WKIS-740  AM
Orlando

Original Call Letters: WORZ
Originally Licensed: Feb 8, 1947                                                                                     WKIS logo Courtesy of Pete Simonson
Original City of  License: Orlando
Original Power: 1,000 watts
Original Format: Pop
Network Affiliation(s): CBS

Owner(s): 1966-Tom Cassel
                1971-Susquehana Radio
                1988-Guy Gannett Broadcasting
                1994-Paxson Broadcasting
                1997-Clear Channel Communications 
                2007-Aloha Station Trust, LLC, as Trustee 

History Of  Call Letters and Formats: WORZ-1947
                                                          WKIS-1960's-Adult Contemporary
                                                          WKIS-1979-News/Talk  "NewsTalk 74"
                                                          WWNZ-1988-News/Talk
                                                          WQTM-2001-Sports Talk  formerly on 540 kHz

History of WKIS
WKIS took to the air as WORZ on Feb. 8, 1947, with 1,000 watts of power as another NBC affiliate at 740 on the AM dial. Offices and studios were located at 790 N. Orange Ave., and the station's transmitter was on Old Winter Garden Road. In those  days, NBC had two radio networks, called the red and the blue networks. In 1949, you could listen to the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis show on Friday evenings on WORZ.

WKIS Personalities
Mark McKibben-1974-1977-From Mark's email: "...I started out doing the all night show.  After a couple of years on air, I shifted over to become Gene Burns' engineer. In the spring of 1977, we worked 90 straight days without a day off to help boost the station's ratings during the sweeps.  Bob Poe was Gene's producer in those days.  He later went on to become the GM. I enjoyed working with Gene tremendously. He is a fantastic talk show host.  We were a great team.  We used to celebrate from time-to-time at Freddie's Steak House in Fern Park. Gene loved good food and he taught me a lot about wine. Another person that helped make WKIS successful was John Loving. John was the Chief Engineer of the station and he became my mentor.  It's because of John that I was able to make the transition to engineering. I left WKIS in 1977 to work as Chief Engineer of WRMF-FM 98.1 in Titusville.  I was only there about a year and then moved to WPLP-AM 570 in Pinellas Park.  While at WPLP, I was "discovered" by Ray Rask of the Mutual Broadcasting System.  I moved to Washington in 1979 and took over as the "Assistant Director of Satellite and Corporate Engineering."

Tony Gerard



Larry Shannon (Larry Roberts)-1971-1974-Program director and afternoon personality. Biography




Marty Stebbins-Biography



Russ Wheeler-1966-1969, 1972-1975-mornings. Biography

Stan Savran-1973-1976-sports talk show on Sunday nights from 7-10. Sports and news on the morning show with Russ Wheeler. Stan also did play by play for the Florida Blazers of the World Football League the one season they were in existence in 1974.


Hal Murray
Phil Hendrie

Doris Ashwell Doris with Larry Shannon (Roberts) and Larry King (Bessler) on the WKIS mid-day show.
Richard King-News director
Buzz Lawrence-1974-program director. From Steve Schiffman; "...His sign off was:  "Buzz Off, Kiss On". 
I heard that Buzz died sometime after leaving WKIS-radio ("Open the door, to '74, Orlando).


Steve Mitchell-1974-1975-Weekends/Fill-in
   Steve Mitchell with Guests Shari Lewis and Kirby "Sky King" Grant-1974  Courtesy of Steve Schiffman    



Gene Burns-1971-1985 Biography
Interview with Radio Phenomenon Gene Burns




Frank Reed-1972 Biography





Pete Forgione-1973-Mid days. Biography


Jerry Gordon-1973-1977-Middays, afternoon drive 
Bob James-1982-"The Real Bob James"-Bob came to Orlando from WGAR in Cleveland (where he left in 1979). Prior to his stop at WKIS he was involved in production work and wrote for TV's "Entertainment Tonight". He also did some acting with small roles in "The Deer Hunter" and "Those Lips, Those Eyes". Bob replaced Steve Cannon. Bob is currently a professor of broadcast journalism at Middle Tennessee State University.
 


Bob Barnes Biography





Dick Norman-weekdays 9 a.m. to noon/3-6 PM / operations manager Biography


Dr. Marilyn Mason-1984-1985-"Practical Psychology"-Noon-2PM- Dr. Mason began a similar radio-psychology in 1980 at KSTP-AM in Minneapolis. Her commitment to psychology stemmed from a tragedy. Mason's husband, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, was killed in 1966 by Charles Whitman, the student who climbed into the University of Texas tower and began a shooting rampage that killed 15 and wounded 31. 
                        


