WBT's Anniversary Celebration sponsored by: NASCAR
WBT welcomes three into Hall of Fame, including Charlotte's Most Beloved
With H. A. Thompson, Ty Boyd, Mary June Rose, Vivica Gooding, Mark Garrison, Bo Thompson and a studio full of guests, WBT inducted three into the Hall of Fame including Charlotte's Most Beloved, John Hancock, during his own show Monday April 10.
While celebrating this special day with us take some time to share your WBT memories using the hashtag #WBT95 on social media.
TIMELINE HISTORY OF WBT
By David Eades & Bo Thompson
Late 1920
Fred Laxton, Earle Gluck, and Fred Bunker met in an amateur radio supply store in Charlotte, and decided to pool their equipment and set up a station in the Laxton home.
December 1920
An amateur radio station began broadcasting at the home of Fred Laxton, located at 2632 Mecklenburg Avenue. The site was at the corner of Mecklenburg and Belvedere, adjoining Charlotte Country Club. The microphone and amplifier were on the dining room table. The transmitter was in another room and the receiver was in an old chicken house in the backyard.
March 1921
An experimental license was acquired from the Department of Commerce and the call letter assigned were “4XD.”
January 1922
Laxton, Gluck, and Bunker moved the transmitter and studio to the 8th floor of the Independence Building on the Square. The men organized the Southern Radio Corporation to sell radio receiver parts and operate “4XD”
April 10, 1922
The Department of Commerce issued a license for the first commercial radio station in the Southeast. The new call letters were… WBT. The station’s power was 100 watts. Broadcast hours from 10-11:45am and 7:30-9:45pm.
1925
Freeman Gosden and Charlie Correll broadcast over WBT as “Two Black Crows.” They later moved to Chicago to become “Amos & Andy.” The station was sold to James P. McMillan and the Carolina States Electric Company.
1926
The station was bought by C.C. Coddingham, the Buick automobile distributor, and moved to the Coddington Building on Trade & Graham Streets. It was bought for $2000. A new ad campaign was designed around the call letters, announcing W-B-T stood for “Watch Buicks Travel.” Power was increased to 500 watts.
1927
WBT joined the NBC Radio Network. Power increased to 1000 watts.
1928
Power increased to 5000 watts when the transmitter was moved to its current location… Coddington’s farm on Nations Ford Road.
1929
CBS purchased WBT after C.C. Coddington’s death. The station was moved to the Wilder Building on South Tryon Street. Power increased to 25,000 watts. WBT had a staff of 10 full-time musicians. Grady Cole began reading the noon news and stock market reports.
1930
Grady Cole joined the full-time staff.
1932
Power increased to 50,000 watts.
1933
Charles H. Crutchfield joined the staff.
Popular shows included The Crazy Water Crystals Show, The Dixie Mammoth Minstrels, and The Lone Ranger.
1934
Mr. Crutchfield organized “The Briarhoppers.”
1935
The first-ever broadcast of the “Rebel Yell” happened on WBT. The yell was used by the Rebels to chase Yankees during the Civil War.
1937
Grady Cole received a plaque from President Roosevelt for raising $44,000 for Kentucky flood victims. The Golden Gate Quartet started on WBT.
1940
The Johnson Family began on WBT, called “Radio’s Sweetest Singing Family.”
1941
The FCC designated WBT as a “Key Station,” meaning it was a communications center for 25 other stations in case of a national emergency. This later became the Conelrad System.
Andy Griffith applied for a job at WBT, but Mr. Crutchfield turned him down because he wanted $75 dollars a week.
1943
Arthur Smith and his Crackerjacks joined WBT.
1944
WBT became the first 24-hour station to operate in the Southeast.
1945
Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company bought WBT. Frequency switched from 1080 to 1110 kHz.
“Carolina Hayride” began, which later became “Carolina Calling.” The show featured Cole, Smith, the Johnson Family, the Briarhoppers, Claude Casey, Fred Kirby, Whitey & Hogan, fiddlin’ Frank Warren, Big Bill Davis, and Mr. Crutchfield.
1946
Kurt Webster and Mary Mayo joined WBT.
1947
WBT-FM officially signed on the air with Clyde McLean as the first announcer. Pat & Harry Snook began reading the Sunday comics over the air.
1950
Phil Agestra and Bob Bean joined WBT.
