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WVEI (AM)

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WVEI (AM)
File:WVEIAM.jpg
Broadcast areaWorcester, Massachusetts
Frequency1440 kHz
BrandingSportsRadio 1440 WEEI
Programming
FormatSports radio
AffiliationsESPN Radio, Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
WAAF, WEEI (AM), WEEI-FM, WMKK
History
First air date
October 1926
Former call signs
WWTM (1994–2000)
WBHT (September 10–17, 1992)[clarification needed]
WVEI (1991–1994)[clarification needed]
WFTQ (1977–1991)
WNCR (1976–1977)
WAAB (1931–1976)
WLEX (1927–1931)
WAGS (1926–1927)
Call sign meaning
similar to WEEI
Technical information
Facility ID74466
ClassB
Power5,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
42°17′25.3″N 71°50′45.3″W / 42.290361°N 71.845917°W / 42.290361; -71.845917 (NAD83)
Links
WebsiteWVEI (AM) site within WEEI
WVEI-FM
File:WVEI1055.png
Broadcast areaSpringfield, Massachusetts
Frequency105.5 MHz
BrandingSportsRadio 105.5 WEEI-FM
Programming
FormatSports radio
AffiliationsFox Sports Radio, Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
(see above)
History
First air date
October 1967
Former call signs
WBEC-FM (1979–2006)
WQRB (1968–1979)
WQRB-FM (1967–1968)
Call sign meaning
to match AM (above)
Technical information
Facility ID11295
ClassA
ERP720 watts horizontal
706 watts vertical
HAAT280 meters (920 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
42°14′29.3″N 72°38′55.3″W / 42.241472°N 72.648694°W / 42.241472; -72.648694 (NAD83)
Links
WebsiteWVEI-FM site within WEEI

WVEI is an AM radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts, operating on 1440 kHz with 5,000 watts. WVEI-FM is an FM radio station in Easthampton, Massachusetts operating on 105.5 MHz with approximately 720 watts effective radiated power. The stations simulcast WEEI sports radio in Boston.

WVEI (AM) history

The station that now operates as WVEI came on the air in October 1926 as WAGS with 5 watts on 1200 kHz. and was licensed to Somerville, Massachusetts, near Boston. Its call letters stood for "Willow Avenue Garage Station." During September-October 1927, the station moved to Lexington, Massachusetts and it returned to the air on October 27, 1927 as WLEX at 1390 kHz with 50 watts. It was located in the home of part-owner Carl Wheeler. The other owner was Jesse Smith Dodge. The station time-shared with WMAF[1][2][3] On November 11, 1928 WLEX moved to 1420 kHz with 100 watts, time-sharing with WSSH. On March 20, 1930 the station moved to 1410 kHz and was still time-share.[2]

On April 20, 1931, the station was sold to John Shepard III of Shepard Stores and the station was changed to WAAB in Boston. WAAB moved into the same studios as WNAC (now WRKO). These were new studios at the Hotel Buckminster at Kenmore Square. By 1938, WAAB studios were located at 21 Brookline Avenue.[4]

On January 26, 1937, the ownership of WAAB and WNAC was consolidated under the Yankee Network, Inc. As a result of the NARBA frequency shift, WAAB moved to 1440 kHz on March 29, 1941.[1][2][5] In late 1942 Shepard officially moved WAAB to Worcester to avoid anti-duopoly rules[2][3]. Despite this, ownership of the two stations was broken-apart in 1943.[6] On June 15, 1961 it started an FM sister station, WAAB-FM, which later became WAAF.[5] As early as 1948, the station was broadcasting with 5,000 watts.[7]

In the 1950s and 1960s "14-40 WAAB" was a Top-40 radio station. In 1965, the "Fun-in-the-Sun Guys" were Bill Garcia, Chuck Spencer, Don Stevens and Bob Carrigan[8][9] Morning man Steven Capen recalls the station then and how Atlantic Records purchased it and changed things around in 1967:

