
WDBO-AM 580
Part 2
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 Affiliations: 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"


From Dick Camnitz; "Here's a later 60s shot of Dick Ravenhill
on the air in the WDBO Ivanhoe studio. Ya gotta love those big Altec mics."
photo courtesy of Dick Camnitz
WDBO studio in 1982 when the studios were on Lake Ivanhoe
photo courtesy Dave Edwards

WDBO license plates courtesy of Dave Edwards
WDBO Bumper stickers
1990 1992

1995 1996
Courtesy of Chris Trenkmann
WDBO Personalities
Charles
"Batch" Batchelder
Lionel Nelson
Dorothy Morton Parks-gave 15-minute piano recitals
Walter Kimble -performed
15-minute organ recitals

Ben Aycrigg-A Winter Park High School graduate, joined WDBO in 1944.

Herb Oscar Anderson-1948-best known for his successful show on the legendary
WABC-AM 77. HOA was crowned the "Morning Mayor of New York." Anderson has also recorded for Capitol, Verve, MGM and Columbia.
Perry Moore-1970-1984 Biography
Photo courtesy Dave Edwards
Jim Turner-1972-Present Biography
Tom Marshall-Original
Host of Niteline
Bob Raymond-News

John Martin-1970-1972-News Director
Biography
Pat Flannagan

Tom McCarthy-1983-Afternoons
Biography
Jeff Slater-1989-1997-Producer and co-host with Jim Turner Biography

Carole Nelson Biography
Bruce Hamilton-1987-1992-9AM-Noon. Left WDBO in 1992 for a TV spot in Philadelphia. Also was a news anchor for WESH TV 2 in Orlando. Now at Jacksonville's WJXT-TV.

Officer Jim Bishop-1978-present-traffic reporter Biography

Clive Thomas-1976-1979
Biography
Mike Burger-mid day host
(see WHOO-AM
990) Besides hosting the mid-days at WDBO, TV station WDBO (channel 6) needed someone to take over the weekend weathercasts. Mike moved to Dallas where he worked for seven years. Mike then returned to Orlando for four years, then back to Dallas at CBS 11.
Mike Miller-“Niteline” 7-10 PM –Talk
Biography
2005-Mike became the Director of
External Affairs for the
Morton Downey, Jr.-1982-1983-7-10 PM –“Nightline”-Talk Biography

Bud Brewer-1978-1979-"Nightline" (Feb) Replaced by Harry Cup. Biography
Harry Cup-1979-1981-7PM-11PM-Biography-Harry was a self-described moderate and attracted 8,000 people to Tinker Field on April 19, 1980 for his "Stand up for America" rally in support of the hostages being held in Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini. Harry was an established talk show host in Cleveland, when his life was threatened for his conservative views. Cup moved to Winter Haven. Harry left WDBO for WCAU in Philadelphia in 1981and then would return to Florida in 1982 to host an evening show replacing Bud Brewer on WKIS-AM
740.
Wayne Weinberg-
1984-1994-Biography
-Morning news co-anchor. Wayne also hosted "Ask Disney", a one-hour
show airing live each Saturday morning from Disney-MGM Studios.
Wayne's co-host was Walt Disney World Ambassador Kim Hursh.

Col. Richard Bouchard-l979-1993
Biography

Earl Finkle-weather
The WDBO Traffic plane

Ron Hill-News reporter
Scott Anez- 1991-present-Sports Director
Scott joined Jim Turner in 1991 as the Sports Director. Scott's a native to the Central Florida area and earned his broadcasting degree from the University of Central Florida. Scott lives in Orlando with his wife and daughter Christine.

Dave Wahl-reporter/anchor
Grace Rabold (Carter)-Host of "Grace Under Fire"- Biography
Carson Rennie-1981-1982 Host of "WDBO's Nightline" He was replaced by
and then .
Reagan Smith-Host of "WDBO's Nightline"
Tom Barry-Host of "WDBO's Nightline"

Bob Nyles-1993-2003-host and producer of several "Ask the Experts" talk shows on WDBO each Saturday morning from 6 a.m. till noon.
Biography
Bob Johnson-Weekend newscaster. Bob was also the General Manager at
WHOO-AM
990
in 1974.

Scott Hasick
Scott and Casey-1997-1998-( and ) held down the afternoon drive position from May of 1997 to February of 1998.
Casey Bartholomew
Rebecca Randall-evening
anchor
Biography

Chris Trenkmann-1992-1997
Biography
Kelly Golden-2004-Kelly
came to WDBO from Charleston, South Carolina. In her seven-year news career,
Kelly has won several state, regional and national awards including an Edward R. Murrow
Award. Kelly was named "Radio News Reporter of the Year" in 2003 by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association.

