Beasley Media Group has announced Jessie Jordan has been named as the new morning show Co-Host of “The Mix Morning Show with Johnny B and Jessie Jordan” on WJBR 99.5 FM in Wilmington, Delaware. The new show officially launched on Monday, September 7th at 5:30am.
Jordan has been heard on the air in the Delaware Valley since 2004, working at WIOQ-FM and WBEB-FM, before joining WJBR-FM this past summer.
“We are thrilled to have Jessie join Johnny B weekday mornings,” said WJBR-FM Program Director, Eric Johnson. “She certainly added sparkle and feel good fun to this summer’s weekend programming. Now we get to start our day with her sunshine each morning!”
“I can’t stop smiling,” said Jordan. “Big ups’ to Chris Leonard for introducing me to the fabulous MIX 99.5 WJBR. Many thanks to AJ Lurie, Eric Johnson, Joe Bell and Bruce Beasley for believing in me and giving me this HUGE opportunity in the middle of a pandemic. And of course, my co-host Johnny B! Here’s to living the dream with Beasley Media Group!”
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Sports Talk radio station WGFX 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, TN, is the new broadcast home of NFL and Vols football superstar Ramon Foster, former Tennessee Volunteer and 11-year Pittsburgh Steeler Offensive Lineman, who joins the station’s weekday lineup as new morning show host.
Fresh out of the NFL, Foster brings an insider’s perspective to 104.5 The Zone, joining Co-Host Jason Martin, Monday through Friday from 6:00am-9:00am. Foster and Martin deliver high energy, entertaining and engaging sports talk covering the news of the day and all things sports, including special guests and luminaries across the sports galaxy. Foster debuts on 104.5 The Zone on Wednesday, September 9th.
Jason Martin
Foster, a force on the Steelers offensive line for the past 11 seasons and the second-longest tenured player in Steelers history, announced his retirement from the NFL team in March. He first signed on with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee. In all, Foster started 145 of the 160 games he played in, both of those ranking as second-most in team history at the position, including starting all 14 of the games he played in 2019. One of the most respected players on the Steelers roster throughout his career, he has consistently spoken out through the media when the time was right. Foster has also been a leader in the community, helping to spearhead the team's Social Justice Program the last two seasons.
A Tennessee native, Foster played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning the nickname of “The Big Ragu” in a career total of 44 games. He is a Vol For Life, with All-SEC honors as a freshman and junior.
Ramon Foster
Paul Mason, Program Director, 104.5 The Zone/WGFX-FM, said: “From the moment I met Ramon Foster, I knew he was the right person for this role. Not only is he a Vol For Life with many years in the NFL, but he is also very likable, a great story teller, and is just flat out interesting to listen to. I'm extremely excited and happy for our listeners!”
Allison Warren, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Nashville, noted: "Foster joins an all-star line-up on 104.5 The Zone. He brings with him a deep history with the Tennessee Volunteers, a wealth of experience and expertise as a former NFL player, and beyond that, a passion for his community and family."
Ramon Foster commented: “I’ve loved my experiences in the media throughout my 11-year career as a professional football player. It's important for players to have a voice to express their thoughts clearly for their fan bases and community to lend some understanding. I'm a VFL that can’t wait to talk sports and hope I can lend a level of expertise to 104.5 The Zone listeners as they go about their day.”
WPOZ Z88.3 Orlando has announced Denise Pagano as Midday Host. She will be replacing Carol Ellingson who has transitioned into a position with CMB to spend more time with family.
Denise started her radio career at Chicago’s Home for Jazz, WDCB. Shortly after, she did weekends at WYLL, mornings on WCFL, and Mornings at Rockford’s Country Q98.5FM. Six years ago, she, her husband (and her sweet basset hound, Bentley) moved to Houston, TX where she was heard on KSBJ weekends as well as country radio KILT.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Boise, ID, Sports/Talk radio station, KTIK 93.1 FM “The Ticket” will feature longtime afternoon host, Idaho sports journalist Mike Prater, and newly named co-host, Johnny “The Ballgame” Mallory in Idaho Sports Talk With Prater & The Ballgame.