I was doing the morning show at WAAB in Worcester, my very first stint in rock & roll radio and in a metropolitan market. My first air name, in fact, Stephen Kane. A lot of firsts. Best of all I was given plenty of latitude. At this point I was so engrossed in my new work I was completely oblivious to the upheaval going on across the country and indeed in radio. A progressive music show—Cream, The Doors, The Mothers of Invention—premiered at night hosted by Jeff Starr while we continued our Ron Landryesque comedy in the A.M. It seems that just like almost all of my gigs the good times weren't to last. Atlantic Records bought the station, and you'd think that would be a good thing, but in came the consultants from New York and Washington, the air sound was tightened beyond belief, catchy new jingles added, and it wasn't long before their newly-installed PD, Sebastian Tripp, gave me my walking papers.[10]

In the early 1970s, WAAB began to shift to a talk format. A local sports talk show, Sportsbeat, was added in the evening with former Boston Bruins TV voice, Don Earle. Bob Merman, who later had a laryngectomy from throat cancer and did many anti-smoking ads, was the political talk show host following Sportsbeat. In the fall of 1971, WAAB replaced the Don Earle show with an ambitious nightly news block to 7:00 pm, anchored by Ron Parshley and Mike Cabral (who later went on to become news director at WGNG (now WBZS) in Pawtucket). A news correspondent for this program was Paul Del Colle, a senior at Holy Cross, who assumed news anchor duties for the Bob Merman's talk show, which ended at 11:00 pm. Bob Merman was later replaced by the Wizard of WAAB, the above-mentioned Ron Parshley, a former male witch who did many of his shows on the occult. Ron died in 2001. Paul Del Colle eventually became a professor of communications and earned his Ph.D. at New York University. Mike Cabral left WAAB to become the News Director at WGNG in Pawtucket, R.I., and continued in various news capacities with radio stations in southeastern Massachusetts for many year after.

About 1972 or 73, WAAB switched to a full-time news/talk format with the All News Morning Journal and the All-News Afternoon Journal during drive times. Talk show hosts included WSB's Bob Coxe, Kurt Oden (who was an aide to Buddy Cianci), Paul Stanford (now running a gift shop in Naples), Bob Morgan on Sports, Ron Parshley, Alan Michael Rowey, Skip Quillia with Tests and Trivia, Dick Steven's Feminine Forum, Jeff Katz, John Gallager (formerly of Westwood Family Dental and East/West Mortgage), Steve Booth (daytime talk show producer), Dave Houle (evening talk show producer and later WFTQ p/t announcer), and Mike Moore (sales guru at WAAF). In the newsroom were Forest Sawyer (later to work for CBS, ABC, and CNBC), Bob Parlante (later to work for WHDH and WSB), Aviva Diamond (later to work for ABC), John Sterns, Dave Brown, and Geoff Metcalfe.

In 1976, WAAB became WNCR (Worcester's News Center). The station's emphasis shifted to news programming, with the entirety of the station's staff being news staff (automated beautiful music was aired during non-drive times). The staff included Bob McMahon (later at WBZ and now at WBUR-FM), News Director Tom Hughes (later at several Atlanta stations), Larry Cohen, Sarah McGaw, Bob Maxon (who hosted the one talk show), Steve D'Agostino (who returned to WFTQ as news director and morning news anchor and later worked for Worcester Magazine, Business Worcester, and Worcester Business Journal), Pam Coulter and Marcia Salter (both subsequently and now with ABC News Radio), Norm McDonald (formerly of WBZ-TV) on weather, and Greg Gilmartin (later at WTIC) on sports.

The station owner about this time was Bob Williams.[11] By December 1977, WNCR changed call letters to WFTQ and was known as "Fourteen Q" (14Q).[1][5][12][13]. 14Q was a full-service adult contemporary format station playing a mix of music from the 60's, 70's and 80's and weather reports every 20 minutes.

