WCOP Country

[Thomas Heathwood]

WCOP  at 485 Boylston Street near Copley Square began airing country music segments in 1952 with the live Mon-Fri.
afternoon hour feature, HAYLOFT JAMBOREE starring Nelson E. Bragg as host and M.C. and a studio full of country- style musicians
who loved the publicity for their local gigs in Country-Western night-spots which were extremely popular at the time.  Nelson had been a staff announcer at WCOP for some years and found himself with a tremendously popular show.  WCOP quickly added an evening record-show also featuring Bragg.  Soon after, live country shows with "Jamboree" personnel and special "guests" from top record labels and bigtime southern radio shows, like The Grand Ole Opry" became frequent occurrences at local venues like Mechanics Hall,
Boston Arena,, Paragon Park and others. These live shows were, of course, also broadcast live on WCOP - usually on Saturday nights.
thanks to sponsors like Pepsi-Cola and Beacon Wax. 
The country format lasted for years, and expanded to a regional network of small radio stations in New England which, naturally,
was called The Hayloft Jamboree Network. 
For it's time, it was the outstanding live feature of 'COP.  Later Jack Chase and Nelso moved to WBZ-TV and the morning show
where they were welcomed as old friends by many a viewer who had heard the on 'COP for years.
Tom Heathwood - Heritage Radio Theatre - The Olde Tyme Radio Network      www.VintageRadioPlace.com/broadcast<http://www.vintageradioplace.com/broadcast>    5/20