When I (Charlie Horner) first
broke into radio in the late 1960's, just about every radio station used a
couple of turntables (for playing vinyl records, of course), a microphone or
two, a couple of reel-to-reel tape recorders and two "cart" machines (like the
old eight-track carts, only you could record things on them to replay often).
These were all mixed together on a kind of control board or "console" that the
on-air radio DJ would engineer. With a series of large black dials (called
"pots"), the DJ could turn on,
control the volumes and mix each of ten components. All this while picking
music, "cueing" up the next record
and at the same time monitoring the sound levels, taking transmitter readings,
maintaining the station logs, answering phone requests and talking over the
airways. I won't even get into "slip-cueing" or talking up the intros or
out the "outtros" of records. Sounds complicated, and it was, but a skilled
DJ could do it in his sleep without a hint of "dead air". Don't even think
about trying this at home - I was a trained and licensed professional!
Charlie spinning labels from
two turntables, WXPN, 1980's
The control board of choice in the
"good old days" of radio was the Gates Executive Stereo Solid State Console,
made between 1962 and 1982. I used a Gates at Drexel University's WKDU-FM
from 1969 - 1972 and again at University of Pennsylvania's WXPN-FM from 1975
until they switched to the modern "slide" type control board in 1990. I
often wondered what happened to that old console.
Well I just found out from one of
the attendees of our Bridgewater talk [thanks CJ] that back in
1990, WXPN donated that old board to a small startup radio station in central
New Jersey called WDVR-FM. We've been hearing great things about WDVR
and since that station is only 45 minutes from Classic Urban Harmony
headquarters, Pam and I decided to head over there to check it out.
Sure enough, in a world where most
radio stations have conformed to mindless computerization, WDVR-FM is a
throwback to the Golden Age of Radio! Arriving at the station studios in
Sergeantsville, NJ, we were met and cheerfully invited in by Frank Napurano,
station president. WDVR has a wide variety of programming including some
shows that emphasize 50's and 60's R&B and doo wop music. Frank graciously
gave us a station tour. There in the main control room was the old WXPN
console, the one I'd spent fifteen years at. And is was still being used
for daily broadcasting. Frank explained that the console is being retired
at the end of this week in favor of a modern control board. However, the
old Gates Executive console will not be scrapped. Frank told us he intends
to keep and display it, a reminder of the "good old days" of WDVR's humble
beginnings.
Read more about radio station WDVR-FM
at www.wdvrfm.org
Charlie visits his old console
at WDVR-FM, May 2009
Charlie at the same console,
WXPN-FM, 1975
The vintage Gates Executive Console at WDVR-FM, May 2009
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2009. All
Rights Reserved.
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