Historic broadcast building empty?

WFBM jock history

> > My dad (George L. Davis) was one of the original WIGO
> jocks
> > when the frequency went on the air in 1963. >
> > When WIGO became WATI, he jumped over to WFBM 1260 where
> he
> > stayed for almost 7 years.
>
> Sorry I missed your dad on WFBM. My main connection was
> listening to Joe Pickett and Glenn Webber in the morning.
> (My dad controlled the radio, and he played it full blast.)
> I met Joe Pickett when he worked at WIBC, and I became
> acquainted with Glenn Webber over the phone when he was PIO
> for the Indiana State Police. I also got to talk with Lou
> Sherman and met Carolyn Churchman when they worked for Bill
> Shirk at WXLW.
>

My dad held down the midday shift throughout most of the mid to late 60's, until Howdy Bell got the shift and my dad worked PT for the station. Since leaving Love 98 WXIR after it was sold, Howdy is now is the PD of WCVL and 2 FM stations in Crawfordsville.

After leaving WFBM, my dad worked for a few months in '70 and '71 at WGEE 1590, right before David Letterman worked there. Then on to better opportunities at KOY Phoenix, WOAI San Antonio and mornings at WGY Albany/Schenectady, NY

The old WFBM gang still gets together once a month for lunch here in Indy. Out of towners like my dad and guys like Bernie Hermann join when they are in town. There was an attempt made to recreate the old WFBM (after Time-Life sold it). It was in 1983-86 when Howdy helped program WMLF (and then "WTUX") on the old WIFE 1310 frequency with a "Music of Your Life" format. Lou Sherman did mornings, Howdy did sports, but from what I heard, they could not get Glenn Webber to go along with it. Besides working with Shirk, Lou later showed up doing voice work at 1500 WBRI and Howdy ended up doing overnights at the reincarnation by Mary Weiss of Easy Listening WXTZ (at 93.9 FM) from '93-'96. From there, he went to WXIR and did just about everything (news, sports, commercial production, voiceovers, etc.). Lou is very much missed by all.

The "rock 'n' rollers" of this group may not remember the 1260 format prior to WNDE in '73, but it had a big following during it's time!

Re: WFBM jock history

Howdy Bell is no longer in Crawfordsville. He lasted a few months as general manager at those Key Broadcasting properties. When he helped put WMLF on the air in April of 1983 as General Manager, Lou Sherman did mornings, Howdy followed with an abbreviated midday shift, then Larry Scott in afternoons. Howdy stayed in that shift for a brief period...a couple months maybe. After Chagrin Valley Broadcasting sold the station to New Systems in 1984, the new gm, Ron Stratton, from Ragen Henry property WITH-AM in Baltimore, brought Howdy Bell back to co-host mornings during the month of May with Lou. After New Systems sold what had become WTUX to Panache Brodcasting (January, 1987) Howdy was re-hired to do morning sports. He retained that position until WTUX went dark on August 21st of 1992 to be reborn as WTLC-AM. Howdy's a true gentlemen and consummate professional.

> > > My dad (George L. Davis) was one of the original WIGO
> > jocks
> > > when the frequency went on the air in 1963. >
> > > When WIGO became WATI, he jumped over to WFBM 1260 where
>
> > he
> > > stayed for almost 7 years.
> >
> > Sorry I missed your dad on WFBM. My main connection was
> > listening to Joe Pickett and Glenn Webber in the morning.
> > (My dad controlled the radio, and he played it full
> blast.)
> > I met Joe Pickett when he worked at WIBC, and I became
> > acquainted with Glenn Webber over the phone when he was
> PIO
> > for the Indiana State Police. I also got to talk with Lou
>
> > Sherman and met Carolyn Churchman when they worked for
> Bill
> > Shirk at WXLW.
> >
>
> My dad held down the midday shift throughout most of the mid
> to late 60's, until Howdy Bell got the shift and my dad
> worked PT for the station. Since leaving Love 98 WXIR after
> it was sold, Howdy is now is the PD of WCVL and 2 FM
> stations in Crawfordsville.
>
> After leaving WFBM, my dad worked for a few months in '70
> and '71 at WGEE 1590, right before David Letterman worked
> there. Then on to better opportunities at KOY Phoenix, WOAI
> San Antonio and mornings at WGY Albany/Schenectady, NY
>
> The old WFBM gang still gets together once a month for lunch
> here in Indy. Out of towners like my dad and guys like
> Bernie Hermann join when they are in town. There was an
> attempt made to recreate the old WFBM (after Time-Life sold
> it). It was in 1983-86 when Howdy helped program WMLF (and
> then "WTUX") on the old WIFE 1310 frequency with a "Music of
> Your Life" format. Lou Sherman did mornings, Howdy did
> sports, but from what I heard, they could not get Glenn
> Webber to go along with it. Besides working with Shirk, Lou
> later showed up doing voice work at 1500 WBRI and Howdy
> ended up doing overnights at the reincarnation by Mary Weiss
> of Easy Listening WXTZ (at 93.9 FM) from '93-'96. From
> there, he went to WXIR and did just about everything (news,
> sports, commercial production, voiceovers, etc.). Lou is
> very much missed by all.
>
> The "rock 'n' rollers" of this group may not remember the
> 1260 format prior to WNDE in '73, but it had a big following
> during it's time!
>

