Boston AM dial 50 years ago

[Mark Connelly]

With the current media coverage (some would say 'feeding frenzy') about 
the JFK assassination 50 years ago, I thought I'd look back to that 
period in terms of metro-Boston AM radio stations.  I was 14 at the 
time, a freshman at Arlington High School and, as noted at 
"http://swling.com/blog/2013/11/listener-post-mark-connelly/", was 
already seriously dug into radio and electronics from both the aspect 
as entertainment medium and scientific hobby.

I invite historians among you (Donna Halper, Dan Strassberg, et al.) to 
look over and critique the listing below for accuracy.  I have not 
included stations from towns much beyond Route 128 so Lowell, Brockton, 
etc. aren't included.

Mark Connelly
South Yarmouth, MA

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Metro-Boston AM Radio 1963

WEEI - 590
talk, CBS news, drama shows such as "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar" and 
"Suspense"
5 kW day and night, two-tower DA Medford, MA same as present WEZE

WNAC - 680
talk, variety, Yankee Network news, Texaco Metropolitan Opera broadcast 
on Saturday afternoon, affiliated with TV Channel 7
50 kW day and night, three-tower DA Burlington, MA same as present WRKO

WTAO - 740
middle-of-the-road music, local news
250 watts day, one-tower ND Cambridge, MA same as present WJIB (which 
has added 5 watt night operation)

WHDH - 850
middle-of-the-road music (famous DJ's include Jess Cain and Bob 
Clayton), sports (Red Sox, Celtics), news-talk, affiliated with TV 
Channel 5
50 kW day and night, three-tower DA Needham, MA same as present WEEI

WORL - 950
variety, talk, middle-of-the-road music, Mutual network with Paul 
Harvey at noon
5 kW watts day, one-tower ND Saugus, MA same as present WROL (which has 
added 90 watt night operation)

WBZ - 1030
Top 40 music (famous DJ's include Carl DeSuze, Dave Maynard, Jay Dunn, 
Jefferson Kaye, Bruce Bradley, Dick Summer), talk (Bob Kennedy 
Contact), high-grade news operation, affiliated with TV Channel 4
50 kW day and night, two-tower DA Hull, MA same as present

WILD - 1090
black R&B, gospel, ethnic programs (including Italian Hour) / religion 
weekends
1 kW day, one-tower ND Medford, MA one mile north of present site which 
is now co-located with 1430. Station now runs 5 kW, still day only.

WCOP - 1150
light middle-of-the-road music (had quit Top 40 in 1962)
5 kW day and night, three-tower DA Lexington, MA same as present WWDJ

WESX - 1230
variety, talk, news
1 kW day, 250 watts night, one-tower ND Marblehead, MA about 5 miles 
northeast of present Lynn site which is now co-located with 1360.

WEZE - 1260
easy-listening Muzak and vocals, NBC news and talk including weekend 
"Monitor"
5 kW day and night, three-tower DA Milton-Quincy line, MA same as 
present WMKI

WJDA - 1300
local talk and news (famous Slim Pickins weather), light music
1 kW day, one-tower ND Quincy, MA same as present (low power night 
operation has since been added)

WCRB - 1330
classical music ("Concert Radio Boston")
5 kW day and night, three-tower DA Waltham, MA near Brandeis U., about 
5 miles north of present WRCA Newton site which is now co-located with 
1600.

WLYN - 1360
local talk and news, light music
1 kW day, one-tower ND Lynn, MA same as present (low power night 
operation has since been added and 1230 is now co-located at the site 
near the G.E. River Works)

WHIL - 1430
light music, country for a while (had quit Top 40 in 1962), Suffolk 
Downs horse racing
1 kW day, one-tower ND Medford-Everett line, MA same location as 
present WKOX - 1430 though current set-up is 5 kW day / 1 kW night with 
two-tower DA and co-located 1090.

WMEX - 1510
Top 40 music (famous DJ's include Melvin X, Arnie Ginsberg), talk 
(Jerry Williams)
5 kW day and night, three-tower DA Quincy, MA about half a mile east of 
then/now 1260 site.  Present WUFC - 1510 site in Waltham, MA (about 12 
miles NW) got started around 1981 when 1510 went to 50 kW day and night.

WBOS - 1600
Ethnic programs including Kamelakis Hour (Greek), Kenny Mayer Sunday 
night comedy show
5 kW day and night, two-tower DA Newton, MA.  The Sawmill Road site is 
still used but with a different tower configuration, more power, and 
co-location of 1200 and 1330.