In March 1981 the Katz Agency purchased WFTQ and WAAF from Park City Communications.[14] In 1986 the Katz Agency sold all its radio stations[15] to NewCity Communications. This new company was organized at the time by members of Katz management to purchase all of Katz's radio holdings, under its subsidiary Katz Broadcasting.[16]

During the '80s, WFTQ was known as "Worcester's Weather Station".[17] As early as 1985, WFTQ was broadcasting in stereo using the 40 kHz Kahn system[18] The name and format continue today as an online station[1]

During the summer of 1989 NewCity Communications, Inc. sold WFTQ and WAAF to Zapis Communications in exchange for Atlanta station WEKS.[19][20] WFTQ then underwent restructuring.[19] By 1990, WFTQ called itself "The Sports Channel" and was known for broadcasting live Boston Celtics games.[21]

WFTQ's notable personalities included: J. Bruce, Mark Laurence, Lorraine LeDuc, Mike Finneigan, Dave Taylor, Steve LeVeille, Don Kelley, Dave Houle, Chuck Perks, Gary Nolan, Bill Robert, Karen Williams, Mike Shaun, Mike Warshaw, Cliff Blake, Dave Windsor, Chuck Nowlin, Donna Halper, Steve D'Agostino, Geraldo Tabio, David Goblaskis, Tom Cuddy, Steven Brown, Paul Stevens, Steve York, David Bernstein, Harry Jacobs, Roger La Plante, Jeff Taylor, Chris Tracy, John Barber, Tim Fontaine, Earl Finkle, Mark Veau, Melanie Moore, and Kevin Mannix, and featured shows such as The 14 Minute Flashback at noon, 6p And 9p; Solid Gold Saturday Night with Dick Bartley; and American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. Memorable station events included: The 14Q Sock Hop, The Bed Race For MDA, Chili Challenge, Neighborhood Block Parties.[22][failed verification]

WFTQ had massive lay-offs, however, and began simulcasting WAAF on January 15, 1991.[23] Over the summer of 1991, General Manager John Sutherland cited 18 months of "substantial losses" due to poor advertising sales.[24] On September 3, 1991 WFTQ changed its call letters to WVEI and began simulcasting WEEI, a sports-talk station at that time broadcasting at 590 kHz.[5][24].

In 1994 WVEI changed calls to WWTM[6] and was known as "Worcester's Team". It briefly had a locally-based sports format.[5] At the time, station Chief Engineer Eric Fitch wrote, "We have just recently changed our call sign from WVEI to WWTM, effective October 1, 1994. Prior to that we simulcast WEEI from Boston. With their move to the old WHDH frequency of 850 kHz, we found we would be better off programming the station ourselves with IMUS in the Morning, The Fabulous Sports Babe Mid days, Kiley and the Coach 2P to 6P, Dan Miller 6P to 10P and Ron Barr with sports By-Line USA overnight. We also feature Holy Cross Football and Basketball, Giants Football, Bruins Hockey (when they actually play a game), and selected games from the Mutual network."[13]

On July 31, 1996, Zapis Communications announced it was selling both WWTM and WAAF to American Radio Systems (ARS) for $24.8 million.[25] At that time, ARS also owned WEEI (by now located at 850 kHz), and within a year some WEEI programming was restored to WWTM.[26] On August 13, 1998, David Field's Entercom purchased most of ARS's Boston-market stations, as well as WWTM, for $65 million from CBS as part of an anti-trust settlement from CBS's purchase of ARS.[27]

WWTM discontinued most of its remaining independent programming in favor of WEEI's in late 2000, when the station was reverted back to the WVEI call letters.[28]

WVEI-FM history

The 105.5 MHz frequency used by WVEI-FM was originally allocated to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where it signed on in October 1967[29] as WQRB-FM.[30] It was co-owned with WBEC (1420 AM), though it offered its own programming[30]; this was a middle-of-the-road format by 1972.[31] The station became WBEC-FM in 1979, upon adopting an album-oriented rock format.[32] During the 1980s, the station shifted to more of a contemporary hit radio format.[29]

