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Wonderful WIZZARD 100
- Thread starter amfmsw
- Start date
W
WTUX
Guest
990 became WZZD-disco September 9, 1977 and continued with it until it became Christain AC in 1980.
WZZD was a type of Top 40/AC at first, carried the Phillies for a season, had Don Henderson doing morning sports reports before switching to disco. I liked the station until the disco thing.
WZZD was a type of Top 40/AC at first, carried the Phillies for a season, had Don Henderson doing morning sports reports before switching to disco. I liked the station until the disco thing.
Re: Wonderful WIBBAGE Radio 99
On the final week of Wonderful Wibbage Radio, Sept. 4-10 1977, Hy Lit & Joe Niagara were contracted for the on-air performances, 6am-6pm. Apparently commissioned research indicated that Hy & Joe were the most recognized air personalities at the time. I was not part of management, and played no role in the executive decision process, although I also was hired during that week for production, jingle editing, and to run the board and produce Hy’s show. (I worked full time at WIFI 92 at the time).
Fairbanks Broadcasting, with Jim Hilliard (WFIL) running the corporate programming implementation and Kevin Metheny (WNBC/MTV) as the incoming program director for the proposed WIZZARD 100 (WZZD), had just bought WIBG. Kevin was fresh out of a successful run at Fairbanks Broadcasting/B-100 in San Diego, which in all probability got him the ill-founded job. Since Jim Hilliard was part of the original WFIL alumni, he really had a distain for WIBG, its staff and for that matter, all the history it represented to Philadelphia. He thought WFIL was the beginning and end all in Philly radio. So the sooner he killed WIBG, the better, were his sentiments entirely. Kevin brought his silly little Wizzard 100 format and a flawed San Diego research formula to Philadelphia and it was met with measurably predictable results.
The revival of the original WIBBAGE sound that week was a literal, spectacular overnight success that reinvigorated radio in the city and throughout the Delaware valley. Subsequently, WIZZARD 100 was its doom. Kevin Metheny was fired, less that 1 year later, and the format was changed to Disco. After that, Fairbanks Broadcasting bailed, to Salem Broadcasting, which flipped to Contemporary Christian, and preacher paid programming upon the sale transfer in 1980.
Fairbanks Broadcasting may have had an inclination that Wizzard 100 may not materialize in the ratings, and tried to park the WIBG call letters, but were denied by the FCC, after a precedent setting protracted battle. Subsequently, the WIBG call letters were picked up by WSLT/1520, and currently reside at 1020/Ocean City N.J., after a frequency shift.
The magic of the original sound of Wibbage was really all that was needed at the time to reinvigorate the attention a heritage 50,000-watt station should expect to command.
* Fairbanks Broadcasting bought WIBG from Buckley Broadcasting, who was infamous for returning the WIBG FM 94.1 license to the FCC in the early 70’s. The reason given was, no one is, or will ever listen to FM, and it can never be profitable.
-Sam Lit
On the final week of Wonderful Wibbage Radio, Sept. 4-10 1977, Hy Lit & Joe Niagara were contracted for the on-air performances, 6am-6pm. Apparently commissioned research indicated that Hy & Joe were the most recognized air personalities at the time. I was not part of management, and played no role in the executive decision process, although I also was hired during that week for production, jingle editing, and to run the board and produce Hy’s show. (I worked full time at WIFI 92 at the time).
Fairbanks Broadcasting, with Jim Hilliard (WFIL) running the corporate programming implementation and Kevin Metheny (WNBC/MTV) as the incoming program director for the proposed WIZZARD 100 (WZZD), had just bought WIBG. Kevin was fresh out of a successful run at Fairbanks Broadcasting/B-100 in San Diego, which in all probability got him the ill-founded job. Since Jim Hilliard was part of the original WFIL alumni, he really had a distain for WIBG, its staff and for that matter, all the history it represented to Philadelphia. He thought WFIL was the beginning and end all in Philly radio. So the sooner he killed WIBG, the better, were his sentiments entirely. Kevin brought his silly little Wizzard 100 format and a flawed San Diego research formula to Philadelphia and it was met with measurably predictable results.
The revival of the original WIBBAGE sound that week was a literal, spectacular overnight success that reinvigorated radio in the city and throughout the Delaware valley. Subsequently, WIZZARD 100 was its doom. Kevin Metheny was fired, less that 1 year later, and the format was changed to Disco. After that, Fairbanks Broadcasting bailed, to Salem Broadcasting, which flipped to Contemporary Christian, and preacher paid programming upon the sale transfer in 1980.
Fairbanks Broadcasting may have had an inclination that Wizzard 100 may not materialize in the ratings, and tried to park the WIBG call letters, but were denied by the FCC, after a precedent setting protracted battle. Subsequently, the WIBG call letters were picked up by WSLT/1520, and currently reside at 1020/Ocean City N.J., after a frequency shift.
