Miami Area TELEVISION and RADIO PERSONALITIES Historical Photo Gallery - click on image to view Photo Gallery by Don Boyd at pbase.com

Miami Area TELEVISION and RADIO PERSONALITIES Historical Photo Gallery - click on image to view

South Florida's TV and radio stations provided us with much entertainment over the years and the announcers, disc jockeys and news anchors became familiar faces and part of our families in a sense. Several of them had longevity over decades as we all grew up and saw Miami grow beyond belief despite a major population shift out of Dade County to points to the north.

Miami's WTVJ, Channel 4, was Florida's first television station, and America's 16th, going on the air for the first time on March 21, 1949. WTVJ was owned by Wometco Enterprises which had a national movie theater chain with headquartered in Miami. WTVJ's original studios were in the old Capitol Theatre that Wometco's first theatre when the company was founded in 1926. WTVJ was a primary CBS affiliate but also broadcast programming from NBC, ABC and DuMont. WTVJ was the only commercial TV station in South Florida until December 24, 1954, when NBC WFTL-TV in Ft. Lauderdale started broadcasting on UHF. WTVJ was allowed by NBC to continue selecting their best shows for broadcast until WFTL-TV was shut down and WCKT-TV Channel 7 (now WSVN-TV on the Fox Network) signed on in 1956 broadcasting NBC programming. WFTL-TV had been purchased by Storer Broadcasting and the call letters were changed to WGBS-TV in honor of its president George B. Storer. The station was an independent under Storer ownership and it ceased broadcasting in 1956. WFTL-TV/WGBS-TV's frequency is now used by WLTV-TV.

WPST-TV Channel 10 (now WPLG-TV) signed on in 1957 with ABC programming.

Rick Shaw, the voice of South Florida Rock 'n Roll Radio Photo Gallery - click on image to view	1950's and 60's - Jumpin' Jack O'Brien Photo Gallery - click on image to view	1950s & 60s - The Charlie Baxter / M. T. Graves Photo Gallery - RIP Charlie! Click on image to view	Early to mid 1950's - Ralph Renick on WTVJ-TV Channel 4	Mid 1950's - radio announcer Cracker Jim Brooker from WBAY, WMIE and WEDR-FM in Miami and involved in creation of the CMA
Late 1950s - Skipper Chuck Zink from WTVJ-TV Channel 4 in Miami	1961 - radio announcer Cracker Jim Brooker from WBAY, WMIE and WEDR-FM in Miami and involved in creation of the CMA	1961 - disc jocky Larry King playing a disc jockey in a "Miami Undercover" TV show	1961 - disc jocky Larry King playing a disc jockey in a "Miami Undercover" TV show	1961 - disc jocky Larry King playing a disc jockey in a "Miami Undercover" TV show
Ralph Renick from WTVJ, Channel 4	Uncle Don, Skipper Chuck and Scrubby on Popeye's Playhouse	Popeye's Playhouse with Scrubby (top), Skipper Chuck (middle left), Uncle Don (middle right) and Annie Orphanic (bottom)	WCKT-TV Channel 7's Wayne Chandler with Toby the Robot reading the Sunday funnies in the Miami Herald	Arnie Warren, 1934-2008, popular radio announcer and host of the "Arnie and Amos Show"
2010 - an old shot from the 1970's of WTVJ's Bob Mayer test driving a car	2010 - Bob Mayer's final day after 40 years of broadcasting at WTVJ in South Florida	2010 - Bob Mayer's final day after 40 years of broadcasting at WTVJ in South Florida	2010 - Bob Mayer's final day after 40 years of broadcasting at WTVJ in South Florida

comment |

Guest		26-Jan-2012 18:57
I remember going on the Banjo Billy show with my cub scout troop!

harry simon		25-Jan-2012 15:16
Sort of surprised that there is nothing here about Jackie Gleeson or Surf Side Six ??

Sandi Pinder Campbell		20-Oct-2011 16:24
OMG, what memories. I grew up in the Keys, but spent a lot of time in Miami, at my aunt's house. We had Rick Shaw DJ at some dance at our school, if I remember right. I had such a crush on him! And Charlie Murdock! Two friends and I went up to WQAM's studios one day while in Miami ("in town" as we used to call it), and were astonished that we could get in, he came out between sets and met us. We were on cloud nine! Such great guys - and great times. Thanks for these flash-backs.

Guest		16-Jul-2011 23:37
I remember the annual parades featuring local Miami TV personalities. I remember you could meet them during the event. I met Captain Jack from Banjo Billy's Fun Boat and Charlie Baxter (Dressed in his Empty Graves getup). What great times!

Guest		07-Jun-2011 03:41
Peace, love, and happiness -- Skipper Chuck

Tony		24-May-2011 17:58
Born and raised in Miami, lived there from 1961 to 1991 before moving to Crystal River. My cub scout troop was on the Skipper Chuck show in the late 60s. As for the news, Ralph Renick of course but one name I still remember is Ann Bishop, I think channel 7 news, not 100% though.

click on thumbnails for full image