The next generation of Idaho Sports Talk, the longest-running Sports/Talk show in Idaho, Idaho Sports Talk With Prater & The Ballgame will air weekdays from 3:00pm-6:00pm MT.
Mallory is a former Boise radio personality who has hosted his own show in LaGrande, OR, for the past four years. He joins Prater, who has hosted Idaho Sports Talk on KTIK for over 20 years.
Don Morin, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Boise, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Johnny ‘The Ballgame’ Mallory join the KTIK-AM/FM team. He is going to be an excellent addition to Idaho Sports Talk. His knowledge of the market and raw energy will be a great infusion for the show.’’
John Patrick, Program Director, KTIK, observed: “Johnny will bring tremendous energy that will be infectious to our listeners. We’ve put together a strong team that will carry the Idaho Sports Talk tradition of smart and entertaining conversation with a focus on Boise State athletics.’’
Prater commented: “Mad respect to the many people who have made Idaho Sports Talk a radio institution in Idaho. Now we have a really cool chance to do something new and fresh in a growing sports market that deserves to have a really cool show. The chemistry with Johnny is going to be amazing. I’ve followed him for a long time... just don’t tell him that.”
Mallory added: "I am beyond excited to return to the Treasure Valley. I've made a decision to build my family here and sink my teeth into the local sports scene once again. KTIK and Idaho Sports Talk have been super successful sports brands for over two decades and I'm thrilled to join the team. It's going to be a fun ride.”
Bob Behler, the radio voice of Boise State University athletics, will continue his appearances on Idaho Sports Talk With Prater & The Ballgame, doing daily segments on teams, student-athletes, news and trending issues at Boise State. Behler also continues as the play-by-play voice of the football and men’s basketball teams.
iHeartMedia Youngstown announced Tuesday the debut of the new 1390, The Gambler.
WNIO 1390, The Gambler will focus on sports talk with a concentration on gambling, including top of the hour wagering updates from the VSiN (Vegas Stats and Information) and will feature programming from the BetR Network, including “My Guys in the Desert,” hosted by American Sportscaster, Brent Musberger. The station will also broadcast a mix of programming, offering listeners betting guides, handicapping and betting strategies as well as signature programming from Fox Sports Radio, including “The Clay Travis Show,” “The Dan Patrick Show,” “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” and “The Lombardi Line,” hosted by former Cleveland Browns general manager, Mike Lombardi.
“The Gambler is the future of sports radio,” said Keith Kennedy, Market President of iHeartMedia Youngstown. “We are thrilled to bring this hot new format to The Valley and assist the Youngstown community with navigating the ever-growing world of sports wagering.”
Full Weekday Programming Lineup:
The Jason Smith Show w/ Mike Harmon 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
The Ben Maller Show 2:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.
The Clay Travis Show 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Doug Gottlieb Show 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
My Guys in the Desert w/Brent Musberger 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Chicago’s Alternative Rock station 101 WKQX-FM will tell the history of the Alternative genre through “The History of Alternative”, an exclusive 5-week radio series that kicked off Tuesday at 10:00am.
The special programming, sponsored by Coors Light, will take Alternative fans through an epic anthology of the music, memories and events that have defined Alternative and will air 9 hours a day, every day, on 101 WKQX through October 9th. The program will include a list of the top moments in the history of Alternative, compiled by 101 WKQX’s Morning team of Brian, Ali and Justin, which will air throughout the day.
101 WKQX will also debut a companion podcast, “The History of Alternative”, that explores this all-encompassing musical genre even more deeply. In addition, Jon Manley, Assistant Program Director/Night Host, 101 WKQX, will include a daily blog post with his “Mixtape” for the day, featuring a compilation of songs that come together in a new daily category.
