WDBO-AM
580Winter Park Orlando
Original Call Letters: WDBO
Original City of License: Winter Park, Rollins College
Originally Licensed: May 24,1924
First aired at 1250 kHz, moved to 1040 in 1927, moved to 620 in 1928, moved to 1120 in 1929 then to 580 in 1932
Original Power: 50 Watts
Original Format: Concert programming and college lectures.
Network Affiliation(s): CBS
NBC Talknet
ABC
Owner(s): 1924 (May 19)-Rollins College
1926-Orlando Broadcasting
1929-Central Florida Broadcasting Station, Inc. (563 N. Orange Ave., Orlando)
1957-Cherry Broadcasting Station of Providence, Rhode Island (later acquired by the Outlet Co)
1963-The Outlet Company ($6 million)
1982-Katz Broadcasting (Purchased WDBO AM/FM for $9.5 million)
1986-New City Communications (New City would purchase Katz in 1986)
1997-Cox Broadcasting (Cox acquires New city in 1997)
History Of Call Letters and Formats: WDBO-1924-Variety "Way Down By Orlando"
WDBO-1957-Pop
WDBO-1985-News/talk ''News & Weather Leader''
WDBO
History1924-It began as a physics class project. In May E.F. Wineberg, a Rollins College math, physics and engineering professor, launched a 50-watt radio station in a small wooden building on the Winter Park campus. The first night's programming - less than an hour - included talks by college officials, a violin solo and a performance by the men's glee club, according to the Rollins newspaper that week. It was the first radio station in Orange County and only the third in Florida. WDBO operated at 1250 on the dial with 50 watts of power for thirty hours a week. There are some conflicting stories surrounding the call letters. Some research says the call letters were issued in alphabetical sequence as was the policy of the time. There was WDBN Bangor, Maine, and WDBP, in Superior, Wisconsin. That would make the next set of call letters WDBO. Other research shows a request for the call letters WDBO to stand for "Way Down By Orlando." If the first story is true it sure was a great coincidence for Rollins College. The original studios were alongside the tennis courts on the campus of Rollins College During the initial broadcast, announcer Dean Sprague said "...anybody who can hear this..." would receive a box of oranges from the Gentile Brothers Packing House, if they would send a postcard to verify the signal was being heard. Cards came from Orlando, Apopka and Sanford. On that first broadcast day some of the programming included the Rollins Men's Glee Club singing, "Rollins Goes Rolling Along." And "Taps" was played on a bugle at sign-off. On-air programming started at 8:45pm and signed off 1 hour 5 minutes later. Because school was about to close for the summer, the station shut down after just a few days until that October. In the fall of 1924, programming resumed with frequent concerts and the broadcasting of college lectures. The station's only employee then was engineer and announcer Harold Danforth, who was paid $250 a year. Danforth eventually would rise to president and general manager of the station.
1925-A ship in the Pacific picks up WDBO's signal, making headlines all over the state of Florida. Meanwhile, WDBO is permitted to increase power to 100 watts.
1926-Rollins
College decided the $600 budget to run WDBO was too much and gave the
station to Col. George C. Johnston. Johnston was a radiologist from
Pennsylvania who headed an investment bank called The Morris Plan, Co.
Johnston named the corporation that took ownership of WDBO, The
Orlando Broadcasting Company.According to author Eve Bacon in her book "Orlando - A Centennial History"...cooperating in the maintenance of the station were (the cities of) St. Cloud, Sanford, Winter Park, Sanlando, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Chase & Company, and Rollins College". The first remote broadcast over WDBO originated from the Angebilt Hotel.
1927-The station began broadcasting from the "new"
Fort Gatlin Hotel in Orlando. Programming featured groups, including The Beasley Band. Colonel Johnston's Orlando Broadcasting Co. takes full control of WDBO. The FRC authorizes WDBO to operate at 1040 kilocycles, with power of 1,000-watts daytime, 500-watts nighttime.
1929-WDBO programming was broadcast from the traffic tower at the
intersection of Central and Orange Aves in 1926. Traffic control
towers served as a bridge between the times when Police officers
directed traffic while standing in the roadway and when automatically controlled
signals were installed. The "crow's nest" elevated the officer
above traffic so he would have a clear view of traffic in
all directions while he manipulated the colored lights. Broadcast time was
increased to fifty hours per week.
