WGTO-AM 540
Haines City
Original Call Letters: WGTO |
Originally Licensed: Sep 9, 1955 |
Original City of License: Haines City |
Original Frequency: 540 |
Origin of Call Letters: Slogan; "Gulf To Ocean" Palm Crest Hotel, Haines City |
Original Power: 50,000 Watts |
Original Location: Palm Crest Hotel, Haines City |
Original Format: Top 40 |
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1958-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
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1964-Hubbard Broadcasting |
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1986-Cypress Broadcast, Ltd ($1.5 million) |
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1990-Florida Media Inc. |
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1994-Paxson Broadcasting ($1.5 million) |
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1997-Clear Channel Communications |
Network Affiliation(s): |
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Unistar, Mutual | |
Florida Gators Radio Network |
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Motor Car Racing Network |
History Of Call Letters and Formats: |
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WGTO-1958-Top 40 "Covering Florida Like The Sun" |
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WGTO-1977-Country Western "Great Country Music 54" |
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WGTO-1986-Gospel |
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WGTO-1990-Oldies ''Cruisin' Oldies 54'' (Studios moved to Ocoee) |
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WGTO-1990-Talk/Sports |
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WWZN-1994-Sports |
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WWZN-1995-Talk |
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WRTM-1996-Sports |
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WQTM-1996-Sports "540 the Team" |
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WFLF-1997-News/Talk "540 WFLA" |
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ST. LOUIS FIRM TELLS BUILDING PLANS Haines City To Get Radio Station The Orlando Sentinel Dec. 21, 1954 A radio station for Haines City for which an application has been on file for two years, has been approved by the Federal Communications Comm., Robert T. Convey, president of KWK, Inc., permittee of the new station, announced yesterday. KWK, Inc. is a Missouri corporation which owns and operates Radio Station KWK and Television Station KWK-TV in St Louis. The call letters assigned to the new station are to be WGTO. The letters "GTO" tie in with the station slogan "Gulf to Ocean," indicating the large area to be covered by the new facility. Ground for the erection of a transmitter building and broadcasting towers has been leased from J. C. Cox Jr. of Lake Alfred. The transmitter site will be .approximately four miles airline from Haines City, but it is expected that the studios and business offices will be located in Haines City. Whether a new structure to house the studios will be erected or whether some adaptation of an existing building will be undertaken, has not been determined as yet, according to Convey. Construction of the transmitter building and installation of equipment at the Lake Alfred site is expected to begin early in 1955, according to the company announcement. LOW END OF DIAL The station will operate during daytime hours only with 10,000 watts of power on 540 kilocycles. This wave-band was not available for use in the U. S. until 1952. Although 540 does not appear on the dial of many radio receivers, all sets should be able to receive the station without difficulty by turning the dial all the way to the left. According to the station announcement, all areas In Central and North-Central Florida and from the Gulf to the Atlantic, will be within good reception range of the station. Convey said the majority of he staff for the station will be recruited from the area to be served. 'We intend to operate In such a way as to render maximum service to Haines City and to the thriving agricultural and industrial part of Florida which will be covered by the signal of WGTO," he added. "We contemplate a varied and well-balanced program schedule in which education, religion, news, agriculture and entertainment will all have their proper emphasis. In this effort, we, covet the help, suggestions and understanding of the people who make Central Florida their home." |
