It was great hearing from Earl Nall. He sent 101 these photos via David Clary, a 25-year WATO employee.
Do you have a WATO story?
Lots of big names passed through...Mike Clark, Dennis Willard, Randy Miller and on the FM Q94 side- Eddie Beacon, Jeff Winters, and Joe Grant.
In late spring 1981 Dave Young became GM, I was on the Q94 staff...he made me morning DJ at WATO, assistant PD at WATO, and MD at both stations. My first morning show was Monday May 25...the turn tables were broken, and the headphones would not work. I made May 26 my last show, as the radio gods were beginning to tell me to run forest run! (soon it was to be platters to platters for me- radio to restaurants).
WATO went on the air in 1948 at 1490 on the dial with 250 watts and was on the air 18 hours per day. In 1959 the station moved to 1290 on the dial. The station was led by Sam (Speedy) Thrower Jr.
In those days WATO carried Mutual's Game of the Day (major league baseball).
As the 1960s arrived the station increased power to 5KW.
In 1967 Rau Broadcasting purchased the station from Sam Thrower, etc. for $350k. That same year WATO-FM 94.3 was hatched.
That frequency became WUUU-FM and then WETQ-FM, followed by WKNF-FM in 1985.
Below are the photos of the demise of the building...