Clive Thomas-Biography



Leslie Brewington-Producer Biography
Jim Boynton-1972-1973


 Jim Philips-1972-1986 Biography
                                  


Lynn Levine (Moira of the "Philips Phile" on WTKS-FM 104.1) News anchor and host of “At Your Service” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lynn also co-hosted the Morning News on WWNZ-AM 740 with Wayne Trout in 1988.  (Note: Program Director Kaye Barone made Lynn the host of "At Your Service". Lynn hade been a "street reporter".  


Wayne Trout-1983-1990-News Director Biography 

Wayne on George W. Bush

Bud Brewer-Biography



Harry Cup-1982-7PM-11PM-Biography- Harry's program would go statewide in 1983 on the Florida Radio Network. FRN was owned by WKIS' parent company. Cup was heard from 7-11Pm on; WKIS, WIPC-AM 1200, Winter Haven, WEZY-AM 1350, Lakeland,  WNDB-AM 1150, Daytona Beach, and WWFL-AM 1340, Clermont
 

Steve Kane-was a theater arts professor at Rollins College when he began as a fill-in host at WKIS in 1977. He eventually took over late nights. His program called "Talk About Life Klub" (T.A.L.K.). card carrying members would meet at the Golden Corral restaurant. He would leave WKIS and take his program to WLOF-AM 950. Today Steve Kane is heard on South Florida radio. 
  

Pancho O'Hara-(Chico Ramos)-1977-1978, 1979-1984-Pancho was a regular caller to local talk shows in Orlando. He was a gardener and painter by trade. WKIS found him so entertaining (or obnoxious) they offered him a job. 
Part of an email from Pancho. "...I was hired by Gene Burns (one of the greatest talk hosts in the biz) in February of 1977. In July of 1978 I was fired for being " irresponsible" saying things  that offended "minority groups." All I said, was "some minority folks are too pushy" and I meant it. Then in Jan 1979, I was rehired. I lasted until 1984 or so, before Jim Philips was hired to replace Dick Norman a helluva nice guy who died  while trying to leave a convenience store in Tampa..."



Don Smith-Biography
                                                              


Carole Nelson-Biography



Sandy Bernard-8PM to midnight
Dan Tressler
Rod Hemphill
Tom Haley-Noon-4PM Biography
Frank Vaught
Sam Gilkey
Jim Boynton-mid-days
Lon Wagner                                                                                                       Wolfman Jack and Pancho share a laugh
Shelton Adams-1980-Orlando city councilman, who lost the 1980 Mayoral election to then Mayor, Bill Frederick (Frederick was Orlando's mayor from 1980 to 1992)                                                                      
Harvey Doyle-production                                      
Pat Flannigan-1980-Pioneer female talk host                                                   
Dave Lawrence-overnights
Jeff Alan-1987
Peter Rocchio-Peter is an attorney and gourmet chef.
Larry (Bessler) King-Production In Memory      
John Martin-1986 to 1991-writer, reporter, anchor and producer and co-host with Lynn Levine.
John Anthony-morning sports late 90s                                                                                        .
Barbara McClure-overnight news late 90s                                                                    
Ken Presti-reporter late 90s.                                                                                                                    
Winnifred King
Kathy Putnam
Wayne Deschambeau                                                                                                                                                                  
Craig Eicher-overnights, then weekday anchor/reporter from 1987 to 1991. Then became a news reporter/anchor at 
Channel 6, Orlando for ten years.



Don Gould-1979-afternoon drive anchor Biography
                                                                                                            Click on photo for full sized view


Dave Elliott
Bev Smith
Al Dunaway-6AM-9AM
Mike Schiano Biography
Patricia Madden

Bill Bauman
Alan Spector
Linda Coleman
Adrian Charles                                                                                           Left to right; Pat Beall, Wolfman Jack and Dan Robertson
Jay Jeffries (Jeff D'Aurora)-4PM-7PM                                                                              courtesy of Dan Robertson
Jack Murphy                                                                                                               Clay Daniels-9AM-Noon                                                                                                    
Tom McCloud (Tom Locke)-Sky One traffic plane



John Martin Biography

                                                                                                                                             70's Bumper sticker
Michael Cooper-Sports                                                                                                                       Courtesy of Pete Simonson

