History of WJLS, Beckley, West Virginia

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WJLS announcing staff in 1948: Left to right: Don Lamb, Sid Doherty,
Bill Lynch, Merv Amols. Seated: Jack Pevora, chief announcer.

Pictures of WJLS are here.

Audio files are here.

This page was last revised on Aug. 3, 2018.

This page consists of a timeline of mainly early events in the history of WJLS, Beckley, West Virginia. Corrections or additions are welcome. First, here are some facts that do not readily fit into the timeline.

WJLS applied to operate a TV station in Beckley first on channel 4, then on channel 6, but lost to another applicant in each case.

WJLS-FM is the oldest surviving FM station in West Virginia (although it was dark for a few years in the mid-1950s), and one of only two which have been grandfathered to operate beyond the Class B limits.

When the ABC Radio Network split into four networks it had intended to use the name Personality Network for one of the four, but could not because that term was trademarked by WJLS. (It settled on the Entertainment Network instead.) Smith also founded WKWK in Wheeling WV and WKNA (later WKAZ and WQBE) in Charleston WV, and for a time in the 1940s the stations were known as the Personality Network. In the 1940s and 1950s, monthly magazines were published--the 560 News for WJLS and the 950 News for WKNA.

1938

May. Examiner Bramball recommends (I-641) that the application for a construction permit on 1210 250/100 watts be denied. [This recommendation was among those listed in the May 14-27, 1938, Examiners' Reports.]
Oct. 14. Joe L. Smith Jr. granted a construction permit for 250/100 watts on 1210. The FCC denied the objection of co-channel WSOC Charlotte. [or Oct. 11, according to FCC microfiche files]

1939

Jan. 17. Granted modification of C.P. for approval of transmitter site. (FCC microfiche file)
Mar. 5. WJLS signs on at noon. 1210 kHz, 250 watts day, 100 watts night. Studio: 3 Main St. At 2:30 a program from Charleston was carried on the West Virginia Network WCHS, WJLS, WPAR, and WBLK. Schedule: weekdays 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays 6 a.m. to midnight; Sundays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The transmitter was located in the basement of a home on Teel Road on Maxwell Hill; engineer Marion McDowell (and later Al Ginkel) lived in the home. The tower was a 198-foot Wincharger tower. Harold Dew recalls that a microphone and two turntables were located at the transmitter site for emergency program origination. The original transmitter was a composite unit, constructed on site. It went to Ronceverte for use by WRON when the Western Electric 1 kw transmitter was installed.
Mar. 20. Date first licensed. The licensee was Joe L. Smith, Jr.
1939 West Virginia Blue Book lists WJLS staff: Cml. Mgr.: C. H. Murphey. Continuity: Charles Armentrout. Classical Programming: Wade H. Fleshman. CE: Marion McDowell. Transmitting Operator: Ray S. Spence. Control Operators: Jim Shott, Jr., William R. Barrett. PD: Barnes Nash. Assistant PD: George Dale. Announcers: Jonathan Goerss, Ted Ellis. Bookkeeper: V. Z. Neal. Stenographer: Esther Tiller. Custodian: A. A. Hill.
Aug. 8. Granted mod. of lic. For 250 watts, unlimited.
WJLS begins use of a portable transmitter for remote broadcasts. It had the call letters WAIE.

1940

Address changed to 101 1/2 Main St.
1940 West Virginia Blue Book lists WJLS staff: Gen. Mgr.: Joe L. Smith Jr. Assistant Mgr.: Charles R. Armentrout. PD: Kathryn Reddick. CE: Marion H. McDowell. Operators: William R. Barrett, Homer W. Riffe, James V. Coste. Announcers: Jack Welch, Jay O'Reilly, Don Grantham. Salesmen: Charles V. Boyd, Jack Gelder, Auditor: Virginia Z. Neal. Stenographer: Ester W. Tiler. Custodian: A. A. Hill.
WJLS wins Variety's Showmanagement Award.
Feb. 8. Seeks to install new transmitter, D.A. night use, change freq. from 1210 to 900, and increase power from 250 watts to 1000 watts.
Aug. 22. Amended to make changes in the DA
Oct. 25, 1940. The Charleston Gazette reports that WJLS will broadcast the high school football game between South Charleston and Mt. Hope.
Dec. WJLS is one of six stations honored with a Showmanship Award by Variety.