Troy Hanson, WKQX Program Director and VP, Corporate Programming/Rock Formats, CUMULUS MEDIA, commented: “For 25 plus years, WKQX has had the good fortune of being Chicago’s amplifier to all things Alternative. This labor of love will showcase the music since the dawn of the genre, as well as the pop culture happenings surrounding the movement. A credit to our incredible listeners who have helped shape the face of Alternative. We’ve got you covered. All 23 minutes of Kraftwerk ‘Autobahn’? Check. Guyliner tips from The Cure? Check. Flannel meets Punk meets Lilith Fair? Check. Zoot Suit Chain Wallets? Check. Backwards Red Baseball cap? Yeah….even that phase, plus a couple more surprises along the way.”
“The History of Alternative” was produced by 101 WKQX’s Troy Hanson, Jon Manley and James Van Osdol. The series was narrated by Brian Philips and hosted by Lauren O’Neal and Tim Virgin.
Premiere Networks has announced the syndication of the national news service from the newly-launched BIN: Black Information Network – the first and only 24/7 national all news audio service dedicated exclusively to providing an objective, accurate and trusted source of news coverage with a Black voice and perspective.
Now available to stations nationwide, “Black Information Network News” features :60 newscasts at the top and bottom of the hour, as well as breaking news, from experienced and award-winning Black journalists, including Vanessa Tyler, Mike Stevens, Madelyne Woods, Morgyn Wood, Mike “Devin” Dunston, Tanita Myers and Julius White.
“Black Information Network News” launched yesterday, September 7, on nearly 20 stations across the country, including WVON-AM/Chicago; KMAZ-FM/Houston; KMOJ-FM/Minneapolis; WCCG-FM/Fayetteville; KJMG-FM/Monroe, LA; WJTT-FM/Chattanooga; WMPZ-FM/Chattanooga; WXAG-X1/Athens; WJMP-X1/Knoxville; KJMP-X1/Ft. Collins, CO; WPLB-X1/Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT; KWBT-FM/Waco; WGOV-FM/Valdosta; WKTT-FM/Salisbury; KBZE-FM/Morgan City; KFXZ-FM/Lafayette and WGNL-FM/Greenwood.
“WVON is pleased to add the Black Information Network (BIN) as our national news source,” said Melody Spann Cooper, Chair and Executive Officer for Midway Broadcasting Corporation. “WVON’s 24-hour Black talk format is an important and impactful voice in the Chicago market, and BIN is the perfect complement to keep our vibrant local community aware of what’s happening across the country. What happens in Black America matters. Telling our story matters. BIN’s timing is perfect!”
“We’re excited to offer this news service from a Black point of view at a time when credible news and information is more important than ever,” said Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks. “Black Information Network News expands on our commitment to deliver industry-leading news coverage, and we hope it helps bridge the divide in our nation by increasing communication and understanding.”
Gen Media Partners, parent company of Sun Broadcast Group, and Jason Bailey have announced that Bailey will be exiting the company. Bailey has made the decision to move on from the network he founded in order to focus his attention on his company Reatro Ventures, the developer of affiliate research software, ARC.
Jason Bailey
Reatro is co-owned by former Sun COO Julio Aponte who will also be taking a more active role in the start-up venture. Warren Friedland, the Managing Partner of Gen Media Partners, will be filling the role of President for Sun.
“Today is bittersweet for me”’ said Bailey. “I’m excited to join Julio and our team at Reatro to focus on the amazing software and app development projects we have on our plate. I’m also incredibly sad to leave my baby (Sun) for the very last time. It has been the honor of a lifetime to work with the great men and women at Sun these last 12 years. They are my family and will always be in my heart. I am certain that under the leadership of Warren along with new COO, Danno Wolkoff, Sun will continue to shine bright for years to come.”
“Jay is a personal friend of mine, and I am proud to be able to fulfill his dream and take this company to new heights” Friedland said. “We are excited to continue Sun’s growth, but fully appreciate that Jay has wanted to pursue his ambitions for Reatro for some time now. We wish him all the success in the world.”
Entercom is partnering with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Foundation) to host the first annual Giving Week campaign in support of the Foundation’s signature program My Home Library. From September 8 through 11, in recognition of National Literacy Awareness Month, Entercom Houston stations Mix 96.5 (KHMX-FM), 100.3 The Bull (KILT-FM), 95.7 The Spot (KKHH-FM), Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM) and Mega 101 FM (KLOL-FM) and the Foundation aim to raise $100,000 to provide more than 3,500 home libraries to economically disadvantaged Houston children.
