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WHOO-AM
990
Orlando
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Original call Letters: WHOO |
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Originally Licensed: Dec. 5, 1947 |
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Original City of License: Orlando |
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Original Frequency: 990 |
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Origin of Call Letters: |
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Original Power: 50,000 Day/14,000 Night |
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Original Location: |
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Original Format: Country |
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ABC |
Owner(s): |
1947-The Orlando Sentinel Star Co. |
| 1951-Edward Lamb | |
| 1954-Ted Esterbrook | |
| 1958-WHOO Radio, Inc. | |
| 1958-Bluegrass Broadcasting | |
| 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) |
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History Of Call Letters and Formats: |
WHOO--1947-Pop |
| WHOO-1968-Country "Country Gentlemen" | |
| WHOO-1971-Modern Country | |
| 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.
| WHOO Personalities (The Country Years) |
 Clay
Daniels-1958-1991-Afternoon
Drive/Program Director-WHOO radio, Inc.
Clay is also a singer, recording for SoundCot in the 1970's. He, Roy
Marler and Jeff Blair put together "The Three
Amigos". Clay was the voice for Sonny
King's Orange Buick in Orlando.
In
Memory |
| Cecil West-1966-News Director-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Pete Porter (Don Lapp)-1966-1968-M-F-Noon-3pm,Sat-Noon-6pm/Music Director-WHOO Radio, Inc. (Horton-Kincaid) |
| Johnny Walker-1966-1968 |
| John Thacker-1967-Program Director-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Rock Robinson-1967-News Director-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Mac Allen-1966-1967-Mornings-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
 Jim Maloy-1967-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Tom McCloud-1967-Traffic Reporter |
| Bob Baker-1968-Program Director-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
 Mike Burger-1970-Mid days for nine
years, eventually taking over the program directors position in 1978. Mike would
join WDBO-AM 580.
Mike left
radio for WCPX-TV (now WKMG) in 1988. He returned to Central Florida
from Houston in 1996 to replace retiring newscaster
Ben Aycrigg. Mike
missed Dallas, Texas so he headed back to take a position as a TV weather
reporter.
Biography |
| Greg Galloway-1970 Biography |
 Greg Wolas-1973-1979 In Memory |
 Bob Nyles-1974-1988 Biography |
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| Here's Bob, with WHOO GM Bob Johnson in 1966 | The same two Bobs at WDBO in 2003 |
 Dennis Moore-1975-1976-News-Bluegrass Broadcasting |
 Bucks Braun-1979-1985-6AM-10AM Biography |
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 FHP
Sgt
Jim Humphries-Traffic Reporter In
Memory 
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. |
 Russ Wheeler Biography |
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 Tom Haley Biography |
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 Here's
the staff of WHOO-AM in 1984courtesy of Dave Edwards |
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 "Large" Larry English-2PM-7PM Mon-Sat |
| Allen Dennis |
| Ken White |
 Tony George |
| Gary Roberts |
| Adrian Charles-News Director |
| Denise Gainer-Reporter/News Director Biography |
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 Rick Saylor-10AM-2PM-Mon-Sat |
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| Chuck McKay | ||||||
| Ruby Love | ||||||
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Dave Edwards has been kind enough to supply much information and many of the pictures on this site. "...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..." |
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Andy Wilson-Production Director Click photo for full sized view Courtesy of Dave Edwards Biography |
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Tom Robinson-1981-1982- Overnights |
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Lee Brandel-1980-1981-Overnights/evenings/mid-days/music director during our "hey days" getting #1ratings |
Silent Sam the Segue Man-Overnights |
Ron Frasier-Mid-days |
Other Names in WHOO History |
| Ralph Worster-1966-President-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| O. C. Halyard, Jr.-1966-Vice President/General Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Bob
Hood-1966-Commercial Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc./1967-Station
Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc./1968-Vice President/General Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Bill Martin-1966-Chief Engineer-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Ted Grizzard-1967-President-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| Ron Nickell-1967-Vice President/General Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc. In Memory |
| Billy Love-1967-Program Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| H. Hart Hagan, Jr.-1968-President-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
| C. A. Baker-1968-Chief Engineer-WHOO Radio, Inc. |
 Bob Johnson-1974-General Manager-Bluegrass Broadcasting |
| Bill Early-1980-1984-General Sales Manager-Bluegrass Broadcasting |
| Max Rein-1983-1985-General Manager-Bluegrass Broadcasting |
| Thelma Tharp-1990-"Senior Networking"-Sundays, 8AM-9AM In Memory |
| Bill Stakelin-General Manager |
 Jim Poling-News Director Biography |
| Kathy O'Neill-Traffic Reporter |
| Nate Webb-Traffic Reporter |
| Chuck Wilson |
| Jim Jordan-Vice President/General manager |
| Dan Jones- Assistant Chief Engineer |
| Polly Morgan-Sales |
| Charlie Masden-Sales |
| Linda Gutierrez-Copywriter |
From Chuck Wilson
WHOO
transmitter, studios and tower facility
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Other Programs In WHOO History |
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The Music Country Network-10 PM to 5 AM nightly |