Re: WFBM jock history

> The old WFBM gang still gets together once a month for lunch
> here in Indy. Out of towners like my dad and guys like
> Bernie Hermann join when they are in town.

What a lunch that must be! The WFBM days must have been a real "team" experience. They were not only radio personalities, they worked as television show hosts on channel 6,(and I think they sold time, too.) Bernie Hermann did the movie show after Francis Farmer. Hal Friar was Harlow Hickenlooper on Saturday mornings. Jim Gerrard (who did Sound of the City segments) had a self-titled talk show. Joe Pickett and Lou Sherman also hosted some channel 6 shows.

> There was an attempt made to recreate the old WFBM (after Time-Life sold
> it). It was in 1983-86 when Howdy helped program WMLF (and
> then "WTUX") on the old WIFE 1310 frequency with a "Music of
> Your Life" format. Lou Sherman did mornings, Howdy did
> sports, but from what I heard, they could not get Glenn
> Webber to go along with it.

If the time line is right, I think Glenn was already involved with WENS at the time. The FCC had yet to loosen the local news requirements for stations. Howdy worked at 1430 AM WIRE in the early 60s when it went head to head muscially with WFBM. Another recreation was tried in Noblesville at 1110 AM when the owner actually changed the calls to WFBM. I'm not totally sure of the timeline.

> The "rock 'n' rollers" of this group may not remember the
> 1260 format prior to WNDE in '73, but it had a big following
> during it's time!

I think WFBM was the top ranked station in Indy in those days. The numbers weren't genral public news then like today. WFBM's fold after the TIME-LIFE sale made way for WIBC's #1 days later in the 70s.

Re: Steve Cooper/TPI

> > Mark: Who was in the day one line-up at TPI?
> >
>
> Me in mornings with Dave somebody on news, Tony somebody on
> sports and Dave Callabro as the INTERN. (I think, my memory
> is getting bad)
>
Could it be Tony Manes on Sports.

> Steve Miller on middays
>
> Steve Cooper afternoons, with wife Pam carrying a sales list
>
>
> Paul Poteet on nights.
>
> I have an old TPI aircheck on MP3 if anyone wants it.
>

Re: WFBM jock history

> > The old WFBM gang still gets together once a month for
> lunch
> > here in Indy. Out of towners like my dad and guys like
> > Bernie Hermann join when they are in town.
>
> What a lunch that must be! The WFBM days must have been a
> real "team" experience. They were not only radio
> personalities, they worked as television show hosts on
> channel 6,(and I think they sold time, too.) Bernie Hermann
> did the movie show after Francis Farmer. Hal Friar was
> Harlow Hickenlooper on Saturday mornings. Jim Gerrard (who
> did Sound of the City segments) had a self-titled talk show.
> Joe Pickett and Lou Sherman also hosted some channel 6
> shows.
>
> > There was an attempt made to recreate the old WFBM (after
> Time-Life sold
> > it). It was in 1983-86 when Howdy helped program WMLF
> (and
> > then "WTUX") on the old WIFE 1310 frequency with a "Music
> of
> > Your Life" format. Lou Sherman did mornings, Howdy did
> > sports, but from what I heard, they could not get Glenn
> > Webber to go along with it.
>
> If the time line is right, I think Glenn was already
> involved with WENS at the time. The FCC had yet to loosen
> the local news requirements for stations. Howdy worked at
> 1430 AM WIRE in the early 60s when it went head to head
> muscially with WFBM. Another recreation was tried in
> Noblesville at 1110 AM when the owner actually changed the
> calls to WFBM. I'm not totally sure of the timeline.

i Think 1110 Noblesville used the WFBM Calls in the late 80's till it flipped the calls to WYIC till its demise in the early 90's
>
> > The "rock 'n' rollers" of this group may not remember the
> > 1260 format prior to WNDE in '73, but it had a big
> following
> > during it's time!
>
> I think WFBM was the top ranked station in Indy in those
> days. The numbers weren't genral public news then like
> today. WFBM's fold after the TIME-LIFE sale made way for
> WIBC's #1 days later in the 70s.
>

Re: Steve Cooper/TPI

> > > Mark: Who was in the day one line-up at TPI?
> > >
> >
> > Me in mornings with Dave somebody on news, Tony somebody
> on
> > sports and Dave Callabro as the INTERN. (I think, my
> memory
> > is getting bad)
> >
> Could it be Tony Manes on Sports.
>

That was the name. Very good.. young at the time, but a great wit. Whatever happened to him?