1941

Licensee changed to Radio Station WJLS (Joe L. Smith Jr. owner).
1941 West Virginia Blue Book lists WJLS staff: Gen. Mgr.: J. L. Smith Jr. PD: H. G. Malcouronne.
WJLS wins an Exploitation Award from Billboard.
Mar. 24. Under NARBA, granted 1240 kHz,, 250 watts, unlimited time (FCC microfiche file)
Mar. 29. WJLS changes from 1210 to 1240.
Apr. 12. Amended to request 640 kHz, Class II, changes in DA & equipment, request limited time to LS at Los Angeles, Calif, DA from SS [at] Beckley to SS Los Angeles.
Sept. 15. Amended RE: to request the facilities of WHKC, contingent on WHKC going to new frequency.
Oct. Joe L. Smith Jr. leaves for military service; Hulett C. Smith named station manager
Sept. 29. The licensee was Mr. Joe L. Smith, Jr., attorney-in-fact, for period not to exceed six months after cessation of hostilities or licensee's separation from armed service of the U. S., whichever is earlier.
Dec. 7, 1941. Jim Wood recalled that on Dec. 7, 1941, "Downtown merchants had put up a series of loudspeakers on Main, Heber and Neville streets for broadcasting Christmas carols, but that evening they had plugged them in to a WJLS line to carry the Pearl Harbor bulletins."

1942

Hulett C. Smith leaves for military service; Herb Kendrick becomes general manager, remaining until 1944
May 21. Amended RE: To request 560 kHz, and change in power from 250 watts to 100 watts-N, 250 watts-LS.

1943

Feb. 1. Broadcasting magazine reports, “Midge Lee, reporter on the Elwood City Ledger, has been appointed director of WJLS, Beckley, W. Va., and Fred Yatto and Joe Girandola, NBC page boys, have joined the announcing staff of WJLS.”
May 15. WJLS affiliates with CBS, increases hours to 6 a.m. to midnight, 8 to midnight on Sundays.

1944

Aug. 7. Broadcasting magazine reports that Mrs. Virginia Cooper has been appointed manager and William H. Smith has been appointed commercial manager and program director. [Mrs. Cooper had been with the station since its beginning, as chief bookkeeper.]
Sept. 14. Granted a C.P. For 560 kc, 100 watts, 250 watts LS, unlim. Application [as amended] granted, subject to permittee submitting proof of performance showing minimum effective field intensity of 150 mv/m for 1 kw License to cover the C.P. granted 12/14/44.
Nov. 20. WJLS changes frequency from 1240 to 560, at noon; reduces nighttime power to 100 watts..
1944 West Virginia Blue Book lists WJLS staff: Gen. Mgr.: Herbert Kendrick. PD: Esther T. McManus.

1945

1945 West Virginia Blue Book lists WJLS staff: Mgr.: V. N. Cooper. PD: Terence M. Harcourt.
May 9. Application for C.P. For new station on 43.9 MHz. Transmitter location was 13.5 miles south of Beckley, WV. (Huff Knob). Studio location is 101 1/2 Main St. Beckley, WV. Transmitter was to be a GE GF-1-10B with a maximum of 10 kW Applicant was Joe L. Smith, Jr. Granted 1/11/45. [sic] [Source: FCC microfiche file]
1/11/45 [sic] Modification of application for C.P. to specify operation on 100.7 MHz with 31.7 kW C.P. Granted 6/21/46 [sic]. [Source: FCC microfiche file]
Aug. 29. WJLS seeks permission to increase from 250 watts to 1000 watts day, 500 watts at night, install directional antenna system at new site.
Aug. 14. Beckley Mayor Robert Wriston delivers an address over WJLS at 9 p.m. regarding the announcement of the Japanese surrender ending World War II.
Fall. Conditional grant for FM broadcasting issued.

1946

1946 West Virginia Blue Book lists WJLS staff: Mgr.: Virginia N. Cooper. PD: Jerry McDevitt
Oct. 4. Granted a C.P. For 560 kHz, 1kw-D, 500 watts DA-N, unlim. License to cover the C.P. Granted 8/22/47.
Nov. 15. Requested STA to operate 100.7 MHz using FT&R Co. 192-AY transmitter with a power output of 2500 watts and a single bay FT&R Co. square loop antenna mounted on a 25 foot mast at Huff Knob, WV. for the period 11/15/46 to 1/13/47 for FM program service. [Source: FCC microfiche file]
Dec. 31. Request by letter for STA to use a Link Radio Corp. 1992 transmitter as a link transmitter on 189 mc with a Link type 1991 antenna, both to be located at the WJLS-FM studio and receiver at WJLS-FM transmitter site in order to transmit programs from the studio to the transmitter for the period 12/31/46 to 3/30/47. There were requests for extensions. [Source: FCC microfiche file]

