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WFBL 1390 History question.

T

thebeach33445

Hey Guys:

I am having a hard time finding out the history of WFBL 1390. Can anybody tell me what the format history was for 1390 in the 50's, 60's and 70's and was it ever a top 40 station. I was reading on some sites that it was a top 40 station as Fire 14 or 14FBL. In the broadcasting yearbooks it gave no format listing except for 1977. It was listed as MOR.

Thanks for your help on this one. I am trying to clear this up.

T.J.
 
Around 1975 or so when I was PD at 62/WHEN they were an uptempo AC like WHEN..programmed by the former PD (who hired me as Production Dir), Jim Ashbury went there and called it 14FBL..it sounded very similer to 62. After we both left our respective jobs in Syracuse WFBL went to a full blown CHR "HOT HITS" format consulted by Mike Joseph called "FIRE 14"..The jocks were dubbed "The FIREMEN" (gag) and it was sped up music to 46.5 rpm..and REALLY compressed..and LOUD going aginst WOLF and WNDR. WFBL was at the turnaround of Carrier Circle, and had a nice, but pieced together studio/transmitter right off the thruway..with a HUGE 5/8 wave tower..Their signal was one of the very best in the market..but not as good as 620 or 570. WAY better than 1260 and of course 1490...but Vince had WOLF sounding absolutely awesome in 1974-76 with Brother Vic..and John Gabriel..what great jocks!
 
Re: WFBL 1390 History questio, the ownership wasn.

In the 50's & 60's WFBL was mostly M O R. But they did do some block programing. I vaguely remember Ted Downs doing a "Teen Time" show playing top 40 music, I think in the afternoon/early evening in the late 50's. They, also, did some talk, especially at night. Their general format probably could have been described as "chicken rock". More upbeat than WSYR & WHEN but not as hip as WNDR or WOLF. They had some really great personalities on the air. Too bad the ownership was just horrible. -I guess in that respect, they were ahead of the times.
 
Jeff Laurence said:
..but Vince had WOLF sounding absolutely awesome in 1974-76 with Brother Vic..and John Gabriel..what great jocks!
Click to expand...

Jeff, you sounded great, too. And Vince did have an excellent processing scheme; it was way ahead of the competition -- and better yet, he did it on a low budget.

After he had consumed a couple of drinks (I think they were throwing a party for Ron Bee), I even talked him into giving away some of his "secrets", which I still remember to this day:

1) Passive crossovers

2) EQ bump around 80 Hz

3) Two bands, not three

4) Trapezoidal Modulation

5) Mobil One oil in the turntable bearings
 
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