Welcome to episode four of the anchors podcast. Today we're going to be doing the final installment on Wheeling, West Virginia by talking about the company and radio station, WWVA. WWVA had an over 70 year run Wheeling and became one of the most influential country radio stations in the country.
It transcended three very different owners over that period of time, which we're going to talk about today, adapted through a lot of technological and cultural change, and yet somehow stayed very authentically Wheeling.
This is the story of a company that was part commercial, part civic, part cultural, and 100 percent Wheeling.
Background (1:33)
Chapter 1: John Stroebel, Jr. (20:00)
How a radio wunderkind from Wheeling ended up founding WWVA
Chapter 2: George Storer, Jr. (40:55)
How an observant entrepreneur from Toledo took WWVA to the next level
Chapter 3: Emil Mogul (1:07:20)
How a Madison Avenue ad exec helped WWVA transition into the modern era
Wrap-Up & Takeaways (1:25:30)
Select photos, newspaper clippings, illustrations, etc.:
Hosts: Dustin Mix, Maria Gibbs
Edited and Produced by: Dustin Mix
Podcast Music: Mirrorland Hotel by Benjamin Esterlis
Resources
Background
The History of the Radio Industry in the United States to 1940
The immigrant who forever changed news and entertainment., izzit.org
Big business and radio / by Gleason L. Archer, LL. D, President of Suffolk University
The history of radio advertising and the state of audio today
Notre Dame celebrates 125 years of wireless innovation and education
Chapter 1
Radio service bulletin / Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce, January 1928
Radio service bulletin / Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce no.69-92 (1923-24)
Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, 1929 Convention
U.S. Special Land Stations: 1913-1921 Recap, Thomas H. White -- October 7, 2000
ANTENNA – Uma História – Capítulo I
Stroebel, working for Westinghouse, setting up first radio station in Brazil
The Antenna, John C. Stroebel, QST, May 1921
“American Radio Relay League - A national non-commercial organization of radio amateurs bonded for the more effective relaying of friendly messages between their stations, for legislative protection, and for scientific growth”
Chapter 2
Pg 135 shows dissolution date for Standard Steel Tube Company
Pg 1548 - George Storer Sr. acquiring Standard Steel Tube Company
Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, 1623-1923
Pg 235 - George Storer Sr. history of moving to Toledo
Commercial and Financial Chronicle : July 21, 1928, Vol. 127, No. 3291
An echo of the gasoline "price war" was noted in Toledo, 0., when the Fort Industry Oil Co., an independent, reduced the price of retail gasoline to 17c. per gallon, with 3c. tax paid, and to 15c. on Saturdays and Sundays. Other companies are holding firm at the 19c. level
Chapter 3
Emil & WWVA
Why go for broke on television shows when tape trial runs can cut the risk? (pg 109)
THE EMIL MOGUL COMPANY has been appointed to place the advertising for The Graham Co., packers of mixed nuts and over 20 varieties of dried vegetables, under the"Redbow" brand name. An extensive campaign, employing radio, will be launched shortly in principal cities covering the Eastern half of the country. Plans are now being formulated for eventual national distribution.
Agency personnel policies irk Mogul
Noting the current shortage of agency applicants, Mr. Mogul said four new jobs "go begging" for every qualified college graduate. His advice to students interested in an advertising career: Spend the first two years after graduation at a retail store in a relatively small city -the first, as a salesman behind the coun- ter and the second in the advertising department.
Capitol Theatre Collection of WWVA and Jamboree USA Memorabilia, Ohio County Public Library
A 'New Breed' of Country Music Station Emerging, Billboard Sep. 4, 1965
Disk Dollar - American Radio History
Emil Mogul / WWVA acquisition by Columbia Pictures
Select Articles from the Wheeling Register:
The Wheeling Register, August 1, 1910
Includes cartoon at bottom of front page, alluding to wireless telegraphy as being “The Messenger Boy of the Sea”:
Mar 4, 1913 - Wheeling Wireless Association formed by Stroebel
Dec 26, 1913 - Stroebel gets wireless messages about snow from Canton
Feb. 6, 1915 - Stroebel’s station designated official to receive gov’t messages
Sep. 21, 1915 - Stroebel leaves to NYC for job @ National Electric Signaling Co. of Brooklyn
June 1, 1917 - Stroebel promoted by Dept of War as radio inspector of NY
Dec 29, 1921 - Stroebel moves back home; working for Westinghouse
June 13, 1922 - Stroebel tapped to install radio station in Brazil (first in South Amer.)
Nov 8, 1925 - Profile on Stroebel
Mentions he installed his first set in 1910, the same year as the Dr. Crippen capture
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