of broadcasting. Do a google search on that name and see what comes up...interesting reading.

There are several fascinating, in-depth articles about W41MM/WMIT-FM on this page:

http://www.ggninfo.com/article.htm

 

[vchimpanzee]

Yes, WHPE-FM has always been on 95.5 - it signed on 4 months after WHPE AM (1070) hit the air (The stations' early slogan was "Watching High Point Expand").

Really? I would have guessed "High Point Enterprise". WSJS was "Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel".

By the way, BBN says "Where His Praises Echo."

 

[RadioDze]

Interesting note on BBN's call letter protocol...According to station literature, when they bought their first station, WYFI in Norfolk, Virginia in 1971, they didn't realize you could request call letters. Therefore, WYFI became the acronym or "Where You'll Find Inspiration." WHPE was their second station and got the new meaning for its call letters of "Where His Praises Echo" as mentioned before. By 1981 when they bought the former WHNC-FM in Henderson, BBN brass had apparently become aware of the fact that they could request call signs, so that station became WYFL (Where You'll Find Love"). They've pretty much continued the WYF_ or KYF_ protocol across their ever-expanding network.