For Mr. Genlock

[SHADOW]

Hey, Genlock... does this picture look famililar to you? It's not far from where you live, but it is not the same today, as it was when it brand new in 1966.

[genlock]

It is now a private residence.
The guy is really rebuilding the place.
Still has 3 phase power cabled running to the house.

[SHADOW]

In the ten years I worked there, we never lost power once. not during the worst winter or lightning storms, and we were on the air 24 hours a day 7 days a week. However, shortly after I started, the RCA transmitter caught on fire and I put it out with a Fire Extinguisher.

We were off the for air for one and a half day until a replacement was sent from the RCA plant near Pittsburg. ERP was 50,000 watts, with an antenna that was both horizontal and vertical. We were ready for the day automobiles had AM and FM as standard equipment. In the early 70's the FCC made it mandatory. Those were the days.

WKEE FM had a license that allowed them 53,000 watts. so, we claimed we were 100,000 watts. Technically, our engineer, Eddie Walters, agreed we were. I was never convinced myself. Today, Stereo 103.3, the former WVQM, has a good signal in Charleston. It's now known as WTCR, and transmits from a hill in Ashland, Ky.

[genlock]

WTCR-FM transmits from a TV tower in rotary park, in Huntington.

[crabwire]

The picture being referred to here does not show for me, but from what I have read here, I know all too well the place - Skyview Drive. I worked there when it was WHEZ - I remember "Patty" very well. THAT was an automation system to program! I was also on staff there when, as WHEZ, it became WTCR-FM. Was one of the first announcers on the air with the FM Country format. Yes, I agree - what memories!

[EZ103.3FM]

I've mentioned before I was at WHEZ-FM from June 1978 to June 1979 as an announcer. I worked either 4 PM-Midnight or 2 PM - 10PM, between Dan Monjar and Kal Socolof.

The tower/transmitter took a lightning hit while I was there. It melted a board in the transmitter. We were on low power several days.

I still have at least one box of tiny wooden matches at home with the WHEZ logo on the box. No one smokes - they're used for lighting the occasional candle...they still work.

[SHADOW]

PAUL MILLER.jpg

Before you "youngsters" made your mark on the scene, WVQM used to play 33 1/3 rpm records from RCA turntables. All on air personnel hade to wear cotton gloves. I had a continuing order from Stevens Drug Store in Downtown Huntington. I am the one who changed the callsign to WHEZ Stereo. 103.3, by orders from the owner, the late Mr. Peter Bordes, of New Jersey.

The man in the army unifrom is Paul Miller, a former employee and graduate from Marshall College, as it was called back then. He was assigned two years in Germany. I, however was in the U S Air Force and trained as a combat medic, serving all branches of service for those wounded in Vietnam. I flew in many HU-1 "Huey" helicopters. I never told anyone who worked for me about it.

I installed the tape machines to play pre-programed music from Stereo Radio Productions, SRP, out of New York. I hired a young girl by the name of "Patty". Everytime she came close to the rack that had the tape machines, they would stop in mid play. It took awhile to find out that her panty hose rubbing together caused the problem. Thus, after she left employment, we called the tape machines. "Patty". I left at the end of 1975, for employment to go back with my first employment, WCHS AM and WBES FM in charleston. A man by the name of Mike McDaniels replaced me.

Eddie Walters, Chief Engineer and Ken Stephens, GM of WTCR AM were my best friends. Good times of my life.

[EZ103.3FM]

Robert M. 'Mike' McDaniel was the boss when I was there.

Rick McNamara (a NJ native who came in from Pekin IL for the job) was operations manager.

Eddie Walters was still there as engineer at WHEZ-FM and WTCR-AM, both owned by Greater Media.

The music tapes we played were from KALA Music in Kalamazoo MI.

[SHADOW]

Where is the WTCR Stereo, 103.3 FM, studio located today? Huntington or Asland? Who owns it? Thanks.

[genlock]

In Huntington, Clear-Channel.