WMMB-AM 1240                                    
Melbourne

Original Call Letters: WMMB

Originally Licensed: 1948

Original City of License: Melbourne

Original Frequency: 1050

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 1,000watts daytime/250 watts nighttime   

Original Location: Front Street

Original Format: Full Service

Translator: 2016-W226CF-FM 93.1-Melbourne (250 watts)

Network Affiliation(s):

United Press International
Mutual Broadcasting Service
ABC information
Florida Radio Network

Owner(s):

1948-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
1958-Indian River Radio, Inc.
1964-Broadcast Enterprises, Inc.
1979-Miller Broadcasting
1986-City Broadcasting Co.  ($2.25 million with WMMY-FM 95.1)   
1996-Capstar Royalty I Corp. (Group owner: AMFM Inc.)
1999-Chancellor Media Corporation
2000-Clear Channel Communications, Inc.

History Of  Call Letters and Formats:

WMMB-1948-Full Service
WMMB-1951-Moved to 1240 from 1050
WMMB-1965-AOR  "The Rock of Brevard"
WMMB-1985-Big Band  "Music You Love and Remember "
WMMB-1986-MOR
WMMB-2004-News/Talk "The Space Coast Talks"

WMMB History
WMMB signed on the air on May 8, 1948. The original frequency was on 1050-AM. WMMB would be Brevard County's first radio station. The station signed on at sunrise and signed off at sunset. Then on June 21, 1951 the FCC authorized WMMB to move to 1240 AM  and they began broadcasting 24 hours a day. The main studios moved from Front Street to the Florida Market Place in 1998.  In 1978, Miller Broadcasting purchased WMMB. Miller Broadcasting was owned by Chicago radio personality Howard Miller. Miller also owned WRRR-AM 1150, Rockford, IL, WFXW-AM 1480, Geneva, IL, WYRL-FM 102.3, Melbourne and WGGG-AM 1230, Gainesville. Howard Miller would sell WMMB and WYRL in 1986 and retire.

WMMB Personalities
Victoria Martin-1948-Program Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
Gloria Lee-1948-1952-Teamed with husband Frances Wenner-''Breakfast with the Wenners''-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
Francis Wenner-1948-1952-Teamed with wife Gloria Lee-''Breakfast with the Wenners''-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
Barbara Bancroft-1951-Program Director/Women's Director/Co-hostess of "Town Topics"-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Phylis Hoskins-1951-Co hostess (Mother of Marsha Hoskins Littlejohn) of "Town Topics"-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Glen Weber-1951-Sports Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Bob Howard-1955-Sports Director/Commercial Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Elyse King-1955-Program Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Robert Jobes-1955-News Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Duane Sommers-1955-Farm Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Lucille Kahn-1955-Women's Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Karl Meier-1956-Program Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Gene Bucckman-1956-News Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Duane Somers-1956-Farm Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Tom Missey-1956-Sports Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Frank Doyle-1958-News Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.


Thom Billington-1958-Program Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.  Biography

Marcia Hoskins Littlejohn-1961 (Daughter of Phylis Hoskins) "...I started out with a 5 minute show called "Baby Talk"... listing the births of the babies born at the Melbourne Hospital...-Indian River Radio, Inc.
Ed Von Nordeck-1960-News Director-Indian River Radio, Inc.
Norm Keller-1963-1974-General Manager until his death in February, 1974-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp./Indian River Radio, Inc.


Steve Padgett
-1970-1972-6PM-10PM-Broadcast Enterprises, Inc.  
Biography
Jon Roberts (Apfeld)-1970-6PM-Midnight/1971-1974-10AM-3PM/Program Director/Chief Engineer- Broadcast Enterprises, Inc.

George Harris (George Poidomani)-1970-1973-Broadcast Enterprises, Inc.
From George: "I was a disc jockey there while attending Florida Institute of Technology from 1970-1973...did the weekend shifts from 5-12 on Saturday and noon to 6 on Sunday...



