Welcome to Radio Years!
Let Radio Years take you on a nostalgic look back at some of your favorite radio stations of the past across the central counties of the Sunshine State. Included are complete histories of all the stations in Polk County, plus select stations from Tampa Bay to the Space Coast. These were stations we all listened to before corporate conglomerates and automation became the norm. Most were locally owned and operated, and we got to know personally the people whose voices came into our lives via the airwaves because they were active in the community.
Take a moment to browse through Who’s Who, the Photo Albums and Memorabilia. Check out the bios and photos of local radio personalities from years gone by. If you ever had the opportunity to visit your favorite stations, we’ve got pictures of the way you remember them. Take a look at classic station music surveys that you used to pick up each week at the record store, bumper stickers, and other memorabilia. Click on Audio Clips for program intros, show themes, newscasts, commercials, airchecks, jingles, and more.
On the Radio Years homepage, Related Links will direct you to historical sites for other great radio stations like Nashville’s WLAC, “Tiger Radio” WQAM in Miami, and Chicago’s WGN. You’ll find the histories of the four major radio networks, ABC, CBS, Mutual, and NBC, including the story behind the latter network’s famous chimes and most ambitious program, “Monitor.” There’s information about other favorite old time radio shows, too, like “The Lone Ranger,” “Suspense,” Don McNeil’s “Breakfast Club,” “Amos ‘n’ Andy,” and “Dragnet,” plus links to sites that deal with restoring antique radios, and much more. And don’t forget to click on the Featured Audio Clips box to hear some vintage commercials from radio’s golden era.
It’s all here, and more, inside Radioyears.com – your source for the history of Polk County radio and other really great Tampa Bay and central Florida stations. So sit back, kick your shoes off, and reminisce through our pages about your favorite station or personality.
OUR STATIONS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM |
| Featured Stations: |
WLAK, WONN, WPLA |
| Other Stations: |
Hall Communications Big 4, WFSI, WGTO, WLKF, WLLD, WMBL, WPCV, WQPD, WSJT, WVFM/WEZY, WWRZ, WYSE/ WWAB |
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WBAR, WCIE, WFXI, WHAN, WHFL, WHNR,
WINT AM/FM, WIPC, WKES, WLVF AM/FM, WPUL, WQXM, WSIR, WTHN, WTWB, WWBF, WXKL, WYFO, WYXY, WZNG |
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WAKS, WALT, WAMA, WAVE, WAYP, WAZE,
WBDN AM/FM, WBOY, WBRD AM/FM, WBSB, WBTP, WBVM, WBZZ, WCBF, WCLE, WCTQ, WCWR,
WDAE AM/FM, WDCF, WDCL, WDHL, WDUV, WEBK, WEND, WENG, WFHH, WFJO, WFLA AM/FM, WFLZ, WFNS, WFSO, WFTI, WFUS, WGES, WGHB,
WGNB AM/FM, WGUL AM/FM, WHBO, WHBS, WHNZ, WHPT, WHVE, WILZ, WINQ, WIOK, WISP, WJIS, WJBB, WJQB, WKES, WKGA, WKRL, WKXY,
WLCY AM/FM, WLLD, WLVU AM/FM, WMGG,
WMGG AM/FM, WMLO, WMNF, WMTX, WMTX, WNSI, WNZE, WPAS, WPIN AM/FM, WPKM, WPLP, WPOI, WPSO AM/FM, WQBN, WQSA, WQSR, WQXM,
WQYK AM/FM, WRBQ AM/FM, WRFA, WRXB, WSDV, WSJT, WSOL, WSPB AM/FM, WSRQ, WSRZ AM/FM, WSSR, WSST, WSUN AM/FM, WTAN AM/FM, WTBT, WTKN, WTMP AM/FM, WTMY, WTRL, WTSP AM/FM, WTUN, WTYM, WUSA, WUSF, WVTY AM/FM,
WWBA AM/FM, WWMI, WWPR, WWQT, WWRM, WXCR, WXGL, WXTB, WXYB, WYND, WYNF, WYNF, WYOU, WYTA, WYUU, WZHR |
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WAPG, WAPR, WAUC, WBIL, WDBO AM/FM, WFHT, WFLN, WHOO AM/FM, WITS, WJCM, WKKO, WKTS,
WLBE AM/FM, WLOF, WMFJ AM/FM, WOKB, WROD, WSEB AM/FM, WSLC, WWJB, WWKE, WWLL, WWOJ, WWTK, WZZS |
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What's New |
September 2010
New Stations Added
WEND-AM 760 Brandon
WNZE-AM 820 Largo
WYNF-FM 107.9 Coral Cove
WZZS-FM 106.9 Zolfo Springs
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Who's Who - New Bios
Larry Anderson, Eben Brown,
Laura Chase, Ronnie Lane,
Russ Offenbach, Joe Patrick,
Marti Ryan, and Rick Stone
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Featured Audio Clip
"Valiant Lady"
(CBS-NBC-ABC 1938-1952)
Tampa Bay Audio Clips
WFLZ Jon 'Rock N Roll' Anthony (1990); WRBQ (Jams jingle montage No. 2); WYNF Russ Albums' "Wax Museum"; WYUU (Spanish station ID-2005)
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Tampa Bay Photo Album
- People -
Bay area radio personalities' group photo (1988-courtesy Mike Lawrence); WRBQ Brian Christopher (1989); WRBQ Cleveland Wheeler and Terrence McKeever (1985); WRBQ Gary Edens (Edens Broadcasting); WRBQ Scott Shannon & Jon 'Rock
N Roll' Anthony (1987-courtesy
Jon 'Rock N Roll' Anthony)
- Studios -
WMNF Satellite dishes, STL (2007); WPSO Office/studio site (2009); WWBA On-air studio (2008-courtesy David Risley)
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Tampa Bay Memorabilia
- Music Surveys -
WKXY "The Best" (1973);
WLCY "138 Fun Fifty" (1970); WLCY "Radio 138 Hit List"
(1975-courtesy Dick Wheeler)
- Newspaper Ads/Articles -
WDAE "Take 5" newspaper ad (late 50's); WHBO Clippings from Billboard magazine (courtesy Earl Polk); WSDV Print ad (2006); WTSP newspaper ad (1942)
- Station Related -
WYNF Blue cap with logo (1980's); WYNF Russ Albums billboard (1980's); WYNF Don Capone promotional photo (1980's)
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WPLA Photo Album
-People-
Al Berry (2009); Michael Sharp, Eileen Shulte, and Wes Van Zile
at Plant City Christmas parade (1988); Michael Sharp and Jane Friend at remote (1989)
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WPLA Memorabilia
- Station Related -
Blue cap with call letters (1985); 45-rpm record used as theme for (Mitch Miller) "Sing Along" show (1962); Western Union clock (1950's/early 60's)
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Remembering...
Vic Swan
(WQYK/WONN)
who passed away Aug. 7th
from a stroke at age 64.
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Be a part of RadioYears!
Got photos, memorabilia, or information about Tampa Bay or other Central Florida stations and personalities to share?
We update our station history pages and personality bios as
new information comes in.
Check back with us often.
Click here to contact us.
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