WPRD-AM 1440                                                                                                                                                     "The Imagination Station"
Winter Park

Original Call Letters: WABR  

Originally Licensed: Sep 1954 

Original City of License: Winter Park 

Original Frequency: 1440 

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 5,000 watts-Daytime

Original Location: 222 Hazard St., Orlando 

Original Format: Children


Network Affiliation(s):


ABC 

Mutual Broadcasting System 

CNN


Owner(s):


1954-Orange County Broadcasting

1959-Contemporary Broadcasting Co.

1966-Norfolk Broadcasting Corp.

1971-Rounsaville Of Tampa, Inc. (Co-owned with WBJW-FM 105.1)

1977-WSEC, Inc.

1982-Nationwide Communications  (Purchase of WBJW-FM 105.1 and WLOF-AM 950, $6.5 million)

1986-Alleluia Broadcasting Corp  

1987-Metroplex Communications of Orlando Inc.

1993-Paxson Communications ($5.6 million with WMGF-FM 107.7)

1994-J & V Communications, Inc.($300,000)


History Of Call Letters and Formats:


WABR-1954-Country 

WBJW-1971-Oldies/Lite Rock "The Entertainer"

WBJW-1975-Easy Listening

WNBE-1976-NBC 24 Hour News

WAJL-1987--Easy Listening

WAJL-1987-Religion

WPRD-1987-Classics of the '40s, '50s and '60s "Pride-1440"

WPRD-1990-Children "The Imagination Station"  

WPRD-1991-CNN Headline News

WWZN-1993-Talk

WWZN-1993-Sports

WPRD-1994-Talk

WPRD-1995-Spanish


WPRD ''The Imagination Station'' History

1990-Kids' Choice Broadcasting Network, an Orlando-based radio format geared to children under 12, hit the local airwaves in March. Investors raising an estimated $3 million to $4 million to launch the 24-hour satellite-delivered network hope to have 100 subscriber stations in the nation's top 20 markets. The staff of 10 personalities will play music, tell jokes and stories, preside over sing-alongs and present the news. The Kids' Choice Network will feature original music by Peter Yarrow of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Among those serving on the network's advisory board are singers Judy Collins, Harry Belafonte and Pete Seeger, as well as actors Fred Rogers ("Mr. Rogers Neighborhood"), Marlo Thomas ("That Girl") and Mike Farrell ("M*A*S*H"). Scott Stover became production director after working for weeks with Peter Yarrow on preparations for the launch of the station.
1991-The Imagination Station Network signed off at 2 p.m., February 27, because it ran out of money. The Imagination Network, which began in March of 1990, was never able to expand beyond two affiliates: WPRD and a Salt Lake City radio station. The network was hoping to have 100 affiliates by the end of its first year of operation. Without affiliates it could not draw national advertising, and without advertising it had no money to approach affiliates.


WPRD ''The Imagination Station'' Personalities

Scott Stover-"Skatin' Scott"  Biography

Sam Cooper-"Sam 'n' Eggs"-6AM-10AM

Sunshine Suzy



Jammin’ Jo-Jo
Note: JoJo was known to WORL AM 1270 listeners as "JoJo Dancer"

Skipper Steve

Jungle John/Marty Monkey (John Simpson)

Matt Gomez-"Mighty Matt"-1990-1991  Biography

Brian A Saurus (Brian Douglas)-Evenings-From Brian; "...I was one of the original air personalities on the network". "...After the network flipped, Sam and Eggs (morning guy, Sam Cooper) and I moved to St Louis station, WXJO (WFUN...which was one of our affiliates at the time) to continue the network there until it's demise not long after.  When in St Louis we still continued to feed our affiliate in Salt Lake City.  I stayed in St Louis to work for the Top 40 station, Q106.5 WKBQ, till I moved to Chicago to work for a Rock station, 103.5 The Blaze.  I continued my radio career working at Z-100 New York, WPST Trenton-Philadelphia, Power 92 Phoenix, Star 987 (KYSR) and Country 93.9 KZLA here in Los Angeles.  I'm currently working with Dial Global hosting "Hot Country Afternoons with Brian Douglas" on about 100 affiliates nationwide. 


Other Names In WPRD ''The Imagination Station'' History

Norman Wain-President-Kids' Choice 

Katherine ''Tish'' Henslee-Vice president Of Programming

Barbara Peckett-General Manager

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