“Our mission at Entercom is to serve the Houston community by not only connecting our listeners with their favorite music, news and sports content, but by supporting the community through initiatives that impact meaningful change,” said Sarah Frazier, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Houston. “As our kids go back to school, whether in person or online, knowing how to read is a cornerstone of all future learning. We want to put as many books in our children’s hands as possible, as they are the future of our city.”
“We are pleased to partner with Entercom and its affiliated stations to raise awareness of the importance of literacy during National Literacy Awareness Month,” said Julie Baker Finck, President, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “Together we call on the Houston community to help make a difference by making a tax-deductible gift to equip an underserved child with books to help them learn and succeed. It is only through partnerships with civic-minded companies, like Entercom, that we can make an impact in our city.”
Listeners are encouraged to donate by texting “HTXReads” to 41444, via online, or by mailing a check to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation at 7887 San Felipe, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77063. Phillips 66 is kicking off the campaign by contributing $25,000 in matching funds towards the Foundation’s annual Giving Week. For every dollar raised, My Home Library will provide critical funds for a child to receive new books.
iHeartMedia celebrated the winners of the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards with an on-air and social media special throughout Labor Day weekend on iHeartRadio stations nationwide, and the iHeartRadio App, the all-in-one digital music, podcast, on demand and live-streaming radio service.
The exclusive weekend-long special concluded on Monday, September 7 and unveiled winners in each category including Lizzo for Song of the Year, Billie Eilish for Female Artist of the Year, Jonas Brothers for Best Duo/Group of the Year, Taylor Swift for Album of the Year and more. The 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards also honored Elton John with the Tour of the Year Award. In addition, the on-air and social media reveal featured acceptance speeches from this year’s biggest artists on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on iHeartMedia’s social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
The annual iHeartRadio Music Awards is a star-studded music event celebrating the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2019. Given the new limitations on events during the pandemic, this year’s “live event” portion of the iHeartRadio Music Awards, originally scheduled to air from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 29 on FOX, was cancelled, but winners were officially announced on-air across the country and via social media over Labor Day weekend. The show is set to return to FOX in 2021.
iHeartRadio listeners had the opportunity to decide winners in several new and established categories. Fan voting determined this year’s Best Fan Army, Best Lyrics, Best Cover Song, Best Music Video, Best Remix, the Social Star Award, Favorite Tour Photographer and the first-ever Favorite Music Video Choreography Award.
The American television reality show that shot Kim Kardashian and her family to fame is ending in 2021 after 14 years, the E! network said on Tuesday.
“Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” which helped make Kim Kardashian and her siblings Kylie, Kendall, Khloe and Kourtney household names and launched their careers in the fashion and beauty business, will air its last season early next year, the network and the extended family said.
“It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Keeping Up with the Kardashians. After what will be 14 years, 20 seasons, hundreds of episodes and several spin-off shows, we’ve decided as a family to end this very special journey,” the family said on social media.
Reuters reports they gave no reasons for the decision, but E! said in a statement that it respected “the family’s decision to live their lives without our cameras.”
“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” made its debut in 2012 and spawned 12 spinoff series. Audiences have declined in recent years to under 1 million from about 4 million at the height of the show’s fame. E! is part of NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O).
➦In 1908...Early radio actor, announcer Ed Prentiss born (Died at age 83 – March 18, 1992). He was perhaps best known for portraying the title role on the radio version of Captain Midnight. He was announcer on another kid’s radio favorite, Jack Armstrong the All-American Boy.
He was also the narrator for a number of daily hour of NBC radio soap operas.
➦In 1926... the National Broadcasting Company was created by RCA, the Radio Corporation of America.
NBC is the oldest major broadcast network in the United States. In 1986, control of NBC passed to General Electric (GE), with GE's $6.4 billion purchase of RCA. GE had previously owned RCA and NBC until 1930, when it had been forced to sell the company as a result of antitrust charges.