Vox Media acquired the WBEC stations in 2002.[33] Two years later, to accommodate then-sister station WNYQ (now WQSH)'s move to Malta, New York, Vox filed to move WBEC-FM to Easthampton in 2004.[34] Vox then put the station up for sale, and after an unsuccessful attempt to sell it to Pamal Broadcasting[35], it was sold to Entercom in 2006.[36] WBEC-FM signed off from Pittsfield that May[37], with the format and call letters moving to 95.9 FM (a former frequency of WUPE-FM) at that time.[38] WVEI-FM would then sign on from Easthampton October 26.[39]

WVEI (AM) personnel highlights

WAAB era

  • Roy Harlow, Program Director 1937[4]
  • Gerry Harrison, Publicity Director 1937[4]
  • Irving B. Robinson, Chief Engineer 1937[4]
  • Dick Partridge 1950s – 1960s (exact dates unknown)[40]
  • Neil Scott 1964[40]
  • Steve Booth, producer 1972–1975
  • Dave Houle, producer 1973–1975
  • Bill Garcia, DJ 1965–1968[8][40]
  • Chuck Spencer, DJ 1965[8]
  • Don Stevens, DJ 1965[8]
  • Bob Carrigan, DJ 1965[8]
  • Steven Capen A.K.A. Stephen Kane, Mornings, Music Director 1966 - 67[41][42]
  • Jeffrey Starr, DJ 1967[43]
  • Sebastian Tripp, Program Director 1967[10]
  • Sean Michael Devlin 1968[40]
  • Rod Ewing, DJ 1969 (from WFEA)[44]
  • John Gallagher 1972[40]
  • Geoff Metcalf 1974[40]
  • Bill Shupert 1974[40]
  • Kurt Oden 1976[40]

WFTQ era

  • Richard A. Reis, General Manager 1981, 1983–1989[45]
  • John A. Sutherland, General Manager, Summer 1989[19]
  • Steve A. Marx, Vice-President & General Manager "for seven years"[46]
  • Don Kelley, Program Director 1984[5][40]
  • Ron Valeri, Program Director 1991[24]
  • Steve LeVeille, Mid-Day Newscaster 1986, News Director 1987, Operations Manager (Program Director) 1989, Morning Show 1990–1991[5][47][48]
  • Bruce Feniger, Account Executive 1984[49]
  • Donna Halper, DJ 1981[5][40].
  • Chris Tracy, DJ 1981.[40]
  • Mark Laurence, DJ, Music Director 1981–1991
  • Paul Stevens, DJ 1979-1981
  • Mike Shawn, DJ 1979-1986
  • Tim Fontaine, DJ 1983–1986, 1988,1990
  • Geoff Scott, DJ 1987–1989[50]
  • J.Bruce, DJ - 1983–1990
  • Dave Houle, p/t & swing shift DJ - 1979–1987
  • Lorraine LeDuc, DJ, Boston Celtics coodinator - 1983–1990
  • Harry Jacobs, DJ 1985–1987
  • Erica Fairbanks, DJ 1980s[51]
  • Mark Veau, DJ 1986[52]
  • Steve D'Agostino, News Director, 1978-1982 - Launched and hosted "14Q First Amendment," a Sunday morning community-affairs program; and led WFTQ coverage of the Democratic National Convention in 1980[53]
  • Bill Downs, on-air personality[54]
  • Joe Biedrzycki, on-air personality[55]
  • Chuck Perks, on-air personality[56]
  • Gary Nolan, DJ, late 1970s-early 1980s
  • Mike Finneigan, DJ, 1983–1987
  • Dave Taylor, DJ, 1983–1986, Program Director 1988
  • David Goblaskis, host of "First Amendment" Sunday morning community affairs program, 1987[57]
  • Neil Sullivan[58]
  • Steven Craig[59]
  • Bill Robert, DJ, Producer, Public Service Director, 1989–1991[13][2].</ref>

WWTM era

  • Chuck Perks, Director Programming & Production[56]

Network and sports game broadcasts history

  • John Shepard's Yankee Network January 20, 1931 WLEX[3]
  • Mutual's Boston affiliate 1936[4]
  • Shepard's Yankee and Colonial Networks 1937[4]
  • Father Charles Coughlin's broadcasts carried on WAAB in 1938[60]
  • Red Sox games 1939–1942 WAAB AM[61]
  • Red Sox games 1995–2006 WEEI AM (WVEI simulcast)[61]