1947

WJLS-FM increases power to 2500 watts (on 96.3)
Jan. The first issue of the 560 News is published.
Feb. 1947. WJLS-FM apparently began broadcasting in February 1947. This is the date given in the 1948 Broadcasting Yearbook. The dates Nov. 6, 1946, and Nov. 15, 1946, have been cited as on air dates by the station, but there is apparently no mention of WJLS-FM in Beckley newspapers during November 1946, and in fact a newspaper article in January 1947 calls WCFC Beckley's only FM station. Also the Special Temporary Authorization requested on Nov. 15, 1946, seems to make a Nov. 1946 start date impossible, and the STA request is probably the source of that claimed date for the beginning of broadcasting. Beckley became the smallest city in the U. S. to have two commercial FM stations. The original frequency could have been 100.7, which was originally granted, but the station quickly changed to 96.3 MHz and may never have actually used 100.7 MHz.
Mar. 560 News reports that WJLS-FM is now operating on a regular schedule, from 3 to 9 p.m. on 96.3 MHz.
Apr. 7. Application for modification of C.P. To change frequency to 96.3 MHz [Source: FCC microfiche file]
May 16. By telegram, WJLS-FM granted authority to operate on 96.3 MHz using a Federal 192-A transmitter with a maximum power of 3 kw and a Federal 2 bay square loop antenna on a 25 foot mast on Huff Knob, WV for FM program service. [Source: FCC microfiche file]
June 14. WJLS(AM) begins broadcasting with 1 kW day, 500 watts at night.
Aug. 1. Application for modification of C.P. To change WJLS-FM to 99.5 MHz with 31.7 kw and extension of completion date, type of transmitter and antenna. There were additional requests for extension of completion date. [Source: FCC microfiche file]
Sept. 27. WJLS and WCFC(FM) simulcast Beckley vs Charleston football game from Charleston, with George Springer of WCFC and Sid Doherty of WJLS. Sponsor: Foster Hardware. Ad in Beckley newspapers invites listeners to "compare FM and AM."

1948

WJLS-FM increases power from 31,700 watts to 34,000 watts, installs 12-bay antenna; changes frequency from 96.3 to 99.5; hours of operation are 3 to 9 p.m., later 3 to 11:15 p.m.
July 6. Vol. assign. Of lic. To Joe L. Smith, Jr., Inc., eff. 8/1/48.

1949

1950

WJLS applies for TV station on channel 4

1951

1952

Separate programming on WJLS and WJLS-FM during much of the year; WJLS applies for TV station on channel 6 (100 kW visual, 50 kW aural, 1200 ft HAAT, 517 ft HAG)

1953

Feb. 11. WJLS(AM) granted construction permit to increase power to 5000 watts
April 3. WJLS(AM) granted a modification of C.P. To use presently licensed transmitter (Western Electric 443A-1) as main transmitter for night use and Gates BC-5B transmitter as main transmitter for day use.
May 18. WJLS(AM) increases power to 5000 watts at 11:53 a.m.; Beckley Mayor George Chambers reads a statement from the transmitter building where the Esso Reporter originates
July 14. WJLS(AM) granted a license to cover the C.P., as modified, for 560 kHz, 5kw-D, 1kw DAN

1954

Virginia N. Cooper promoted from Station Manager to General Manager.

???

Date to be determined - WJLS-FM suspends broadcasting. Most likely 1954.

1955

1955 West Virginia Blue Book lists staff: President: Joe L. Smith Jr. Manager: Virginia N. Cooper. Sales Manager: R. R. Brown

1956

1957

Early 1957. Joe L. Smith Jr. replaces Cooper as General Manager.
Sept. 18. According to the FCC microfiche file, on this date the call of WJLS-FM was changed to WBKW. [Thus, at about this time, the FM station resumed broadcasting, using the new call WBKW, rather than the older call WJLS-FM. The call letters WBKW were chosen because BKW is the airport designator for Beckley.]
Oct. 26. An Associated Press dispatch reports: "BECKLEY, Oct. 26 -- The beginning of operations here of FM radio station WBKW was announced today by Joe L. Smith Jr. WBKW will operate with 34,000 watts on channel 258 in the frequency modulation band. Initially, it will be on the air daily from 4 p.m. to midnight, with programs consisting entirely of music except for station and sponsor identification every quarter hour. The new radio station has made arrangements with WJLS, a 5,000 watt station here, to provide separate transmitting facilities for the broadcasting of stereophonic music, Smith said. Listeners who tune in both stations with separate receivers will obtain the stereophonic effect, he explained."
Nov. 3. WBKW(FM) begins broadcasting on 99.5 MHz.
Nov. 11. Broadcasting magazine reports, “WBKW (FM) Beckley, W. Va., has gone on the air on 995. mc, providing uninterrupted high fidelity music from 4 pm. to midnight, the station says. The new 34-kw facility is owned by Joe L. Smith Jr., owner of WJLS Beckley and WKNA-AM-FM-TV Charleston, W. Va. Binaural broadcasting with WJLS on a varying schedule is planned, according to Mr. Smith.”