Gina Jordan-1995-2008
Biography
Rob
Newton
Donna Kelley
Tom Fallin-News
Director
Tracy Dent-Orlando's first radio sports talk show
host. "Sports Line with Tracy Dent" debuted in the late 1960s. There
was no method of screening calls back then, just a seven-second delay button.
Tracy interviewed such guests as Mickey Mantle, Richard Petty,
Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Unitas. In 1977, while
at WDBO he helped start an independent running-shoe store that
consultants told him could not possibly succeed. By the time Dent sold his share
of the Track Shack in 1983, the Orlando store was a full-blown success,
and continues to thrive celebrating 30 years in Orlando. Dent hit the big time
in 1979 when he was named evening sports anchor at WDBO-TV Channel 6.
TV took up much more of his time than radio so in 1983, choosing family over
fame, Dent retired from broadcasting.

Marsha Taylor-1985-midday anchor and street reporter then in 1988-News Director

Scott Harris-News

Bob Hazen-News

Elizabeth
Arenas-2006-2008-News
Dick Batchelor-Political Consultant
courtesy of Mark
Logas
click photo for full sized view

Jamie Dupree-News

Joe Ruble-News

Kirk Healy-Producer

Marva Hinton-News

Nikki Pierce-News-
2008-Nikki returns to WDBO news after a stint at WFLF-AM
540

Tico Perez-Political consultant Host of "Talkin'
with Tico"
Roger
Mann
Donna
Howell-News
David
Brandau-News
Lee
Hall-News
Director
Jim
Barroll
courtesy of Mark
Logas
Dave
Matthews
Eric Brown-Airborne traffic reporter ![]()

Jack Boston-Accuweather

Diana Bosch-2006-News
Steve
Morris-1994 (Jun)-1994
(Aug)
Click photos for
full sized view
Steve Craig (Biddle)
WDBO towers and transmitter building
Dutch Shaffer-Interesting story about his part in the "takeover" of WDBO-FM. ![]()
Bill Stamper-1964-1991-Sports director-1989 winner of the Green Eyeshade Award for Sports Reporting
George McNeilly-News/sports reporter


Wayne Trout-Biography-News director for 7 years.
Keith Altiero-news anchor-Keith died Dec 19. 2004 after a two-year
fight with cancer. He was 51. In 2001 he won five awards for his work from the Florida Associated Press and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for his political reporting.
Biography
In
Memory
"Blue Collar"
Bob Rose-now morning man at WSKY-FM
97.3 in Gainesville
Bill Gephart In
Memory
Here's Bill as well as the late Tom Blair
Bill Thompson

Mike Synan-Afternoon Reporter
Frank Samandari-Afternoon Reporter-Frank began his news career reporting and producing TV News in Northeastern Vermont. Frank then moved to Southern Ohio, where he was Assistant News Director for six radio stations in the region, followed by a stint as Public Information Officer in San Diego, California, before his final move to Orlando.
Jeff Marshall -Afternoon Anchor-formerly of
WMEL-AM 920
Mike Murillo -Weekend Anchor -Mike started his radio career at age fifteen, working at
WMEL-AM 920 in 1998. Mike became operations manager by age eighteen. In 2002 he hosted "Underground Radio", a weekly talk show. He also produced many of WMEL's local talk shows. Mike serves as producer of the "Andrea Shea King Show" on
Sundays, as well as a part time reporter and weekend news anchor on WDBO. Mike is pursuing his degree at
UCF.
Biography
Michelle Wright -reporter and anchor for both WDBO-AM
and WCFB-FM 94.5 "Star 94.5" now at CNN Radio in Atlanta
Andrea Shea King-Sunday Nights at 9 PM. She has previously worked at WESH-TV,
WMEL-AM 920 and WMMB-AM
1240
Pete Simonson-1972-1978 and 1995-1996 ![]()

Mark Hellinger-1983-1998-Mark worked with Jim Turner, Perry Moore, Bill Stamper, Tom McCarthy and
Morton Downey Jr.
Bill Frangus
Jim Hession
Dave Carter
Dennis Moore
Bill Patti-1985-1990-9AM-11AM-Program director/Operations
Manager
Ellen McFarlane-Consumer reporter
Jim Barroll

Sal Tee’s Solid Gold Reunion (see WHHL-AM
1190)
Tom
Blair-1982-News-Tom
passed Jan. 10, 2007 at the age of 68. In
Memory
Tom Blair reporting on traffic
Bob Brown-1976-1980-First
airborne traffic reporter for WDBO. From 1952 to 1957, he did the Skipper Bob
Show on WDBO-TV. Bob was also a member of the Blue
Angels Flight Team from 1964 to
1967.
Bill
Berry
Leonard
Birdsong-2000-Sundays -
Noon-2PM
Rod
Grant (aka Shadow)-1983-1985-Production Director/air personality
Dan
Shaffer-1987-1992-Biography
-The
original Good Samaritan van
driver/a producer, Music Director and Traffic reporter/even hosted an overnight
show for a while Saturday night/Sunday morning/Bruce Hamilton’s midday
show producer

