At noon on October 16, 1955 WHOT begins broadcasting at 1570 on the AM dial. It was one of the first top-40 stations in the United States. WHOT soon becomes #1 in the Youngstown, Ohio radio market ratings despite its daytime-only schedule.
The original WHOT staff included Myron Jones, Bill Fleckenstein, Dick Biondi, Lou Skelly, George Barry, Jack Aey, John Hines, and news reporter John Putko. Shortly thereafter came Keith Ryan, Ben Fearless and Joe Hodak.
In June, 1958 Dick Biondi left WHOT to be part of a new team of DJs kicking off the top-40 format at 50,000-watt WKBW in Buffalo, New York.
Boots Bell arrives at WHOT in October of 1959 from WBUZ. Boots first works mornings at WHOT, and in July of 1960 he replaces Frank Sweeney on afternoon drive. Boots works afternoons throughout the 1960s and becomes WHOT’s most beloved and popular personality. He returns briefly to mornings about 1974, before leaving again in the spring of 1975 for WNIO.
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WHO WORKED AT WHOT? Here is the list: Boots Bell, Dick Biondi, Johnny Kay, Barney Pip, and Jolly Rodger.