1958

Bill Turner named General Manager. (Broadcast Pro-file)

1959

July 14. Remote control granted. [Source: FCC microfiche file]

1960

Nov. 7. WJLS(AM) granted a license to use presently licensed Gates BC-5B transmitter for both day and night operation.

1965

Dec. 22. WBKW application for C.P. To install new transmitter (Gates FM-10G), install H & V antenna (Gates FMA-7 7 sections and Gates 300G-7 7 sections). [Source: FCC microfiche file] WBKW was off the air during the winter of 1965-66 until installation of the new transmitter and antenna could be completed.

1966

Feb. 17. WBKW extended authority to remain silent through 3/16/66. [Source: FCC microfiche file] J. Fred Riley, who joined the station in 1966, says the station had planned a two-week outage to replace the old single-phase, 3 kW transmitter and antenna with a new three-phase 10 kW transmitter and antenna. "But in the middle of the 'two-week outage' a blizzard hit, the power company couldn't get the three-phase lines strung. And we were off the air for a month. What a mess."
Mar. 16. The Charleston Gazette reports, “Construction began Tuesday on a fallout shelter at WJLS Radio transmitter site at Gray Flats, which will provide sustained radio broadcasting service in the event of a national emergency. One of seven or eight key stations in the state to be selected for the service, the facility will be constructed of reinforced concrete and provided with broadcasting equipment and network facilities. Toner Construction Co. of Glen White has the contract at a cost of slightly more than $11,000. It is expected to be completed within 60 days, although the contract calls for the finish date to be July 8.”

1967

May 26. Vol. assignment of lic. To Personality Stations, Inc. [Source: FCC microfiche file]

1969

June 30. WJLS(AM) adopts country music format (through 1990).

1970

WBKW(FM) adopts religious format (through 1990).

1971

Jan. 27. Vol. transfer of cont. of lic. corp. from Joe L. Smith, Jr., Inc., to Joe L. Smith, Jr., eff. 1/28/71.

1972

24-hour operation begins on both AM and FM.

1975

Gates MW-5 installed as main transmitter.

1978

Gates BC-1H installed as aux. transmitter.

1985

Feb. 26 WJLS founder Joe L. Smith Jr. dies.

1990

Jan. 29. AM and FM formats are switched: WJLS(AM) adopts religious format; WBKW(FM) changes call to WJLS-FM and adopts country music format; network affiliation changed from CBS to Mutual.

1995

AM transmitter site moved to near Raleigh Ridge Road, south of Beckley, about September. Gray Flats site, in use since 1947, abandoned.

1996

Feb. 1. Bill and Lynn O'Brien become owners of WJLS.
April. Gray Flats towers are taken down.

1997

WJLS wins National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Award.

1998

Jan. 28. The heaviest snowfall in Beckley history results in power outages which force all radio and TV stations in the area off the air except for WJLS, which provides extensive coverage of the emergency. The station undoubtedly attracted the largest listening audience in its history.

2001

Nov. 15. Personality Stations Inc. reaches an agreement to sell WJLS to First Media Radio LLC for $3.6 million. [The transfer of ownership took place in February 2002. Bill O'Brien remained at the station as general manager.]

2003

Mark Reid is named general manager of WJLS.

2012

Dec. First Media Radio, LLC, announces that it will sell WJLS and WJLS-FM to West Virginia Radio Company of Raleigh, LLC for $4.5 million plus a time brokerage agreement before closing. Fred Persinger is named general manager of the station.

2016

Jan 21. Programming begins from the new studio location in the Bair Building.

2017

Feb. WJLS-AM switches from religion to a mostly talk format, airing Oldies Country in the evenings.
Feb. 16. WJLS-AM begins simulcasting on an FM translator W281AJ on 104.1 MHz.

2018

WJLS-AM begins simulcasting its programming on WSWW-FM, licensed to Craigsville.