1951
Jean Alexander and Gil Stamper joined WBT.
1952
Doug Mayes joined WBT.
1953
Alan Newcomb and Bob Raiford joined WBT.
1954
Charles Kuralt and Bill Ward joined WBT.
1955
WBT moved to its current location at One Julian Price Place.
Loonis McGlohan joined the staff.
1956
Owen Spann joined WBT.
1960
WBT launched the “Tempo” format, showcasing recorded music along with fast-paced information and entertainment from deejays.
Bill Curry joined the staff.
1961
Grady Cole stepped down as WBT morning host after 31 years. Ty Boyd arrived to replace him.
1963
Charles Crutchfield was elected President of the Jefferson Pilot Broadcasting Company.
1971
WBT adopted at Top 40/Adult Contemporary format.
H.A. Thompson joined the station and Mike Ivers began the “Sunday Night Hall of Fame” show.
1972
Bob Lacey joined WBT and began the nighttime talk show “Lacey Listens.”
1973
Rockin’ Ray Gooding took over as host of the “Sunday Night Hall of Fame.”
1975
“Jeff Pilot” began airborne traffic reports on WBT.
“American Top 40” with Casey Kasem began running on the station.
Bob Lacey moved to mornings.
Don Russell joined WBT.
1976
To honor America’s 200th anniversary, WBT launched a massive music and fireworks presentation called Sky Show ’76.
WBT won Billboard Magazine’s Adult Contemporary Station of the Year Award.
1977
H.A. Thompson was rated “The Number One Midday Personality in America” by Television/Radio Age.
Dick Durante hosted a highly-rated afternoon show.
Public Affairs Director Ray Gooding began the WBT Penny Pitch Children’s Charities.
1979
Grady Cole was killed in an automobile accident.
Henry Boggan was hired to host a nighttime telephone talk-show called “Hello Henry.”
1980
WBT presented a music and fireworks salute to the returning American hostages from Iran called “A Celebration of Freedom.”
Spike O’Dell joined WBT.
1982
WBT became the first station in the Carolinas to broadcast in stereo.
Pete Sullivan joined the station.
1983
In New York City, The Broadcast Pioneers honored WBT with the “Golden Microphone Award.”
Mike Collins joined the station.
1986
Collins teamed with WBTV’s Lori Thomas to host a morning show called “BT AM.”
1987
WBT celebrated its 65th Anniversary at Memorial Stadium, headlined by “The Beach Boys.” The Park Center, located next door, was renamed “The Grady Cole Center.”
WBT became an NBC Radio Network affiliate.
1988
Don Russell & James K. Flynn teamed to host mornings as “Russell & Flynn.”
Mike Collins began hosting afternoon drive, 3-6pm.
WBT was named the flagship station of the Charlotte Hornets Radio Network. Steve Martin & Gil McGregor called the action.
1989
Hurricane Hugo struck the Carolinas on September 22. WBT engineer Bob White was at the transmitter site and narrowly escaped being crushed by a falling tower. 99% of electricity and telephone lines were knocked out in the city of Charlotte. WBT provided listeners with life-saving information and news of operating businesses that had supplies of flashlights and batteries.
James K. Flynn later composed a parody song of “Rawhide” called “Chainsaw.” Proceeds went to the Red Cross and Penny Pitch.
1990
John Hancock joined WBT to host middays.
Mike & Barbara McKay began a daytime show.
WBT became a CBS Radio Network affiliate.
1991
Moira Quinn began co-hosting mornings with Don Russell.
The Rush Limbaugh Show began its run on WBT.
1992
WBT celebrated its 70th anniversary with a huge cookout at the Pine Terrace Cafeteria, located on the station’s first floor.
Moira Quinn moved to afternoons, 3-6pm.
Jon Robinson was hired to host a new show called “Charlotte’s Morning News” with John Stokes, Sharon Schoffelman, and Jim Szoke. Jim Barroll and Brad Schulz handled reporting.
1994
WBT is named the flagship station of the Carolina Panthers. Bill Rosinski, Jim Szoke, and Roman Gabriel are chosen as the broadcast team.
Jerry Klein began a late night talk show.
1995
WBT acquired 99.3 WBZK-FM Chester, SC. The call letters were later changed to WBT-FM. The new station was a simulcast of the AM signal and allowed WBT to be heard at night in Gaston and surrounding counties.
