B
Braswell
Guest
Walter Brown first worked with WSPA radio for the Liberty Corporation, which also owned WIS in Columbia. In 1940, Brown left WSPA, and built WORD, then on 1400. Brown moved to Washington in 1943, working for the Roosevelt administration.
He came back to Spartanburg after serving briefly in the Truman administration, continuing to operate WORD. In late 1946-early 1947, Brown built WTNT (1230) in Augusta, and WTWA (1240) in Thomson, Georgia. Brown married Thomson native Tom Watson's (the father of rural free mail delivery) granddaughter, and had purchased Watson's estate (Hickory Hill) in Thomson, which was the reason he built a station in such a small town.
In short order, WTNT was sold to J.B. Fuqua, and it became WJBF radio. Later, he sold his interest in WTWA to his minority partner, Ed Kobak, who was president of the Mutual Broadcasting System. In the early 50's, he sold WORD, in order to purchase WSPA radio from Liberty. WSPA television took to the air in 1956, moving the channel 7 allocation from Columbia to Spartanburg, following several years of litigation. For the extreme nostalgia buffs, in the mid-50's, Brown built his new Spartanburg home at the WSPA-AM transmitter site. Now THAT'S a true broadcaster!
In 1971, Brown's Bethany Broadcasting Company built WTHO AM (1530) & FM (101.7) in Thomson, since he was spending a good bit more time at Hickory Hill. Much of WTHO's programming was patterned after WSPA's, although it was a simulcast. WTHO's plant was a showplace, housed in a very contemporary, pyramid-styled building, located on the Hickory Hill estate. The equipment was all RCA, although some of it was hand-me-downs from WSPA. The production room used an old TV audio board from channel 7. In 1979, Brown purchased WTWA, the station he'd built in 1947, from Gene Harden. WTWA's fulltime 1240 frequency, was superior to WTHO's daytime-only 1530 (with 1kw-D, 330w-CH). When the sale was complete, 1530's license was surrendered, and WTWA moved 1-1/2 miles down the road, into the WTHO building.
When the acquisition of WJBF-TV forced the divestiture of WTHO, it was sold to longtime WTHO (and WTWA) employee, Mike Wall, who carries on the community oriented tradition of "Thomson Georgia Radio".
I worked for WTHO in the mid-70's. Everyone was terrified of Mr. Brown, even resorting to "purifying" the format (no country, and no hard(er) rock...only pop/MOR & easy-listening) when word was received from Spartanburg that he was on the way. Also, the announcers were ordered into wearing the company-mandated white shirts and neckties, and all smoking, drinking and eating was prohibited in the studios.
One time, he "sneaked" into town, as no warning was received. At the time, I worked in the evenings, and didn't know him from Adam's house cat. There I was, wearing my shorts and t-shirt, a Pepsi at my right hand, a Marlboro burning in the ashtray, and playing both kinds of music...country and western, when this older gentleman, wearing a khaki work shirt and pants, along with a straw hat, came walking in the side door. It was unbearably hot outside, and he was perspiring when he came in. As it was not unusual for folks to wander in, I invited him to sit down and cool off. Saying he was thirsty, I got him a Pepsi from the refrigerator, and he proceeded to light up his pipe. He even commented about the good music that I was playing.
After he finished his Pepsi, he asked if I knew Mr. Brown. I told him that I didn't know him personally, but I certainly knew who he was, and had heard all about him. He said, "yeah...I hear he won't let y'all smoke or drink in the studios, insists that the men wear white shirts and ties, and hates country music". I said that I'd heard all that. He stood up, stuck out his hand, and said, "Mr. Braswell...I'm Walter Brown, and don't you believe a damned word those flunkies say about me. You're doing a good job...keep it up. By the way, I was never here. We'll just keep this as our little secret". With that, he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving me stunned. In later years, I visited with him two or three times, and we always had a big laugh about the "bad ol'" Mr. Brown.
