History Tidbit
September 3, 2020This photo (submitted to us by Jason Togyer; but credited to Rex W. Athey) shows the WPEZ van in 1979 at the Dayton Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio. The Dayton Hamvention (still called “Dayton” but now held in nearby Xenia) is held the 3rd weekend in May… well, except in 2020.
WPEZ was on 94.5 FM replacing WWSW-FM in 1973. Ironically, the owners had every intention of carrying the Beautiful/EZ format hence the calls being W P(ittsburgh) E-Z (Easy). But at about that same time Cecil Heftel had come to town and bought WJAS-AM (1320) and FM (99.7). WJAS became 13Q (WKPQ at first and then WKTQ) and the FM which was still simulcasting 1320 became WSHH. Within a few weeks (perhaps days) they were touting the Beautiful/EZ format as “Wish” leaving WPEZ to make a list minute decision to carry the rock format.
By the way, in 2014 Mark Mervick cleaned up a reel of tape on which he recorded WSHH in those early years – feel free to listen here!
Wow! That’s really a piece of history to dig up. We might take it for granted seeing a picture like that, but think about what it took to get here, saved and archived all those years and for someone to find it and scan it.
I heard WPEZ somewhat, it seemed to be what kids who were 13Q fans, but were cool and had FM would listen to. I had 13Q, listening as I trimmed the trees in the back yard or worked on my bike in the garage. 13Q had the loudest DJs I’d heard.
Boomer