WMFJ-AM 1450
Daytona Beach 

Original Call Letters: WMFJ

Originally Licensed: Apr. 16, 1935

Original City of License: Daytona Beach

Original Frequency: 1450

Origin of Call Letters:

Original Power: 250 watts

Original Location: 126 1/2 Magnolia Ave.

Original Format: Block Programming

Network Affiliation(s):
ABC
NBC Blue Network
Transradio Press
Associated Press
United Press International

ABC Contemporary

Owner(s):
1935-W. Wright Esch

1955-WMFJ, Inc.

1956-WMFJ, Inc. (New Ownership)
1965-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. 
1972-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
1996-Cornerstone Broadcasting ($250,000)

History Of Call Letters and Formats:  
WMFJ-1935-Block Programming
WMFJ-1972-Top 40
WMFJ-1981-Contemporary Christian  "Son Shine radio"
WMFJ-1996-Religious


WMFJ History
1957 Plaza Hotel.jpg (81677 bytes)WMFJ took to the air in April of 1935 as Daytona Beach's first radio station by owner
W. Wright Esch. The original studios were located at 750 Root Street. 
By 1956 the studios were moved to the basement of the Daytona Plaza Hotel at 600 
N. Atlantic Ave. In the 1980's the offices and studios would be built on Beach Street near the Daytona Beach Marina.
Thanks to Brian Douglas for the following information. "...WMFJ was Top 40 from the late 50s into the early 80s(?), but flipped to Contemporary Christian around 1981-83(?) Jim Walter owned the station in the early 60s.  It was originally 100 watts, later 250, later 1,000 with 250 at night, now 1,000 full-time (the FCC kept raising power limits on the six "local" frequencies, 1230, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450 and 1490).  A few, like 1340, Clermont were held back for specific reasons. Originally, the owners requested the calls WMFB for "World's Most Famous Beach", but the calls were not available.."

WMFJ Personalities
William Hall-1955-1957-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Harry Brown-1955-1958-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Dick Clark-1957-1962-Mornings/Program Director-WMFJ, Inc./1958-General Manager/Program Director-WMFJ,       Inc./1959-Station Manager-WMFJ, Inc./1961-Station Manager/Program Director-WMFJ, Inc./1964-Commercial Manager- WMFJ, Inc./1966-Station Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-General Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
Milt Roth-1958-1962-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Kenny Mercer-1962-1965-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
George Allen-1962-1963-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Don Skylar-1963-News Director-WMFJ, Inc./1964-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Bob Walters-1964-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Frank Northrup-1964-News Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Dusty Miller-1964-While still a junior in high school and was the school reporter-WMFJ, Inc.
Dave Randall-(Cleveland Wheeler)-1965-Program Director-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1968-Program Director- Walter-Weeks Broadcasting  Biography   
George Barber-1966-Program Director-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
Jack Armstrong-1966-News Director-Daytona Broadcasting Inc.
Brad Cowell-1966-Chief Engineer/Nights-Daytona Broadcasting Inc. Brad's daughter, Martha, writes about 
"My Daddy the DJ"
John Holiday (Clyde Thodey)-1967-Program Director-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc.


Dan Hogan-1967-Overnights Biography
Kris Earl Phillips-1970-1972-6PM-Midnight  Biography
Al Connors-1971
John Scott-1978-Program Director/Music Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Charles Neald-1978-News Director-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Rick Stone-1978
Rick Taylor (Rick Morgan)-1979-1980--Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Bob Stephenson-1979-1981-Program Director-Weeks Broadcasting
Bobby Mitchell
Bob Neimeyer
Art Andrews
Bill Andrews Biography