Logo - 1926
After the 1986 acquisition, the chief executive of NBC was Bob Wright, who remained in that position until his retirement. He was succeeded by Jeff Zucker. The TV network is currently part of the media company NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast, which formerly operated NBCUniversal in a joint venture with General Electric from 2011 to 2013 (and before that, jointly owned by GE and Vivendi). As a result of the merger, Zucker left NBC and was replaced by Comcast executive Steve Burke.
The radio network officially launched Nov. 15, 1926. On January 1, 1927, NBC formally divided its programming into two networks, called the Red and the Blue. Legend has it that the color designations originated from the push-pins early engineers used to mark affiliates of WEAF (red pins) and WJZ (blue pins), or from the use of double-ended red and blue colored pencils.
Logo 1926- 1931
The two NBC networks did not have distinct identities or "formats", and, beginning in 1929, they shared use of the distinctive three-note "NBC chimes". The NBC Red Network, with WEAF as its flagship station and a stronger line-up of affiliated stations, often carried the more popular, "big budget" sponsored programs. The Blue Network and WJZ carried a somewhat smaller line-up of often lower-powered stations and sold air time to advertisers at a lower cost. NBC Blue often carried newer, untried programs (which, if successful, often moved "up" to the Red Network), lower cost programs and unsponsored or "sustaining" programs (which were often news, cultural and educational programs). In many cities in addition to New York, the two NBC affiliated stations (Red and Blue) were operated as duopolies, having the same owners and sharing the same staff and facilities.
Logo 1931-1942
On April 5, 1927 NBC reached the West Coast with the launching of the NBC Orange Network, which rebroadcast Red Network programming to the Pacific states and had as its flagship station KGO in San Francisco. NBC Red then extended its reach into the Midwest by acquiring two 50,000–watt clear-channel signals, Cleveland station WTAM on October 16, 1930 and Chicago station WMAQ (coincidentally, a CBS Radio Network charter affiliate) by 1931. On October 18, 1931, Blue Network programming was introduced along the NBC Gold Network, which broadcast from San Francisco's KPO. In 1936 the Orange Network name was dropped and affiliate stations became part of the Red Network. The Gold Network adopted the Blue Network name.
In a major move in 1931, RCA signed crucial leases with the new Rockefeller Center management that resulted in it becoming the lead tenant of what was to become in 1933 its corporate headquarters, the RCA Building, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Under the terms of the lease arrangement, this included studios for NBC and theaters for the RCA-owned RKO Pictures. The deal was arranged through the Center's founder and financier, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., with the chairman of GE, Owen D. Young, and the president of RCA, David Sarnoff.
In 1987 NBC sold its remaining radio network operations to Westwood One, which continued using NBC identification for some of its programming until 2014. Beginning in 2016, NBC Radio News has been distributed in conjunction with iHeartMedia.
Elvis outside the Lamar-Airways Shopping Mall in Memphis 1954
➦In 1954...Young Elvis Presley performed at the opening of Lamar-Airways shopping mall in Memphis, and met audience member Johnny Cash for the first time. In November 1954, Presley performed on Louisiana Hayride—the Opry's chief, and more adventurous, rival. The Shreveport-based show was broadcast to 198 radio stations in 28 states.
➦In 1956...Elvis made the first of three appearances on Ed Sullivan's CBS show. (Sullivan had previously announced he would never have such an act on, but ratings prevailed and Sullivan offered Elvis a record $50,000 for the three shows.) With actor Charles Laughton filling in for an ailing Sullivan. Elvis performed "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Ready Teddy," and "Hound Dog." A record 54 million viewers -- nearly 83 percent of the nation's sets! -- were tuned-in.
➦In 1958...Stereo records and phonographs were introduced.
➦In 1965...The Hollywood Reporter printed an advertisement looking for ‘Madness rock & roll musicians, singers wanted for acting roles in new TV show. Parts for 4 insane boys.’ From the ad, The Monkees were born.
➦In 1974...George Michael aired first show at 77WABC. From December of that year...
