WHBY 100

June 6, 1944 D Day took place and radio stations like WHBY carried all of the breaking news. Plus, he years ends with local high school students singing Christmas Carols in three languages. 

It's the year 1943 and WHBY continues to raise a lot of money for the war and WHBY Announcer Noel Franzen makes the news and is saved by Appleton Firemen. And find out who the Green Bay Packers First Round Pick was in 1943.

The year is 1942 and America is at war and WHBY is doing it's part to raise money by hosting local programming. The War impacts the NFL season but the Green Bay Packers also did their part to raise money for the war. 

In 1941, WHBY moved on the AM radio dial from 1200 to 1230, that change would last 50 years and on December 7, 1941 WHBY aired one of the most important Presidential speeches in American history. Gary Brilowski has more on 1941.

It's 1940, WHBY moves from DePere to a new buisding in Appleton plus 1940 was the start of World War II. Gary Brilowski takes alook at 1940.

IN 1939, WHBY BROKE GROUND ON ITS NEW TRANSMITTER BUILDING AND RADIATION TOWER ALONG THE FLATS IN APPLETON.  FDR ADDRESSED THE GERMAN INVASION OF POLAND--SPARKING WORLD WAR II.  AND THE GREEN BAY PACKERS WIN THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP, PLAYING AT ITS "SECOND HOME".

IN 1938, WHBY WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE WISCONSIN RADIO NETWORK.  THE NEW APPLETON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS.  THE 2ND PROGRESSIVE ERA IN WISCONSIN POLITICS ENDED WITH THE LOSS OF GOVERNOR PHILLIP LA FOLLETTE.  AND THE PACKERS LOST THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

IN 1937, WHBY PLAYED MUSIC FROM LOCAL AND NATIONAL RECORDING ARTISTS, OFTEN LIVE FROM BALLROOMS ACROSS THE AREA LIKE THE CINDERELLA, THE RAINBOW, AND THE NIGHTINGALE.  ALSO, THE OSHKOSH ALL STARS LAID CLAIM TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IN 1936, WHBY STARTED BROADCASTING WISCONSIN BADGERS BASKETBALL WITH BILL WALKER "THE TALKER" ON PLAY-BY-PLAY.  THE PACKERS WON THEIR 4TH NFL CHAMPIONSHIP.  APPLETON'S STATUS AS A "SUNDOWN TOWN" COST IT THE SERVICES OF A FAMED CHEMIST.  AND THE ALL-TIME HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD WAS SET.

IN 1935, WHBY BOOSTED ITS POWER TO 250-WATTS. THE NORBERTINES ALSO ACQUIRED WTAQ RADIO AND STARTED THE PROCESS OF MOVING IT FROM EAU CLAIRE TO DE PERE.  AND APPLETON STARTED CONSTRUCTION ON ITS FIRST WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO ADDRESS THE INCREASE IN POLLUTION IN THE FOX RIVER.

IN FEBRUARY, WHBY JOINED EIGHT OTHER STATIONS TO FORM THE NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTING SYSTEM, A NETWORK DESIGNED TO SHARE TALENT AND PROGRAMMING ACROSS WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA. THIS COLLABORATION BROUGHT LISTENERS PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES, INCLUDING FDR’S FIRESIDE CHATS (AUDIO) PLUS THRILLING BASKETBALL GAMES, AND A VARIETY OF NEW ENTERTAINMENT—ALL FROM MILWAUKEE HEADQUARTERS DURING THE NETWORK’S EAR...

1933 OFFERED A BIT OF A BREAK AFTER BUSY EARLY YEARS FOR THE STATION.   1933 WAS ABOUT QUIET DETERMINATION AND RENEWED AMBITION FOR WHBY, AS THE STATION CONTINUED TO DELIVER QUALITY PROGRAMMING WHILE FIGHTING TO EXPAND ITS REACH."  NATIONALLY, IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL RUN FOR FDR...

"ON AUGUST 25TH, WHBY VENTURED INTO THE WORLD OF RADIO DRAMA WITH THE DEBUT OF THE WHBY PLAYERS. THEIR FIRST PRODUCTION, THE MYSTERY THRILLER 'BLACKMAIL,' CAPTIVATED LISTENERS WITH SUSPENSEFUL STORYTELLING, SOUND EFFECTS, AND ORIGINAL SCRIPTS WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR RADIO. FROM PIRATE ADVENTURES TO HAUNTED HOUSES, THURSDAY NIGHTS BECAME AN EXCITING ESCAPE FOR AUDIENCES ACROSS NORTHEASTERN WISCONSI...

A DEFINING YEAR FOR WHBY RADIO—A YEAR MARKED BY AMBITION, INNOVATION, AND RESILIENCE. WHILE THE STATION FACED CHALLENGES IN EXPANDING ITS POWER, IT FORGED AHEAD, SOLIDIFYING ITS REPUTATION AS 'THE BEST LITTLE STATION IN AMERICA...

IT WAS A YEAR OF GROUNDBREAKING PROGRESS AND INNOVATION FOR WHBY. ON OCTOBER 20TH, THE STATION CELEBRATED THE LAUNCH OF ITS BRAND-NEW TRANSMITTER, LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE DE PERE ON HIGHWAY 41. THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT NOT ONLY ENHANCED SOUND CLARITY BUT ALSO EXPANDED WHBY’S REACH ACROSS NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN, CEMENTING ITS POSITION AS A LEADER AMONG SMALL STATIONS...

1929.  WHBY continues to evolve in the Roaring Twenties.  But, storm clouds are forming. As patrons watch Al Jolson in "The Singing Fool", the markets continued to improve until October 29-Black Tuesday, as prices on Wall Street crashed and the Great Depression was about to begin.

In WHBY's 4th year, Herbert Hoover's win was broadcast on WHBY. Oh, by the way, eggs in 1928 cost about 47 cents a dozen.  We noted that half of American families earned $2,000 or less.  A number that would become more concerning as the Great Depression loomed in the following years.

WHBY in 1927.  A year of expansion...to more than just ONE microphone!  Aside from moving to a new studio, WHBY also started broadcasting boxing events.  1927 saw the advent of the Harlem Globetrotters. Plus, the journey across the ocean of aviator Charles Lindbergh landed in France.

Year two of WHBY's existence rolled through the Roaring Twenties.  Budgets were tight, but new forms of information were broadcast. And, advertising on WHBY began.

WHBY began broadcasting in 1925. The first location was at St Norbert College in De Pere and was mostly staffed by students.  The early days were filled with music, both local and regional.