Paul Delaney Biography
Bulldog Hesters (Terry Wayne) 1979
Mike Jay-6AM-10AM
Doug James-10AM-2PM
Gerry Peterson "The Mississippi Hippie" (Gerry Cagle)-2PM-6PM
Rob Thomas-Midnight-6AM
Doug Montgomery
Bobby Holiday-Weekends
Johnny Donovan (NOT the one from WABC)
Don Shoe
Rick Wagner-Weekends
Honest John Feree-Music Director
Corky Dee-Nights
"Long John" Wade
Jack McCoy
Jim Shirah-Nights
George McGovern-Afternoons
"Good Guy Gordie" (Gordy McNeill)-Played progressive music in overnights in the very late 60s
Dane Eric-6AM-10AM
Jack Stevens-Weekends
Joanne Ares
Doug Carter-10AM-3PM
Mayor John-Overnights
Mark Scott (Jeff Campbell) Biography
Stan Barrett
Dean O'Neal
Brent Alberts Biography
Bruce Bower-Nights
Reed On The Radio-3PM-7PM
Eddie Beacon-7PM-Midnight
Mike Nelson-Midnight-6AM
Bob Mitchell-Weekends
Frank Reed Biography
Chris Dana
Dolly Holiday
"The Janitor" (Warren Miller) 		           Courtesy of Phil Beckman WMFJ.jpg (160484 bytes) Click for full sized view
Mike Roberts (Mike Oakes)
Steve Craig (Steve Biddle)

Other Names In WMFJ History
W. Wright Esch-1935-1955-Owner
Mrs. Billie B. Esch-1935-General Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Ray Clancy-1935-Station Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
John S. Pitts-1935-Commercial Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Mary Josephine Bledsoe-1935-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Webster Ellenwood-1935-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Jack Winfree-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
William Shelton-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Crystal Palmer-1944-Promotions Manager-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Mildred Mullins-1953-Program Director-W. Wright Esch Ownership
W. K. Ellenwood-1953-Chief Engineer-W. Wright Esch Ownership
Harold Kaye-1955-President-WMFJ, Inc.
Joseph Matthews-1955-General Manager/Commercial Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Saul Kay-1955-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Jack Siegel-1955-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc./1958-Secretary/Treasurer-WMFJ, Inc./1961-General Manager/Chief 
Engineer-WMFJ, Inc./1963-General Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Emil J. Arnold-1956-President-WMFJ, Inc.
Jack Seigel-1956-General Manager/Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc/1959-Vice President-WMFJ, Inc.
Lee Menard-1956-Station Manager-WMFJ, Inc
Carl Abel-1956-Commercial Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Ben Taylor-1956-Sales/Program Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Richard Marcellen-1956-Program Director-WMFJ, Inc.
Dale Phares-1957-General Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
L. L. McGrath-1957-CommercialManager-WMFJ, Inc.
Sari Smith-1957-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc./1958-Promotions Director-WMFJ, Inc.
John Creutz-1958-President-WMFJ, Inc.
Jay Caldwell-1958-Commercial Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Jerry Norman-1958-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.
Robert Neimeyer-1962-Promotions Manager-WMFJ, Inc.
Charles Weiler-1962-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.
Robert Council-1964-Chief Engineer-WMFJ, Inc.
Robert Weeks-1965-President/General Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-President-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Al Setzer-1965-Commercial Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-Commercial Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Roy Gallagher-1965-Cheif Engineer-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc./1972-Chief Engineer-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting
Jack Hayward-1967-Station Manager-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc.
William Martin-1967-Chief Engineer-Daytona Broadcasting, Inc.
Jim Walter-1972-Partner-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company                     
Terry Hesters-1978-Chief Engineer-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company 
Jim Palmer-Vice President/General Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
Bob Stevenson-1979-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company
Joel Hollander-Sales Manager-Walter-Weeks Broadcasting Company


1973 WMFJ Survey from Jack Stevens via Kris Earl Phillips

 WMFJ Survey.jpg (65735 bytes)  WMFJ survey2.jpg (86467 bytes)
Click for a full sized view   
  
                                                          Photos Courtesy of Bruce Bower
               
                     Miss WMFJ and Dave Randall		      
           Dave Randall, Eric Burdon, Cheryl Delaughter & 
                                     Gordie McNeal

   Gordy McNeal, Dave Randall, Bruce Bower & 
                        Corky Davis		   
                                  Bruce Bower on the board

                                                                   
                                                         
                                                                               WMFJ Scrapbook
                         Courtesy of Robert Weeks, the son of Robert Weeks from (Walter-Weeks Broadcasting)


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