WHOO-AM 990
Orlando

Original call Letters: WHOO

Originally Licensed: Dec. 5, 1947

Original City of License: Orlando

Original Frequency: 990

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 50,000 Day/14,000 Night

Original Location: 

Original Format: Country


Network Affiliation(s):


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)

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 19 70'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
John Thacker-1967-Program Director-WHOO Radio, Inc.
Rock Robinson-1967-News Director-WHOO Radio, Inc.


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  
              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.

Mike Burger-1970-Mid days for nine years, eventually taking over the program directors position in 1978. Mike left radio for WCPX-TV (now WKMG) in 1988.  returned to Central Florida from Houston in 1996 to replace retiring newscaster Ben Aycrigg. Dallas, Texas to take a position as a TV weather reporter. returned to Orlando for four years, then back to Dallas. 
Cecil West-1966-News Director-WHOO Radio, Inc.
Johnny Walker-1966-1968  
Bob Baker-1968-Program Director--WHOO Radio, Inc.


Bucks Braun-1979-1985-6AM-10AM  Biography
Russ Wheeler Biography


Tom Haley-Biography
Alan Dennis
Dave Raulston
Charlie Champion-Program Director                                                             
WHOO 99 staff 1984.JPG (33530 bytes)                                                                             Here's the staff of WHOO-AM in 1984
             courtesy of Dave Edwards                                                   

Gary Anstaett

Bill Cody

Al Risen  In Memory


Large Larry English
Bill Frangus
Jim Maloy
Ray Beale
Allen Dennis
Ken White


Tony George


Greg Wolas-1973-1979
Gary Roberts
Adrian Charles-News Director
Denise Gainer-Reporter/News Director


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

Greg Galloway-1970 Biography

Mac Allen-1966-1967-Mornings

Jack Hayes

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  Biography

Chuck McKay

Ruby LoveWHOO crew caravan.jpg (183624 bytes)



Rick Saylor-10AM-2PM

Dick Sollom In Memory

Bill Michaels

Roy Adams

Andy Wilson

Clayton Delaney (Ron Jones)

The Kingbird

Ken Bowman

Jack Hayes

Dick Wilson

Ron Frasier-mid-day

Tracy

Dale Wright

John Dolive-1969-1970-News Director 

Pete Lazar (Pete Forgione  Biography)

Chuck Lowe                                                                                Click photo for full sized view  Courtesy of Dave Edwards

Bob Grayson-Program Director



Mike Goode-Afternoons



Alan Spector-News   

Willie Clark-1993-''Community Forum''


June Myers-1983-1985 Biography

Tom Robinson-1981-1982- Overnights

Silent Sam the Segue Man-Overnights

Rick Chamberlin-1967-Born in Kissimmee, Rick got his start in the radio business at the age of 17 by sweeping the floors and taking out the trash at WFIV-AM 1080. One day the Program Director said "Hey kid, how would you like to do Saturday afternoons?" and Rick was thrilled. Rick is now heard on "DIXIE 105.7", WRSF-FM, North Carolina.

Jim Sandridge

Ron Fraiser-Mid-days

Lee Brandel-1980-1981-Overnights/evenings/mid-days/music director during our "hey days" getting #1ratings 
Tom McCloud-1967-Traffic Reporter

Christie Max

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.
Ronald Nickell-1967-Vice President/General Manager-WHOO Radio, Inc.
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
Bill Stakelin-General Manager
Thelma Tharp-1990-"Senior Networking"-Sundays, 8AM-9AM  In Memory
Jim Poling-News Director
Kathy O'Neill-Traffic Reporter
Nate Webb-Traffic Reporter
Bill Early-1980-1984-General Sales Manager
Chuck Wilson
Jim Jordan-Vice President/General manager
Max Rein-1983-General Manager 
Dan Jones- Assistant Chief Engineer
Polly Morgan-Sales
Charlie Masden-Sales

                 Transmitter.jpg (43634 bytes)                Tower.jpg (60162 bytes)          
                 WHOO TX Bldg.jpg (40031 bytes)   studio1.jpg (73835 bytes)
                                                                       From Chuck Wilson 
                                                          WHOO transmitter, studios and tower facility 

Other Programs In WHOO History

The Music Country Network-10 PM to 5 AM nightly


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