The Eastern Massachusetts Radio Timeline: the 1950s

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1950

Mar. 3
WLYN sold to Theodore Feinstein.
Apr. 27
WBMS changes format from classical to popular music.
Oct. 8
WORL is purchased by Pilgrim, moves transmitter to Saugus.

1951

Apr.
WBMS becomes WHEE.
June 10
WCAP, Lowell, started on 980 kHz.
Oct.
WGBH(FM) started on 89.7 MHz
Dec. 22
WCOP is sold to a partnership of T.B. Baker, Jr., A.G. Beaman, and Roy V. Whisnand.

1952

Mar. 10
WBZ begins 24-hour programming.
July
WHEE returns to old WBMS callsign.

1953

June 17
WNAC purchases WLAW, moves to 680; 1260 becomes WVDA. WNAC keeps its previous FM service on 98.5, in preference to WLAW-FM's 93.7; WLAW-FM's license is returned to the FCC.
Sep. 27
WTAO-TV, Cambridge, started on channel 56.
Oct. 14
WHOB, Gardner, becomes WGAW.

1954

July 8
WCOP sold to Boston Post.
Aug. 31
Hurricane Carol knocks down the WBZ-TV tower, behind the studios on Soldiers Field Road.

1955

May 2
WGBH-TV starts on channel 2.

1956

Jan.
WTAO-TV goes dark.
May 3
Boston Post folds, sells WCOP to Plough.
Oct. 1
WMRC started on 1490 kHz.

1957

June 25
The Richmonds purchase WMEX from Poté brothers.
Sept.
WMEX goes Top-40.
Sept. 5
WBMS purchased by Bartell, becomes WILD.
Nov. 26
WHDH-TV started on channel 5.
Dec. 2
WVDA becomes WEZE.

1958

1959

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