
WROD-AM 1340
Daytona Beach
Original Calls: WROD
Originally Licensed:
Nov
1947
Power: 1,000 watts
Original City of License: Daytona Beach
Original Format: MOR
Network Affiliation(s): Mutual
Broadcasting System
RKO
ABC/Information
Owner(s): 1947-Edgar J. Sperry
1967-Daytona Beach Radio
Ltd (Central Florida Broadcasting Co.
Michael Buckley, vice president)
1982-First Daytona
Investment Corporation (Frank
D. Ward and his wife Linda
Jackson-Ward)
1986-LaPaz broadcasting (Tony
de Haro Welch) ($1.2 million)
1999-Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting (Central Florida Investments $1.1 million)
2008-Volusia
Broadcasting Company, LLC
(Joseph
Hopkins,
Daniel
Cohen,
Jeff
Greenhawt)
($750,000)
History Of Call Letters and Formats: WROD-1947-MOR
WROD-1967-Top 40
WROD-1967-Beautiful
Music
WROD-1986-Big
Bands
"Music of Your Life"
WROD-2007-Adult
Standards (Westwood One Network)
History of WROD
From Brian Douglas "...In my early youth it was an MOR (Middle of the Road) station... full service. I remember billboards around 1962 with the slogan Hot Rod Radio... WROD 1340. I'm thinking WROD flipped to Top 40 in early 1963. I remember "Denise" and "Rip Van Winkle" playing there. Timing's everything and WROD went from a second-tier station to #1 after the British Invasion hit. WMFJ was much slower to react to this music... they added it later and their chart was usually a month behind 'ROD's. They focused on teens and 18-24 year olds. WROD was called "Rabbit Radio" at first. Remember the jingles "the station with the happy difference"? WROD's said "the station with the happy rabbits". They used a sound effect that said "Sha-bop sha-bop" just the way WLOF used the tones for "WLOF Much More Music Time". Of course, the inspiration for the sha-bops was the song, "I Only Have Eyes For You", from the Flamingos (which, as I understand, apparently did not say sha-bop, but instead said "so much in love" reaaalllll quickly").
My understanding is that the station was sold in 1967. Although it was solidly #1, the lady who bought it wanted to flip it... and did. It went to Beautiful Music in the summer of 67. Later, in the early/mid 70's, the station reverted to a faux-Top 40 format... sort of Hot AC or "Chicken Rock". It was much more adult. I think
Doug Montgomery was in charge. It stayed with that format until the very successful late 70s flip to Big Band/Nostalgia (Music of Your Life)..."
Marc
Tyll adds to the history of WROD.
Between 1982 and 1984, WROD was owned by First Daytona Investment
Corporation (known as FDIC to parody the Federal Depositors Insurance
Corporation). The principle owner was Frank D. Ward and his wife Linda
Jackson-Ward. It was under Ward's direction that WROD changed
format from Adult Contemporary to Al Ham's "The Music of Your Life".
At that time MOYL programming was broadcast using reel-to-reel tapes from
the WROD studio, later switching to satellite operations. Additionally WROD
broadcast Paul Harvey News and Comments
and the Rest of the Story along with the
Wall Street Journal Report. WROD was also an RKO
affiliate in addition to being an ABC/Information affiliate.
In 2001 and 2002, the station was selected as a finalist for the radio
industry's prestigious Marconi Award for Adult Standards Station of the
Year. In 2005 the station moved from the original studios to Sunshine Park, a
mall in South Daytona.

click photo for full sized view
Thanks to Rich Campbell for this photo of the 1948 Crossley Station
Wagon used as the WROD Mobile Unit
WROD Personalities
Ken Knight (Adrian Kenneth Knight)-1947-Ms. Marsha W. George tells about her uncle, Ken Knight. "...WROD was his first break into radio in 1947 and later after opening WERD in
Ken Knight with Miss Sarah Vaughn
photo courtesy of Marsha George

Mike Harvey-1964-air name Mike Addams Biography

Dan Hogan-1968-afternoons Biography
K.P. Manning-1975-1976
Biography
Ron Kocher-Music Director

Diane Prior-1979
Lee Phillips
Dick Fellows-Program Director
Sid T. Surf
Bob Voss-"Happy Rabbits" era, also hosted dances at the "Ocean Pier Casino". Thanks to Don Williamson for this info.
Tracey Young
Bob Andrews Biography

Bill Matthews-1989-2008-"Matthews in The
Morning"-Weekdays- 6am till Noon/Program director
Rick
Martorano-2006-"Art, Entertainment and Lifestyles"
Jim
Vandergrifft-2007-New Smyrna Beach Mayor -Community Information
Ben
Taylor
Ron Fraiser-Music Director
Cadillac Jack
Stevens--2008-Mornings
Bill
Wathen-Noon-6PM
Sophie
Kay-"Cooking with Sophie Kay"-Mon-Fri-10:15AM
Other Names in WROD History

Tony Welch-1986-1989-Owner 1986-2007-General Manager
Bill Wathen, Bill Matthews & Tony Welch
George Winslow-2007-General Manager
Jerry
Kiefer-Station Manager
Jim Mitchell-News Director
Joseph
Weikel-2002-Marketing/Sales
George Winslow-2007-General
manager
Doug
Montgomery-Program Director
Joseph
Hopkins-2008-Volusia
Broadcasting Company, LLC
Daniel
Cohen-2008-Volusia
Broadcasting Company, LLC
Jeff
Greenhawt-2008-Volusia
Broadcasting Company, LLC

Thanks to Phil Beckman
for these Survey photos

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