The magic of the original sound of Wibbage was really all that was needed at the time to reinvigorate the attention a heritage 50,000-watt station should expect to command.
* Fairbanks Broadcasting bought WIBG from Buckley Broadcasting, who was infamous for returning the WIBG FM 94.1 license to the FCC in the early 70’s. The reason given was, no one is, or will ever listen to FM, and it can never be profitable.
-Sam Lit
S
starlitejon
Guest
Sam, The Final week of WIBBAGE in SEPTEMBER of 1977 was very well engeninered by You, The final hour with HY Was an Award Winning Classic Performance by HY !!!!! Allowing the GEATOR To brooker a live Party on WIBBAGE After HY Put it to sleep was a very stupid move by Fairbanks Broadcasting and the Grand Old Lady of ROCK AND ROLL ( W I B G ) Was Very angry !!!!!!
and Thus WIZZARD 100 Was cursed from the very beginning !!!!!
SOLID TED,NUFF SED !!!!!!!!!! JP
and Thus WIZZARD 100 Was cursed from the very beginning !!!!!
SOLID TED,NUFF SED !!!!!!!!!! JP
F
fredflintstone
Guest
Another thread becomes an opportunity to promote a 50s DJ and the audio stream which carries his name.
Kevin Metheny later became the infamous "Pig Virus" - one of the program directors who tried to stifle Howard Stern (in the movie "Private Parts" his name was changed to "Pig Vomit").
Kevin Metheny later became the infamous "Pig Virus" - one of the program directors who tried to stifle Howard Stern (in the movie "Private Parts" his name was changed to "Pig Vomit").
C
chuckydoll
Guest
A thread filled with disinformation
WZZD-990 was sold from Fairbanks to Communicom, which owned Christian station WWDJ-970 in the NYC metro. WZZD went Christian at midnight on Mother's Day (May 11) 1980.
The old WIBG was the Phillies' flagship in 1976; the Phillies were on KYW-1060 from 1977-81.
Kevin Matheny moved from WZZD up the Turnpike to be PD of WNBC. He brought Imus back to New York and put in more of a rockish format. Within months the most-listened-to station in America was 66 WNNNNNNNNNNNNBC!
AFAIK Kevin Matheny never worked at MTV; that would have been Bob Pittman, who ran 66 into the ground.
WZZD-990 was sold from Fairbanks to Communicom, which owned Christian station WWDJ-970 in the NYC metro. WZZD went Christian at midnight on Mother's Day (May 11) 1980.
The old WIBG was the Phillies' flagship in 1976; the Phillies were on KYW-1060 from 1977-81.
Kevin Matheny moved from WZZD up the Turnpike to be PD of WNBC. He brought Imus back to New York and put in more of a rockish format. Within months the most-listened-to station in America was 66 WNNNNNNNNNNNNBC!
AFAIK Kevin Matheny never worked at MTV; that would have been Bob Pittman, who ran 66 into the ground.
Hiya Sam..
Wonderful, articulate post about the grand old lady WIBG. I was listening that day and had a lump in my throat which remains to this day.
I agree with you..that if SOMEone had brains, they'd bring back the SOUND of either Wibbage OR FIL. I know FIL tried it with Joey Reynolds, and even Dan Donovan..but it was too little too late. I think that TODAY however, there would BE a niche to fill with the SOUND of the 60's and early 70's versions of these two great stations..sorta what I did with The Time Machine at 66 WNBC for 2 years in the 80's.
I think an FM could pull it off with BIG sounding personalites..reverb, jingles..reallll jingles.. But we would have to fight the corporate oafs who have f---'d up radio. It's all about 25-44 females. No one else exists anymore. Sad they've taken our MEMORIES away.
BE BIG
A BIG announcement from the KING of RECORD PIGS coming soon.
www.bigjayandanita.com
Wonderful, articulate post about the grand old lady WIBG. I was listening that day and had a lump in my throat which remains to this day.
I agree with you..that if SOMEone had brains, they'd bring back the SOUND of either Wibbage OR FIL. I know FIL tried it with Joey Reynolds, and even Dan Donovan..but it was too little too late. I think that TODAY however, there would BE a niche to fill with the SOUND of the 60's and early 70's versions of these two great stations..sorta what I did with The Time Machine at 66 WNBC for 2 years in the 80's.
I think an FM could pull it off with BIG sounding personalites..reverb, jingles..reallll jingles.. But we would have to fight the corporate oafs who have f---'d up radio. It's all about 25-44 females. No one else exists anymore. Sad they've taken our MEMORIES away.
