WHOO-AM
990Orlando
Original call Letters: WHOO
Originally Licensed: Dec 1947
Power: 50,000 Day/14,000 Night
Original City of License: Orlando
Owner(s): 1947-The Orlando Sentinel Star Co. (Martin Andersen)
1951-Edward Lamb
1954-
1958-Bluegrass Broadcasting (Garvis Kincaid)
1987-TK Communications ($13.5 million)
1994-Granum Communications ($11.5 million)
1997-Cox Broadcasting
2001-American Broadcasting Co. ($5 million)
2003-Radio Disney Group (subsidiary of ABC)
Manager(s): O.C. Halyard-Bluegrass Broadcasting
History Of Call Letters and Formats: WHOO--1947-Pop Broadcasting from the Fort Gatlin Hotel
WHOO-1968-Country "Country Gentlemen"
WMMA-1987-Adult Contemporary "Magic 99"
WMMA-1987-Oldies
WHTQ-1988-Rock (simulcast of WHTQ 96.5 FM)
WHOO-1988-Big Bands/Adult Standards (Music Of Your Life)
WHOO-1989-Classic Country
WHOO-1990-Rock (simulcast of WHTQ 96.5 FM)
WHOO-1993-Adult Standards (ABC Radio "Stardust" format)
WDYZ- 2001-Radio Disney-Children
History of WHOO
WHOO would broadcast from the Hotel Fort Gatlin in 1947.
WHOO, first owned by the company that published the Orlando Morning Sentinel and the Reporter-Star newspapers, went on the air on Dec. 5, 1947.
A gala grand opening event was held along with an "invitation only" reception and dance. Bob Chester's New York Orchestra performed and the "western" band the WHOOT Owls were introduced. In 1951 the newspaper company sold WHOO-AM and WHOO-FM 96.5 to Edward Lamb, a Toledo attorney and broadcaster.
Chuck Wilson fills in some more history of WHOO. "... John Rutledge was the manager when I was there and he worked out of the "Executive Offices" in the Gatlin Hotel on Orange Avenue. The sales force was also located there. I believe everyone else was out at Silver Star Road, which is where the transmitter was located. To consolidate the operation (the Gatlin offices weren't that nice either), John moved everyone to a new location on Rosalind Avenue, but I'm not sure if there wasn't a short transition move for the Executive Office/Sales Staff from the Gatlin location to the Silver Star location prior to going downtown (Rosalind Avenue.) I worked as an announcer/traffic manager/sort-of program director/meter reader/pump primer on the FM side. I had to keep the pump on the well primed or the air conditioner wouldn't work! Anyway, when the building on Rosalind Avenue was remodeled (boy, did it look good!), everyone moved from Silver Star Road to the new offices downtown ... except me! You talk about desolate! There was nothing out there. The transmitter was so far out that they had to pipe in sunshine. I would get there at 5:00 am and leave at 1:00 pm and the only person I would see was the guy who relieved me at 1:00. At first, WHOO only broadcast from downtown and then they started broadcasting from the transmitter site after midnight. Few people realized the facilities at the transmitter were probably as good as, if not better than, any station in town...except, maybe, for
WDBO-AM 580. Somewhere around 1960-61 everything moved from Rosalind Avenue back to the facilities on Silver Star Road (is isn't cheap to move a radio station). John spent a lot of money remodeling the facility and it was great to have everyone back out there.
WHOO Personalities (The Country Years)
Bob Nyles-1974-1988-Biography
Here's Bob, with WHOO GM Bob Johnson in 1966 The same two Bobs at WDBO in 2003
FHP Sgt Jim Humphries-Traffic Reporter
courtesy of Dick Camnitz
Al Dunaway-6AM-9AM. Al would always have a "second call to coffee". Which was the second hour of his show.
From Bob Nyles; "...Al is retired and spends his time delivering emergency vehicles around the country..." You might recognize Al as the voice of Southeast Steel commercials.
Mike Burger-Mid days for nine years, eventually taking over the program directors position. Mike returned to Orlando for four years, then back to Dallas.
Clay Daniels-Afternoon drive. Clay is also a singer, recording for SoundCot in the 70's. He, Roy Marler and Jeff Blair recently put together "The Three Amigos". Clay was the voice for Sonny King's Orange Buick in Orlando.
Bucks Braun-1979-1985-6AM-10AM Biography
Russ Wheeler Biography
Tom Haley-Biography
Alan Dennis
Dave Raulston
Charlie Champion-Program Director
Gary Anstaett
Bill Cody
Johnny Walker-1966-1968 Here's the staff of WHOO-AM in 1984, courtesy of Dave Edwards
Bob Baker
Billy Love
Large Larry English
Bill Frangus
Jim Maloy
Ray Beale
Allen Dennis
Ken White
Tony George
Greg Wolas-1973-1979
Gary Roberts
For years, WHOO would broadcast live shows from “The
Rainbow Ranch” on the weekends, (later "The Joint in the
Woods"), in Longwood. Read more about it here; http://members.aol.com/birdsbands/joints/jointslide/jointsl01.htm Location: General Hutchison Parkway, next to Big Tree Park, Longwood
Mac Allen-1966-1967-mornings
Jack Hayse
Pete Porter-Music director/afternoons
Cool Chris (Christopher Hanna)
Bill Clifford-weekends
Dave Edwards has been kind enough to supply much information and many of the pictures on this site. Here's a picture and information he sent. "...Around 1984 WHOO-FM changed it's name to
"96 Country" to compete with "K-92 FM." The station became "Q-96FM" (AOR) just before Bluegrass Broadcasting sold it. (Here)...is the cover of the WHOO 2nd Annual Reunion Booklet which was held at the central Florida fairgrounds in the fall of 1984..."
Dave Ralston
Steve Kennedy
Chuck McKay
Ruby Love
Rick Saylor-10AM-2PM
Dick Sollom
Bill Michaels
Roy Adams
Andy Wilson
Clayton Delaney (Ron Jones)
The Kingbird
Ken Bowman
Cecil West
Jack Hayes
Dick Wilson
Tracy
Chuck Golder
Dale Wright
Ron Frasier-mid-day Click photo for full sized view Courtesy of Dave Edwards
John Dolive-1969-1970-News director
Pete Lazar
Chuck Lowe
Bob Grayson-Program director
Mike Goode-Afternoons
Alan Spector-News
Willie Clark-1993-''Community Forum''
June Myers-1983-1985 Biography