➦In 1997…MLB Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Richie Ashburn died. Starting in 1963 Ashburn became a radio and TV color commentator. He first worked with long-time Phillies announcers Bill Campbell and Byrum Saam. In 1971 Campbell was released by the Phillies and Harry Kalas joined the team. Ashburn worked with two future Ford C. Frick Award winners, Saam and Kalas, for the next few years. Saam retired in 1976, and Ashburn continued working with Kalas for the next two decades, the two becoming best friends. Kalas often referred to Ashburn as "His Whiteness", a nickname Kalas would use for the rest of his life for the man he openly adored.
According to his mother, Ashburn planned on retiring from broadcasting at the end of the 1997 season. He died of a heart attack at age 70 on September 9, 1997, in New York City after broadcasting a Phillies-Mets game at Shea Stadium.
➦In 2018...CBS announced the resignation of their longtime CEO Les Moonves amid accusations he sexually harassed and assaulted numerous women; a stunning downfall for one of the industry’s most powerful figures.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
Michelle Williams is 40
Actor Topol (“Fiddler on the Roof”) is 85.
Singer Inez Fox is 78.
Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 75.
Guitarist John McFee of The Doobie Brothers is 70.
Actor Tom Wopat is 69.
Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 68.
Actor Angela Cartwright (“The Danny Thomas Show,” ″Lost In Space”) is 68.
Actor Hugh Grant is 60.
Actor Charles Esten (“Nashville”) is 55.
Actor Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) is 55.
Actor-comedian Adam Sandler is 54.
Model Rachel Hunter is 51.
Actor Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”) is 49.
Actor Henry Thomas (“E.T.”) is 49.
Actor Goran Visnjic (“ER”) is 48.
Jazz singer Michael Buble’ is 45.
Actor Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” ″Dawson’s Creek”) is 40.
Singer Paul Janeway of St. Paul and the Broken Bones is 37.
Actor Kelsey Asbille (“One Tree Hill,” “Teen Wolf”) is 29.
Contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle is 29.
➦In 1907...actor John 'Jack" Mather Born. (Died from heart attack at age 58 – August 16, 1966). He a radio and television actor, best known for playing The Cisco Kid on Mutual radio from 1947 to 1956. and for being the original voice of Wally Walrus.
➦In 1930...WBEN signed on in Buffalo, NY. However, its history dates to the 1920s. WBEN initially used the facility built by the Norton Laboratories organization from Boston, as part of an experiment to send voice transmissions between Niagara Falls, New York, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, as WMAK.
When WMAK was launched in 1922 it operated initially from Lockport, New York at 833 kHz. The station later moved its transmitter to North Tonawanda, New York (broadcasting at 1130 kHz there) and then landing on 900 kHz, with 1000 watts of power, as a result of General Order 40, which realigned American AM radio allocations in 1927–28. In the late 1920s WMAK was acquired by the Buffalo Broadcasting Company, based at Buffalo's Rand Building, which also controlled WGR and WKBW in Buffalo. WMAK was a charter member of the CBS Radio Network, being one of the 16 stations that aired the first CBS network program on September 18, 1927.
WMAK was closed in the spring of 1930 as federal regulators began probing concentration of media ownership in the nation's largest radio markets. Buffalo Broadcasting Company chose to retain WGR and WKBW while shutting down WMAK and another daytime-only station, WKEN in suburban Kenmore, New York.
At the same time, the Buffalo Evening News was granted a broadcast license of its own, purchased the decommissioned transmitting facility of WMAK on Shawnee Road in Martinsville (North Tonawanda, New York) and re-licensed it as WBEN.
A new studio complex was built at the Statler-Hilton Hotel in downtown Buffalo (chosen primarily for access to the live orchestra there), and served WBEN, its sister FM station and sister television station (which opened in the spring of 1948) for more than 25 years.
In 1941, the station moved to its current position on the dial, at 930 kHz, as a result of the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA).
The station also relocated its transmitter to Grand Island at during this time, increasing full-time power to its current 5,000 watts. The Grand Island transmitter and two towers are still in use today.