New Haines City Radio Station Nearly Finished Orlando Sentinel Aug 2, 1955 HAINES CITY Construction on Radio Station WGTO In Haines City is nearing the final stages according to N. J. Zehr, chief engineer of Station KWK, St Louis, and supervisor of the work on the local station. Testing of the equipment of the 10,000 watt station will probably begin soon but the opening date for the programming is still indefinite. The transmitter towers and equipment houses are located approximately six and one-half miles of Haines City, near Lake Alfred, and are connected to the studio at the Palm Crest by two telephone leased wires. The station will operate from sunup to sundown, with the hours of broadcasting changing monthly. The significance of the stations call signal is that the "W" Is the FCC designation showing that the station is located east of the Mississippi River. The letters "GTO", said Zehr, could be interpreted as "Gulf to Ocean", or "Gainesville to Okeechobee" which will be the most effective range of the station. |
WGTO was conceived by the owners of KWK, Inc. out of St. Louis. |
1955-WGTO took to the air from The Pine Crest Hotel in Haines City. Licensed to broadcast with 10,000 watts of power at 540 on the dial. The format was Top 40. |
1958-Hubbard Broadcasting moved the station from Haines City to Cypress Gardens |
1977-Music format changed to country |
1978-WGTO was named Billboard Magazine's "Small Market Station of the Year" |
1986-WGTO was sold to Cypress Broadcast, Ltd. and the format was changed to "gospel". |
1990-WGTO sold to Florida Media Inc. (a company owned by two Fort Myers doctors and a lawyer) the studios were moved to Ocoee. |
1992-WGTO went to a satellite service, resulting in the layoff of 30 employees including Rocky Dee, Russ Ross (Original Doo-Wop Shoppe), Allan Brady (Music and Memories). Perry Moore would remain at the station in sales. |
1994-WGTO was sold to Paxson Broadcasting, the call letters were changed to WWZN and the format became sports talk. |
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1957 floor plan of WGTO studios in the
Pine Crest Hotel |
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Bayliss "Jim" Corbett-1955-News Director-KWK, Inc./1958-News/Farm Director-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Bob Wery-1955-KWK, Inc./1958-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Dale Starkey-1955-1958-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Dar Dodds-1955-1959-Morning Drive-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
George Prescott-1958-Host of "Welcome to Florida Show" from Cypress Gardens/1966-1971-Program Director-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) /1973-Promotions Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Richard Hart-1958-Farm Director--KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting)/1964-Farm Director-Hubbard Broadcasting /1971-Chief Engineer-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Paul Hershey-1958-Farm Director-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Bill Cramer-1959-Program Director-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
William Gramer-1960-Program Director-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Bob Grossman-1964-Program Director/1969-General Sales Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
![]() Buddy Lee (Harold Wallace Lee aka Bob Collins)-1965-Hubbard Broadcasting |
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Larry Green (Larry Cox)-1967-1968-Mid-days/ 1973-1974-News-Hubbard Broadcasting |
John Taylor-1968-News Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Ronnie Gee (Ron St. John)-1968/1973-Program Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Jim Kennedy-1970-1971-Weekends-Hubbard Broadcasting |
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Wes Belisle-1974-1978 1974-1978-News-Hubbard Broadcasting |
![]() James "Jim" Greenfield-1976-1982-News Director/Public Affairs Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
John Terry-1977-Program Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
"Crazy" Bob Fuller-1977-Hubbard Broadcasting |
![]() Jim "Jimbo" Maloy-1977-1982-Mornings-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Terry "The Bird" Slane-1977-Hubbard Broadcasting Terry was named Small Market Broadcast Personality of the Year in 1979-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Dave Campbell-1977-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Mike McCoy-1977-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Terry Stone-1977-Program Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
![]() Bill Carson-1979-1981-Midnight-6AM-Hubbard Broadcasting In Memory |
![]() “PJ the DJ”-Patti Jordan-1981-1982-Part time weekends/1982-1986-Midnight-6AM -Hubbard Broadcasting |