BE BIG
A BIG announcement from the KING of RECORD PIGS coming soon.
www.bigjayandanita.com
Yo Big,
Your 66NBC time machine was well done. I was very impressed. Particularly at your endurance of the 6 hr. show. You never slowed down rounding the curve. It was a real treat listening overnights, with all the sweet AM heterodyne of a clear channel, phasing in and out, and with those authentic jingles. That was too much. Some things are just better than others, I guess.
Ey Coops,
When the city went nuts over the original WIBBAGE sound, around the middle of that week, I remember Kevin Metheny running around the station with this long print out that he held over his head, of the singularly, ultimate data based song research formula, fresh from San Diego. And no one, he said, could dispute a print out. Just attach a new WIZZARD name to the frequency, and play these hundred and twenty songs over and over, and there you will have a guaranteed Number 1, in no time. Apparently, he was right about no time, WIZZARD in Philadelphia, ratings wise, never would happen, No time.
Your 66NBC time machine was well done. I was very impressed. Particularly at your endurance of the 6 hr. show. You never slowed down rounding the curve. It was a real treat listening overnights, with all the sweet AM heterodyne of a clear channel, phasing in and out, and with those authentic jingles. That was too much. Some things are just better than others, I guess.
Ey Coops,
When the city went nuts over the original WIBBAGE sound, around the middle of that week, I remember Kevin Metheny running around the station with this long print out that he held over his head, of the singularly, ultimate data based song research formula, fresh from San Diego. And no one, he said, could dispute a print out. Just attach a new WIZZARD name to the frequency, and play these hundred and twenty songs over and over, and there you will have a guaranteed Number 1, in no time. Apparently, he was right about no time, WIZZARD in Philadelphia, ratings wise, never would happen, No time.
Is it just me, or reading this thread I can hear Bill Purcell's "Our Winter Love" in the background?
Joe? Yeah, Hy? She...She's DYING! (echo, into the end of the Beatles "A Day in the Life"). Still gets me misty eyed.
Joe? Yeah, Hy? She...She's DYING! (echo, into the end of the Beatles "A Day in the Life"). Still gets me misty eyed.
F
fredflintstone
Guest
Re: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
Pig Virus is one of those people who keeps screwing up and not only keeps working - keeps being put in charge and given new opportunities to screw up. The Peter Principle incarnate.
Howard's triumph over Pig Virus is a victory for any of us ever unfortunate enough to work for somebody like that.
The guy who had Imus and Howard on one radio station and couldn't make money is now programming for Clear Channel's Cleveland cluster.
[EDIT-vulgar]
Sam Lit said:
Pig Virus is one of those people who keeps screwing up and not only keeps working - keeps being put in charge and given new opportunities to screw up. The Peter Principle incarnate.
Howard's triumph over Pig Virus is a victory for any of us ever unfortunate enough to work for somebody like that.
The guy who had Imus and Howard on one radio station and couldn't make money is now programming for Clear Channel's Cleveland cluster.
[EDIT-vulgar]
8
8638
Guest
Rockin Rob said:
I don't think I'll ever forget that. Got a little misty eyed myself. A real moment in Philly radio history. That echo, while simple, was almost surreal. The lady went out with class, that's for sure. And the real irony was, that for a few weeks anyway, much of the Delaware Valley seemed to be listening to Wibbage, which certainly wasn' t the case up until the 'Wake.' I thought that perhaps it was one big stunt, and that Wibbage would become 'a thing of the past' (the sounder played after the Joe, She's DYING, bit). Didn't know that Pig Virus was in charge of the show, though
I guess we are showing our age, reminiscing over an AM music station.
Rick Brancadora heard you and put Wibbage-FM on the air down Atlantic City - Cape May on 94.3. Things are doing pretty well, sales and ratings are good. All the old jingles, voices, TV and movie audio clips, even old commercials. Upping the power to 6000 Watts and moving 10 miles north strengthened the 94.3 signal quite a bit.
Jim Nettleton ran mornings until he died last month. Bob Charger from the original Wibbage 99 started Monday.
Rick Rock does midday, and other legendary voices are due on soon.
You can stream it at http://wibg.fm/listen.asx
Jim Nettleton ran mornings until he died last month. Bob Charger from the original Wibbage 99 started Monday.
Rick Rock does midday, and other legendary voices are due on soon.
You can stream it at http://wibg.fm/listen.asx
Besides The Wibbage Wake, Bob didn't work at WIBG. He was working at WSSJ when I hired him for evenings at WFIL in 1986. After that, he tried getting into WOGL for years. Finally, after resisting hiring him, he was gven a " sink or swim" shot live on the air..and blew the PD and everybody else away, ultimately leading to the long term gig he has there now.
Does anybody have airchecks of the last days of WIBG to swap?
I had tape rolling but maybe Sam Lit can help you!
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