I'm sure that he could be extremely tough, but it's a shame that most of the "true" broadcasters, like Walter Brown, and now Elmo Ellis, are gone, with few, if any, following in their footsteps. <P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
He came back to Spartanburg after serving briefly in the Truman administration, continuing to operate WORD. In late 1946-early 1947, Brown built WTNT (1230) in Augusta, and WTWA (1240) in Thomson, Georgia. Brown married Thomson native Tom Watson's (the father of rural free mail delivery) granddaughter, and had purchased Watson's estate (Hickory Hill) in Thomson, which was the reason he built a station in such a small town.
In short order, WTNT was sold to J.B. Fuqua, and it became WJBF radio. Later, he sold his interest in WTWA to his minority partner, Ed Kobak, who was president of the Mutual Broadcasting System. In the early 50's, he sold WORD, in order to purchase WSPA radio from Liberty. WSPA television took to the air in 1956, moving the channel 7 allocation from Columbia to Spartanburg, following several years of litigation. For the extreme nostalgia buffs, in the mid-50's, Brown built his new Spartanburg home at the WSPA-AM transmitter site. Now THAT'S a true broadcaster!
In 1971, Brown's Bethany Broadcasting Company built WTHO AM (1530) & FM (101.7) in Thomson, since he was spending a good bit more time at Hickory Hill. Much of WTHO's programming was patterned after WSPA's, although it was a simulcast. WTHO's plant was a showplace, housed in a very contemporary, pyramid-styled building, located on the Hickory Hill estate. The equipment was all RCA, although some of it was hand-me-downs from WSPA. The production room used an old TV audio board from channel 7. In 1979, Brown purchased WTWA, the station he'd built in 1947, from Gene Harden. WTWA's fulltime 1240 frequency, was superior to WTHO's daytime-only 1530 (with 1kw-D, 330w-CH). When the sale was complete, 1530's license was surrendered, and WTWA moved 1-1/2 miles down the road, into the WTHO building.
When the acquisition of WJBF-TV forced the divestiture of WTHO, it was sold to longtime WTHO (and WTWA) employee, Mike Wall, who carries on the community oriented tradition of "Thomson Georgia Radio".
I worked for WTHO in the mid-70's. Everyone was terrified of Mr. Brown, even resorting to "purifying" the format (no country, and no hard(er) rock...only pop/MOR & easy-listening) when word was received from Spartanburg that he was on the way. Also, the announcers were ordered into wearing the company-mandated white shirts and neckties, and all smoking, drinking and eating was prohibited in the studios.
One time, he "sneaked" into town, as no warning was received. At the time, I worked in the evenings, and didn't know him from Adam's house cat. There I was, wearing my shorts and t-shirt, a Pepsi at my right hand, a Marlboro burning in the ashtray, and playing both kinds of music...country and western, when this older gentleman, wearing a khaki work shirt and pants, along with a straw hat, came walking in the side door. It was unbearably hot outside, and he was perspiring when he came in. As it was not unusual for folks to wander in, I invited him to sit down and cool off. Saying he was thirsty, I got him a Pepsi from the refrigerator, and he proceeded to light up his pipe. He even commented about the good music that I was playing.
After he finished his Pepsi, he asked if I knew Mr. Brown. I told him that I didn't know him personally, but I certainly knew who he was, and had heard all about him. He said, "yeah...I hear he won't let y'all smoke or drink in the studios, insists that the men wear white shirts and ties, and hates country music". I said that I'd heard all that. He stood up, stuck out his hand, and said, "Mr. Braswell...I'm Walter Brown, and don't you believe a damned word those flunkies say about me. You're doing a good job...keep it up. By the way, I was never here. We'll just keep this as our little secret". With that, he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving me stunned. In later years, I visited with him two or three times, and we always had a big laugh about the "bad ol'" Mr. Brown.
I'm sure that he could be extremely tough, but it's a shame that most of the "true" broadcasters, like Walter Brown, and now Elmo Ellis, are gone, with few, if any, following in their footsteps. <P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