Don Gould-1973-1979
-Broadcast Enterprises, Inc.  Biography


Larry Spilman-1978
-Broadcast Enterprises, Inc.


Lynn Younger-Program Director



Ken Holiday-
1983-1993-Character voice “Bobby” on Larry Brewer show-Miller Broadcasting/City Broadcasting Co. Inc.



Larry Brewer-1985-2003-6AM-10AM/Program Director/Morning Host-City Broadcasting Co. Inc.



Chuck Deel
-1988-Afternoons-City Broadcasting Co. Inc.
   
In Memory
David Waterman-1989-1993-News Director/Partnered with Larry Brewer for the morning show-City Broadcasting Co. Inc.



Jim Morgan-1999-"The Swing Shift"-5PM-Chancellor Media Corporation


Bill Mick-2003-2005/2007-Mornings
-Clear Channel 


Scott Duncan-2006-2007-Mornings-Clear Channel



Meghan McCain-2015-2017
-9PM-Midnight-iHeart Media 




Buck Sexton-2017-
"America Now"-9PM-Midnight-Chancellor Media Corporation



Ernie Legge
   In Memory



Lee Garen
   Biography
August Sindone


Andrea Shea King- "What's Shacking! with Andrea Shea King" -4PM-5PM 


Dr. Laura-3PM-6PM
Matt Carter

Larry Bessler-From Lee Garen; "...he (Larry) worked from his pre-teen years until after graduation from H.S. (at WMMB) It was owned, at one time, by his father who used the name Vern King on the air. I believe Sr. became ill and the station was sold (either just before or shortly) after Sr.'s death..." In Memory

Vern King
George Tomlinson-Newscaster  From Don Gould; "... George reportedly was an eyewitness to Jack Ruby shooting (Lee Harvey) Oswald at the Dallas police station in 1963.  Although he could sound a bit pompous on the air, I really loved that guy.  He was Ted Baxter with a heart...".
Steve Luba-News
Bob Justice
George Wenstrom
Norman Ledger


Mark Pence-10AM-3PM
Dave Wilson
Rosalind Postell


Nikki Hart-Traffic Reporter/Production
Cathy Noland-"In a Heart Beat" -medical news
Linda Herridge-"Brevard Focus"
Sharon Carnohan-Brevard Club Happenings
Orlando Dominquez-"Firestation 911"
Tom Haymond-General Manager /"The Managers Minute" 
Vanessa Allen
Ann Knoop
Randy England-Overnights
Rob Nichols
Dale Bryan
Neal Stein
Alan Gast
Ron Mahr-known as "Rockin' Ron Mahr", he was Melbourne's Wolfman Jack   In Memory
Alison Whitney
Gene Bueckman-Mornings for 15 years
Dave Kershaw 
Johnny Armstrong
Jim Hunt
Rob Selkow



Glenn Beck-9AM-Noon-iHeart Media 


Rush Limbaugh-Noon-3PM-iHeart Media 



Sean Hannity-3PM-6PM-iHeart Media 



Mark Levin-6PM-9PM-iHeart Media 


Bill Cunningham-Midnight-1AM (Monday)
-iHeart Media 



George Noory-"Coast To Coast AM"-1AM-5AM-iHeart Media 
John Reagan
Bobby Austin
Rob Royer
Mark Haney
Stacey Knight
Jack Holmes-News
Jackie Harris
Don Gould WMMB 1975.jpg (235142 bytes)


Don Gould at the console 1975


click photo for full sized view




1996 Marconi Award for Best Nostalgia Station 


Thom Billington in the studio in 1957
photo courtesy of  Ned Billington


     

Other Names in WMMB History

William Shakespeare, Jr.-1948-President-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.

Thomas Barr-1948-Vice President-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
Thomas Newsom, Jr.-1948-General Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
Maude Nesom-1948-Commercial Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
John Armstrong-1948-Sales Manager/Promotions Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.
Bob McCall-1948-Operations Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Co.