References

  1. ^ a b c FYBush
  2. ^ a b c d Boston Radio
  3. ^ a b c Old Radio, Shepard.
  4. ^ a b c d e f OldRadio, Bos1.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Boston Radio Gallery.
  6. ^ a b Boston Radio
  7. ^ Jeff.
  8. ^ a b c d e Mark. July 12, 1965 Chart Survey image.
  9. ^ Worcester Magazine.
  10. ^ a b Kane.
  11. ^ AccessMyLibrary.
  12. ^ Worcester Magazine, Lead.
  13. ^ a b c "Ernie Cooper's QSL Verie Collection; WNCR, WWTM". National Radio Club. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  14. ^ New York Times.
  15. ^ Funding Universe.
  16. ^ Cox.
  17. ^ Boston Radio, Weather.
  18. ^ Totse.
  19. ^ a b c Newsbank 131. If Newsbank search expired, go to telegram archives and search WFTQ article September 2, 1989.
  20. ^ Newsbank 141. If Newsbank search expired, go to telegram archives and search WFTQ article 1989-03-11.
  21. ^ Newsbank 41. If Newsbank search expired, go to telegram archives and search WFTQ article 1990-11-10.
  22. ^ "WFTQ Tribute Page". MySpace. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  23. ^ Newsbank 31. If Newsbank search expired, go to telegram archives and search WFTQ articles for January 4, 1991 and January 10, 1991.
  24. ^ a b c Newsbank 11. If Newsbank search expired, go to telegram archives and search WFTQ articles dated 1991-08-08 and 1991-08-31.
  25. ^ Find articles.
  26. ^ Fybush, Scott (May 22, 1997). "Back to Boston". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  27. ^ Boston Radio.
  28. ^ "The Boston Radio Dial". Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  29. ^ a b Broadcasting/Cable Yearbook 1989 (PDF). 1989. p. B-143. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  30. ^ a b Broadcasting Yearbook 1968 (PDF). 1968. p. B-103. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  31. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1973 (PDF). 1973. p. B-96. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  32. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 (PDF). 1980. p. C-108. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  33. ^ Fybush, Scott (July 29, 2002). "Vox buys WBEC (Really!)". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  34. ^ Fybush, Scott (December 6, 2004). "WAQX-Stern Feud Escalates". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  35. ^ Fybush, Scott (May 1, 2006). "Unanswered Questions in Boston". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2009. The deal with Pamal was never consummated…
  36. ^ Fybush, Scott (February 20, 2006). "WEEI heads west with WBEC-FM buy". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  37. ^ Fybush, Scott (May 8, 2006). "Sox & Entercom: So Happy Together?". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  38. ^ Fybush, Scott (April 17, 2006). "WAVM, Living Proof Settle Dispute". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  39. ^ Fybush, Scott (October 30, 2006). "CC Cutbacks in Rochester Claim Five Jobs". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 440int.
  41. ^ Bay Area Radio.
  42. ^ Jive95.
  43. ^ Reel Radio.
  44. ^ Man From Mars.
  45. ^ Cox Radio People.
  46. ^ The CSS Team.
  47. ^ Radio Steve.
  48. ^ Radio Steve, Tripod.
  49. ^ InterRep
  50. ^ Geoff Scott
  51. ^ Worcester Union
  52. ^ My Oldies.
  53. ^ City Desk.
  54. ^ Boston Talent.
  55. ^ NHRT.
  56. ^ a b Chuck Perks. Also see WWTM.
  57. ^ Tobacco Documents
  58. ^ Boston Radio Nerw
  59. ^ Old Radio Archives.
  60. ^ Jeff.
  61. ^ a b WRKO.
Preceded by
680 WNAC
1926–1938 		Radio Home of the
Boston Red Sox
1939–1942
(as WAAB; split with 680 WNAC, 1942) 		Succeeded by
680 WNAC
1942–1946
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