WPRD-AM 1440                                          "The Imagination Station"
Winter Park

Original Call Letters: WABR 
Originally Licensed: Sep 1954  
Original City of License: Winter Park  
Original Frequency: 1440 
Origin of Call Letters: 
Original Power: 5,000 watts-Daytime
Original Location: 222 Hazard St., Orlando
Original Format: Children

Network Affiliation(s):

Owner(s): 1954-
                1975-Rounsaville Broadcasting, Atlanta (Co-owned with WBJW-FM 105.1)
                1982-Nationwide Communications  (Purchase price for WBJW-FM 105.1 and WLOF-AM 950, $6.5 million)
                1986-Alleluia Broadcasting Corp  
                1987-Alleluia Broadcasting Corp  
                1987-Metroplex Communications of Orlando Inc.
                1993-Paxson Communications ($5.6 million with WMGF-FM 107.7)
                1994-J & V Communications, Inc.($300,000)

History Of Call Letters and Formats: WABR-1954-Pop
                                                         WBJW-1973-Oldies/Lite Rock "The Entertainer"
                                                         WNBE-1976-NBC 24 hour News
                                                         WAJL-1987-Christian ministry (Station sold. WAJL moves to 1190)
                                                         WPRD-1987-Classics of the '40s, '50s and '60s  "Pride-1440"
                                                         WPRD-1990-Children "The Imagination Station"  (Kids' Choice Broadcasting Network)
                                                         WPRD-1991-CNN Headline News
                                                         WWZN-1993-Talk
                                                         WWZN-1993-Sports
                                                         WPRD-1994-Talk
                                                         WPRD-1995-Spanish


WPRD ''The Imagination Station'' History
1990-Kids' Choice Broadcasting Network, an Orlando-based radio format geared to children under 12, hit the local airwaves
in March. Investors raising an estimated $3 million to $4 million to launch the 24-hour satellite-delivered network hope to have 100 subscriber stations in the nation's top 20 markets. The staff of 10 personalities will play music, tell jokes and stories, preside over sing-alongs and present the news. The Kids' Choice Network will feature original music by Peter Yarrow of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Among those serving on the network's advisory board are singers Judy Collins, Harry Belafonte and Pete Seeger, as well as actors Fred Rogers ("Mr. Rogers Neighborhood"), Marlo Thomas ("That Girl") and Mike Farrell ("M*A*S*H"). Scott Stover became production director after working for weeks with Peter Yarrow on preparations for the launch of the station.
1991-The Imagination Station Network signed off at 2 p.m., February 27, because it ran out of money. The Imagination Network, which began in March of 1990, was never able to expand beyond two affiliates: WPRD and a Salt Lake City radio station. The network was hoping to have 100 affiliates by the end of its first year of operation. Without affiliates it could not draw national advertising, and without advertising it had no money to approach affiliates.

WPRD ''The Imagination Station'' Personalities 
Scott Stover-"Skatin' Scott" Biography
Sam Cooper-"Sam 'n' Eggs"-6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Sunshine Suzy
Jammin’ Jo-Jo
Skipper Steve
Jungle John with Marty Monkey
Matt Gomez-"Mighty Matt"-1990-1991-Biography

Other Names In WPRD ''The Imagination Station'' History
Norman Wain-Kids' Choice president 
Katherine ''Tish'' Henslee-Vice president of programming
Barbara Peckett-General manager

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