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 Jacksonville Transportation Authority.



                             

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

Paul Harvey

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

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