Drew
Petrimoulx-2007-Weekend Anchor/News

Rozzie Franco-2007-Weekend
News Anchor Biography
2007-Within
three months, Rozzie
moves up to become part of the morning
news team as a reporter/producer.
2008-Rozzie leaves WDBO for
WFLF-AM 540

Heather
Jackson-2005-overnight news
anchor/ board operator/producer of the Andrea
Shea King Show
Levi
May-Associate Program
Director/Afternoon Producer/Board Operator
Mike
Mundrick-Evening
Producer/Board Operator
Beth
Perrell-Public Affairs
Director/Host of "Retrospect"
Tiffany
Griffith
Natasha
Vukelic
Jack
Nelson-2000-"Dollars and Cents"
Jack
Kelly-Evening news anchor
Madalyn
Woods-News Reporter (Former
BET TV Reporter)
Marcie
Elliot-Traffic Reporter
Ron
Bison-Traffic Reporter
Glenn
Victor-Traffic Reporter
Dave
Lopez- Afternoon Traffic Reporter
Andrew
Giles-Fill-In Associate Producer for Jim Turner
John
Fusco- Neal Boortz Show Producer
Bobby
Mitchell-Nighttime producer
Larry Gibson
Zach
Stein-2008-News
Dave Matthews
Kevin Baldinger-Traffic
Biography

1985 WDBO News Team
Front Row (left to right): Rebecca Randall,
Bill Stamper, Donna
Howell.
Back Row (left to right): David Brandau, George
McNeilly, Lee Hall (News
Director), Jim Barroll, Wayne
Weinberg.
Other Names In WDBO History
Arnold
"Doc" Schoen, Jr.-1959-VP/General Manager at WDBO AM/FM/TV
(Channel 6)
Violet Osborn-bookkeeper/secretary
Joseph
Sinclair-1963-Chairman of the Board-Outlet Company
David
Shurtleff-1963-Vice President-Broadcast Division
Carl
Hallberg-1963-Vice President/General
Manager/Commercial Manager-Outlet Company
Bill
Taylor-1963-Program Director-Outlet
Company
Fred Bradshaw-1963-News
Director-Outlet Company
Chalmers Stromberg-1963-Chief
Engineer-Outlet Company
Robert
Barager-1969-nightly newscaster/sales
Tom
Kennington-1979-1983
Glen Lewis-Program director
Steve Holbrook-Program director
David Bernstein-Program Director/Operations Manager
Kipper Watson-2001-Program Director
Tom Doyle-Manager
George
Crossley-Sales
Steve Fluker-Director
of Engineering for Cox Radio/Orlando
Susan
Larkin-General Manager
Other Programs Carried by WDBO
|
|
Arthur Godfrey from the CBS Radio Network | |
| 1945-46-Mon-Fri 9:15 AM | 1949-50-Mon-Fri 10:15 AM | |
| 1946-48-Mon-Fri 9:15 AM & 11 AM | 1950-58-Mon-Fri 10:00 AM | |
|
Godfrey's Last Program |
1958-60--Mon-Fri 9:05 AM | 1960-64-Mon-Fri 10:05 AM |
| 1948-49-Mon-Fri 10:30 AM | 1964-72-Mon-Fri 10:00 AM | |
Gene Burns-Syndicated program from WOR-New York
Biography
Ray Durkee’s "Sunday at the Memories"
Larry King-Mutual
Bill O'Reilly-2002-"The O'Reilly Factor"
Rush Limbaugh-syndicated
"Have Gun Will Travel"-broadcast
106 episodes on CBS between 1958 and 1960. It was one of the last radio
dramas featuring continuing characters. John Dehner played Paladin.
Many episodes were adapted from the TV programs while others were written
specifically for the radio version.
Tom Snyder and Elliott
Forrest-1995-"The Late Late Radio Show"-2AM-5AM
The Outlet Company History
The Outlet Company, was a department store started in 1894 by Joseph and Leon Samuels, located in Providence, Rhode Island. The Outlet Department Store sold clothing and accessories at a discount. In 1963 Outlet would acquire the Cherry Broadcasting Company and WDBO. In November of 1980 the department store, which had grown to occupy an entire city block in downtown Providence, was sold. Outlet Communications was now solely involved in commercial broadcasting.
Sounds of WDBO
Thanks to Chris Trenkmann for the sound files. The voices are Tom McCarthy and James Earl Jones.
These are circa 1992-1993
| Paul Harvey stager | WDBO Newsradio 580 | Bottom of the Hour ID | WDBO Newsradio 580 |
| Tom McCarthy | Tom McCarthy | Tom McCarthy | James Earl Jones |
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