ATLANTA'S GREATEST STATIONS--FROM THE PAST

[BarryATL]

After the AM would sign off each day, a minimum wage college student would baby sit the WBIE automation all night.  I talked to one of them who said they were under strict orders to not touch Mr. Wilder's chair in the control room.  Also, no matter what happened, they could not talk on the air.  Mr. Wilder's voice was the 24/7 voice of WBIE.  Between every song we heard him.  I used to listen while I was in my teens with fascination of being heard on a station 24/7.

[MRFLASHPORT]

I have a 25th anniversary record I bought at a flea market in the late 1980's, it's a CBS special products LP, has some great country classics. WBIE FM 101.5, MARIETTA-Atlanta. I always knew 101.5 came from Shepherd's tower, but Wilder used to have his studios at 19 Atlanta St on the square, next to what is now the state probation office. There was an article posted right before his death in 1981 from the AJC on either this site or GRHOF, where he said he got offers to buy his stations from all around the country from the major players, but made the statement "if I quit working, I'll be dead". Ironically, he passed not too long later, and his estate took up one of those golden offers and thus, out with WBIE and in with WKHX, but the format has always been country in one form or another since.

With WFOM gone, we don't really have any Cobb county English speaking radio in any format, which is surprising, considering we have one of the most affluent populations (700,000 plus as of last census) but we're so served by ATL sticks it doesn't matter.

In the early days of WBIE and WFOM, Marietta was a day trip, like going to Callaway gardens, if you lived in ATL proper.

[BRENT]

I have a 25th anniversary record I bought at a flea market in the late 1980's, it's a CBS special products LP, has some great country classics. WBIE FM 101.5, MARIETTA-Atlanta. I always knew 101.5 came from Shepherd's tower, but Wilder used to have his studios at 19 Atlanta St on the square, next to what is now the state probation office. There was an article posted right before his death in 1981 from the AJC on either this site or GRHOF, where he said he got offers to buy his stations from all around the country from the major players, but made the statement "if I quit working, I'll be dead". Ironically, he passed not too long later, and his estate took up one of those golden offers and thus, out with WBIE and in with WKHX, but the format has always been country in one form or another since.

With WFOM gone, we don't really have any Cobb county English speaking radio in any format, which is surprising, considering we have one of the most affluent populations (700,000 plus as of last census) but we're so served by ATL sticks it doesn't matter.

In the early days of WBIE and WFOM, Marietta was a day trip, like going to Callaway gardens, if you lived in ATL proper.

I use to love little WFOM with 250 watts, I went to high school at Marist and would listen on my only AM car radio, static and all, but loved it.

[sagebasics]

Og reminded me of good ol' WIIN 97. That was a cool station! Ross "B for Boogie" Brittain and Rex Patton held down mornings with visits from Carlton Quaalude III, Charles Chastain (anyone remember any of the other "regulars" from the WIIN 97 days?)

One "regular" was Dr. Damon Hokey. The midday jock was Sebastian and he afternoon guy was Steve Hanson, later James O'Neal (James Oatmeal). Joan Cravey did some weekend shifts.

[RoddyFreeman]

WBIE FM 101.5, MARIETTA-Atlanta. I always knew 101.5 came from Shepherd's tower, but Wilder used to have his studios at 19 Atlanta St on the square, next to what is now the state probation office.

I don't really know, but I'm guessing that at one time, 101.5 was on one of the 1060 towers, which look like they're in somebody's backyard on a side street off I-75 north of Marietta.

[MRFLASHPORT]

that would be the old Franklin Rd site, the tower was still there about 10-12 years ago.

[BarryATL]

I thought the Franklin Rd site is WFOM's home.

[secondchoice]

WBIE FM 101.5, MARIETTA-Atlanta. I always knew 101.5 came from Shepherd's tower, but Wilder used to have his studios at 19 Atlanta St on the square, next to what is now the state probation office.

I don't really know, but I'm guessing that at one time, 101.5 was on one of the 1060 towers, which look like they're in somebody's backyard on a side street off I-75 north of Marietta.

I am confused I thought 1080 was the AM part of WBIE and their towers were viable just east of the old Canton Road GA 5 (pre 575) between I 75 and Peidmont north of Marietta in the 1970's.

[RoddyFreeman]

WBIE FM 101.5, MARIETTA-Atlanta. I always knew 101.5 came from Shepherd's tower, but Wilder used to have his studios at 19 Atlanta St on the square, next to what is now the state probation office.

I don't really know, but I'm guessing that at one time, 101.5 was on one of the 1060 towers, which look like they're in somebody's backyard on a side street off I-75 north of Marietta.

I am confused I thought 1080 was the AM part of WBIE and their towers were viable just east of the old Canton Road GA 5 (pre 575) between I 75 and Peidmont north of Marietta in the 1970's.

I typed 1060 but meant 1080.

[RoddyFreeman]

WBIE FM 101.5, MARIETTA-Atlanta. I always knew 101.5 came from Shepherd's tower, but Wilder used to have his studios at 19 Atlanta St on the square, next to what is now the state probation office.

I don't really know, but I'm guessing that at one time, 101.5 was on one of the 1060 towers, which look like they're in somebody's backyard on a side street off I-75 north of Marietta.

I am confused I thought 1080 was the AM part of WBIE and their towers were viable just east of the old Canton Road GA 5 (pre 575) between I 75 and Peidmont north of Marietta in the 1970's.

WBIE might have been somewhere else at one time.  But if you drive northwest on I-75 past Marietta, there's a road on the left called Loring Road.  WBIE's towers are a couple of blocks up that road, off the road to the right.  That might be Kennesaw.