➦In 1935...A singing group called the Hoboken Four, one of whose members is named Frank Sinatra, made their first national appearance, performing on WOR's radio show Major Bowes Amateur Hour.
The Hoboken Four won the contest that night. Bowes said: “They walked right into the hearts of their audience.” The prize was a 6-month contract to perform on stage and on radio and they were earning a lot more than before.
The Bickersons
➦In 1946...The Bickersons was a radio comedy sketch series debuted on NBC, moving the following year to CBS where it continued until August 28, 1951. The show's married protagonists, portrayed by Don Ameche and Frances Langford, spent nearly all their time together in relentless verbal war.
➦In 1954...Alan Freed departed Cleveland, Ohio for New York City and 1010 WINS radio.
The station eventually became an around-the-clock Top 40 rock and roll radio station, and would remain so until April 19, 1965—long after Freed left and three months after he had died— when it became an all-news outlet.
➦In 1969...the radio voice of Superman (and TV game show host) Clayton “Bud” Collyer (Beat the Clock, To Tell the Truth), died of a circulatory ailment at age 61.
Collyer's best-remembered radio starring role began in early 1940 in The Adventures of Superman on the Mutual Broadcasting System, a role he also performed in the subsequent Superman cartoons.
Collyer supplied the voices of both Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent, opposite radio actress Joan Alexander as Lois Lane. Every Superman episode featured a scene in which Clark Kent changed into his Superman costume, an effect which Collyer conveyed by shifting voices while speaking the phrase "This is (or "looks like") a job for Superman!" his voice always dropping when becoming Superman.
Also pictured is Superman announcer Jackson Beck is on the left.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
Pink is 41
Ventriloquist Willie Tyler (with Lester) is 80.
Actor Alan Feinstein is 79.
Singer Sal Valentino of The Beau Brummels is 78.
Bassist Will Lee of the CBS Orchestra (“Late Show with David Letterman”) is 68.
Actor Heather Thomas (“The Fall Guy”) is 63.
Singer Aimee Mann is 60.
Bassist David Steele of Fine Young Cannibals is 60.
Actor Thomas Kretschmann (“The Pianist”) is 58.
Singer Marc Gordon of Levert is 56.
Gospel singer Darlene Zschech is 55.
Singer Neko Case is 50.
Actor David Arquette is 49.
Actor Martin Freeman (“Black Panther,” ″The Hobbit”) is 49.
TV personality Kennedy is 48.
Drummer Richard Hughes of Keane is 45.
Actor Larenz Tate is 45.
Actor Nathan Corddry (“Mom,”) is 43.
Singer Pink is 41.
Singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson is 40.
Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas (“Home Improvement”) is 39.
➦In 1929...the forerunner to 'Let’s Pretend', a Saturday morning radio show for kids was heard for the first time on CBS Radio Network. The Adventures of Helen & Mary became Let’s Pretend 5 years later. Let's Pretend, created and directed by Nila Mack, was a CBS radio series for children. In its most famous form, Let's Pretend, the Peabody Award-winning series ran from 1934 to 1954.
➦In 1934...Daniel Trombley "Dan" Ingram was born. Ingram is an American radio icon with a fifty-year career on radio stations such as WABC 770 AM and WCBS 101.1 FM in New York. "Big Dan" started broadcasting at WHCH Hofstra College, Hempstead, New York, WNRC, New Rochelle, New York, and WALK-FM, Patchogue, New York.
Ingram mastered the talk-up, talking over the intro to a song, ending right before the vocals. Ingram could get the song title, the current temperature and a one-liner in his talk-ups. He wholeheartedly embraced one of radio's golden rules: When you're talking to the audience, do it like you're talking to one person.
Ingram was noted for his quick wit and ability to convey a humorous or satiric idea with quick pacing and an economy of words—a skill which has made him uniquely suited to, and successful within, modern personality-driven music radio.
He is among the most frequently emulated radio personalities, cited as an influence or inspiration by numerous current broadcasters.
