WIBM radio has had many locations (original) (raw)
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Jackson can thank the carnival for WIBM radio.
In the 1920s, radio stations traveled with carnivals from town to town, setting up portable transmitters to broadcast to local listeners.
When federal licensing stopped classifying those moving stations, whatever city the carnival was in at the time was awarded the license. Jackson landed on the lucky spot.
The call letters of WIBM had originally been assigned to a portable transmitter based out of Chicago.
Previously, Jackson had access to WHBM, which broadcast in 1925 from the Capitol Theater.
WIBM's introduction to the airwaves came on the morning of Nov. 20, 1927. The first program was Pastor Frederick Spence's sermon from the 10:30 a.m. service of First Methodist Church. The church continues to air its message on WKHM, WIBM's sister station.
The studio was located on the ninth floor of the Reynolds Building, now called the Blake Building, which was built that year. Two rooms were equipped with curtains, microphones, a piano and other musical instruments. The transmitters were mounted in the penthouse on the roof, installed by station engineer Charles W. Wirtener.
Dale Robertson was the resident manager and the voice of "Uncle Bob," host of the weekly children's program.
Early programs included daily noon organ recitals, evening news flashes from the Jackson Citizen Patriot, a weekly campaign hour by the Retail Merchants' Board designed to boost Jackson, and play-by-play accounts of Jackson High School basketball games.
Rapid growth forced a move in March 1929 to the Otsego Hotel at E. Michigan Avenue and Francis Street. The space held two soundproof concert chambers, an office and a control room. In December 1929, a small bungalow was built at 300 Summit St., atop a hill south of town. Two 80-foot towers were erected nearby to boost the station's range.
It was around 1934 when Jack Paar hit the airwaves. For a year and a half, the future "Tonight Show" host worked as a part-time announcer doing "man-on-the-street" interviews and reading the news.
Around 1935, the station moved to the Radio Block at 306-310 W. Michigan Ave. A glass-front studio allowed passing traffic to view its operation. It was said to be the only studio outside of Hollywood to be on street level.
In 1939, the station called the third floor of the Hayes Hotel its home.
In September 1948, it moved to a new facility at 2511 Kibby Road.
During the past few decades its format and ownership have changed multiple times. Among the call-letter changes: WIBJ, WHFI, WKHM, WJOX, WJXQ, WCCM, WACM, WHBT, WDJD, WJCO and WJKN.
Listening formats have also bounced from Top 40 to easy listening, on to hard rock, country, alternative, and all-news. It has been all-sports since 1999.
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