The WKBO studios were located at 31 North Second Street in Harrisburg. Al Dame and his partner Michael Rea bought the station in 1971.
WKBO was known at the time as "Happy Day Radio" 1-2-3 Radio KB. This AC format was not successful. The decision was made to go Top 40 against WFEC.
A new Program Director, Bob Alexander was brought in from WVAM in Altoona, and The Rock of Harrisburg debuted on St. Valentine's Day, 1972. The rest is history. This is only the beginning of the story. Join us as we explore WKBO from The Rock of Harrisburg to Music Radio and more. We now are including information on WKBO The Station On The Go and more information on Radio KB.
WKBO was The Voice of the Capitol around 1968 and 1969. Gary Brooks was WKBO's Production Director during this period. The jingle package used was quite good for the time. And WKBO got to customize it the way they wanted.
Michael Rea and Al Dame purchased WKBO from Steinman in 1971. Al sold his State College, PA stations and moved to Harrisburg. It was quite obvious changes were to be made if WKBO were to have a chance. The choice was to jettison the old-line MOR music and many of the old program elements, including NBC News, in favor of an upbeat adult pop format and the American Entertainment Network from ABC News. The station was re-imaged as 1-2-3 Radio KB.
In 1971, 1-2-3 Radio KB was about to go through a ratings survey. Larry Hall (Program Director) put out a memo entitled "Automatics". Interesting are the edicts that the control room should be locked at all times, and that he would be calling in at all hours on the inside number (line 4 of the business number.
1-2-3 Radio KB never got off the ground and was hampered by an announcer walkout shortly before Christmas 1971. Soon, the decision was made to go Top 40 head on against WFEC.
On Valentine's Day of 1972, The Rock of Harrisburg signed on. Unlike many other cities of the era, Harrisburg, PA didn't have a strong Top 40 heritage. York had the Mighty 910, WSBA, with its 5kw signal serving as Harrisburg's Top Forty station as well in the late 50s and early 60s.
THE ROCK OF HARRISBURGProgram Director: Bob AlexanderTHE FIRST AIR STAFF:Alexander in the Morning 6 - 10 am
Les Howard 10 - 2 pm
Jonathan Harris (Dennis Elliot) 2 - 6 pm
Big Jim Roberts 6 - midnight
Gary Knight Midnight - 6 am
John Summers Weekends
Lou Raymond Weekends
Lancaster had 1390, WLAN, but the signal didn't reach Harrisburg. WKBO dabbled in Top 40 briefly in the late 1950s, but it wasn't until WHGB became Top 40 in 1962 that Harrisburg had a Top 40 station of its own. About a year later WHGB became WFEC, the call letters having been imported from Southern Florida.
In 1965, Harold Swidler signed on AM 1000, WIOO in Carlisle as a daytime Top 40. 1460 WCMB and 960 WHYL played some contemporary music, but were largely regarded as "chicken rockers". WKBO signed on as a hot, upbeat, exciting alternative to heritage WFEC. Although very little exists on tape from WFEC from this era, by all accounts WFEC was the polar opposite of "The Rock Of Harrisburg".
John St. JohnJohn St. John in the Fall of 1977. Listeners are calling in giving plenty of props to John. [ LISTEN ].
St. John is behind the microphone again, this time on June 29, 1978.
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Even though WKBO was handicapped by a poor signal and even a certain amount of interference in downtown Harrisburg, KBO still took off like gangbusters.
WFEC's tower was on the roof of the now defunct Blackstone Building (located on the corner of Front and Market, across from the Dauphin County Courthouse) and WKBO's stick was on the roof of the former Penn Harris Hotel (located on the corner of Third and Walnut, where Strawberry Square is now). When you drove down Second Street, sometimes the two stations would interfere with each other.
KBO's ancient equipment and physical plant didn't stop the Rock, as WKBO took Harrisburg by storm! After many staff changes during the first six months of the format, KBO settled into its first classic lineup, known as "The Fun Lovin' Five: Alexander in the Morning 6-10 AM; Charlie Adams, 10 AM - 2 PM. Charlie had worked at WKBO beginning in 1964 and was part of the 1-2-3 Radio KB walkout in 1971. Charlie returned when Les Howard departed. Jim Roberts, 2-6 PM; John Summers 6 PM - Midnight and Lou Raymond 12- 6 AM. J.C Floyd and Fred Adams, who stayed around until 1980, made up the weekend roster.
Fred Adams July, 1974. [ PLAY ] (29:48) Christmas [ PLAY ] (23:31) Dave Dillon January, 1976. [ PLAY ] (25:19) and Chris Andree August, 1977. [ PLAY ] (18:49)
WHO WORKED AT WKBO? Here is the list: Bob Alexander, Rick Alexander, Les Howard, Jonathan Harris, Big Jim Roberts, Gary Knight, John Summers, Lou Raymond, Captain Dave Edwards, Rick Shockley, John St. John, Charlie Adams, J.C Floyd and Fred Adams.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Airlift Productions.