Gerry Gordon


David Swerdloff-1972-1973-"KIS all night show" and later the evening program
Roger Stallard-1978-1981-Midnight-6AM/Program Director
Terry Deck-News
Pat Beale-News
Mike Ruble-Producer 



Jeff Allen (Cassell)-1982-1986 Biography


Lee Hillyard-News
Pat Beall-News
Roger Williams-News
Michelle Simos-News

Other names in WKIS History                 
John Loving-Chief Engineer
Ernie Legge-1963 In Memory
Bob Nocero-1973-1980  
Tom Marshall-1968
Pete Simonson
Roy Scott-News
George Crossley
Herb Craft                                                          
Gina Jordan Biography
Steve Craig
Mike Gaier-General manager                                                                             
Kay Barone-1986-Program director                         
Sandie Biddle-Copywriter and production director. Was the voice behind "Mrs. Roger Holler" spots for Holler Chevrolet. 
Pat Flynn-1970-1975-News-In an email from Pat he tells us about his time at WKIS. "...I did news at WKIS around 1970-1975 during the Gene Burns era. When I was in college at UCF, 69-73, I worked at WWQS (FM 105.1) doing classical music during the week, then news on weekends at "KIS".  After a couple of years of that, I left "QS" and worked fulltime at "KIS". I continued at "KIS", after college, until January 1975 at which time I moved to Houston and went to law school. I have been practicing labor & employment law here in Houston since 1977                                                         
Dan Robertson-1978-1980-"...was Gene Burns engineer for a while at WKIS, along with Clay and AL and Roger Stallard
Steve Wein-1976-Board operator for Gene Burns
Bob Poe-1985-Gene Burns Program Producer/General Manager                        
Scott Santos-Producer
Steve Hall-Sports
Jim Casey-Program Director                                                                                               A WKIS first class card. Membership 
Steve Kane                                                                                                                                                                   entitled you to discounts and prizes
Randy Molnar-Production Director
Don Grider
Tranny Jackson
Robert Dempsey-General Manager
Larry Kindel-Sales Manager
Lawrence Kahn-Producer for Gene Burns
Tom Cassel-Owner
Steve Fluker-1983-Assistant Engineer
Bob Christoper
Bob Bierkentoll-fill-in producer
Chuck Agostinelli-1978-1980-Producer for Gene Burns
Mike Cooper-1980-Producer for Gene Burns
Pete Raymondetta-Engineer for Steve Kane 
Robin Reiger-Producer for Steve Kane

Other Programs in WKIS History
NBC's Monitor    listen to the Monitor beacon
  CBS Radio Mystery Theater-1982


                                                                                                                       WKIS beer
Ray Durkee's "Sunday at the Memories"                                                    Thanks to Dick Camnitz     

                                                                              
Chuck Harder-"For The People" 
Sally Jesse-Raphael (NBC TalkNet) 
Jim Bohannon                                                                                             
Robert Vincent Sims-"The Garden Rebel"
Jack Nelson-"Dollars and Sense" 
Tom Olson-1988-"Olson on the Law" 
When Radio Was  
Dining Around-noon-to-2pm-hosted by Gene Burns and, alternately, Peter Rocchio  Myron Stein-"The Auto Doctor"--10 a.m. to noon
Peter Lane- "Wine Line"-2 to 3 p.m.                                        
                       
                                                                       
                                  Click for full sized view                                            Click for full sized view        
                Pete Simonson sends along this photo of Frank Reed and Larry Shannon at Disney's Grad night
                                                  and a promo for the Russ Wheeler morning show
                  
                                                                                          

This full page ad appeared in the Orlando Sentinel Star on April 14, 1978 celebrating the 30th anniversary. It was more the anniversary of the frequency because the call letters WKIS were new to the station in the 1960's. The party was held at the "Rainbow Ranch". 
                   


Thanks to Jeff D'Aurora for the photo

Click photo for full sized view















                       
This building on Winter Garden Road was built to house WORZ-AM 740, WORZ-FM 100.3 as well as  a planned TV studio as WORZ was granted a license to transmit on channel 9. Seems they ran out of money and channel 9 became WLOF TV.  The area in the back of the station which housed the Sales dept. was to be the TV studio. 

                                                                    click photo for full sized view
                                                        Thanks to Jeff D'Aurora for the photo.


        What's New    Biographies    In Memory    Sounds    Misc.    Links    Chronology    What's News?