WJPB-AM 1220  
Kissimmee   

Original Call Letters: WOSL (Construction Permit)
Originally Licensed:  1964
Original Power: 1,000 watts day time 
Original City of  License: Kissimmee  
Original Format:                          

Owner(s): 1964-Beacom Broadcasting Enterprises (J. Patrick Beacom)
                1964-B & M Broadcasting Corporation (J. Patrick Beacom and Hoyt C. Murphy)
                1968-Opportunity Broadcasters ($72,000)
                1976-Magic Box Media 
                1980-Central Florida Spanish Broadcasting ($335,000)
                1986-Cawley Broadcasting Corporation (Augustine ''Gus'' Cawley)
                1991-Kissimmee Broadcasting Corporation, Inc ($500,000) (Rick Namey)
                1994-Winfield Broadcasting
                1999-J & V Communications ($450,000)
               
History Of Call Letters and Formats: WJPB-1966-
                                                         WACY-1968-MOR  "1220 On Your Dial"
                                                         WACY-1974-Progressive Rock
                                                         WACY-1976-Silent
                                                         WMJK-1976-Oldies
                                                         WMJK-1980-Spanish 
                                                         WMJK-1986-Oldies/Variety
                                                         WMJK-1988-Hits of the 50s and '60s ' 'Your hometown radio station,''
                                                         WMJK-1991-Adult Contemporary/Full Service  "Magic 1220"
                                                         WMJK-1992-Travelers Information
                                                         WMJK-1994-Silent
                                                         WOTS-1994-Travelers Information  "The Vacation Station"
                                                         WOTS-1996-Talk/Oldies
                                                         WOTS-1999-Spanish  "Magica"
                                                          

WJPB History
In 1964 the FCC began accepting applications for a silent Kissimmee station, WOSL. In 1966 the FCC granted a construction permit for a 1,000 watt, daytime only operation to J. Patrick Beacom. In March, Mr. Beacom took on a partner, Hoyt C. Murphy and the corporate name became B & M Broadcasting Corporation. The call letters  WJPB were issued. WJPB began broadcasting in 1966, from a 230 foot tower on Hilda Street not far from the proposed theme park planned by the Walt Disney Company. 
In September WJPB was sold. New owners Robert W. Marlowe, Sam Gilkey and Thad M. Lowrey changed the call letters to WACY. From Paul; "At that time the station was located on Altman Street (off Neptune Road) near Lake Tohopekaliga, east of the Kissimmee city limits...actually on the edge of a swamp, but great for the tower ground array!  We were broadcasting with 1,000 Watts daytime only at that time. By 1971, Sam Gilkey became President and General Manager of WACY. Lowery was part owner of WGUL in New Port Richey. After a couple of years, Marlowe moved back to N.C. and was killed in a traffic accident. Before leaving he sold his shares to Pat Yaturo of Indialantic. In June of 1972,  WACY moved the studios and transmitter from Hilda Street to Highway 441 and Donegan Avenue in Kissimmee. WACY was granted 65 watt pre-sunrise authority in May of 1972. WACY operated from 6AM until 6PM daily. Sam Gilkey tells me "...we realized the station did not have enough money to hang on and we started looking for a buyer. The station was sold...(in 1974) to a group out of West Tennessee who ran it absentee for a year or so and then sold to an Orlando group...". 
Founder, John Patrick Beacom died at the age of 72 on January 3, 1976. Beacom also served as Member of West Virginia state house of delegates from Cabell County, in 1933, was also a member of West Virginia state senate 5th District from 1935-38 and then as Mayor of Port St. Lucie County.
 
WJPB Personalities

Bill Barber Biography



Rick Chamberlin-1967-Born in Kissimmee, Rick got his start in the radio business at the age of 17 by sweeping the floors and taking out the trash at WFIV-AM 1080. One day the Program Director said "Hey kid, how would you like to do Saturday afternoons?" and Rick was thrilled. Rick is now heard on "DIXIE 105.7", WRSF-FM, North Carolina. 


Names in WJPB History
J. Patrick Beacom-1966-Owner
Hoyt C. Murphy-1966-Co-owner
Steve Keegan-1966-General Manager                   

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