Re: WFBM jock history

>
> i Think 1110 Noblesville used the WFBM Calls in the late
> 80's till it flipped the calls to WYIC till its demise in
> the early 90's

Wasn't it originally WHYT or something close to that? I remember working with a guy at WGRT that once worked up there...seems the call stood for a guy named Wendell Hanson who owned or started the station..had an anything goes format for a while....going by a very foggy memory/old age!

Re: WFBM jock history

> > The old WFBM gang still gets together once a month for
> lunch
> > here in Indy. Out of towners like my dad and guys like
> > Bernie Hermann join when they are in town.
>
> What a lunch that must be! The WFBM days must have been a
> real "team" experience. They were not only radio
> personalities, they worked as television show hosts on
> channel 6,(and I think they sold time, too.) Bernie Hermann
> did the movie show after Francis Farmer. Hal Friar was
> Harlow Hickenlooper on Saturday mornings. Jim Gerrard (who
> did Sound of the City segments) had a self-titled talk show.
> Joe Pickett and Lou Sherman also hosted some channel 6
> shows.

You're right about the team effort! WFBM (along with 94.7 WFBM-FM) was located in the same building with WFBM-TV Channel 6 (then NBC) at 1330 N. Meridian (where WRTV is located). All of the radio jocks usually did something on the TV side of things. My dad's contribution.....being the host of the "Dialing for Dollars" segment, shown middays on WFBM-TV. Channel 6 would cut to a shot of him by a phone calling to see if anyone could guess the jackpot and win it. In fact, if I recall correctly (a very dangerous thing sometimes), there was even a "Bowling for Dollars" show. The TV host would call a listener, and if the "pro" at the one-lane setup would throw a strike, the person would win cash.

Other people who attend the lunch include the lady (her name escapes me now) who worked a number of jobs at the station, including being the music librarian and the voice of "Wolf Boom Mary" (remember her?) of the "Where is the World is Wolf Boom Mary?" fame - a 60's version of Carmen Sandiego.

For some interesting pictures of WFBM radio and TV history, check out the link below!

http://www.broadcasting101.ws/indyrtv2.htm

Another WFBM history link

Try this one for more pictures of the radio studios of WBFM in the 1960's.......

http://www.broadcasting101.ws/indyrtv.htm

Re: WFBM jock history

> Howdy Bell is no longer in Crawfordsville. He lasted a few
> months as general manager at those Key Broadcasting
> properties. When he helped put WMLF on the air in April of
> 1983 as General Manager, Lou Sherman did mornings, Howdy
> followed with an abbreviated midday shift, then Larry Scott
> in afternoons. Howdy stayed in that shift for a brief
> period...a couple months maybe. After Chagrin Valley
> Broadcasting sold the station to New Systems in 1984, the
> new gm, Ron Stratton, from Ragen Henry property WITH-AM in
> Baltimore, brought Howdy Bell back to co-host mornings
> during the month of May with Lou. After New Systems sold
> what had become WTUX to Panache Brodcasting (January, 1987)
> Howdy was re-hired to do morning sports. He retained that
> position until WTUX went dark on August 21st of 1992 to be
> reborn as WTLC-AM. Howdy's a true gentlemen and consummate
> professional.
>

Sorry to hear about Howdy. However, when I last spoke with him out at the radio station, it was evident that the station owners were content to run the three Crawfordsville stations on a very, very low budget. 5-6 employees to run 3 radio stations! He was also doing morning news and chatting on-air each morning with Dick Munroe...a local host. The owner from Kentucky probably saved money by hiring a younger (and cheaper) GM. It's an unfortunate part of working in radio. (I bet he doesn't miss the daily drive!) If Indy would ever bring back a "Music of Your Life" format, he'd be a natural!

Re: historic/another question

> My dad (George L. Davis) was one of the original WIGO jocks
> when the frequency went on the air in 1963. I was 3 years
> old and we moved from Syracuse, NY (from WOLF) to Indy.

I was just turned on to a website that specializes in new clothing with historic radio logos. One of the people was wondering if the logos were accurate. They had a WOLF logo from 1962 available. The site is:

www.radiologoland.com

They also have a number of other historic logos available. (didn't see any
Indianapolis, but they did have a WOWO from 1968.)

Re: WFBM jock history to WHYT

> Wasn't it originally WHYT or something close to that? I
> remember working with a guy at WGRT that once worked up
> there...seems the call stood for a guy named Wendell Hanson
> who owned or started the station..had an anything goes
> format for a while....going by a very foggy memory/old age!