1996
Gerry V began a new sports talk show.
The UNC Tarheel football and basketball Network returned to WBT.
1997
General Manager Rick Jackson created the WBT Hall of Fame. Charles Crutchfield was the first inductee as part of the station’s 75th Anniversary celebration.
In September, Al Gardner was hired to host a revamped version of “Charlotte’s Morning News.”
The Dr. Laura Show began airing weekdays 9-Noon.
Danny Fontana joined the station, hosting a financial show, weekdays 3-4pm.
John Hancock moved to afternoon drive.
1999
Richard Spires and Brad Krantz began hosting “Spires & Krantz” from 3-6pm.
On New Year’s Eve, the entire WBT air staff hosted a special broadcast in Uptown Charlotte to ring in 2000.
2000
Danny Fontana began co-hosting “Charlotte’s Morning News” with Al Gardner.
2001
John Hancock returned to WBT to host “Late, Live, & Local” each night from 8-12.
On September 11, 2001, WBT covered the terrorist attacks and aftermath in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. The station went commercial-free for several weeks, combining CBS Radio Network longform coverage, local updates, and listener reaction.
2002
WBT celebrated its 80th Anniversary with special programming throughout the day on April 10th. The main air studio was renamed the “Ty Boyd Studio.”
Grady Cole and Loonis McGlohon were inducted into the WBT Hall of Fame.
Stacey Simms joined WBT to co-host “Charlotte’s Morning News” with Al Gardner.
Keith Larson joined WBT to host mid-mornings, 9-Noon.
2003
Jason Lewis joined WBT to host weekday afternoons, 3-6.
2004
WBT’s outdoor skating rink “Holiday on Ice” began in Uptown at The Green.
2005
WBT staff and listeners raised $300,000 to help with Hurricane Katrina relief.
2006
Jefferson Pilot merged with Lincoln Financial. It was the first ownership change for WBT in more than 60 years.
Jeff Katz joined WBT to host weekday afternoons, 3-6.
2007
As part of station’s 85th Anniversary, Ty Boyd, Earl Gluck, and The Briarhoppers entered the WBT Hall of Fame.
When CMPD Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark were killed in the line of duty, WBT provided continuing coverage and helped the community mourn the loss of the two heroes.
2008
WBT & WLNK sold to Greater Media.
Tara Servatius joined WBT to host weekday afternoons, 3-6.
2009
Longtime WBT reporter Pete Kaliner began hosting a nighttime talk show.
2011
Vince Coakley joined WBT to host weekday afternoons, 3-6.
WBT’s Holiday on Ice moved to its currently location at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza.
2012
Bo Thompson was hired to replace Al Gardner on "Charlotte's Morning News."
As part of the station’s 90th Anniversary, H.A. Thompson entered the WBT Hall of Fame.
Brad Krantz & Britt Whitmire joined WBT to co-host afternoon show "Brad & Britt."
2013
In November, a historical marker was dedicated to mark the site of the old Wilder Building on the corner of Tryon & 3rd Streets in Uptown Charlotte. Governor Pat McCrory was on hand for the official unveiling along with Doug Mayes, Paul Cameron, and Bo Thompson.
2014
John Hancock moved up to afternoons, 3-6p.
WBT became an affiliate of ABC News.
WBT broadcast the first Charlotte Knights game at the new BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte.
2015
WBT & WLNK organized a bottled-water drive to aid victims of the severe flooding in Columbia, SC. Bo Thompson, Sheri Lynch, and other staff members traveled via caravan to the hard-hit communities to deliver the resources, dubbed #SCH20.
2016
On February 7, WBT broadcast Super Bowl 50. The Panthers Radio Network team of Mick Mixon, Jim Szoke, and Eugene Robinson called the Carolina-Denver game.
The Dave Ramsey Show began running weeknights on WBT.
For several nights in September, WBT provided extensive coverage of protests and Uptown rioting after the shooting of Keith Scott.
In November, WBT and WLNK were bought by Entercom Communications. Sports station WFNZ was also acquired in the deal.
2017
Scott Fitzgerald joined WBT to host mid-mornings, 9-Noon.
As part of the station’s 95th Anniversary, Rockin’ Ray Gooding, Henry Boggan, and John Hancock entered the WBT Hall of Fame.