Dan was well known for playing doctored versions of popular songs. The Paul McCartney & Wings song My Love Does it Good became My Glove Does it Good. The stuttering title refrain of Bennie and the Jets went from three or four repetitions to countless. In the same vein, the distinctive refrain added to Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede, Ooga-ooga-ooga-chucka would start repeating and listeners would never know when it would end. (Other examples include Paul Simon's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, and "rearranging" the spelling of "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y" on the Bay City Rollers' Saturday Night.)
Dan's longtime closing theme song was "Tri-Fi Drums" by Billy May. An edited version of the song was used for broadcast.
Dan commented occasionally about the pronunciation of his name: jingles often are heard pronouncing his last name as "Ing-ram," but Dan has said it is correctly pronounced "In-gram."
Ingram died June 24, 2018.
➦In 1936...Early rock & roll icon Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock Texas. His name was misspelled on his first record contract and he decided to leave it that way. At age 22, he died in a plane crash Feb 3, 1959 along with Ritchie Valens and J.P.Richardson (The Big Bopper.)
➦In 1949...Windsor (Ont.) radio station CKLW, later to become Canada’s all-time most listened-to station (due to its huge US audience), increased power from 5000 to 50,000 watts. The station had moved from 1030 to 800 KHz, a Canada/Mexico clear channel, in the great frequency shuffle of 1941.
As television's popularity boomed, CKLW, like many other stations, coped with the changes by replacing the dying network radio fare with locally based disc-jockey shows. Throughout most of the 1950s and into the mid-1960s, CKLW was basically a "variety" radio station which filled in the cracks between full-service features with pop music played by announcers like Bud Davies, Ron Knowles (who had a rock-and-roll show on AM 800 as early as 1957), and Joe Van. For a few years in the early 1960s, CKLW also featured a country music program in the evenings called Sounds Like Nashville. This ended in 1963.
➦In 1979...ESPN, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, made its debut on US cable TV as the world’s first full-time channel devoted to sports.
➦In 1999…Viacom made its biggest acquisition ($35.6 million) by announcing plans to merge with its former parent CBS Corporation (the original, not the current one). The merger was completed in 2000, bringing cable channels TNN (now Paramount Network) and Country Music Television (CMT) under Viacom's wing, as well as CBS' production units and TV distributors Eyemark Entertainment (formerly Group W Productions) and King World. CBS' production unit and King World (which has since folded Eyemark) operated under their own names; however, TNN and CMT were merged into MTV Networks almost immediately.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
Monique Gabriela Curnen
Drummer Dennis Thompson of MC5 is 71.
Actor Julie Kavner (“The Simpsons”) is 70.
Singer Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders is 69.
Keyboardist Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is 67.
Actor Corbin Bernsen is 66.
Actor Michael Emerson (“Lost”) is 66.
Pianist Michael Feinstein is 64.
Songwriter Diane Warren is 64.
Singer Margot Chapman (Starland Vocal Band) is 63.
Actor W. Earl Brown (“Deadwood”) is 57.
Comedian Leslie Jones (2016′s “Ghostbusters,” ″Saturday Night Live”) is 53.
Model Angie Everhart is 51.
Actor Diane Farr (“Numb3rs,” “Rescue Me”) is 51.
Actor Monique Gabriela Curnen (“The Dark Knight”) is 50.
Actor Tom Everett Scott (“Southland,” ″That Thing You Do!”) is 50.
Drummer Chad Sexton of 311 (three-eleven) is 50.
Actor Shannon Elizabeth (“American Pie”) is 47.
Actor Oliver Hudson (“Nashville”) is 44.
Actor Devon Sawa (“Slackers,” ″Final Destination”) is 42.
Actor Benjamin Hollingsworth (“Code Black”) is 36.
Actor Alyssa Diaz (“The Rookie”) is 35.
Contemporary Christian musician Wes Willis of Rush of Fools is 34.
Actor Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld,” ″Thirteen”) is 33.
Actor Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”) is 31.
Actor Ian Chen (“Fresh Off The Boat”) is 14.
Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins is 90.
Singer Gloria Gaynor is 77.
Singer Alfa Anderson of Chic is 74.
Actor Susan Blakely (“The Towering Inferno,” ″The Concorde: Airport ’79″) is 72.