I've been trying to think of his name for weeks. Wendell Hansen DID put
WHYT on the air about '69 or'70. "White (WHYT) on the White River." I lived in the area, but had a hard time picking up the station.
(Hansen had trained a number of exotic birds to do tricks and I remember seeing him at a school convocation when I was young.)
They started with a 6 tower array, but the story goes that one of the towers kept falling because of its placement on a peat bog. They were allowed to get their pattern with 5 after that. Channel 40 also came on the air about that time. I forget the calls for that one. Lester Summerall's group picked up the dark channel as their first TV station in '72 or '73.

Re: WFBM jock history to WHYT

> > Wasn't it originally WHYT or something close to that? I
> > remember working with a guy at WGRT that once worked up
> > there...seems the call stood for a guy named Wendell
> Hanson
> > who owned or started the station..had an anything goes
> > format for a while....going by a very foggy memory/old
> age!
>
> I've been trying to think of his name for weeks. Wendell
> Hansen DID put
> WHYT on the air about '69 or'70. "White (WHYT) on the White
> River." I lived in the area, but had a hard time picking up
> the station.
> (Hansen had trained a number of exotic birds to do tricks
> and I remember seeing him at a school convocation when I was
> young.)
> They started with a 6 tower array, but the story goes that
> one of the towers kept falling because of its placement on a
> peat bog. They were allowed to get their pattern with 5
> after that. Channel 40 also came on the air about that
> time. I forget the calls for that one. Lester Summerall's
> group picked up the dark channel as their first TV station
> in '72 or '73.
>
Channel 40 was orginally WURD, which ironically sounds like good call letters for a religious station.

Re: WFBM jock history

Other people who attend the lunch include the lady (her name
> escapes me now) who worked a number of jobs at the station,
> including being the music librarian and the voice of "Wolf
> Boom Mary" (remember her?) of the "Where is the World is
> Wolf Boom Mary?" fame - a 60's version of Carmen Sandiego.

I certainly remember WooFBooM Mary. I don't remember the voice per se, but the artist rendering of her is in my mind. A friend of mine worked at WNDE in the late 80s took me on a station tour, and one of the desks in the building still had a WooFBooM Mary sticker on it after all those years!

Re: WFBM jock history to WHYT

> >Channel 40 also came on the air about that
> > time. I forget the calls for that one. Lester Summerall's
> > group picked up the dark channel as their first TV station
> > in '72 or '73.
> >
> Channel 40 was orginally WURD, which ironically sounds like
> good call letters for a religious station.

You are correct on both counts!

Re: WFBM jock history to WHYT

> > >Channel 40 also came on the air about that
> > > time. I forget the calls for that one. Lester
> Summerall's
> > > group picked up the dark channel as their first TV
> station
> > > in '72 or '73.
> > >
> > Channel 40 was orginally WURD, which ironically sounds
> like
> > good call letters for a religious station.
>
> You are correct on both counts!
>


I can add some more info on these stations, as I worked for WHYT, WFBM AM and WHMB TV Channel 40. WHYT was owned by Wendell Hansen, a daytimer with 5 tower directional. The format changed, depending on who would buy time. In the morning it was AC top 40. After the noon news/ag block it was more rock with requests. I was the DJ for the afternoon segment for a couple of years. The last 2 and a half hours were a live phone line remote from a black gospel music record store on Indiana Avenue in downtown Indy. The host was Arlene, proprietor of Arlene's House of Music. For a while a guy named Poppin' Perry Pierce bought the afternoon block and played funk/R&B amd disco.

I eventually was made news director. Some of the Jocks that I remember working with were Kevin Dugan, Brett Busby, Dick (Man on the Move) Shane and I could swear a very young Charlie Morgan was there for a brief time.

The station was bought by Jim Mathis and Emmitt DePoy, (not sure of the latter's spelling). They were former sales guys from the previous WFBMs. They had Lou Sherman and Carolyn Churchman involved. I was morning news guy and had the pleasure of working with Lou Sherman for a few months. After 8 months with WFBM, I was replaced and went to work as a cameraman and Audio tech out at Channel 40. LeSea broadcasting was the owner, LeSea standing for Lester Sumerall Evangelical Association. They called it WHMB, standing for World Harvest Mission Broadcasting. Tod Miller left WFBM sales and was a production guy out at 40 along with Tom Beck, Production Manager Rick Schenkel, Asst. PM Leo Vogt and a guy named Curtis Epp. I was there for a little over a year, and then started working in the music end of the business. Don't know the history past that time...

Bob Horner

Re: WFBM jock history

> http://www.broadcasting101.ws/indyrtv2.htm
>

Don't forget the vintage TV and Radio schedules. Check the Index.<P ID="signature">______________
Mike
MOR Memories
http://www.mormemories.com
































</P>