WFRM (AM)
Encyclopedia
WFRM is a commercially licensed AM
radio station
, licensed to Coudersport, Pennsylvania
, the seat of Potter County. WFRM broadcasts at the federally assigned frequency of 600 kHz at a maximum power output of 1,000 watts day, 46 watts night. WFRM and its sister station, WHKS
-FM, are owned by L-Com, Inc.
When the McKean County Fair came along again, radio was a big part. Gert Curley, who was widely known as "Betty Bradford" brought her popular WESB interview show to the fairgrounds. WFRM also came to the Fair. A large tent along the midway was filled with country music entertainers from McKean, Potter and surrounding counties. Crowds loved it.
One of the early jocks in WFRM's tenure was afternoon host Danny Neaverth
, who worked at the station between 1957 and 1959, becoming better known as the morning man at legendary Buffalo
flamethrower 1520 WKBW
.
Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception from folks in Smethport, WFRM decided to put a local office and studio in Smethport. It was located on the second floor of the Auto Parts store on West Main Street. Bob and Lois Johnson became the nucleus of the staff in Smethport and an effort was made to expand the service to this part of the WFRM Coverage area. Russ Wells was the announcer, and Bob Morrison was the engineer. An hour each day was broadcast over the radio from this studio. These daily broadcasts continued for about three years. Meanwhile, the Johnsons had relocated to Kane, and joined the staff that was building the new radio station facility there.
WFRM was joined by its FM sister, WFRM-FM, on September 18, 1985. It also had a sister station, WQRM, in nearby Smethport. Both stations, now WBYB
and WXMT respectively, have been sold to Colonial Radio Group, owners of WLMI
, as part of the dissolution of the Allegheny Mountain Radio Network. WFRM itself was spun off to L-Com (Lent Communications, a company controlled by David Lent), the owners of Port Allegany
-based WHKS
.
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, licensed to Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Coudersport is a borough in Potter County, Pennsylvania, east by south of Erie on the Allegheny River. The populations were these: 1,530 in 1890; 3,217 in 1900; and 3,100 in 1910. The population was 2,650 at the 2000 census...
, the seat of Potter County. WFRM broadcasts at the federally assigned frequency of 600 kHz at a maximum power output of 1,000 watts day, 46 watts night. WFRM and its sister station, WHKS
WHKS
WHKS is an FM radio station licensed to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. The station, branded as K94, broadcasts on 94.9 MHz with a satellite soft adult contemporary format.-External links:*...
-FM, are owned by L-Com, Inc.
History: Beginnings in Smethport
Back in the summer of 1953, the Smethport Centennial Celebration was the first "special event" covered by WFRM, the new radio station in Coudersport just constructed by the Farm & Home Broadcasting Company. The station first went on the air in May of that year. Broadcast lines were installed and temporary broadcast facilities were put in place in Smethport to cover many of the Centennial activities. Pete and Bill, the stars of the Morning Show, were photographed in the derby hats that everyone in Smethport was wearing as part of the celebration. That photo is still on the wall at WFRM's current studio location at 9 South Main Street in downtown Coudersport.When the McKean County Fair came along again, radio was a big part. Gert Curley, who was widely known as "Betty Bradford" brought her popular WESB interview show to the fairgrounds. WFRM also came to the Fair. A large tent along the midway was filled with country music entertainers from McKean, Potter and surrounding counties. Crowds loved it.
One of the early jocks in WFRM's tenure was afternoon host Danny Neaverth
Danny Neaverth
Dan "Danny" Neaverth is an American disc jockey and television personality from Buffalo, New York. He is best known for a run of over 25 years as the morning disc jockey at heritage top-40 and oldies station WKBW-AM/WWKB in Buffalo....
, who worked at the station between 1957 and 1959, becoming better known as the morning man at legendary Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
flamethrower 1520 WKBW
WWKB
WWKB is an AM radio station in Buffalo, New York that operates on a frequency of 1520 kHz. It is owned and operated by Entercom Communications. The station carries a progressive talk radio format. Declaring itself as A New Voice, A New Choice, The Voice of the New Majority; WWKB carries a number...
.
Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception from folks in Smethport, WFRM decided to put a local office and studio in Smethport. It was located on the second floor of the Auto Parts store on West Main Street. Bob and Lois Johnson became the nucleus of the staff in Smethport and an effort was made to expand the service to this part of the WFRM Coverage area. Russ Wells was the announcer, and Bob Morrison was the engineer. An hour each day was broadcast over the radio from this studio. These daily broadcasts continued for about three years. Meanwhile, the Johnsons had relocated to Kane, and joined the staff that was building the new radio station facility there.
WFRM was joined by its FM sister, WFRM-FM, on September 18, 1985. It also had a sister station, WQRM, in nearby Smethport. Both stations, now WBYB
WBYB
WBYB is a talk radio formatted commercial radio station, licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania. WVTT operates at an effective radiated power of 840 watts...
and WXMT respectively, have been sold to Colonial Radio Group, owners of WLMI
WLMI
WVTT is an FM radio station licensed to Portville, New York. The station, broadcasting at 96.7 MHz, is owned by Colonial Radio Group and broadcasts a talk radio format.Prior to October 2011, WVTT was licensed to Kane, Pennsylvania at 103.9 MHz...
, as part of the dissolution of the Allegheny Mountain Radio Network. WFRM itself was spun off to L-Com (Lent Communications, a company controlled by David Lent), the owners of Port Allegany
Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
Port Allegany is a borough in McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,355 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Port Allegany is located at ....
-based WHKS
WHKS
WHKS is an FM radio station licensed to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. The station, branded as K94, broadcasts on 94.9 MHz with a satellite soft adult contemporary format.-External links:*...
.
External links
- WFRM official website (no longer active)
- Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook