Special Event Station W4C – Marking the 100th anniversary of WMC – Memphis’ first full-service radio station.
Brandon Jordan, K2SWL, and I, Jim Pogue, KH2AR, will be operating Special Event Station W4C – Marking the 100th anniversary of WMC – Memphis’ first full-service radio station. The station will operate from Jan. 20 – Feb. 2, 2023.
WMC Radio, Memphis’ first full-service radio station, began regularly scheduled broadcasting on Jan. 20, 1923, from the top floor of The Commercial Appeal newspaper building in downtown Memphis. Listeners enjoyed a full range of musical expression along with news, sports and information. On Jan. 23, 1927, WMC gave the Mid-South its first network programs when it affiliated with the National Broadcasting Co. Although Memphis was racially segregated at the time, early programs featured late night concerts from blues singers. Bessie Smith performed at WMC in October of 1923. During the catastrophic Mississippi River floods of 1927 and 1937, WMC broadcast 24-hours daily information for steamboats, disaster relief agencies and refugees. In the 1930s WMC also operated 250-watt Apex station W4XCZ on 31,600 kHz. Originally licensed to operate on both 750 and 619 kHz, WMC now transmits on 790 kHz.
We look forward to contacting fellow hams worldwide, and will be operating on CW, SSB and FT-8 modes.
We are having a nice QSL card printed and will be happy to confirm all QSOs as well as SWL reports.
Jim Pogue to MWDX – The National Radio Club FB group (2023-01-19)