Radio Roundup

In the 1920s, people rushed to buy radios, business adapted to it to their advertising, Universities started offering radio-based courses, churches began broadcasting services, and newspapers created tie-ins with radio broadcasts (13). By 1925, 19% of United States homes owned a radio, according to The Radio Corporation of America (RCA). By 1930, that number had increased to 40% of the nation’s households and by 1940, 83% of American homes would own a radio. The Golen Age of Radio lasted up into the 1950s when television started overshadowing radio; after this commercial radio shifted to narrower formats of news, talk, sports and music (14).

Some examples of early radios on display includes the Atwater Kent phonograph speaker, ca. 1928. Atwater Kent would become the largest manufacturer of radios in the United States, turning out more than 1 million radio sets per year, by 1929 and would close operations in 1936. Also on display is a transistor radio marked Emerson 911, ca. 1965, from the Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company founded 1890 as a manufacturer of electric motors and fans.

Airing as WNAV-AM in November 1921 hosted by Stuart “Dick” Adcock, WNOX became Tennessee’s first radio station and the 8th station to broadcast in the U.S. (1). In 1925 the stations call letters were changed to the iconic WNOX (2), though, there was an effort to get the letter ‘K’ added it failed due to the prefix being reserved for stations west of the Mississippi River only (1).

The “Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round”

The Mid-Day Merry-Go Round, hosted by Lowell Blanchard, aired from 1936 to 1961 and was one of the most popular radio shows to ever broadcast from Knoxville (3). It launched the careers of many famous country music stars such as Roy Acuff, Archie Campbell, Kitty Wells, Chet Atkins, and more (4). Showcased in the streetscape is a poster titled “WNOX Merry-Go-Round: Little Robert & his Nubbins”, Ca 1940s/1950s. Robert Van Winkle, “Little Robert”, turns up frequently in archival collections of many Knoxville music stars of the 1940s and 1950s. Van Wrinkle was known as “The Biggest Little Man in the World” described as “39 inches tall, weighing 85 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, sunny disposition, and [was] always energetic.” Though the Merry-Go Round is known for its country music it also featured jazz and swing musicians such as the Cabineers.

Lowell Blanchard

Lowell Blanchard was born in Palmer, Illinois on November 5, 1910, and received his first radio broadcasting experience as a student announcer at the University of Illinois. He moved to Knoxville where he hosted and wrote for “Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round” on WNOX. Blanchard died on February 19, 1968, and was inducted into The Country Music On-Air Personality Hall of Fame in 1977. On display is a booklet entitled “Lowell Blanchard’s RADIO ALBUM, Pictures, Songs, Jokes, and Riddles; Favorites of WNOX Mid-day Merry-Go-Round” (ca. 1943) highlighting the popularity of Blanchard and the Mid-day Merry-Go-Round.

WNOX Barn Dance

During January 1942, Knoxville’s WNOX radio began hosting its popular–and influential-Saturday night country music program “Tennessee Barn Dance,” which ran in addition to the “Mid-day Merry-Go-Round”. When the Lowell Blanchard-era of “Barn Dance” ended, WNOX musician Carlos “Tex” Cronas (1930-2001) took the signs home. The WNOX Auditorium was planned to be a regional center of broadcasting for a modern era being hailed as the most unusual and only radio auditorium-studio of its kind in the world.

WBIR radio was founded in 1941 by Jesse W. ‘Jay’ Birdwell which is also where the stations call letters come from (5). WBIR-TV first appeared on air on August 12, 1956, and became Knoxville’s second television station. It began as a CBS-affiliate that streamed from the basement of the transmitter building on Sharps Ridge. Currently, WBIR proudly stands on Bill Williams Avenue, and has helped launched East Tennessee careers from the heart of Knoxville, including 14-year-old Dolly Parton, who was introduced on the Cas Walker Early Morning show (6).

James A. Dick started the 1,000-watt radio station WIVK-AM in 1953 (8); WIVK-FM went on the air on December 16, 1965 (7). For several decades, WIVK aired a morning show hosted by Claude “The Cat” Tomlinson who is described as “the most creative, inventive, entertaining and versatile individual to ever sit behind a microphone, not only in Knoxville, but anywhere radio existed”(10). Tomlinson retired from his “Great Day” morning show in the 90’s (11). WIVK’s unique mix of country music, community involvement, personality, and UTK sports, has made it one of the most listened to stations in America from the late 70’s to the present (12).

“Acey Boy”
A.C. Wilson, who became known as “Acey Boy,” was hired at WIVK in 1954. Wilson was the first African American DJ in Knoxville. “Acey Boy” began hosting R&B shows such as “Sunset Serenade” in 1949, starting out on WKGN before moving to WIVK. From 1955 to 1956, he would also appear on local television, hosting “Teen Tavern” on WTVK Channel 26. Wilson passed away in 1959. On display is a button advertising “Acey Boy” on WIVK’s station.

WROL was started around 1931 on Cumberland Avenue, moved to 524 S. Gay Street in 1932 and stayed there until 1942. WROL was a hotbed for bluegrass including the duo Flatt and Scruggs who used as a home base for radio performances and touring. The Osborne Brothers, Bailey Brothers, Brewster Brothers, Cope Brothers and other performers also frequented the station. In the early 1940s, WROL would hire Ernest Jennings Ford on as a disc jockey who would go on to become one of the most successful country music stars of all time, performing under the name “Tennessee” Ernie Ford (9).