Ron Riley-1982-Assistant News Director/News Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Henry Jay-1984-1986-3PM-7PM/Music Director-Hubbard Broadcasting |
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Joe Penny-1987-1990-Cypress Broadcast, Ltd |
Robert J. Wright-1990-Mornings-Florida Media Inc. |
Kathy McFarland-1990-Morning News Anchor-Florida Media Inc. |
"Captain" Joe Canzoneri-1990-Traffic Reporter/Weekends-Florida Media Inc. |
Hank Dole-1990-Assistant Program Director-Florida Media Inc. |
Terry Mason (Terry England)-1990-Program Director/Afternoon Drive In Memory |
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![]() Dave Edwards-1992-Florida Media Inc. Biography |
Russ Ross-1992-"Original Doo-Wop Shoppe"-Sundays-6PM-Midnight-Florida Media Inc. |
Ric Karlson and Ed Schmidt Jr.-1993-Co-hosts of Golf Talk- Fridays 4PM- 5PM-Florida Media Inc. |
Peter Banks-1993-Host of "Singles Connection", a talk show for singles-Florida Media Inc. |
Gordon Banta-1993-Co-host and psychic on "Singles Connection", a talk show for singles-Florida Media Inc. |
Doug Gilley-1993-Host of "Let's Go Fishing"-6AM-7AM-Florida Media Inc. |
Steve Duff-1993-Producer of "Let's Go Fishing"-Florida Media Inc. |
Peter Rocchio-1993-Florida Media Inc. |
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Vince Regan-1994-Host-"House of Sports"-6PM- 9PM Weeknights-Paxson Broadcasting |
Jack ''Goose'' Givens-1994-"Courtside Weekly" |
"Judge Krater" (Mike Greager)-7PM-Midnight-Hubbard Broadcasting |
![]() Doug Rockwell |
![]() Allan Brady-Host of "Music and Memories" and "The Rock and Roll Palace Show", "live" from Little Darlin's Rock and Roll Palace. Biography |
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Robert Convey-1955-President-KWK, Inc. |
V.E. Carmichael-1955-Vice President-KWK, Inc. |
Roy Dady-1955-Director of Operations-KWK, Inc. |
Eugene Hill-1955-General Manager/Commercial Manager-KWK, Inc. |
David Schick-1955-Chief Engineer-KWK, Inc. |
Nick Zehr-1955-Chief Engineer-KWK, Inc. |
Stanley E. Hubbard-1958-President-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting)/1969-Chairman of the Board-Hubbard Broadcasting |
C.M. "Max" Kimbrel-1958-General Sales Manager/1959-General Manager/General Sales Manager-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Gary Miller-1958-Sales Manager/Promotions Manager-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting) |
Hal Meyer-1958-Sales Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Marvin Rosene-1959-Vice President In Charge Of Sales-KSTP, Inc. (Hubbard Broadcasting)/1969-Vice President-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Stanley S. Hubbard-1969-President/General Manger-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Spencer Danes-1970-1972-General Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Dick Hart-1958-1971 and 1982-1986-Engineer-Hubbard Broadcasting |
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Bob Kelly-1971-1973-Station Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting-Now owner of Kelly Communications, Inc in Peoria, Illinois |
Hal Myer-1972-Sales Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Paul Titchenal-1972-1979-Engineer-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Howard Trickey-1973-1978-General Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
John Redwine-1977-Commercial Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Jackie West (Moira Jackson)-1979-1986-Noon-3PM-Promotions Manager/1981-Country Music Association's Disc Jockey of the Year Award Winner (Small Market Division)-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Lloyd Barham-1978-General Manager-Hubbard Broadcasting |
Howard Hoffman-1990-General Manager-Florida Media Inc. |
Keith Feeney-1990-Comptroller/Accounting/Traffic Manager-Florida Media Inc. |
Bill Patti-1990-Creative Services Director-Florida Media Inc. |
Mark Anderson-1990-General Sales Manager-Florida Media Inc. |
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![]() Lowell "Bud" Paxson-1994-1997-President-Paxson Broadcasting In Memory |
John Frost-Operations Manager for Paxson Broadcasting |
Nancy Cattarius-Sales |
Tommy Kramer-Program Director |
Thanks to Jay Waggoner for these WGTO photos |
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WGTO 6 Tower Array WGTO Transmitter Workshop |
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WGTO FEMA Bomb shelter WGTO phasor |
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![]() photos courtesy of Jay Waggoner |
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Other Programs In WGTO History |
"Cousin
Brucie's Cruisin' America"-1991-Friday nights from
10PM-1AM-syndicated |
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