WREB (Massachusetts)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) |
Broadcast area | Western Massachusetts |
---|---|
Frequency | 930 kHz |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Defunct (was Middle of the road) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Valley Broadcasting Corporation (original owner[1] Don Hancock Broadcasting, Inc. (3/17/1961-8/27/1965)[2] Algonquin Broadcasting (8/27/1965-1/7/1987) Dumont Holding Company (1/7/1987-end)[3] |
History | |
First air date | 1950[4] |
Last air date | September 1991 |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 17727 |
Class | III-D (later D) |
Power | 500 watts |
WREB was a radio station licensed to Holyoke, Massachusetts, broadcasting at 930 kHz AM. WREB went on the air on September 13, 1950 and ceased operations 41 years later in September 1991. Its FCC license was canceled on December 17, 1992. The call letters were reassigned and are now used by an FM radio station in Greencastle, Indiana.
WREB-AM was a 500-watt daytime, omnidirectional station. They were a music station playing primarily middle of the road music through the 1960s. In 1968 there was summer evening rock show called "The Man From REB". Weekends were heavily religious and ethnic, including music programs in French (Leon Allary), Polish (Chet Dragon) and Italian. Local high school football was featured on Saturday afternoons. In 1971 they switched from MOR to a country music format with Cal McLain doing the morning show. In 1972 they switched to a talk format headlined by Tracy Cole, but continued with country music on the weekends and summer evenings. Long term on-air personalities were Wayne Dennis (PD, DJ and sports), Barbara Heisler (DJ and talk), Richard LaVigne (news & commentary) and Steve Hudgik (DJ). During the mid 1980s, the lineup featured Jonathan Evans, Ray Kelly (later associate editor of The Republican), G. Michael Dobbs, who would go on to serve as the managing editor of The Reminder publications; and future newspaper columnist Ron Chimelis.[5][6]
WREB had studios at 300 High Street in downtown Holyoke before moving to nearby Suffolk Street; its transmitter was in Fairview (Chicopee).
References
[edit]- ^ 1951 Broadcasting Yearbook, page 168
- ^ 1965 Broadcasting Yearbook, page B-74
- ^ F.C.C. CDBS listing for ownership transfer of WREB to Dumont Holding Company
- ^ 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook, page B-99
- ^ Chimelis, Ron (2016-04-27). "Talk radio is much different than in 1991: Viewpoint". masslive. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ Desk, The Republican Business (2022-12-05). "People in Business: Dec. 5, 2022". masslive. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
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- Defunct radio stations in the United States
- Mass media in Holyoke, Massachusetts
- Radio stations in Massachusetts
- Defunct mass media in Massachusetts
- Mass media in Hampden County, Massachusetts
- Radio stations established in 1950
- Radio stations disestablished in 1991
- 1950 establishments in Massachusetts
- 1991 disestablishments in Massachusetts
- Daytime-only radio stations in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts radio station stubs