Kenneth Waltz-1948-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Bill Gray-1948-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Austin "Chick" Catterton-1949-General Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.  In Memory

Mikiel Brower-1948-Program Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Glen Weber-1951-Sports Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Joseph Peters-1951-Commercial Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Henry Dravneek-1952-President-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Victoria Martin-1952-Advertising Director/Program Director-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Beverly Flemming-1952-Commercial Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.

Alan Mills-1953-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Frederick Kurry-1954-President-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Hugh Tyler-1954-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Louis Bessler-1955-President/Promotions Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Vern Bessler-1955-General Manager/1956-Vice President/General Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Fred Schopflin-1955-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Richard Bate-1956-Sales Manager/1957-Station Manager/Commercial Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Robert Bones-1956-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Erna Bessler-1957-President-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Howard Green-1958-President-Indian River Radio, Inc.
Harlan Murrelle-1958-Vice President/General Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Richard Williams-1958-Station Manager/Commercial Manager-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Edward Murdoch-1958-Chief Engineer-Melbourne Broadcasting Corp.
Gordon Sherman-1965-President-Broadcast Enterprises

Howard Knox-1965-Commercial Manager-Broadcast Enterprises

Dr. Frank Franco-1986-President-City Broadcasting Co.   In Memory
Howard F. Rebert-1986-Co-founder-City Broadcasting Co. 

Howard Miller-1979-1986-President-Miller Broadcasting
Known as "Uncle Moo Moo" in Chicago radio, he was the #1 Morning Personality from 1947-1968 in Chicago, on WIND. In the 1950's, Howard was also on the CBS following Arthur Godfrey's program. Howard was sponsored by Wrigley's Gum and he would interview the "stars" of the day. When he left WIND, over an on-air controversy, he was pulling in 58% of the morning audience. Howard was a conservative (Republican) talk show host, the controversy involved Howard's defense of the Chicago Police Department during the politically charged summer of 1968. Howard died on Election Day, 1994.

Fay Stevenson-1979-1980/1983-1986-General Manager-Miller Broadcasting

David Franco-1986-1997-General Manager-City Broadcasting Co. Inc. 

Tom Bohannon-1986-1987-Chief Engineer-City Broadcasting Co. Inc.
John Intelisano-1986-General Sales Manager-City Broadcasting Co. Inc. 
Tony Batta-1987-General Sales Manager-City Broadcasting Co. Inc.



Jay Waggoner-1987-mid 1990's-Chief Engineer-City Broadcasting Co. Inc. 
In Memory

Rosalind Postell-1993-1999-News Director-City Broadcasting Co. Inc. 

Tom Haymond-1997-2000-General Manager/"The Managers Minute"-Commodore Media of Florida, Inc.



Katrina Perez-2010-2011-President/General Manager-Clear Channel Communications Inc.


Tom Davis-2013-Vice President/Market Manager for the Melbourne three station cluster-Clear Channel Media and Entertainment

Janice Amoroso-Sales

Vicki Sherlock-Office Manager

Greg Phillips-Promotions

Linda Taylor-Sales

Hugh Tyler-Chief Engineer 

Joy Jorgenson-Traffic manager

Donna Kimball-Bookkeeper

Samantha Whaley-Promotions Manager

Doug Remington-Chief Engineer

Jim Faires-Director of Sales

Joan Palmer-Business Manager

Kay Little-Sales

Jack Newsome-Station Manager

Lenny Clements

Barbara Latham-General Manager
Andy McDonald-Chief Engineer 

Image



Station Manager Chick Catterton welcomes new owner Henry Dravneek. Chick eventually left WMMB, helped begin WMEG-AM 920 and the Melbourne Municipal Band. Chick was also Melbourne's Mayor at the age of 41.

1948

1948

1953
     

         
1953
 

   

 

What's New

Biographies In Memory
Sounds
AM
/ FM 
Misc. Chronology What's News?